Fort Collins, Colorado

Fort Collins is a wonderful city located on The Front Range in Northern Colorado.  It is found about 60 miles north of Denver, Colorado and 40 miles south of Cheyenne, Wyoming. Originally, Fort Collins was founded as a military outpost for the United States but today it is the home of Colorado State University.

Money Magazine rated Fort Collins as "The best place to live". I can see why! Everything feels a bit slower and relaxed. Everyone I ran into was extremely nice. You will see Christmas trees growing in everyone's front yard. The air felt so clean, and the sky is the most intense shade of blue with big white fluffy clouds. You would think it was created in the Walt Disney Studios.

I had been here before but loved it so much I had to come back. The first time I  stayed at the Hilton. I would highly recommend that hotel but this is a blog about RV travel. So this time we stayed at…

Fort Collins Lakeside Resort
1910 Lakeside Resort Lane
Fort Collins, CO 80524
800-562-9068

It is a KOA and they seem to have it all.
Full hookups
Large sites (75 foot max length)
Wi-Fi
Cable TV
Cement patio
BBQ
Picnic table
Dog Run
Convenient store
Propane
Laundry
Snack bar
Lake
Paddle & Bumper Boats
Pool
Volleyball
Basketball
Miniature Golf
Playground
Bike rentals
and more

This facility offers everything from camping right on the lake to a more private sites. We had a site with a view of the lake. My impression is there is not a bad site in the place.



My advice to a wheelchair user or someone with limited mobility…
Gravels roads in the RV park were a bit difficult with my skinny tire chair. My chair with fatter tires was much better. A scooter might be even better.

Also, the dog run does not have a light so at night, watch your paws.


If you seriously want to do something special that most places don't have anymore… Visit the drive-in movie theater. Yes, Fort Collins still has a drive-in movie theater.

Holiday Twin Drive-In
2206 Overland Trail, Fort Collins
(970) 221-1244

When We got to the ticket booth to pay for the movie our dog was spotted in the backseat. After being asked "Do you have a dog"? We were sure that we would be asked to leave. My husband came clean and send "No, we have two". We were given our tickets, two dog cookies and told to enjoy the show. It was truly a great night for all of us!!

Turns out that Fort Collins is an extremely dog friendly town. People take their dogs everywhere. At most places dogs are welcome to join you for outside dining. There might even be water bowls for them.

Don't miss Old Town Fort Collins.



All types of wonderful restaurants, bars and fabulous shopping.
Day and nighttime fun!!

The sidewalks are well-maintained and completely accessible. Most restaurants and shops are also accessible. A lot of the restaurants have outdoor dining. There is plenty of accessible parking on the street.

If you are a beer drinker or just curious, Fort Collins is the place to be.
From beer tasting to touring the breweries. Fort Collins even has beer tasting bike tours!!

Colorado Springs, Colorado

Colorado Springs is a beautiful city with incredible outdoor activities. Its located on the south east side of the Rocky Mountains in the state of Colorado. From almost everywhere you can enjoy beautiful views of Pike's Peak. This is a big city that gets congested during peak hours, so plan your outings accordingly.

We stayed at:
Garden of the Gods RV Resort.
3704 W Colorado Ave, Colorado Springs
(719) 475-9450

Amenities:
Full hookups
Wi-Fi
Cable TV
BBQ
Picnic table
Dog friendly
Off leash dog park
Convenient store
Lounge
Tent area
Cabins

The sites are large, level and well-maintained. The staff is super friendly and very helpful.

** Be aware that if your a wheelchair user or someone with mobility issues that although the roads are paved, the sites are gravel.


A couple of the attractions:

The Olympic Training Center
1750 E Boulder St, Colorado Springs, CO
719-866-4618

The Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center rests on a 35-acre complex located near downtown Colorado Springs. The center has sport venues and support facilities for fencing, gymnastics, judo, shooting, swimming, taekwondo, weightlifting and wrestling. Athletes live and train at this facility.

I highly recommend this interesting stop. It is completely wheelchair accessible. This is a FREE experience. Guided tours run all day long. Also, free parking with a lot of handicapped accessible spaces.


Garden of the Gods National Park
1805 N 30th St, Colorado Springs, CO
(719) 634-6666

This beautiful park is completely accessible by foot, wheelchair, scooter or car.
The terrain is completely paved however some spots are quite steep. There is also a lot of unpaved area for hiking.

 
"Wonder how the Garden of the Gods in Colorado was named? In August, 1859, two surveyors started out from Denver to begin a town site, to be called Colorado City. While exploring locations, they came upon a beautiful area of sandstone formations. M.S. Beach suggested that it would be “a capital place for a beer garden,” when the country grew up. His companion, Rufus Cable, exclaimed, “Beer Garden! Why it is a fit place for the Gods to assemble. We will call it the Garden of the Gods.” The name stuck.

How did an area of such national significance become a city park? The answer to that question is a story of friendship, of strong commitment to the common good and of children fulfilling their father’s dream. This part of the story begins in 1879 when General William Jackson Palmer, founder of the city of Colorado Springs, convinced his good friend, Charles Elliott Perkins to buy 240 acres of land known as the Garden of the Gods. In 1899, Perkins purchased another 240 areas and in his letters to General Palmer, expressed his desire to donate his 480 acres to the City of Colorado Springs. Perkins was undoubtedly influenced by General Palmer, who already had donated more than 1,000 acres of his own land to become public city park lands.

In 1907, Charles Perkins died before he had officially arranged for the Garden of the Gods in Colorado to become a public park. However, knowing their father’s wish for the Garden, Perkins’ children deeded the 480-acre Garden of the Gods to the City of Colorado Springs on December 22, 1909, with the stipulation that it remain “free to the entire world".