Top 10 Reasons to Move to Fort Collins, Colorado

From the beautifully maintained trails to the jaw dropping landscapes, Colorado truly is an adventure seeker's paradise. Whether you want to visit, go on a roadtrip or find a new home to settle your roots, allow Fort Collins, Colorado to be that place. Take it from a woman who lived in Florida most of her life...Colorado is OUT OF THIS WORLD! Here are my top 10 reasons why...

1. The scenery

You know this had to be number 1. There are so many places to hike and explore within Fort Collins and the surrounding areas. No matter what season you're in, each one will offer breathtaking views and fun activities that'll be sure to keep you and your loved ones entertained and in the moment. Some of my favorites are hiking up Horsetooth Mountain in the spring and fall, paddle boarding at Horsetooth Reservoir in the summer and driving through the scenic Poudre Canyon. Although I haven't participated in any winter sports yet, I've had friends who've recommended Loveland Ski Area and Snowy Range. Don't forget about rock climbing, white water rafting, ice skating, sledding, snowshoeing and cross country skiing too! The list goes on!

2. Fort Collins is Colorado's Craft Beer Capital

Believe it or not, Fort Collins is home to more than 20 craft breweries, including the fourth largest craft brewer in the U.S., New Belgium Brewing Co. Some of my fiance and I's favorites include Odell, Horse & Dragon, Prost and Jessup Farm Barrel House. With only a short drive away, we also have Weldwerks, Wiley Roots and Loveland Aleworks. Between the food trucks, live music and fun events going on throughout the year there will always be a reason to celebrate. If you're pregnant or not a fan of beer, fear not! Almost all of these breweries serve non-alcoholic options such as kombucha (fermented tea) or seltzer too. Wild & Free, Turtle Mountain, Life's a Buch and All Kind Kombucha are some of my local favorites. Just know that if it says HARD Kombucha, there's definitely alcohol in there.

3. Your taste buds will thank you

Y'all...I've got to say that FoCo knows how to throw it down in the kitchen. Their bold flavors and locally sourced ingredients make every dish a unique experience. My stomach is rumbling just thinking about these places! For a quick, but delicious bite to eat I usually get Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh, Modern Market Eatery or Schlotzsky's. For breakfast/brunch Jacob and I love Urban Egg, The Farmhouse at Jessup Farm and Snooze an A.M. Eatery. For lunch we like going to Los Chingones or Krazy Karl's Pizza. If you go to Los Chingones order anything with the birria meat and a side of their Effin' Hot Sauce for one heck of a meal. For a special occasion or fancy night out, Jacob & I have enjoyed going to Rodizio Grill, Rare Italian and Blue Agave Grill. They're a bit more upscale, but they have some of the most mouth watering meals! I could go on and on about the food scene here, but I think you get the point.

4. Our historic Old Town was an inspiration for Disneyland

As you stroll down the streets of Old Town, you may notice that it resembles Disneyland's Main Street U.S.A. Before they started constructing Disneyland, Walt Disney asked Harper Goff to help him design the park. Born in 1911, Goff was raised in Fort Collins by his father who owned the Fort Collins Express Courier Newspaper. Goff, a Hollywood art director by trade, drew sketches based off his childhood memories of the buildings in Old Town Fort Collins when drafting up plans for Disney. Buildings such as the Old Firehouse Bookstore, the Old Linden Hotel, the bank building and the city hall building, among others, were used for inspiration. I guess you could call it, "The Happiest Place on Earth" ;)

5. There's creativity everywhere you turn

As soon as you arrive in Fort Collins, you may notice colorfully painted utility boxes, large murals and uniquely designed pianos. Thanks to the City of Fort Collins, they've implemented the "Art in Public Spaces" program. Where they encourage creativity, imagination and collaboration. From talented musicians busking in the streets to shows at The Comedy Fort and Bas Bleu Theatre, Fort Collins has plenty of entertainment for you to choose from. If you're organizing an event or want to tap into your creative side consider going to Pinot's Palette or Extra Arts & Drafts. There's also First Friday Art Walk, which is a free self guided tour that's located downtown from 6pm-9pm on the 1st Friday of each month.

6. We love the fur babies

If you have a furry companion you will thoroughly enjoy living in Fort Collins. Not only do local businesses love it when you bring your pet, they actually encourage it! All around town you'll see dogs galore wagging their tails and enjoying their daily walks with their owners. I squeal every time I see one...which is a lot LOL! At almost every business though you'll see bright signs in the window that say, "We're pet friendly!" or "Well behaved pets welcome!". It always brings a smile to my face. For a list of all of the places that are pet friendly, click here.

7. It's one of the most bike friendly towns

Fort Collins has 280-plus miles of trails, including paved and unpaved walking and biking trails. It's 1 of only 5 towns in the nation designated a Platinum Level Bike-Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists. The community has also received the Bicycle Friendly Business designation and a Platinum Bicycle Friendly University designation from the League of American Bicyclists. I have quite a few friends that love to bike from their houses to the breweries as well as go on mountain biking adventures. So if you're an avid biker or would like to become one, this is the perfect place to be!

8. We have one of the lowest crime rates

Fort Collins has a population of about 165,000. Currently, for every 100,000 people, about 221 of them are involved in violent crimes. To give you a little comparison, I moved from Tallahassee, FL where there are about 191,000 residents. For every 100,000 people 771 of them are involved in the same violent act. There's more categories we could compare, but overall Fort Collins is a lot safer than some of the places I've lived before. Even the homeless keep to themselves and are few and far between. I can confidently say that I look forward to raising our future kids here one day.

9. We're still close to the airport & big cities

Although Fort Collins is nestled in northern Colorado, you can still get to Denver, Red Rocks, Boulder, Estes Park and even Cheyenne, Wyoming in about 90 minutes or less, depending on traffic. A few of the main highways we use to get around are I-25 (North-South), I-70 (East-West) and US-34. Sometimes they can get a little backed up during peak seasons, but they're pretty manageable for the most part. Just make sure you have healthy tires and windshield wipers during winter season to help make your trip less stressful. No matter what roads you take, you'll be sure to have beautiful views and lasting memories along the way.

10. There's a wonderful community that awaits

Every business owner and resident I've met so far have been the nicest individuals. You can tell they care about your experience because they value community. I'm fortunate enough to teach yoga at a couple studios in town that really exemplify that; Foss Yoga Studio & Wellness and Grit Fort Collins. Even though their styles and offerings are a little different from each other, they both have visions to create a community where you instantly feel like home. I love that there are so many young professionals and entrepreneurs out here that really put their all in what they do. When I first moved here in April 2021, I joined a Facebook Group called Find Friends in Fort Collins (highly recommend). I had reached out to a couple people through there, but ended up meeting Angie Sparks first. Little did I know she would become a good friend AND our realtor for our first home. Since then, I've met so many incredible people that inspire me to keep learning, growing and stay open to opportunities. If you decide to come out here, I promise there will be a community waiting for you with big open arms ready to take you on the most exciting adventures!