A Grand Day Out in Fort Collins, CO

This local Mexican grill features some affordable and great menu choices with prices ranging between $5 and $11. Order your fish tacos, bean and spinach quesadilla, or whatever your stomach desires, and then stop off at the salsa bar with over 10 salsas to choose from and combine for the perfect flavor effect. Eat inside and enjoy the local artwork for sale or sit outside and enjoy the street watching in old town. There are two locations to choose from in Fort Collins, but either one you go to you can walk away with the pride of supporting a local business.

This excellent Colorado favorite features amazing down south creole cooking. The portions are so big, in fact that a half order will suffice most hunger spells. My personal recommendation is "Hank's Eggs." It is an incredible combination of eggs, potatoes, avocado, veggies, and spices with cheese...yum! Also they make a great house iced tea with a cinnamon, orange taste. Most meals come with a large, fluffy biscuit, so while you wait for your food enjoy the old house atmosphere and the numerous homemade jams (strawberry rhubarb is my favorite).

This locally owned boutique is located just off the beaten path of the heart of old town. Kansas City Kitty offers the best in Fort Collins fashion being the only licensed Diesel retailer in all of Fort Collins. Not only does this business give back to the community by hosting events such as a bake sale to raise money for the local women's shelter, it also promotes the community by selling local designer wear. So even if you don't have the money to burn on clothes come by and say hello, the staff is friendly and helpful, and there is enough visual stimulation within this old garage to entertain for a whole day. Enjoy!

Okay, so it's night time and you got a few bucks to burn...why not head to the Surf Side? You can pretty much always find a drink here for under $2, some nights you can even get a PBR for $1. This dive bar hosts some great live music as well as houses an excellent jukebox. The exposed brick walls are usually decorated with incredible local artwork that is typically for sale at fairly reasonable prices. After midnight, typical $2 slices of pizza become $1, helping any nighttime hunger pains. Not only pizza, this bar also offers excellent sandwiches and appetizers. Come here on a Wednesday night and enjoy the local favorite Magic Cyclops as he MP3j's some great 80s hits...see you on the dance floor.

Get ready for a magic world where old farm tools regain their lost glory and take on a new life. Mr. Sweat a local farmer created his own world with a blow torch, some old farm machinery and a lot of time. Some have funny names, some can be played as musical instruments and some just tower over you begging to be admired. It's not hard to miss from I-25 you will see a large dinosaur holding the sign urging you to take the Harmony exit East and within a few seconds your journey will begin. As you approach the gates it is noted that the hours are basically when the sun is out, so my advice is to go in the early afternoon. As you enter there is a laminated sheet you can take with you that correlates to all the creations with numbers introducing each by name and sometimes materials used. There is also a Sweatsville newspaper available for a small price. As you begin your journey into the lush forest like atmosphere your discovery of new life forms begins. Feel free to interact with some of the creations as some might surprise you with their musical inclinations. I would suggest packing a picnic and making a day of it. There is a VW bug with elongated spider like legs that shades a picnic table just around the bend from the entrance. There is a gift shop and some other garden type shops located within the gates. There are also a few other museums, such as the bicycle creations and old vehicles. Take the family or go with some friends and make a day of it, trust me this is not only for the young but also the young at heart.