It’s been a long winter. We don’t know about you, but these longer days make us want to break hibernation and get outside again. Finally! Now Spring is upon us and if the rising cost of travel has you thinking “staycation,” we have the perfect escape in mind: Northern Colorado. We’re sharing our ideas for the Perfect Extra-Long Weekend: four days away for families with kids and tweens/teens.
Day 1: Loveland
Taste:
Brunch – Arrive in Loveland before 3 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday for A.K.A. Kitchen’s (414 East 6th St., Loveland) beloved brunch. Tempt young tastebuds with Pancake Dipped Bacon and S’more Cinnamon Rolls, and satisfy more discerning hunger with a breakfast entrée, like the Corned Beef Skillet or Poblano Biscuits & Gravy.
Dinner – Check out Vatos Tacos & Tequila (270 N Cleveland Ave., Loveland – Foundry Plaza) where everyone gets to sample their own perfect taco flight, and those over 21 can taste-test the premium tequilas and cocktails.
Do:
Choose your adventure. Stick around Downtown Loveland for one of these kid- or teen-friendly favorites:
• Loveland Laser Tag (401 Denver Ave., Loveland) is home to Northern Colorado’s largest laser tag arena and so much more, like the indoor ropes course, bumper cars, 4D motion theater, laser maze, climbing wall, and arcade. The three-level 5,700-square-foot laser tag arena is still the G.O.A.T.
• At The Flipside (140 E. 4th St., Loveland) get nostalgic with old-school pinball or Pac Man, challenge the kids to air hockey, take aim at Skee-Ball, test your skill at the Toy Crane, try a new game or three, and – if you’re over 21 – enjoy a cocktail or cold brew.
• Axe to Grind (217 E 3rd St., Loveland) is the perfect spot to try one of the fastest growing sports entertainment challenges across the U.S. — axe throwing. Basic sessions include coaching along with game play, so beginners gain confidence and skill quickly. Minimum age to play is 10 years old.
• At Time Emporium Escape Rooms (391 Denver Ave., Loveland) raid an ancient Pharoah’s tomb, solve a series of murders in Victorian London, or unlock the mysteries of the Wizard’s Tower. You can choose from three action-packed, immersive escape rooms based on whatever adventure sounds most appealing.
See:
A sampling of The Arts, Loveland-style:
· Sculpture Strolling – Explore one of two renowned sculpture gardens. It may sound crazy but youngsters love racing among sculptures (some of them are pretty wild) displayed across acres of natural and landscaped gardens. Tweens and teens won’t admit it, but some of the artwork is kind of cool.
• Chapungu Sculpture Park at Centerra in Loveland (5971 Sky Pond Dr., Loveland) is a one-of-a-kind outdoor exhibit featuring 82 monumental stone sculptures from Zimbabwean artisans displayed across 26-acres.
• Benson Sculpture Garden (1125 W 29th St., Loveland) has provided a beautiful and unique outdoor setting for showcasing sculpture since 1985. Currently, there are 178 sculptures on permanent display by world renowned artists.
· See a Show – The Budweiser Events Center (5290 Arena Cir., Loveland) at The Ranch Events Complex is a 7,200-seat multi-purpose venue that plays host to a variety of family shows, rodeos, comedy events, concerts and the AHL-affiliate Colorado Eagles hockey team. In 2023 see big names and bold bands at the arena, including Tracy Lawrence & Clay Walker on March 16, Disney On Ice: Let’s Celebrate March 30 – April and Toughest Monster Truck Tour April 7 and 8. 1. Discover additional shows, Eagles games and events here.
Stay:
The award-winning Embassy Suites by Hilton Loveland Hotel Conference Center & Spa (4705 Clydesdale Pkwy., Loveland) offers a full-service experience and all-suites accommodations (perfect for giving everyone personal space). The property is adjacent to the Budweiser Events Center and offers a renowned daily breakfast buffet and an evening reception included with each stay, plus an indoor pool, full-service spa and fitness center.
Day 2: Big Thompson Canyon
Taste:
Breakfast – Taste Local Cafe’s (330 Cleveland Ave., Loveland) scratch-made kitchen serves delicious meals made with local, fresh ingredients paired with a healthy selection of in-house and Colorado-made beverages. For breakfast choose one of the inspired crepes – sweet or savory. The café also offers a tempting and well-priced kids’ menu.
Lunch – Pull in for car-hop service at the Dairy Delite (3080 W. Eisenhower Blvd., Loveland) and step back in time. Locals love the ice cream, but you’ll also discover great burgers, hot dogs, fries, chicken fingers and more.
Dinner – The Black Steer (436 N. Lincoln Ave., Loveland) has been turning out the best steaks in the state for 55 years. Loveland’s longest standing restaurant offers a side of nostalgia with every heaping platter of steak or seafood. Save room for (another) slice of homemade pie (peanut butter is the local favorite).
Do:
· Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch (2939 N. CR 31D, Loveland) tempts you to mosey in for a resplendent horseback ride. Book a 1- or 1.5-hour trail ride in advance and explore some of the ranch’s 3,200 acres. You may even spot some elk from the saddle! The ranch entrance is located just west of Loveland in Big Thompson Canyon.
· Stop at the Colorado Cherry Company (1024 W. U.S. Hwy. 34, Loveland) for homemade pie. As you head up Highway 34, look for a rustic white building decorated with cherry bottles, and a “Cherry Tree” marquee. The fresh-baked pies are a longstanding local delicacy, and there are lots of other products for sale, from fruit preserves to pie filling, to hot sauces and more.
· Stretch your legs at Viestenz-Smith Mountain Park (1211 W. Hwy. 34, Loveland). Originally opened in 1926, the park has been restored twice after the Big Thompson floods in 1976 and 2013. The park features picnic areas, shelters, a fishing platform, kid zone, sculptures, overlook and more. Duck into the nature cabin to learn about area history and resident wildlife.
· Take a hike on the Round Mountain National Recreation Trail (1300 W. U.S. Hwy. 34, Loveland), which includes the lower Foothills Nature Trail and the upper Summit Adventure Trail. The trailhead is located across the road from Viestenz-Smith Mountain Park. The Foothills Nature Trail is the perfect short one-mile hike for little legs. The Summit Adventure Trail is a 4.5-mile (9.1 miles roundtrip) more challenging hike to the summit of Sheep Mountain; allow 6-8 hours to complete the roundtrip.
See: Breathtaking scenery
When you reach Drake, take a worthwhile detour north onto C.R. 43. The curvy canyon leads you through the cute burg of Glen Haven. The high rock walls and narrow valley offer spectacular scenery and the road ends in Estes Park, where you can turn around and head back down Hwy. 43 and on to Fort Collins.
Day 3: Fort Collins
Taste:
Breakfast – FoCo’s Silver Grill Café (218 Walnut St., Fort Collins) is an institution for good reason: it’s the oldest restaurant in Northern Colorado and it’s home to enormous cinnamon rolls – they bake more than 10,000 delicious buns each month! The Silver Grill is currently celebrating its 90th anniversary.
Lunch – A nostalgic Fort Collins fixture, Totally 80’s Pizza (2567 S. Shields St., Fort Collins), boasts the world’s largest collection of ‘80s pop culture memorabilia in its impressive restaurant museum, including rare vintage arcade games in the full arcade, cereal boxes, autographed photos, computers, original hand-written lyrics from the biggest names in 1980s music, and a souvenir shop. This is an option all ages will love.
Dinner – The Exchange (200 N. College Ave., Fort Collins) is an outdoor “food hall” crafted from repurposed shipping containers featuring family-friendly food, drink and dessert option year-round. Dinner at The Exchange means everyone gets to eat what they like best.
Do:
· Fort Collins Museum of Discovery (408 Mason Ct., Fort Collins) features hands-on, interactive exhibits for all ages, including sensory exhibits, scavenger hunts, the Digital Dome, an interactive music exhibit, Tornado Tube and the area history display. While the museum is ticketed (reserve online in advance), there’s a free zone that includes: a pair of black-footed ferrets, the Griffin Piano Lounge (a restored grand piano from the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair); the 42-foot high observation deck; and the Natural Areas Visitor Center, where you can get to know the city’s diverse range of natural areas.
· Fort Fun (1513 E. Mulberry St., Fort Collins) has plenty of activities to keep kids of all ages laughing, from go-karts and mini golf to bumper boats and an arcade. There are also escape rooms sure to get your brain working.
· Fort Collins Natural Areas (locations vary) offer more than 100 miles of trail, over 36,000 acres locally and regionally, and many educational and recreational opportunities (including hiking, biking, walking, horseback riding, bird watching and fishing). Fort Collins is home to 50+ Natural Areas in and around town and managed by the City’s Natural Areas Department. Access activities, videos, adventure kits, field guides and nature hunts for elementary students and their families to find new ways to experience nature here.
· Pinball Jones (107 Linden St., Fort Collins) is a true local gem, chock full of vintage and brand-new pinball machines, as well as pool tables, air-hockey tables, Skee-ball, and all manner of arcade cabinets (old and new) sure to leave even hard-to-please teens (and tweens) grinning.
· Rollerland Skate Center (324 S. Links Ln., Fort Collins) in Fort Collins features a 12,000-square-foot smooth rink with a live DJ who plays crowd-pleasing music, including plenty of throwback favorites. Be sure to check out the laser tag, arcade and three-story playground.
· The Lyric (1209 N. College Ave., Fort Collins) is more than a movie theater. This independently owned theater and entertainment hub shows new move releases and cinema classics, and features a restaurant, full bar and live music venue. On Saturdays and Sundays hit Weekend Toons, a free fun option for kids of all ages, featuring cartoons on the big screen, a cereal bar, mimosas (for parents) and a special breakfast menu.
See: The local fauna.
· Farm Animals – See farm animals up close at The Farm at Lee Martinez Park (open year-round), including horses, goats, sheep, pigs, and chickens. Kids can also explore the barn, silo, and the visitor building with lots of information about farming. Let the littles run out their energy at the small playground in the farm, climb a tractor, and play in the much larger playground right outside of the farm fences, called Lee Martinez Park.
· American Bison – Soapstone Prairie Natural Area is extraordinary with over 28 square miles of wide-open vistas, nearly pristine grasslands, miles of trails and world-renowned cultural resources. It is also home to the iconic American bison, reintroduced to Soapstone Prairie Natural Area and Red Mountain Open Space in 2015. Visitors may see the bison in their fenced pasture from March-November. There is no bison range access, but you may see them from the road or Cheyenne Rim Trail. To see the bison: From Rawhide Flats Road/CR 15 junction, go about 4.5 miles north on Rawhide Flats Road and look to the west. The bison pasture is over 1,000 acres, so they may not be visible. Stay on the roadway or trail, and out of the pasture for your safety and the safety of the bison. Learn more about the bison project here.
Stay:
Find the perfect place to lay your head among our nine out-of-the-ordinary lodging options.
Day 4: Poudre Canyon and Horsetooth Reservoir
Taste:
Breakfast – Mountain Café’s (226 W. Mountain Ave., Fort Collins) diner-style menu makes it easy to please everyone in your group. The restaurant is family owned and operated and boasts a devoted stream of “regulars.”
Lunch – Pick up picnic fixin’s from B&B Pickle Barrel 122 W. Laurel St., Fort Collins), an iconic sandwich shop celebrating its 35th anniversary, then find the perfect pull-out in the Poudre Canyon or a flat plot along the shore of Horsetooth Reservoir and dig in. Or, take a peek at the Best Places to Enjoy a Picnic in Fort Collins for more suggestions.
Dinner – For kids: Big Al’s Burgers & Dogs (140 W. Mountain Ave., Fort Collins). Arguably the best burger in Fort Collins, Big Al crafts a variety of homemade burgers and crispy fries. While awaiting your order, admire the HeyWoodite chairs rescued from Colorado State University (CSU) and the tables built using a repurposed local gym floor.
For tweens/teens: The Colorado Room (642 S. College Ave., Fort Collins). Give teens a taste of collegiate life with a trip to this hip co-ed hangout. Nibble on local food, including gourmet sliders, wings, poutine and more, while taking in the college vibe.
Do:
· Experience the Poudre Canyon. To put it simply, the Cache la Poudre River is special. This magnificent river is surrounded by enormous cliffs and fascinating rock formations, covered in ponderosa and lodgepole pine trees, sage brush, mountain mahogany and aspen – the canyon is nothing short of a fairy tale. The Poudre River is Colorado’s only nationally designated Wild and Scenic River, and Colorado Highway 14, which follows the river, is a designated Colorado Scenic and Historic Byway. The Cache la Poudre National Heritage Area, one of three National Heritage Areas in the state, was established in 1983. The canyon is pristine, with little development making it a true natural escape.
· Stop for a snack at the 100+ year old Mishawaka, a bucket-list music venue offering “classic eats and river beats.”
· Visit the Home Moraine Geological Interpretive Site, an area carved by glaciers; keep an eye out for bighorn sheep.
· Rent (or bring) a fly rod and gear for fishing one of the west’s finest trout routes and streams.
· Take a hike on one of many trails in the canyon, including Grey Rock and Young Gulch Trail.
· Sign up for a history tour of the canyon with Majestic Mountain Scenic Rides.
· Follow the Cache la Poudre – North Park Scenic Byway. One of Colorado’s 26 Scenic and Historic Byways (11 are federally designated ‘America’s Byways’), the Cache la Poudre – North Park Scenic Byway follows the route used by settlers to connect Colorado’s northern plains to the Green River settlement in Utah. The byway begins in Fort Collins and ends in Walden, following the Wild and Scenic Cache la Poudre River.
· Play at Horsetooth Reservoir: Horsetooth Reservoir is a beloved recreation area for locals and visitors alike due to its easy access, abundant activity options, and a spectacular setting. Try a hiking or biking session that ends in a breathtaking sky view from Horsetooth Rock. It is the highest overlook spot in all of Fort Collins and is perfect for viewing both sunrise and sunset.
See:
· Chambers Lakes
· Cameron Pass
· North Michigan Reservoir
· Michigan Creek
· Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge
· Walden Reservoir
· Wildlife, including Colorado’s state mammal the bighorn sheep.
This is just our idea of the perfect four day trip to Fort Collins and Loveland, but there is still so much more to do than what we have listed. What would you do with four days in the Loveland and Fort Collins Area?
