Fort Collins has over a half a million visitors every year enjoying its lively art scene, eclectic shops and boutiques, a wide variety of healthy and delicious restaurants, 6 breweries, hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails; the list just goes on and on.

Here are a few fast facts:
For one thing Fort Collins has over 300 days per year of sunshine! The average temperature in middle of the winter is 42 degrees and in July, the hottest month, its 86, that’s a pretty easy range to live with.

Fort Collins is home to about 140,000 residents plus the population of students at Colorado State University. It has 600 acres of parks within the city limits, 3 golf courses, 3 public pools, a racquet center, ice rink, a museum and a zoo; and the renowned Lincoln Center that plays host to professional theater, dance, and music.

See for yourself how great this little town is. Ask at the front desk of the Silver Moon Inn for directions and recommendations of the best spots to visit.

Dale Katechis, founder of Oskar Blues Brewery, found out his hand crafted beers had made the list by seeing it on the “Early Show”. “I was watching TV with my kids. We were watching and screaming,” said Katechis. Since the GQ list came out business has been booming for Oskar Blues which is sold by distributors in 26 states.

Oskar Blues Brewery also made the February, 2010 issue of Maxim Magazine’s ”Top 25 Best New Beers in America” with it’s  2010 World Beer Championship gold medal winner, “Ten FIDY Imperial Stout”. The article says, “The beer pros at Oskar Blues have struck black gold.”

Take a fun day trip to Lyons to tour the brewery and enjoy the grill.

Tours:
Saturday and  Sunday at 2pm, 3pm and 4pm.
More information at http://www.oskarblues.com
Oskar Blues Grill & Brew
303 Main Street
Lyons, Colorado 80540
303-823-6685
For the complete from GQ Magazine go to: http://www.gq.com/food-travel/wine-and-cocktails/201004/best-greatest-beers-in-the-world
Maxim’s Top 25: http://www.maxim.com/stuff/beer/86092/top-25-best-beers-in-america.html

Bismarck, handicapped California sea lion. Photo: Dave Parsons, Denver Zoo.

Bismarck survived alone in the vast Pacific Ocean without the use of rear flippers. The reason for his deformity is unknown, whether it was a defect at birth or if it was caused by an accident early in life. California sea lions typically use their front flippers to propel their bodies through the sea, and their rear flippers act as a rudder for steering. Bismarck compensates for his lack of rear flippers by using his whole back end for control and his front flippers have grown noticeably more muscular than the other four sea lions he lives with.

Thriving handicapped sea lion. Photo: Denver Zoo.

Bismarck arrived at the Denver Zoo by private chartered jet July 28th, ‘09. Since then he’s been kept away from view so that he can adjust to his new environment and his roommates. Dedicated staffers have nourished him with a special formula, exercised and played with him. Today he makes his public debut at a healthy, happy 132 lbs., well on his way to his full grown weight of 400-600 pounds.

“He is every bit as playful, inquisitive and acrobatic as our other 4 sea lions,” says zookeeper Jessica Jenkins. “Bismarck is a great example of overcoming a disability – something we’re very happy to talk about here at Denver Zoo. We’ve had a couple of children with disabilities who have connected with him after seeing how agile he is, despite his disability. I think he is inspiring and reminds all of us that we have great potential to overcome adversity.”

California sea lions swim at speeds of 25-30 miles per hour. Their nostrils and ears close when diving under water. When submerged for long periods (5-10 minutes) a sea lion will decrease its heart beat to reduce the amount of oxygen needed. The sea lions live along the coast and off-shore islands. They have been found up to 75 miles out in the ocean. They may also travel up rivers that feed into an ocean. They grow to be about 5 to 8 feet in length. In the wild they eat fish, octopus, squid, crab, clams and lobsters.

Visit Bismarck at the Denver Zoo Northern Shores exhibit where he’ll be playing water games or lounging in the sun with the harbor seals and other sea lions. Generally feeding time for the sea lions is at 10:30 am and 2:30 pm daily (weather and staff permitting).
For zoo hours, prices, and information go to: denverzoo.org or call (303) 376-4800.

Pack up the children and visit the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Enjoy museum exhibitions like Space Odyssey, Prehistoric Journey and Egyptian Mummies on free days: February 21, March 1, April 18, August 8, August 30, September 13, September 19, October 3, October 18, November 14 and December 6. Free admission applies to the museum only (not including the IMAX Theater or Gates Planetarium) and only to Colorado residents. http://dmns.org

Egyptian Mummies, Denver Museum of Nature & Science

The Botanic Gardens in Denver and in Chatfield both have free days. For Denver the dates are January 18, February 15, April 22, July 22, August 25, September 26 and October 28. The Chatfield gardens will be free on February 5, March 5, April 2, May 7, June 4, August 6, November 5 and December 3. On view now are the monumental sculptures of Henry Moore. Twenty of Moore’s massive sculptures are displayed within the landscape settings of the Gardens’ York Street and Chatfield locations. Chatfield has the adorable Deer Creek Discovery children’s tree house for play. http://botanicgardens.org

The Denver Art Museum has free First Saturdays on February 6, March 6, May 1, June 5, July 3, August 7, September 4, October 2, November 6 and December 4, sponsored by Target. Through April 4th – “Embrace!” See what happens when 17 artists transform the DAM with 3-D artworks, bungee cord sculpture, sloping walls, and imaginative one-of-a-kind installations. http://denverartmuseum.org

Twilight’s Compendium by Shinique Smith. Photo by Jeff Wells.

Go to the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities in Arvada for an extensive collection entitled: Kirkland Museum Collection: 100+ Years of Colorado Art, through April 4th. Be sure to take in the Sculpture Gardens and Historical Museum while there.

Heads up beer lovers! The Anheuser-Busch Brewery Tour in Fort Collins gives you a behind the scenes look at their state-of-the-art facilities, brewhouses, cellars and packaging plants. And complimentary tastings! One Saturday a month (call or go to their website for dates) between 1:00 – 3:00pm you can have your picture taken up close and personal with the famous Budweiser Clydesdale horses. http://budweisertours.com/toursFTC.htm

And equal time to the Coors Brewery in Golden. They also offer a free tour and tasting. http://coors.com

In Boulder, the Andrew J. Macky Gallery, at U of C, runs exhibitions of artists through out the year; check their website to find out who/what/when. The gallery is free and open to the public on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. http://colorado.edu/macky/gallery

While you’re in Boulder, stop at the Leanin’ Tree Museum and Sculpture Garden of Western Art. Admission and parking is free. Long considered by locals to be the best little museum Colorado has to offer. http://leanintreemuseum.com/default_flash.asp

Then take the free tour at Celestial Seasonings, the tea company. The aroma is amazing and the process fascinating. The tour lasts about 45 minutes and takes visitors through the factory, the Art Gallery, Herb Garden and the Mint Room for tastings. http://www.celestialseasonings.com/visit-us/index.html

And don’t forget the National Center for Atmospheric Research Mesa Lab set up against the Flatirons where the exterior of the building, designed by I.M. Pei, is as great as the interior displays. The lab tour includes a live 3-D model of a tornado. Join the free hour long Noon tour; or they even have a multi-lingual cell phone/audio tour. No reservations are necessary. Open seven days a week, there’s also extensive hiking trails on the complex property. http://www.ucar.edu/educ_outreach/visit/tours.html

Back at the Denver Zoo, Colorado residents get in for free on February 7, February 16, October 13, October 21, November 7 and November 13. http://www.denverzoo.org

And don’t forget the Colorado State Capitol building offers tours. State Capitol Tourism Desk at 303-866-2604.

The Rocky Mountain Arsenal used to be a site for chemical weapons and pesticide production. Now it’s put to excellent use as a National Wildlife Refuge. Located just 11 miles north-east of downtown Denver, its open to the public Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 7:30am-4pm. They have free tram rides and wildlife programs. http://www.fws.gov/rockymountainarsenal

Photo credit: Aaron Rinker, USFWS

Photo credit: Aaron Rinker, USFWS

For more free events in Colorado go to: http://www.denver.org/events/free-events

In its annual summer vacation survey ‘08, the American Automobile Association said the average continental America vacation costs $244 per day for two people for lodging and meals. The priciest destination is Honolulu, where room and food for two adults is an average of $673 a day. Add airfare, kids, car rentals and a 10-day vacation easily tops $10,000.

For many people, taking a mini-vacation in their home state is the most sensible option. Worrying about how much you are spending through out your vacation is counter- productive. Rest and relaxation with time away from work, spent with loved ones, pursuing fun and adventure is necessary for everyone to rejuvenate and refresh.

Most folks planning their vacations now are looking a lot closer to home. For those who live in a state bordered by one of the oceans, travelers are seeking out deals seaside.  Interior and mountain states offer spectacular scenery, regional cuisines, and culture. Many people feel they have not experienced all the possibilities their home state offers. By taking a staycation (visiting your home town’s attractions) or a mini-vacation (visiting your home state), consumers have the fun of a regular vacation without all the hassle – airport lines/delays, traffic, high gas prices, etc.

For more on day trips or mini-vacations in your area, contact the American Automobile Association at: http://www.aaa.com/scripts/WebObjects.dll/ZipCode.woa/wa/route?stop=yes&