In Fort Collins, digital minimalism isn’t a trend — it’s a lifestyle. From hands-on maker spaces and trail hikes to unplugged cafes and analog entertainment, the city offers countless ways to disconnect from screens and reconnect with what matters: creativity, nature, and real human interaction.
Screen-Free Experiences & Events
MAKE
Colorado Shoe School is Fort Collins’ premier analog‑craft destination — where expressiveness meets hands‑on artistry. Nestled just north of town in Bellvue, it offers beginner‑friendly workshops that guide students step‑by‑step through making their own shoes (or fanny packs or leather journal covers) entirely by hand. By tapping into the maker culture, upcycling repurposed materials, and offering a tangible creative outlet, it delivers exactly what today’s hobbyists crave: digital downtime, sustainable skill‑building, and the pride of walking away in something self‑made.
Fort Collins Creator Hub is a nonprofit org that offers workshops on stained glass, 3D printing and more, all hands-on hobbies that deliver satisfaction sans screens.
MOVE
(Photo at the Bay-to-Bay trail by Brendan Bombaci)
Take a device-free walk or hike at one of the MANY Natural Areas nearby, or hike the brand new Bay-to-Bay trail at Horsetooth Reservoir, a scenic 1.8-mile natural surface path connecting Inlet Bay to South Bay at Horsetooth Reservoir. Accessible from the Blue Sky Trailhead or the South Bay swim beach, this trail offers hikers and bikers moderate terrain, stunning reservoir views, and a sustainable design that preserves local wildlife habitats.
NEW Wildlife Walk: Elk Meadow Trail — In October, a new trail opened at Bobcat Ridge Natural Area. The Elk Meadow Trail winds 1.75 miles through the valley, crossing seasonal streams and passing dramatic rock formations, with sweeping views of red rock cliffs and foothills. Named for the elk often seen in the area, this easy-to-moderate route connects the existing trail system near the historic cabin and the northeast section of the Valley Loop Trail, just 1.5 miles from the trailhead, and provides access to 675 newly conserved acres. The Elk Meadow Trail is open to hikers, bikers and horseback riders (no dogs allowed at Bobcat Ridge).
Drala Mountain Center (pictured above), one of only 100 Shambhala centers found in the world, is in Red Feather Lakes, around 40 miles from Fort Collins. The 600-acre mountain valley retreat is surrounded by native forests, gentle meadows and rocky peaks and is home to the Great Stupa of Dharmakaya, one of the most significant examples of sacred architecture in the world. In addition to a wide variety of online seminars and events, the center hosts Buddhist meditation, yoga and other contemplative disciplines. Three-day Retreat & Renewal programs take place in November and December 2025 and January and March 2026.
PLAY
The Haunted Game Cafe offers a screen-free environment with hundreds of board games. Customers are encouraged to put away phones and engage with friends. They offer Living Card Game Nights every Thursday.
Pinball Jones is a true gem, chock full of vintage and brand-new pinball machines, as well as pool tables, air-hockey tables, Skee-ball and all manner of arcade cabinets (old and new) sure to leave even hard-to-please teens (and tweens) grinning.
VISIT
Escape the scroll at Old Firehouse Books, which promotes deep engagement with physical books and in-person discussions. An upcoming author discussions include Margaret Mizushima (“Dying Cry”) on Oct. 14.
At Wolverine Farms Publick House, poetry readings, (free) writing workshops, and more encourage analog creative pursuits with a focus on solitude and creative output. A Residency Concert Series takes place every Wednesday while Dead Pen Drawing Club is held weekly on Monday nights. And Perelandra Bookshop, located inside Wolverine Farms, is the perfect spot to find your next cozy read.
EAT/DRINK
Tech Sabbath at Bread Fellow: A cozy, European-inspired bakery in Old Town, Bread Fellow invites guests to slow down over house-made breads, pastries, and coffee. On Saturdays, they host a Tech Sabbath—no Wi-Fi, no laptops—just real conversation, good food, and a space to be fully present. They also limit Wi-Fi use during the week to encourage more mindful, in-person connections. A perfect spot for those embracing digital minimalism in Fort Collins.
Social hour at Social (pictured above): Social offers Social Hour on Tuesdays and prohibition-inspired cocktail (and mocktail) nights on Thursdays, creating an ambiance where patrons are more focused on meaningful conversations over craft creations. With it being a basement bar, phone service is hard to come by, but people service is top notch!
Music immersion: The very refined-yet-offbeat Magic Rat Live Music, located inside the luxury Elizabeth Hotel in Old Town, hosts big name artists and local late-night jam sessions. Upstairs on the rooftop, The Sunset Lounge offers daily live music on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings.
STAY
For a more secluded stay, consider one of these options:
TINY HOMES, GLAMPING TENTS, CABINS AND MORE
Riverside Colorado is a new eco-friendly lodging option in the Poudre Canyon. Accommodations at Riverside range from furnished canvas wall tents and tiny homes to cabins and lodge quarters. On site, the Poudre Park Market General Store carries prepared foods and essentials while The Kind Bean, a converted Airstream, keeps guests caffeinated.
CABINS
Fort Collins/Lakeside KOA: Located in the northwest corner of Fort Collins, just five minutes from Colorado State University (CSU), this cool KOA features deluxe and basic cabin rentals, as well as RV and tent sites. Don’t miss: the private hot tub sites (seasonal).
Marr’s Mountain Cabins in Red Feather Lakes is home to six fully furnished lakefront cabin rentals and a tavern. This hidden gem area is located in the mountains northwest of Fort Collins and surrounded by the 612,000-acre Roosevelt National Forest.
YURTS
Seven Utes Yurt (pictured above) is Colorado Mountain School’s newest adventure basecamp, mountain lodge, and outdoor education center in the remote Cameron Pass area of Colorado. Located in State Forest State Park, the 40-foot yurt sleeps up to 16 and boasts 360-degree mountain views and a wrap-around deck. Additional amenities: stocked kitchen, solar power, portable toilets, outdoor seating/table space and a wood-burning stove.
Yonder Yurts, owned by Carey and Sarah Peterson, features seven new secluded yurts near Walden in State Forest State Park. The new concessionaire, who replaced Never Summer Yurts, also operates Nokhu Hut and Agnes Creek Cabin, located near Cameron Pass.
