After hopping on a direct flight from Houston to the Denver airport (there are several daily options from United, Frontier, and Southwest), pick up your rental car and drive one hour north. Say hi to the Buc-ee’s in Johnstown on your way—the state’s first, which opened in 2024.

For a casual lunch or snack, hit up Slyce Pizza Co. and be tempted by some of the day’s creative toppings, which include macaroni and cheese and crab rangoon. This pit stop puts you in the heart of Old Town for a couple of hours to roam the boutiques, vintage shops, and bookshops, such as Bookstore on the Square. Visit Heck Yes Vintage, and Wayward for clothing and unique vintage finds.

City Park, the city’s grassy gem, always seems to buzz with people playing Frisbee and lounging on picnic blankets. On Tuesday evenings during the summer, the Fort Collins Food Truck Rally is a lively place to savor a variety of cuisines.

Timed reservations for Rocky Mountain National Park are a must during peak summer months, with many slots released at 7pm the night before. If you can handle an early morning wake-up, it’s worth setting your alarm to secure one of the first slots at the Bear Lake Road entry.

Choose your own outdoor adventure—whether that means hiking the Rocky Mountains or nearby trails, like those at Lory State Park or Horsetooth Falls. Pack picnic provisions from a local grocery store, or grab sandwiches to go from Snack Attack or Yampa Sandwich Co.

For a crowd-pleaser, tour Bellvue’s Morning Fresh Dairy Farm, where Noosa Yogurt is made. While there, sample a milk flight featuring fresh chocolate and whole milk straight from the source.

Follow that up with a hearty meal at Ginger & Baker (the chicken pot pie is a must), or dine at the Regional, an eclectic, family-owned restaurant with funky, mismatched plates and a rotating menu highlighting seasonal produce.

If you’re not too exhausted, enjoy a nightcap at Social, a vibey Old Town basement speakeasy serving craft cocktails, many of which are made with botanical spirits like marigold-infused vodka and ginger cognac. The non-alcoholic concoctions are just as alluring.

Dedicate at least half a day to celebrating Fort Collins’s delicious beverage offerings, whether that be house-roasted coffee, tea, or beer.

Craft beer fans will enjoy tours at their favorite local brewery, which can feel like a trip to Disney to the true connoisseur. Well-known establishments include New Belgium, with its signature Fat Tire Amber Ale, and Odell Brewing Company, renowned for its IPAs and wheat beers. Both offer tours at set times for a small fee, which often includes a tasting (don't forget to seal the experience at New Belgium with a ride down the slide at the end of the tour). Try more under-the-radar spots, like the German-style Zwei Brewing Co., and newcomers Hello Brew Co. and Salt Road Brewing Co.

Feeling fancy? Make a reservation for afternoon tea at the Duchess Tea Room and enjoy unlimited hot tea, finger sandwiches, and desserts in a light-filled downtown storefront, comfortable for kids and adults alike. Or, find your own brew at a local tea shop like Happy Lucky’s Teahouse, which boasts pure leaf teas and custom blends.

For a lighter meal, head to Welsh Rabbit, which offers tapas and an omakase-style approach to curating a charcuterie board based on your preferences. Or, hit up Totally 80s Pizza & Museum, filled with cheesy pies, action figures, and movie memorabilia that will amp up the nostalgia.

Thrill-seekers can book an evening ghost tour through Fort Collins Tours that combines local history and lore with a touch of spookiness. Unlike others of its kind, guests are allowed to explore the buildings, including many of the basements of downtown shops and restaurants, where you might get a glimpse of a creepy apparition.

On the final day, start with a hearty brunch at the Farmhouse at Jessup Farm. Cluck “hello!” to the on-site chickens while heading into a nineteenth-century farmhouse building, where you can order a round of scratch-made biscuits, chicken and waffles, or the Farmhouse Burger, served on a sweet Hawaiʻian bun with garlic aioli.

Don’t forget a unique souvenir. Splurge on an American-made watch from the Colorado Watch Co., which restores and repurposes antique watches and also crafts timepieces right in its Fort Collins storefront. Or, sign up for a daylong class at Colorado Shoe School in Bellvue farm country, on the outskirts of town. There, you can create your very own custom pair of shoes from upcycled leathers and fabrics in its funky design studio.

The Elizabeth Hotel, a comfortable Autograph Collection property, is within walking distance of Old Town hot spots and features two cozy cocktail lounges on the property (The Emporium is a go-to for happy hour bites and discount draft cocktails), plus a rooftop bar and a free instrument lending library conveniently located at the front desk. Guests can check out a ukulele, guitar, or keyboard, complete with amps and accessories, and jam out in their room.

A more budget-friendly alternative is Hilton Fort Collins, a nine-story hotel located in Midtown Fort Collins on the outskirts of Colorado State University. Tip: Ask for a room on a higher floor facing west and you’ll be rewarded with gorgeous mountain views. Spring Creek Grill, the on-site bar and restaurant, serves up reasonably priced cocktails, plus daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner.