Horsetooth Lake Life Guidebook

You can take Harmony East into town and park at the transit center. You can take a bus into old town Fort Collins area to all the restaurants, bars and excitement. It's a great way to site see and get around safely with your friends and family.

The only original city streetcar still operating in the Western U.S. is Birney Car 21 near Old Town. The Fort Collins Municipal Railway Society works with the local museum to preserve the electric railway line as part of the city's living history. Completely staffed by volunteers, the trolley runs for a small fee on summer weekends and holidays. The three-mile round trip travels along Mountain Avenue from City Park, through a lush suburban neighborhood, and ends just a few blocks from the Old Town District before returning.

Located along the foothills to the west, Fort Collins' first public works project sits on 26 acres of historic property. A guided tour provides access to old buildings and beautiful scenery, as well as portions of the Overland and Cherokee Trails.

The historic Avery House is the stunning former residence of the original town surveyor, Franklin Avery, and his family. The Fort Collins resident originally built the home in 1879, and the Avery's continued to occupy the house for almost another 100 years.

The Soapstone Prairie Natural Area is a wide-open landscape with an astounding comeback story. Fort Collins purchased the land in 2004; since then, the city has done a phenomenal job of conserving the environment and reintroducing native species into the ecosystem. The open space is 28 square-miles of native grasslands and shrubbery, with trails ranging from a quarter of a mile to miles-long hiking and biking paths. Photograph the wildflowers in the spring, or the majestic Yellowstone Buffalo saved from the brink of extinction.

A lack of pet-friendly accommodations can sometimes make or break a travel destination. Luckily, Fort Collins is home to several establishments that welcome furry friends when you're ready to trade natural open spaces for delicious eateries, bustling breweries, or comfortable and historic hotels. Multiple off-leash dog parks in the area give you a chance to let your companion run free, with Spring Canyon Park being a favorite among the locals.