Fort Collins Named a Best Place to Travel in 2019 by Forbes
Recently Fort Collins was named one of the 14 Best Places to Travel in 2019 by Forbes. As Journalist of the year, Olivia Balsinger put it, “Fort Collins, nicknamed FoCo, is a happening new travel destination whose energetic art scene and entrepreneurial spirit makes the hour-long drive from Denver well worth it.”
Situated at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, 60 miles north of Denver International Airport, Fort Collins prides itself on its fabulous recreational opportunities, diverse cultural attractions, vibrant nightlife and dining scene and family fun.
Looking for exciting things to do? We invite you to come experience world-class whitewater rafting on Colorado's only nationally designated “Wild and Scenic” river, the Cache La Poudre River (the best whitewater rafting near Rocky Mountain National Park). Or, feel free to indulge yourself by sipping on award-winning craft beers at one of our 20-plus local breweries. We also encourage you to explore our unique local attractions and to stay in the know with our calendar of events. And, if you are looking for a place to stay, please check out our wide range of choices of hotels, B&B's and hostels.
Fort Collins is widely known for its picturesque historic downtown district. Did you know Walt Disney actually used the downtown area as inspiration for the look of Disneyland's Main Street USA? We’re proud to say that Main Street USA is modeled after our own Old Town Fort Collins!
Fort Collins has always ranked highly on lists of towns that offer exceptional outdoor adventures and access to excellent recreational facilities. Whether you're in Fort Collins for a weekend or a couple of weeks, it's nearly impossible to explore all of the trails, lakes, and streams in the surrounding foothills and mountains. As the base camp for your Colorado adventure, Fort Collins provides you with big-city offerings and the amenities of a Colorado mountain town. Camping, fishing, hiking, biking and exploring state parks and natural areas are all encouraged on your visit to Fort Collins, which plays host to Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and the spectacularly beautiful Horsetooth Reservoir.
Fort Collins also breathes life into the arts in the form of theatre, public art, musical performances, dance, art galleries, photography, museum exhibits and more. It comes as no surprise that Fort Collins is considered the cultural capital of Northern Colorado. One of the more unique aspects of the Fort Collins' art scene is the commitment the city has to public art and local artists. If you can believe it, people are provided the opportunity to play and make art. Pianos About Town, a program that brings arts and music to the streets, has more than a dozen pianos painted each year by local artists and placed throughout town in public spaces for budding and seasoned musicians to play.
Speaking of music, Fort Collins is knocking on the door to become known as the The Biggest Little Music City in America. From the Colorado-based acts that play at FoCoMX in April to the local and national acts that perform at Bohemian Nights NewWestFest, the Fort Collins summer music festivals are as vibrant and unique as the culture here. Not only can you find live music at any turn, Fort Collins also has a diverse lineup of festivals focused on its love for live music. No matter your musical tastes and interests, our music festivals celebrate the vibrancy of the local culture.
If you fancy yourself the ultimate foodie, Fort Collins will surely make your taste buds dance. Long known for its foodie culture, equipped with more restaurants per capita than most U.S. cities of similar size, the food-focused landscape only continues to blossom in Fort Collins. Influenced by local grown and seasonal foods, local restaurants and chefs are extremely innovative in planning savory menus that rotate throughout the year allowing visiting diners to have a constantly new experience. There are options for everyone, from family-friendly pricing, to fine-dining, to casual and pub fare. And, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the thriving Food Truck scene in Fort Collins. It’s not unusual to have a five-star meal at one of these incredible food trucks, most of which have been started by experienced chefs looking for a creative outlet.
Come find out why Fort Collins was named a top spot to travel to by Forbes. We promise you will not be disappointed.
