Are your headed to Fort Collins on Saturday for the Air Force-Colorado State football game or looking to make the trip north anytime soon? Gazette reporter Ryan Maye Handy lived and worked in Fort Collins for about a year before recently moving back to Colorado Springs. She has a few tips for visitors of Fort Collins:

Breweries galore

– Odell Brewing or New Belgium are the two most famous breweries in town. Although they close early, they both offer tours and popular beers.

– Equinox Brewing in Old Town Fort Collins is small and a local favorite. It’s open late, frequently has live music, and there’s usually a food truck parked out side.

– If you’re looking for a beer-smorgasbord, try the Mayor of Old Town, a beer-bar on South Mason Street, with a massive array of craftbrew.

– For those more inclined to try liquor, stop by William Oliver’s on the city’s east side. This features Colorado-distilled whiskeys. If you’re into gourmet cocktails and charcuterie, try Social in Old Town. The bar is classy and modeled after a speak-easy, with stellar drinks. Be warned — the bar doesn’t offer standing room, so on busy nights there’s often a line of people waiting to get seats.

Restaurants

– On the city’s west side (where most CSU students live and close to Hughes Stadium), try Cafe de Bangkok. It’s a hole-in-the-wall Thai restaurant with great food. No alcohol served. For a more upscale, but still affordable, option, try Cafe Vino, a tapas-style restaurant near CSU off College Avenue. Also check out Ace Gillett’s, a basement jazz bar with great food.

– There are plenty of other options in Old Town, and some classics that might be worth stopping by: 1) The Rio, a Mexican restaurant on Mountain Avenue, famed for its margaritas; 2) Austin’s and The Mainline, both offer good American bistro food; 3) Stuft, for some gourmet burgers; and 4) Suehiro, a Japanese restaurant with great gourmet ramen.

Things to do

– Fort Collins is an incredibly bike-friendly city. So if you bring a bike, you can ride around Old Town and most anywhere else.

– Hiking Horsetooth Rock. Possibly the Waldo Canyon or Section 16 of Fort Collins, this easy 2 hour hike takes hikers to the top of Horsetooth Rock and back, overlooking Horsetooth Reservoir. Parking at the Trailhead does cost money and can fill up on nice weekends.

– Taking a drive up the Poudre River Canyon. Long windy road that follows the Poudre from Fort Collins to Steamboat. Some hikes, like Grey Rock, along the way. There are some sand beaches on the Poudre’s banks, where people like to grill out.

– Tour Old Town.

– If you like historic neighborhoods, take a stroll down Mountain Avenue from College Avenue until you reach Grandview Cemetery. Mountain Avenue still boasts a trolley car (which you can ride) and features tree-lined streets and some of the nicest homes in Fort Collins.

– If you’re really into biking, Fort Collins is a road cycling and mountain biking mecca (some say). If you’re into mountain biking, check out Lory State Park, or the Blue Sky Trail near Horsetooth. If you’re a road cyclist, challenge yourself by riding the infamous “dam roads” (of USA Prochallenge fame) along Horsetooth Reservoir. Don’t say we didn’t warn you — they’re steep.

Things to watch out for

– Parking is free in downtown Fort Collins, but empty spaces are very hard to come by. I’d recommend parking in the neighborhoods nearby and walking into Old Town. There are some parking garages in Old Town as well.

– College Avenue can be a mess, particularly with construction on the southern end. I’d avoid it if you can.