Dozen Distinctive Destinations
Fort Collins, Colorado
Year Listed: 2010
Nestled at the foot of the Rocky Mountains and along the banks of the Cache la Poudre River, Fort Collins is a gem of North Central Colorado. One of the few communities to successfully retain its downtown pedestrian mall – known as Historic Old Town Square – the town is a vacation paradise comprised of walkable, bike-friendly streets featuring a dense collection of unique, locally owned businesses and ample recreational activities for all ages. With so much to offer, it's little wonder that Money magazine named this fun-loving college town the #1 best place to live in the nation.
Preservation Around Town
Few visitors to California's Disneyland realize that the theme park's 'Main Street, USA' is actually modeled on Fort Collins' Main Street. Accurately restored buildings and charming storefronts house upscale restaurants and casual cafes, art galleries, live performance venues and shops and serve as the backdrop for the city's multitude of annual festivals in the heart of Fort Collins. Preservationists will appreciate Fort Collins' award-winning restorations to the over 1,800 historic properties listed on the National, State or local historic register and designated historic districts characterized by architecture ranging from the nineteenth century to the 1950s.
Active Living
With an abundance of natural resources and breathtaking scenery at their doorsteps, it's no wonder that the locals of Fort Collins embrace the great outdoors and provide ample opportunity for their visitors to do the same. The downtown Bike Library rents bikes free of charge to those who wish to explore the city's 280 miles of bike lanes and 30 miles of bike trails, or participate in one of the "Bike the Sites" self-guided tours of Fort Collins' local mirco-breweries, historic sites and environmental attractions. The surrounding national parks and designated wilderness areas are the perfect settings for rock climbing, camping, whitewater rafting, kayaking and hiking.
Going Green in Fort Collins
Most recently named the 3rd Smartest City by the National Resources Defense Council for their sustainability efforts, Fort Collins has received international recognition for its longstanding commitment to green practices. A combination of wind energy, smart grid technology, peak load demand management and energy conservation practices are being developed in an effort to make downtown Fort Collins the first Zero Energy District in the nation.
Preservation is green. Learn more.
Don't Miss:
To plan your trip and learn more about Fort Collins, visit the Fort Collins Convention & Visitors Bureau.
