Ok, let’s do this! head on into Old Town Square, which is actually a triangle, but who cares. Every good downtown tour starts with a restaurant, right? Well, Coopersmith's is a local favorite for pub food with two locations, the pub, and just across the walkway, the pool hall where you can find giant Jenga, and other family games. I'm a fan of their Coop burger which is topped with their yummy artichoke dip. I love to enjoy it with one of Coopersmith's handcrafted sodas or beers. Now, did someone say macaroons? Ok, that’s what I thought I heard. Head on into the square so I can show you one of my favorite bakeries.

Remember when someone said “macaroons?” Little Bird Bakeshop has them, and like a thousand other different things that everyone needs to try. They serve breakfast and lunch but their assortments of pastries, cookies, breads and pies are why I keep coming back. Go on in and take a look. I bet you come out with something yummy. And when you do, head southwest through the square. The splash pad will be on your right and Ben and Jerry’s will be on your left. I’ll meet you at the corner of East Mountain Avenue and North College Avenue.

So I brought you here just to tell you to turn right and check out all the shops as you head north to Walnut Street. I’m not gonna be mad if you decide to go into some stores for some retail therapy. I’ll just catch up to you at the end of the block.

Wanna play connect four? Want a taste of history? Do those seem like weird questions? Well there’s a restaurant I want to call your attention to before we cross over Walnut Street. It’s actually down Walnut to your right, on the opposite side of the street - The Silver Grill Cafe. Please let me point out the fact that the Silver Grill cafe bakes over 10,000 of their famous cinnamon rolls a month. They've been feeding Fort Collins since 1933 and they are ready to feed you. Make sure you get over there sometime for a cinnamon roll! For now though, go ahead and cross north over Walnut Street. We have been walking north for the last block, in case you were wondering.

And here we are, at the Exchange, a lively, family-friendly, outdoor dining destination. With craft retailers and artisan food and beverage options, outdoor games, live music, and dancing, you might want to stay awhile. Might I suggest a stop by Vatos for pork belly tacos and a side of guac? Check out Penrose for the yummiest Brussel sprouts around. And then, a quick game of putt-putt. For dessert, check out the Fort Collins Donut company or Churn for ice cream. After dinner, you might try a locally crafted spirit at the Coppermuse Distillery. Or If chocolate is your thing, a quick walk around the block to Nuance will be bliss. Nuance is one of a very small number of true bean-to-bar chocolate makers in the United States. Their truffles are my favorite gift idea! And definitely worth a visit. Hang out here for a while and then cross over College Avenue and meet me in front of Beau Jo’s.

Beau Jo’s has been serving Colorado style pizza for more than 40 years now. They serve mountain pies, prairie pies, sandwiches, salads, wraps and more - from recipes dating clear back to 1973! While we are standing here, let me tell you a little about something that is a couple of blocks north. You don’t have to go there right now if you don’t want to, since we are pretty much hanging around Old Town. A few blocks north of here is the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery. Here’s a question for you: What is the difference between playing and learning?Well, according to the Fort Collins Discovery Museum, playing and learning are the same thing. With 16,000 Square feet in the main exhibit area, the museum begs you to linger. Can you lift a piano with one hand? Here you can! Feed your family's curiosity in one of the many exhibits including the Exploration Zone, the Tot Spot, and the OtterBox Digital Dome Theater. If you'd like a deeper dive, make an appointment to visit the Archive & Collections with one of the museum's curators. Also if you're looking for some outdoor excitement, you've got some options just past the Museum to explore on your own. The Poudre trail explores open grasslands and pretty woodlands. Tubers, kayakers, and surfers maneuver the waters of the Poudre River Whitewater Park while folks enjoy picnicking, and splashing in the refreshing waters. If you're looking for a dryer pursuit, a walk west on the Poudre Trail will take you to the Lee Martinez Community Park where you can enjoy playing at this park and even visit an interactive farm with farm animals and equipment. When you're ready, let’s head south on College Avenue and take a peek into some fun shops.

We are gonna keep heading south, but I don’t want you to miss the fun shops you will find if you turn right on West Mountain Avenue. So head down West Mountain, stop at South Mason, then come back to College Avenue from the other side of West Mountain. Don’t be ashamed to stop in at Walrus Ice Cream for a treat. You deserve it!

So did you go down the street and back? Did you stop in at Walrus Ice Cream? Cool. What flavor did you get? Also cool. Let’s keep walking south on College. There are still some great places to see, including an art museum

Have you ever heard of James Knox Taylor? He was the Supervising Architect for the US Treasury back in the late 18 and early 1900’s. He designed numerous government buildings and had a special affinity for Post Offices. This three story Second Renaissance Revival building on your right used to be a post office and yes, it was designed by Mr. Taylor… in case you were wondering . Now however, it houses the Fort Collins Museum of Art, whose mission is to spread the power of visual art. Admission is only 5 dollars for adults so make sure you get in there sometime and check out their exhibits.

Let’s head across College Avenue to your left, toward Urban Egg.

Time to head back toward where we began this tour. Need some protein to get you there? I thought so. Urban Egg creates some unique and eggstraordinary dishes to keep you going. Not a fan of eggs? No big deal. They have pancakes, french toast, sandwiches, coffee and even cocktails. Fuel up and head north!

There are public restrooms down Oak Street to your right. Just sayin’.

And just like that, we are done. But you don’t have to be. Equinox Brewing is around the corner to the right on Remington Street if you are interested. Coopersmith Pub and Brewing, where we began this tour, is to your right and across the street. I had a blast showing you around downtown Fort Collins. Wanna know more? Awesome! Give Ann Brady a call. She’d love to chat with you! Her phone number is 970-999-5882 or shoot her an email. ann@annbradyteam.com