Getaway Page CO

Fort Collins is a great Colorado getaway choice

By Larry Dreiling

Fort Collins is known as 'The Choice City' for lots of good reasons. For those looking for a little something different in a Colorado getaway, Fort Collins may be just the place.

Having grown up in Colorado and having Godparents living there, Fort Collins has always been one of my favorite places, mainly because it's a little bit of everything. It is, of course, the home of Colorado State University, but it's a lot more than that.

Fort Collins is a recreation paradise, a shopper's haven, a diner's delight, a little bit old college town and a little bit big city. To its boosters, Fort Collins is fast-paced and laid-back, upscale and low key, old railroad town and high tech hotbed.

And, you have to add the weather, with 300 days of sunshine. To start your trip, do like I did and head for the Fort Collins Official Online Guide for Visitors. You can also stop in at the Colorado Welcome Center, right off I-25 and East Prospect Blvd., for more information.

Contact:
Fort Collins Convention and Visitors Bureau at the Colorado Welcome Center
3745 East Prospect Road
Fort Collins, CO 80525
Phone: 1-800-274-FORT, (970) 491-3388
Fax: (970) 491-3389
http://www.ftcollins.com
Email: information@ftcollins.com

Colorado State University

Abutting the Welcome Center is CSU's Environmental Learning Center, one of the last remaining undeveloped riparian woodlands along the Poudre River. The visitor center houses interpretive displays designed by youth rangers.(The visitor center is open upon request.) Trails are open daily, dawn to dusk. Free, guided group tours also are available upon request.

The ELC is a 212-acre nature preserve just minutes from the heart of Fort Collins, includes nearly three miles of trails, four distinct habitats, several ponds, varied plant and animal life, and a wealth of experiences, self-study opportunities, and educational programs.

The Northeast/Welcome Center Entrance at I-25 Exit 268 and Prospect Avenue features a short (less than 1/4 mile) wetland habitat interpretive trail along Boxelder Creek. Another short trail leads west towards a wildlife bunker for viewing wetland waterfowl, songbirds, deer, and small mammals. Programs are provided at the outdoor amphitheater, teaching forest and indoor classroom.

The North entrance, off Prospect Road, approximately one mile west of the Welcome Center, is marked by an ELC sign at its parking lot. To fish or watch wildlife, follow the short trail to the fishing pond, or take a short hike south to the City of Fort Collins Cottonwood Hollow Natural Area.

The South or Drake Road entrance is on the east end of Drake Road (about one mile east of Timberline). Hike or bike 2.5 miles of trails through cottonwood forest along the Cache La Poudre River; cross the suspension bridge into the heart of the Preserve. Visit the eagles, hawks and other injured birds of prey at the raptor cages. Picnic, or bike, hike, or blade the paved Spring Creek trail into Fort Collins.

For more information, contact:
CSU Environmental Learning Center
3745 East Prospect Road #205
Phone: (970) 491-1661
Fax: (970) 491-5883
http://www.cnr.colostate.edu/elc/

Fort Collins and Colorado State University is, at its heart, a marriage of agriculture and education. While the home of Cam the Ram takes pride in all facets of that union, the James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital is perhaps its best example.

Each year, more than 24,500 animal patients from all over the nation are brought by their owners to Voss Hospital. While small animal care is a big part of the hospital, so too is the large animal segment, particularly the equine facilities.

They come for treatments ranging from routine vaccinations to limb-sparing surgery for cancer treatment and for everything else in between. For some, they are here because of veterinary medical services found nowhere else in the world. For others, they simply come because of the quality of care they know their pets will receive.

The hospital is recognized around the world for its Argus Institute and the pioneering accomplishments made in implementation of a practice model that makes the emotional support of people as much a priority as the medical care of pets.

The Institute theorizes that more and more of today's veterinarians sincerely want to help their clients deal with emotional, pet-related situations. In fact, many believe they have a moral and ethical responsibility to respond to their clients' emotional needs. The mission of the Argus Institute is to prepare veterinary teams to successfully meet the emotional needs of pet-owning families.

Each April, Voss Hospital hosts an open house that includes exhibits, tours, and presentations on a wide range of topics, a petting zoo, 'mock surgery' and a 'stump the vet' booth. There is an abbreviated tour available for children. All events are free and open to the public.

For more information, contact:
James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital and Argus Institute
Colorado State University
300 West Drake Road
Fort Collins, CO 80523-1620
Phone: (970) 221-4535
FAX (970) 297-4100
http://www.colostate.edu
http://csuvets.colostate.edu
http://www.argusinstitute.colostate.edu

Horsetooth Reservoir

Located in the foothills west of Fort Collins at an elevation of 5,430 feet, Horsetooth Reservoir is 1,900 acres of water surrounded by 2,000 acres of public land. It is popular for fishing, boating, water-skiing, and camping.

This 6.5-mile reservoir is open year round and is a part of the Colorado-Big Thompson Project operated by the Bureau of Reclamation and the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District. The purpose of this water project is to divert water from the west slope to the east slope for drinking water, irrigation, and hydropower generation.

The Bureau of Reclamation is solely responsible for power generation. The agencies jointly manage water levels for irrigation, municipal and industry use.

For more information, contact:
Larimer County Parks and Open Lands
1800 S. County Road 31
Loveland, CO 80537
Phone: (970) 679-4570
http://www.larimer.org/parks/horsetooth

Discovery Science Center Museum The Discovery Science Center is Colorado's only hands-on science and technology center, loaded with 110 incredible interactive exhibits to ignite the curiosity and make learning fun for the entire family. Traveling exhibits add to the experience. Open Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information, contact: Discovery Center Science Museum
703 E. Prospect Road
Phone: (970) 472-3990
Fax: (970) 472-3997
Email: dcsm@psd.k12.co.us http://www.dcsm.org

Historic Old Town Downtown Fort Collins has seen a resurgence over the last few years. What once was a part of the past is alive again with great specialty shops and some of the best eating establishments you'll find in Colorado. Historic Old Town events attract over 500,000 people annually to visit, shop, and dine.

Bringing all that together is the 17th Annual New WestFest, planned for Aug. 20 and 21. This free weekend showcases over 300 arts, crafts and food booths; Kids' World, a carnival for those young at heart; two beer gardens, and three stages of continuous entertainment highlighting Northern Colorado's wonderfully talented artists. The local downtown group also hold events like Holiday Lights, Santa's House, a St. Patrick's Day Parade, the Noontime Notes concert series, Downtown Live, Sidewalk Sale, Tiny Tot Halloween Parade and much more.

For more information, contact:
Historic Old Town Fort Collins
9 Old Town Square #230
Phone: (970) 484-6500
http://www.downtownfortcollins.com/ Pawnee National Grasslands and Pawnee Buttes A unique part of the Arapahoe and Roosevelt National Forest is the vast open prairie 30 miles east of Fort Collins, called the Pawnee National Grasslands, 193,000 acres of public land in two areas.

Crow Valley Recreation Area provides opportunities for bird watching, picnics and camping while at the eastern section of the Grasslands, the Pawnee Buttes sedimentary rock formations stand one half mile apart and rise 350 feet above the Plains. An easy one and a half mile trail provides an opportunity to view the Buttes up close. Please remember to keep your distance from nesting birds and wildlife.

It's worth the trip to see these sights. Follow Colorado Highway14 east to Briggsdale. Watch for the Pawnee National Grasslands signs. To reach the Crow Valley Recreation Area, take CR 77 north 1/4 mile. To reach Pawnee Buttes, take Hwy. 14 east, turn north on CR 103. Take CR 103 to Keota, follow the signs to Pawnee Buttes. Continue on CR 105, turn right on CR 104, then left on CR 111 to reach the Buttes.

For more information, contact: Pawnee National Grassland Headquarters
U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service
2150 Centre Avenue Building E
Fort Collins, CO 80526-8119
(970) 295-6600
http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/arnf/

Foam On The Range Contrary to popular belief, there is more than one brewery in Colorado. As a matter of fact, Fort Collins is home to five breweries, from the giant Anheuser-Busch brewery, to Coopersmith's Pub and Brewing. Favorites such as Fat Tire, 90 Shilling, Z Lager, Poudre Pale Ale, Budweiser and Bud Light are brewed in the city. The city hosts the annual Colorado Brewer's Festival on the last weekend in June.

So proud is Fort Collins of their brewers, that a local travel agency features a 'Foam on the Range' tour package including lodging and tax, a tour of each brewery, tastings and a souvenir at each stop. Ground transportation is available upon request for an additional fee.

Perhaps the most accessible brewery tour is that of Anheuser-Busch. On their complimentary brewery tours, you'll learn about the Budweiser brewing process, and see a team of the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales. A gift shop is open year-round. Open June through August daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; September, daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and October through May, Thursday through Monday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Clydesdale Camera Day from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on the first Saturday of each month.

For more information, contact: Anheuser-Busch Tour Center
2351 Busch Drive
(Mountain Vista exit off I-25)
Phone: (970) 490-4691
http://www.budweisertours.com
Fort Collins Brewery Information
http://www.ftcollins.com/FoamontheRange.pdf

For more advice and information, contact the following sources:

Fort Collins Convention & Visitors Bureau CSU Environmental Learning Center Colorado State University
James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital
Argus Institute
Horsetooth Reservoir
Discovery Science Center Museum
Historic Downtown Fort Collins
Pawnee National Grassland
Foam on the Range
Budweiser Tours