I needed an adventure again, so I set off in search of one and Fort Collins, CO was the destination for the day!

When I moved to Colorado, I thought Ft. Collin’s was a military base and military town. I was partially right, only off by like 100-ish years. Give or take.

It’s been a little warm this week, even breaking 100 in the metro area, so the high of 86 with a nice breeze was perfect weather for an adventure. And the new robot is not steering (sorry for the pun) me wrong.

If at all possible, if the route will not take more than 4 hours one way, I will always take backroads and skip the expressway. I didn’t have my doggy co-pilot with me today, mainly because there might be a store that I need to experience too.

I had read that Walt Disney designed the Main Street USA part of both Disneyland and DisneyWorld after both Fort Collins Main Street as well as the main street in Marceline, MO where he spent a few years as a little boy. So that was worth a look. I had spent time in Marceline as a little girl. My father was asked to speak there a few times, filling in for their regular pastor. Funny side story, we were taken to lunch after church and as we were all at the table and the gentleman told my dad that he thought he made a funny point on how people will say, “Oh, I never lie…” but they usually tell the polite lies, like oh yes your potato salad is the best when you don’t mean it. But the man went on to say, my wife doesn’t lie. His wife smiled and said she had not told a lie in over 20 years. My father smiled and said “Well you and the Lord must have a special relationship. I’m so thrilled to know He moves in your life that way.” About then, my younger sister, who was about 6 or 7, tipped her ice cream dish at just the right angle that when it tipped it got ice cream and chocolate sauce on both my sister and the lady who couldn’t lie. My sister immediately apologized, and my mother apologized offering to help her in the ladies room with the chocolate on her suit. The woman replied, with a thin smile, “Don’t worry, it’s not ruined. It will wash out.” She was dabbing near napkin in the ice water and on the spots of chocolate and my little sister pipped up and said, “I’m glad you don’t lie because your face made me think I was going to get a spanking!” My parents thanked them and we made our way to the car, my parents faces turning red only to burst into laughter as soon as my father turned the key in the ignition.

Downtown Fort Collins did have buildings that resembled Disney’s dream, but here they were refashioned into a more modern twist or needed some restoration type love.

I found that the Annual Trial Gardens were set up and thriving. I had no clue what that meant, except that there were beautiful flowers all over. So I looked it up – internet search is a wonderful thing! So much beauty, laid out for all to view and be inspired as to what will work in their own yards and gardens.

I even found a can of soup, a trolley car and a big fish!

As I was getting ready to head back, I saw a couple of sculptures, so I turned into an entrance and it was the most adorable sculpture garden. You can walk it or drive it, but walking gives you a different view. Here are some pictures I grabbed while laughing on the phone with a friend and texting her pictures of what I had found. Here are a few for you to enjoy, hopefully.

I drove all over Fort Collins, through cemeteries and subdivisions under construction. I drove down tree lined streets that acted as guardians to the Craftsman and Victorian homes with big front yards. Driveways with kids shooting hoops or washing cars. There were girls practicing for their version of the Olympics and flipping across the lawn.

So many brew pubs everywhere. Some with bigger promotions than others like this one.

As I turned to make my way home, a beautiful sculpture appeared. I found out later it is at the entrance to a cute park, Martinez Park that also has a farm!

The goal is 60 new things before I turn 60 and I have 31 more to go and I can’t wait!