Summer in Fort Collins is the BEST. Whether you're staying for a short weekend or longer, here are some of our favorite things to do.

Fort Collins is home to more than 20 craft breweries, the most famous of which are New Belgium and Odell's. A great way to see a handful of them in a day is via our bike trail system! We love the brewery tour at New Belgium because you get way more than your $10 ticket's worth of beer AND you get to go down a spiral slide at the end (as many times as you want!). DISCLAIMER FOR THE WEEKEND: We live 5k ft above sea level - alcohol WILL hit you harder than expected! Drink less than you normally would and stay hydrated.

Some of our favorite local hikes include Horsetooth Rock, Horsetooth Falls, Devil's Backbone, and Greyrock... but there are far too many to count. Ask Courtney for recommendations!

'Tis the season! Cool off with a swim or paddle in Horsetooth Reservoir (ask Courtney about if you need a permit and where to get it) or a float on the Poudre River (ask Courtney for tips on where to park, rent equipment, swim, etc). For more adventure, book a guide for whitewater rafting on the Poudre River! For some easy, in-town options: go down the water slides at the City Park Pool. You can also find a deep spot in the river by the bridge at Lee Martinez Park where people like to lounge on the river bank, slackline, rope swing, soak, etc. Lastly the Poudre River Whitewater Park is a fun spot to do some laps in a tube or watch people practice their kayak skills.

You know it wouldn't be a Courtney/Colm weekend without some games and (mostly) friendly competition. Join the fun with disc golf throughout town, pickleball at City Park, ping pong and mini golf at Old Town Putt, arcade games at Pinball Jones, finding the free community mini golf course while walking through our neighborhood, and recreating Courtney's 30th birthday party with laser tag and go-karts at Fort Fun.

The Lyric and Holiday Twin Drive-In show movies on their outdoor screens all summer long. The Lyric also has trivia nights, open mic nights, Saturday morning cartoons with a cereal buffet, and more.

Make time to aimlessly wander! Old Town (our downtown district) is full of local restaurants, breweries, and cute mom-and-pop shops. Fun fact: Harper Goff, who created Disneyland's Main Street USA with Walt Disney, grew up in Fort Collins. Harper came back to Fort Collins in the 1950s to photograph the buildings of his youth to use as the model for the buildings along Main Street USA in Disneyland, California. So, Fort Collins is basically Disneyland. Some of our favorite places:

TO EAT

- Bread Fellow (bakery/café)

- Lucille's Creole Café (southern breakfast food)

- Little Bird Bakeshop (bakery/café in an adorable old house with lots of cozy seating both inside and outside)

- Gelato & aMore (counter-service Italian eats by City Park)

- Ginger & Baker (café for breakfast/lunch, upscale restaurant for dinner)

- Blue Agave Grill (classy Mexican-fusion food with a nice outdoor patio)

- Little on Mountain (probably the best food in town, RSVP at least a month in advance)

- Wolverine Farm (aesthetic book store/ coffee shop/ bar that sometimes has live music)

- Tasty Harmony (vegan/vegetarian restaurant that's even popular with our carnivorous friends)

- RARE Italian (a nice upscale restaurant with housemade pasta dishes)

- Food Truck Rally in City Park

- Vern's and Me Oh My Pie and Bindle's Coffee (three different restaurants that are not in Old Town but get honorable mention on this list because they are lovely to bike to on the Poudre River Trail)

TO DRINK

- Town Pump (oldest dive bar in town, get an atomic jell-o shot for Courtney)

- Hi-Point (chill dive-y spot with a nice backyard patio and darts)

- Social (was once ranked best speakeasy in the nation; upscale with creative cocktails and apps)

- Tap & Handle (nice outdoor area with fire pits)

- Mayor of Old Town (vast beer selection)

- Old Elk Reserve (fantastic whiskey cocktails)

- Elliot's Martini Bar (every type of martini imaginable)

TO SHOP

- Saturday Farmer's Market

- Thrift shop (Wayward or Brand Spanking Used or EcoThrift for a little bit of everything, Gearage or Second Wind Sports for outdoor gear, Wear it Again Sam or Ragstock for clothes)

Aside from helping us decorate (please), there's so much to do on July 4th in this adorable all-American town. Start your day off with the the parade on Mountain Ave or the FireKracker 5k. Hit the Avery House in the middle of the day for their Old Fashioned Fourth of July celebration featuring lawn games and live music. Join the masses for the annual town float down the Poudre River. Take a free trolley ride to the food truck rally in City Park.

Only a hour's drive away! Enjoy hikes, wildlife watching, a scenic drive on the highest paved road in America, lakes, a mountain roller coaster, and the cute town of Estes Park. The YMCA of the Rockies has a great free disc golf course, as well as other activities. ATTENTION: reservations for Rocky Mountain National Park are required during the summer season if you plan to enter the park between 9 AM and 2 PM (5 AM - 6 PM if you plan on going to the most popular area - Bear Lake Road). You can book a reservation as early as June 1 at 8 AM MDT; they also release 40% more permits at 7 PM the night before your visit. We know it's confusing, Courtney is happy to help you.

One of the most iconic music venues in the world! Check the calendar to see what's showing during your visit. They also do yoga and movies on the rocks. There are gorgeous hiking trails around the venue if you just want to see it on your own time - you can wander around inside the amphitheater during the day when there aren't events going on. It's about 1.25 hours from Fort Collins, but closer to Denver if you're on your way in/out.