Five reasons to check out FoCo

As a Colorado State University alumni, Fort Collins has had a special place in my heart for a while. It’s where my punk band made its “big stage” debut at the sadly now-defunct but always iconic Starlight, it’s where I discovered craft beer much sooner than the rest of the world and where I frequently indulged in the day-long gut bomb that is Big City Burrito.

A recent visit, however, brought on the realization that not only is FoCo (yeah … it’s even got a cool name, now) a nostalgic, let’s even say sacred place to me, but it has become one of America’s raddest towns. This has nothing to do with the influx of hipsters that have landed there in recent years, but more with …

Lots and lots of really good beer

New Belgium and Odell Brewing are obvious pioneers in taking suds to a higher level. During my college days, ___ years ago, they were pretty much the only gigs in town. They were called “microbreweries” back then (is that even still a word?). Now the entire northeastern edge of town is stacked with craft breweries. Horse & Dragon has one of the best stouts in the world – Sad Panda and Fort Collins Brewery boasts a sprawling, delightfully social indoor space. Still, nothing beats the patio scene at Odell on a sunny afternoon and New Belgium offers what is arguably the most interesting and engaging (not to mention drunken)brewery tour you’ll ever experience. It ends with a trip down the twisty slide … super fun after four free pints.

Cruiser bike pelotons

Well, this does have something to do with hipsters, since the clog of people that spends weekend afternoons pedaling between breweries is comprised of a fair number of long-bearded bros with a leashed dog in hand (bad idea, man!). But as long as you can skirt around the gapers, there’s no better way to get around the Fort than on two wheels. If you don’t bring your own bike along, there’s also a wonderfully cheap new bike share program. Seriously, the scene is like a bike parade. The peloton is out in force all the time.

Foodie extravaganza

As mentioned, Big City Burrito is still around, run as always by hippies and fantastic for a casual “bite” that doubles as semi-monstrous weight for bicep curls. There’s also Coopersmiths, a long-standing brew pub specializing in scrumptious sandwiches and burgers. But now, Fort Collins has finally capitalized on its agricultural offerings and given new meaning to farm-to-table freshness. The farms are two miles (to 30) away, so the locally sourced meat, cheese and produce doesn’t get much fresher. This rings especially true for newish small chains like The Kitchen, a fine-dining joint that also has locations in Boulder and Denver and is pretty much the standout date stop for a fancy dinner of fresh comfort food. Breakfast has always kicked ass in Fort Collins with mainstays like Lucille’s, home of the world’s most bomber biscuits and Avogadro’s Number , with its messy plates of eggs and avocado. Snooze, with its yummy a.m. cocktails and pancake flights also has an Old Town location now. Situated off the main drag, Foco’s best new dining digs is Jessup Farm. Although it’s off the beaten path, the converted old farmhouse has an awesome patio with amazing views, scrumptious snacks (housemade hummus or goat cheese, anyone?), lots of vegetarian options (lentil pot pie!), a good beer selection and creative cocktails. It’s worth the trip.

Rockin’ music scene

In addition to my band (we were called Last to Know and are now erased from existence, not discoverable in any modern capacity) FoCo has long since boasted a flourishing punk scene, producing acts like All and Armchair Martian. Now it is home to immeasurable talent of all genres, much of which can be sampled at FREE festivals like Bohemian Nights, outside in Old Town every summer and the upcoming FocoMX, which infiltrates local bars and breweries with two days of high-energy, nonstop live tunes.

Outdoor recreation

Some of us don’t really get our fresh air fix with a five-minute slow pedal to the next pint, so good thing there are places like Horsetooth Reservoir, best reached via a 7-mile, 5,000-foot uphill slog from town on skinny tires and a scenic starting point for numerous hikes, mountain bike rides or a waterside picnic. Go a little farther up the Poudre Canyon (GREAT for tubing but not in the spring when the water is raging) and the pine treed Eden of Lory State Park awaits.

So yeah. FoCo, bro.