Fort Collins, Loveland, Greeley | COME TO LIFE destination packed with shopping, a movie theater, restaurants and events. Or, stop by the Loveland Visitors Center for information on the Sweetheart City’s many breweries. On the topic of sweethearts ... loved ones can lock their love for one another on two 10-foot-tall LOVE sculptures. Buy a lock at the visitors center and have your name engraved on it. Step outside or head to Lake Loveland and lock your love on the grid. Hikers seek out The Keyhole rock formation at the Devil’s Backbone Open Space , an impressive geologic landmark. Boaters, fishers, paddleboarders and other water lovers will find plenty to do in the area at Carter Lake , a picturesque affair set in the foothills, as well as Lake Loveland , Boyd Lake State Park , Lou Hagler Reservoir and others. Many visitors make a daytrip of the 35-mile drive to Rocky Mountain National Park and settle back in Loveland for the evening. Hungry? Downtown has an array of elevated places to eat and sample crafted beverages. breweries, distilleries and on-trend restaurants. Stop by the Colorado Model Railroad Museum , which features more than 600 railroad-related artifacts. There’s also the Centennial Village Museum , a living-history odyssey with original homes, lush gardens and walking paths that provide a look at local life from the 1870s to early 1930s. Or take a swing along the Poudre River Trail , with mountain views, easy hiking trails and access to the Cache la Poudre River, fishing and wildlife viewing. The Poudre Learning Center has a fishing club, garden tours, bike trails and more. You’ll find more than 50 pieces of public art sprinkled around Greeley, as well as lovely parks, including Homestead Park and Open Space , that feature lakes, small streams, bridges, waterfalls and islands. Every summer Friday brings live music on the Ninth Street Plaza for Friday Fest , with street performers, fire spinners, face painting, balloon artistry, sidewalk chalk and more. GREELEY FRIDAY FEST Sidetrips Located northwest of Fort Collins, the rustic mountain village of Red Feather Lakes is far from energetic 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. A peaceful place to explore the plains is the town's 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 . Day 3 FROM TOP: GREELEY FRIDAY FEST; EFRAÍN M. PADRÓ. Like any good college town, Greeley has a colorful selection of coffee shops. Hit the streets where, as part of Historic Preservation Commission walking tours, you’ll learn about the city’s neighborhoods, historic sites and architecture. Greeley’s culinary offerings grow every year, including Stay & Play Options Bellvue , Fort Collins (page 183), Greeley , Johnstown , Loveland , Platteville , Red Feather Lakes , Windsor BENSON SCULPTURE GARDEN COLORADO . COM 157
Colorado Official State Vacation Guide 2022: Page 157
