The new year is all about setting goals and trying new things. Maybe you’ve always wanted to fly 2,000 feet above ground in a hot air balloon, laugh out loud at a comedy club or eat your way through a local food tour. Here you’ll find plenty of ideas to make 2026 one for the books.
Love Hot Air Balloon Rides, Loveland. Photo by Josiah Stranathan.
Adrenaline-pumping adventures
The University of Denver’s James C. Kennedy Mountain Campus in Red Feather Lakes offers guided via ferrata climbs for everyone from newbies to experts. The sport involves clipping into steel cables and traversing set routes across or up a mountainside. The campus customizes climbs by group size and skillålevel, ranging from easier 600-foot horizontal climbs to more inclined 1,000-foot routes. Packages can also include ropes courses, UTV off-roading and traditional rock climbing.
“We provide all the guides and equipment and can also provide food and entertainment for overnight stays,” says Matt Jensen, director of outdoor experiences and programs at the University of Denver. The campus is open March through October, weather permitting (du.edu/kennedy-mountain-campus).
If climbing 1,000 feet isn’t high enough, double it with a ride in a Love Hot Air Balloon. The regionally famous heart-shaped balloon is popular with romance- and adventure-seekers alike. Their Loveland-based flights accommodate up to four adults and include a champagne toast and commemorative certificate (lovehotairballoonrides.com).
Prefer the water to the skies? Try stand-up paddleboarding with rentals from What’s SUP, which operates from May through September. The business delivers everything you need to the Northern Colorado location of your choice, including an inflatable board, fin, paddle, pump, life jacket and gear bag. They provide lessons as well, with instructors available to guide you through balancing and paddling (nocosup.com).
For the foodies
Discover locally owned eateries on an Old Town Fort Collins Food Tour. Offered year-round, the three-hour guided walking tours feature small, chef-curated plates and cocktails.
“We switch up our stops daily and share fun facts about each restaurant,” says owner Tricia Sloan. “The restaurants we visit love to spoil us with chef-presented dishes and more food than your average small plate.” (oldtownfoodtour.com)
Loveland’s Downtown Foodie Walks are self-guided tastings offered once a month. A $20 ticket includes a tasty item from each of the participating businesses, which are centered on a common theme such as pizza or sweets (downtownloveland.org/foodie-walks).
For a mountain town twist, Estes Park Tour Guides hosts a four-hour food and drink tour featuring stops at coffee shops, food trucks, eateries and breweries. Meet the owners of each establishment, see the art behind the eats and learn about their history in town (estesparktourguides.com).
Gem Lake, Estes Park
Trek a new trail
Want to explore Rocky Mountain National Park without waiting to get in? Gem Lake Trail sits outside the main body of the park, on the east side of Estes Park. The hike weaves through the forest and over boulder fields before arriving at Gem Lake. The 3.2-mile out-and-back trail is steep and physically demanding, particularly for the last half-mile, but for those up to the challenge, it’s worth the work (nps.gov).
For an easier but equally serene hike, check out the North Fork Trail near Drake. Meandering alongside the Big Thompson River through Comanche Peak Wilderness, the trail is home to towering pines and stunning seasonal wildflowers. Hike as far as you’d like along the mostly flat 10.1-mile trail, which eventually leads past historic cabins and into Rocky Mountain National Park (fs.usda.gov).
For a more educational outing, head to the flat, 1.2-mile Wilcox Trail loop at CSU’s Environmental Learning Center in east Fort Collins. The interpretive trail begins with a bridge over wetlands before moving into grasslands, cottonwood forest and riparian ecosystems. Find informational signs pointing out plant and animal species that call the area home (warnercnr.colostate.edu).
Those interested in checking out one of Northern Colorado’s newest trails can head to Horsetooth Reservoir in Fort Collins to hike the 1.8-mile Bay to Bay Trail (larimer.gov) or try the 1.75-mile Elk Meadow Trail at Bobcat Ridge Natural Area in Loveland (fcgov.com).
High Hops Brewery, Windsor. Photo by Machmer Media.
Scope out the brewery scene
Mix things up by visiting a new-to-you brewery in a neighboring town. In Greeley, Yetters Brewing Company prides itself on community and conversation with its bright, open taproom. Owner Daniel Yetter, a Guatemalan-trained brewmaster, specializes in lagers while also carrying a selection of both traditional American and foreign ales (yettersbrewingcompany.com).
For a family- and dog-friendly vibe, visit Crooked Beech Brewing Company in Loveland. The “front porch” offers a grassy lawn, playground and picnic tables. Food trucks park there Thursdays through Sundays, and other outside food is welcome. Crooked Beech brews a wide range of lagers, IPAs, stouts, fruited sours and gluten-free options (crookedbeech.com).
Windsor’s High Hops Brewery offers more than just beer. Sip a pint of Dr. Pat’s Double IPA—owner Pat Weakland’s multi-award-winning brew—while strolling through the onsite nursery, The Windsor Gardener. The family also owns The Heart Distillery on the property, which serves ready-to-drink cocktails such as the gin-based Bees Knees and absinthe-based Green Fairy Root Beer.
“This is a true craft beer experience,” Weakland says. “Sit on the patio, in the greenhouse or wander the garden with a beer in your hand.” (highhopsbrewery.com)
Chaos Improv, Greeley
Embrace the arts
Downtown gallery walks are a fun, free way to browse local art while enjoying good food and live music. In Loveland, gallery walks take place during Night on the Town every second Friday with open houses and themed activities (downtownloveland.org). Fort Collins’ First Friday Art Walk runs monthly from 6-9 p.m., allowing you to take a self-guided tour through galleries and shops featuring handmade art. While you’re at it, grab a pint, sample a food truck and enjoy live music in Old Town (downtownfortcollins.com).
Northern Colorado is also known for its festivals. This year, catch up-and-coming local bands performing a wide range of genres at FOCOMX, April 24-25, in Fort Collins (focoma.org) and at the Front Range Wine Festival in Windsor, Aug. 15 (frontrangewinefestival.com), as well as national acts at the Greeley Stampede, June 24-July 5 (greeleystampede.org), and the Hoedown Hill Music Festival in Windsor this fall (hoedownhill.com). Big names, like Flo Rida, Third Eye Blind and Randy Houser, have made appearances at some of the larger festivals.
Looking for a laugh? The University of Northern Colorado’s Chaos Improv troupe performs at 7:30 p.m. every other Sunday at Frasier Hall. Now in its 24th year, the 10-member group does long-form improv, which is “like watching a movie made up for you on the spot,” according to co-president Jessica Riley. Shows are free and open to the public (@uncochaosimprov on Instagram).
In Fort Collins, the Comedy Brewers improv group performs regularly at The Comedy Fort, Bas Bleu Theatre and The Well In Wellington (comedybrewers.com). The Lyric also brings standup comedy to Fort Collins every last Saturday of the month, featuring headliners like Steve Gillespie and Mitch Jones (lyriccinema.com).
For more nationally touring comics, check out the lineup at The Comedy Fort (comedyfortcollins.com).
