Things To Do
Rocky Mountain National Park
RMNP requires timed entry reservations (in addition to a pass or day pass). The website has info on how to acquire these and other regulations, as well as everything else you may need to know. Trail Ridge Road usually opens around Memorial Day (weather dependent), which is a great drive through the park over to Grand Lake on the west side.
Lory State Park
We are hoping to hold our welcome event in Lory.
The Lyric
Quirky local movie theater with inside and outside spaces, food, and a bar. Give yourself time to hang out before the movie starts. Easy to get here via bike paths through Lee Martinez park.
The Mishawaka
If you find yourself with time to explore Poudre Canyon (rafting, hiking, climbing paradise), stop at the Mish for beers or lunch on the river. Great outdoor seating where you can watch the rafters go by. Most weekend evenings they have live music in the natural amphitheater.
Hiking and Open Spaces
There are unlimited hiking options in the area, including many right outside of town in the foothills or in Poudre Canyon. Here are a couple of our favorite hikes and open spaces: Greyrock Mountain (6.3 mi): Greyrock is one of our favorite places to climb, and you can hike it too. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/colorado/greyrock-summit-trail Open Spaces and Natural Areas: Reservoir Ridge: https://www.fcgov.com/naturalareas/finder/reservoirridge Devil's Backbone: https://www.larimer.gov/naturalresources/openlands/acquisitions/devils-backbone
Whitewater Rafting
Our wedding date is in the later part of peak flow on the river due to snowmelt in the mountains. There are lots of raft companies in the area, Rocky Mountain Adventures is one of the best.
River Tubing
The Poudre River runs right through town. There are plenty of sections that are great for tubing which can easily be done independently with a car shuttle. We have some inner tubes for borrowing, or they can usually be purchased for ~$20 or less at Jax Outdoor Gear on North College. Tubes can also be rented at On the Edge Tuning; they can also provide safety info, maps and resources, and flow rates. June is iffy for tubing depending on water levels, so it's advisable to do some research before planning to make sure it's safe. The popular in-town float is Shields St to Legacy Park. Our favorite float is Timberline to Prospect. There is an extension from Prospect to the Environmental Learning Center, but it's a bit more rugged and involves passing a fork in the river to pass a dam, so use extreme caution and maybe don't take kids on that section.
The Exchange
Shipping container courtyard with restaurants, breweries, ice cream (from a giant churn you can see from the road), putt putt, and lawn games.
Breweries
Fort Collins has some amazing breweries. Most of them are kid and dog-friendly, bikeable, have great outdoor seating, and often have rotating food trucks. Here are some of our favorites: Odell Brewing: They have a winery next door and you can take wine/beer between the two locations. https://www.odellbrewing.com/ Stodgy Brewing: https://stodgybrewing.com/ Verboten Brewing (walking distance from Hilton): https://verbotenbrewing.com/fort-collins-location/ Gilded Goat Brewing Company: https://www.gildedgoatbrewing.com/ Horse and Dragon Brewing Company (close to Best Western Kiva, a bit further out of town but worth the trip): https://www.horseanddragonbrewing.com/ Equinox Brewing: https://equinoxbrewing.com/ And, of course, New Belgium: It's worth doing the free or extended tour (reservations encouraged), which ends with an optional curly slide. https://www.newbelgium.com/
Bike Paths
Bike, run, or walk a section of the bike paths that criss-cross Fort Collins. Feel free to reach out for advice on our favorite sections and trails. I'm partial to the Poudre Trail and Spring Creek Trail. These show up on Google Maps (satellite view or select the biking details option) or you can get a map at some trailheads or the https://www.fcgov.com/bicycling/bike-maps.
Holiday Twin Drive In Theatre
Catch a movie or two at the drive-in.
For Kids - Splash Pads
If it's hot and you want to keep the kids entertained, there are several good splash pads around town. Here are some we know of: Spring Canyon Park, Overland Trail - there is also a huge playground here. Fossil Creek Park, Lemay Ave - playground at this one too. Oak Street Plaza Park, Oak St, Old Town - One of our favorite restaurants, Blue Agave, is right next to this one. They have outdoor seating and good margs, so parents if you want a spot to enjoy yourselves while the kids play, this is a good option. Old Town Square - Right in the middle of downtown, with shopping, restaurants, ice cream, etc, options next door.
For Kids and Families
Fort Collins Museum of Discovery - "A hands-on museum with exhibits on science, history, music, agriculture, zoology, and astrology." The Farm at Lee Martinez Park - "A farm where kids can pet sheep, ride ponies, and see baby chicks." Fort Fun - "A lakeside entertainment center with a mini-golf course, go-karts, batting cages, bumper boats, bumper cars, laser tag, giant slides, and an arcade." Adults I know like this place too. City Park Pool - public pool and water park. There is fishing in Sheldon Lake, right next to the pool. Fly High Trampoline Park - this is located next to our favorite climbing gym in town, Whetstone, in case you want to check that out as well.