The good life in Fort Collins, Colorado

Winter in Colorado does not have to be just about snowshoeing in extreme temperatures.

It is not compulsory to go axe throwing. Nobody forces you to ride the range and eat outdoors. Travelling through city streets in sub-zero temperatures in an open air tuk tuk is by no means mandatory. Some parts of Northern Colorado have fine restaurants, lots of live music, festivals, interesting museums and quirky breweries.

As a conclusion to a trip around the Colorado countryside in winter, where is better to go than Fort Collins? The University town is a place to chill, relax and enjoy the good life.

I stayed at the historic Armstrong Hotel which, like the weather outside, was very cool for school. The establishment is now 100 years old and from what I could observe is more or less unchanged bar the Wi-Fi connection.

The reception, corridors and rooms ooze heritage with polished wooden floors and period photography. The welcome and service were second to none plus it was within walking distance of almost everything within the downtown area. At no time did one feel rushed, pressured, hassled or disturbed.

The downtown area is something to behold with literally hundreds of retail outlets none of which did I recognise from other parts of the state let alone the country. This is how to ensure your town is not part of the clone destination gang. Keeping shopkeepers, bar owners, event organisers and hoteliers independent will always give rise to visitors’ inquisitive nature and more often than not a feeling of excitement as to what will one discover next. Uniqueness is a brand credential worth holding onto.

Food scores highly on the Fort Collins register and I was lucky enough to enjoy three distinct and unique restaurants that come into the highly recommended category. For lunch I visited the fantastic multi-level café come restaurant Ginger and Baker (no its not named after the English Rock drummer) for some ‘comfort’ food. Not that I needed comforting, but the ham sandwich and soup definitely left me feeling comfortable. The buzz of the clientele who all appeared to be both local and regular added to the reassuring nature that this was the place to be. Dinner was extra special at the aptly named Regional restaurant. I took a place at the bar, which if dining on one’s own is a good place for striking up conversation with residents and visitors alike and was immediately met with a warm greeting and a wide choice of beer. The menu reflected the season and the local supply of product as I chowed down on deep fried chicken and vegetables. This truly was finger licking good.

For breakfast the ninety-year-old Silver Grill is regionally and perhaps nationally known not just for its excellent all day long café food but for its Cinnamon Rolls. Now I am not a great lover of Cinnamon in any form, but this delicacy is worth travelling those few extra miles for. I am not alone either as around 12,000 are sold each month.

With all the food, beer (Fort Collins is the independent brewery capital of the universe), browsing and relaxation it’s tempting not to do anything else which by my measure is more than acceptable, but you would be missing out as Fort Collins has other treasures to expose.

The winter months offer a unique opportunity to see Fort Collins’ beautiful landscapes covered in snow, including the Rocky Mountains, Horsetooth Reservoir, and Poudre River. If you’re looking to stay indoors, Fort Collins has plenty of indoor attractions to explore but my personal recommendation would be to allocate at least half a day to visit the Museum of Discovery. It is relatively small but packs an educational punch way above its size. In the space of a few hours, you can discover the history of the region, study the geology, learn to become a scratch DJ and learn how do play guitar. Whilst you may not become the new Jimi Hendrix it is huge fun and the whole facility is worth the visit as indeed is the destination as whole.