Along the Front Range in Colorado, a progressive city flowing with beer and filled with rows of bicycles sits flat in contrast to the 10,000ft+ peaks in the near distance. Fort Collins, with its origins as a military camp, keeps its old charm with a well kept "Main Street" while employing a forward thinking attitude towards its surroundings and citizens. The streets are well kept, solar powered garbage compactors accompany street corners, utility boxes and walls are covered in murals and bike libraries allow people to rent bicycles for free in a city that is extremely biker friendly. Just 65 miles north of Denver and only 40 miles from the Wyoming border, Fort Collins is home to a dozen or so breweries, such as Odell's and New Belgium, makers of 90 Shilling Ale and Fat Tire, both on my list of favorite beers. To prepare for a necessary Fort Collins Brewery tour, nothing beats eating a late breakfast at Luciles, with beignets and cornbread that rival many in the country. Fort Collins provided plenty of coffee shop/bookstore combos, park space, breweries and old style charm to keep me thoroughly entertained for eight hours while I waited for my host to be finished working. Walking around at an elevation of 5,000ft along the plains in Fort Collins was the perfect way to prepare for the 14ers that loomed in the distance.
footnote: The pianos were a city initiative that was happening when I visited where local artists painted the pianos and anyone could come up and play them.
footnote: The pianos were a city initiative that was happening when I visited where local artists painted the pianos and anyone could come up and play them.
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