Foothills of the Rockies in beautiful Fort Collins Colorado with Travelbiz.

Don Shearer (Travelbiz) brings you to the foothills of the Rockies in the beautiful town of Fort Collins.

Don is on the Aer Lingus trade fam to Colorado celebrating the all new non stop direct service to Denver with Jenny Rafter, (Aer Lingus, Head of Global Leisure Sales) and trade partners from Ireland which includes Ray Scully, (CEO for American Holidays) Peter Cullen, (CMO Click & Go), Mary Denton, (CEO, Sunway Holidays) Sharon Harney, (General Manager Cassidy Travel), Vanessa Holohan, (Head of Retail, Club Travel Group) and David O’Hagan, (Managing Director Donabate Travel Worldchoice).

Our first stop on our Colorado experience brought us to the Elizabeth Hotel in Fort Collins.

Situated in the heart of Old Town Fort Collins, The Elizabeth Hotel offers guests a memorable stay with its elegant and inviting ambiance. The hotel features 164 guestrooms and boasts the exquisite Sunset Lounge, an all-weather, open-air outdoor space. With 3,500 sq. ft. of meeting and event space, guests also have easy access to the nearby pedestrian-only Firehouse Alley, which offers shops, dining, and community activities. Just two blocks from the center of Old Town Fort Collins, The Elizabeth Hotel, part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, welcomes both locals and travelers, providing unique experiences in art, music, craft beer, and more, both within the hotel and in the lively town of Fort Collins.

Barb Bowman, International Contractor, Colorado Tourism, was our amazing guide all the way to Denver (Stay tuned for updates) and was joined in Fort Collins by Katy Schneider, VP of Marketing for Fort Collins and colleagues Abby and Alissa who looked after us all so very well.

Checked in and ready to sample some of the Fort Collins nightlife we made our way for Tapas and Cocktails at Social which was a short 5 minute walk from the Elizabeth.

Social is Fort Collins’ speakeasy-style bar with a distinctive 1920s atmosphere. Previously recognized by Yelp as the #1 speakeasy in the United States, Social offers a curated selection of cocktails, an impressive wine list, and delectable tapas, perfect for a night out and that we most certainly had.

Irish Travel Trade welcomed to Fort Collins! Do you like Beer?

Nestled at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. This vibrant city offers fantastic recreational opportunities, diverse cultural attractions, a lively nightlife scene, and plenty of family-friendly activities. You can sample award-winning beers at one of the 20 (and counting) local breweries. Fort Collins boasts a wealth of restaurants, outdoor activities, a picturesque downtown, and, of course, its renowned beer. No matter the season, there’s always something to do in Fort Collins.

Home to 20 award-winning craft breweries and the world-famous Anheuser-Busch, Fort Collins is a beer lover’s paradise. From the King of Beers to Fat Tire, this city produces 70 percent of Colorado’s craft beer and seven percent of the United States’. Whether you’re visiting for a day or a week, you’ll find the perfect drink to quench your thirst in Fort Collins for sure.

There are endless breakfast/dining options in Fort Collins as we fuelled up for our guided e-Bike tour with Pedego Fort Collins.

We really enjoyed Fort Collins in the best way possible—by bike! Our tour guide, Jim, took us around the city, showing us some of the coolest sites like Library Park, the Annual Trial Gardens, and City Park. Along the way, we even had the chance to meet Tim, the Marketing and Communications Manager for the Fort Collins Trolley. It was an incredible experience seeing the city from a bike!

Next stop was lunch at Ginger and Baker where we got to meet the lady behind this incredible enterprise. Ginger has an energy and drive that is infectious. Her Passion is palpable and therefore it comes as no great surprise that Ginger and Baker is one of Fort Collins must see and eat stops.

Since 1905, this old grain mill has been a gathering place. For years, it welcomed farmers, ranchers, and townspeople who came to pick up feed and supplies and catch up with friends. Today, after giving the old building a whole lot of love, Ginger and her amazing team reopened its doors as Ginger and Baker, a place that continues to bring friends together, both old and new.

No lunch stop in Fort Collins is complete without a visit to New Belgium, a nationally distributed brewery that got its start in Fort Collins! We had a great afternoon learning about the brewery’s history, culture, and of course we all got to try some beer and pull a few pints!

Our Stay in Fort Collins concluded in great culinary style with a fabulous dinner at Rare Italian. Rare Italian celebrates beautiful, deliciously approachable cuisine inspired by Italy. Their seasonal menus feature fresh, local ingredients, handmade pasta and cheeses, and in-house dry-aged steaks—the best in Northern Colorado. The steak and Pasta was amazing which we washed down with some amazing old and new wines world wines.

Travelbiz Tips and Links

Elizabeth Hotel in Fort Collins is in the perfect location with great staff, great bar and food. Luxury Hotel in Old Town Fort Collins | The Elizabeth Hotel (theelizabethcolorado.com) 

Drinks in the Emporium with family and friends, great cocktails! 378 Walnut Street, Fort Collins, CO, US, 80524 (google.com)

Tapas & Drinks at Social Fort Collins’ speakeasy style bar with a heavy 1920’s vibe.

Guided eBike Tour with Pedego Fort Collins: 

Lunch at Ginger and Baker; 359 Linden Street, Fort Collins, Colorado 

Tour New Belgium: Join us in a tour of New Belgium, a nationally distributed brewery that got it’s start right here in Fort Collins: Human-Powered Brewery | New Belgium Brewing

Explore Downtown Fort Collins’ As the inspiration for Disneyland’s Main Street USA, Downtown Fort Collins will both delight and surprise you with an eclectic variety of shops, restaurants, and artwork. Feel free to wander on your own to find inspiration or refer to our Made in Fort Collins Trail for our favorite stops downtown!

Dinner at Rare Italian: At RARE Italian, they celebrate beautiful, deliciously approachable cuisine as it’s enjoyed in Italy.  RARE Italian Restaurant in Fort Collins

After Dinner Drinks

For a super after a late nigh out Breakfast you have to try The Silver Grill Cafe is the oldest restaurant in Northern Colorado, serving breakfast and lunch since 1933 and with roots going all the way back to 1912.They are known for their gigantic homemade cinnamon rolls, made fresh daily and oozing with sweet sugary toppings.   218 Walnut Street, Fort Collins, CO 80524