Fort Collins, Loveland, Greeley / COME TO LIFE Be sure to visit COLORADO.com/ ColoRoadTrips for even more itineraries! @David Kalsbeek SIDETRIPS Located northwest of Fort Collins, the rustic mountain village of Red Feather Lakes is far from hectic city life and popular with campers and boaters. Surrounded by the 612,000-acre Roosevelt National Forest, the area is a year-round outdoor playground that offers beautiful scenery, diverse wildlife, hiking trails and cozy mountain retreats. Windsor is a growing community between Loveland, Fort Collins and Greeley, and a peaceful place to explore the plains at the Frank State Wildlife Area along a portion of the Poudre River Trail. For local flavors, check out Chimney Park Restaurant, Chapmans Produce fruit and veggie store, and Hearth Restaurant and Pub. CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: RED FEATHER LAKES, FLICKR/DAVID KALSBEEK; FORT COLLINS MUSEUM OF DISCOVERY; FORT COLLINS BIKE SHARE, MILES/LISA SEAMAN. 3 breweries within very short pedaling distance of each other. Most of the city’s breweries offer free tours and tastings — pick up a tasting journal from the Downtown Visitor Center to guide you through Colorado’s Craft Beer Capital. If you’re craving beaches more than beer, visit Horse-tooth Reservoir . Red-stone cliffs flank the 6.5-mile lake, a favorite of hikers, bikers and rock climbers. Or hop in a raft to ride the Class III and IV rapids down the Cache la Poudre , Colorado’s only nationally designated Wild and Scenic River. Check out Avuncular Bob’s Beerhouse , which charms patrons with rotating draft brews and fresh bites made with local ingredients. Or peek into The Fox and the Crow , a spot that sells artisanal cheese and meats from farms in Col-orado and all over the world; or quench your thirst at Red Truck Beer Company , one of the newest additions to Fort Collin’s brewery district. Ideas for sweet treats abound: Nuance Chocolate makes small-batch choc-olates from beans that are roasted and ground on site; Revolution Artisan Pops uses local ingredients to create its frozen treats; and Old Town Churn in The Exchange. See what band is playing at the Aggie Theatre or catch a riverside concert at Mishawaka Amphitheatre ; see a concert at Washing-ton’s , a recently renovated venue housed in a historic 1903 building; or check the schedule at the new Elizabeth Hotel , which pays tribute to the city’s deep-rooted music scene with everything from jam sessions to live jazz at the rooftop bar. For those seeking starry skies, Red Mountain Open Space , Horsetooth Mountain Open Space , Soapstone Prairie and Coyote Ridge natural areas are just a few stellar places to spot far-away galaxies. The Northern Colorado Astronom-ical Society and Stargazer Observatory also host public stargazing events throughout the year. DAY 2 Point yourself a half-hour’s drive south to Loveland , a community committed to the arts. Spend time at Benson Sculpture Garden (6) , featuring more than 150 sculptures (and counting!). Go to cityofloveland.org/ bsgtour for an audio tour of this special site. For more sculpture admiration, check out Art Castings of Colorado ’s foundry tour, which shows you how they’re made (make reservations before visiting). Head downtown, where charming blocks showcase historic buildings, shops and restaurants, and the beautiful art the city is known for. Check out The Foundry , a new downtown destination packed with shopping, a movie theater, a hotel, restaurants and events. Or, stop by the Loveland Visitor Center for information on the Loveland Ale Trail , which will lead you to the Sweetheart City’s breweries. On the subject of sweethearts ... Loveland’s newest art installation is a 2 COLORADO.COM / 153
Colorado Official State Vacation Guide 2020: Page 153
