People move to Fort Collins for various reasons, whether that’s because they drove through here one summer or because their children went to school here or a number of other reasons. Hopefully, they were able to experience what Northern Colorado and Fort Collins are all about.
But there are definitely some things that are unique about Fort Collins that you should know about. So, if you can’t handle the following 10 things, don’t move to Fort Collins. I happen to love quite a few of them 😉
Big Weather changes
As you probably already know, Colorado weather is a coin flip, sometimes even during the same day. This means you could wake up and have a sunny morning, but by the end of the day, it could be windy, snowy, and freezing.
One record recently set was in Denver in September of 2020. A 62 degree weather swing in the matter of 24 hours!
Mediocre Public Transportation
If you’re coming from a big metro that has phenomenal public transportation, you might not like Fort Collins. Although the city is trying to do better (and hopefully will do better in the future), you should know that you can’t rely on the public bus system here.
Whether it is the MAX Transit system or the bus system throughout town, it is getting better, but not great.
Dog town
While we love all animals, we’re more of a dog town. Even a place like Best Buy is a dog-friendly location! So, if you’re not a big fan of dogs, this is not going to be a great location for you. You’re going to see them ALL over downtown and Old Town Fort Collins.
Allergies
Fort Collins has a lot of sunshine annually and during our springs can get windy! Between those two, your allergies can go wild at times with the flowers blooming and the wind bringing the pollen. So, if you have bad allergies, this could potentially be a big hassle for you.
I used to get allergy shots when I was a kiddo, but today I’ve grown out of some of my allergies and or live in a different part of town that doesn’t impact my allergies as bad.
Drinking Beer is a Way of Life
If you’re not a big fan of beer, you should prepare yourself to experience a different vibe here in Fort Collins. Drinking beer is a way of life here and Fort Collins. Our self proclaimed micro brewery capital of the United States.
Folks don’t drink or belly up to a bar to get drunk here. We like the taste, the conversations around and enjoyment that sharing a pint of beer brings. Don’t be surprised if you get side eyed if the waiter/waitress asks for orders and everyone orders a beer and you stick to your water.
The Airport is Far Away
The closest airport is 50-60 minutes away so it might be a bit of a hassle when you’re traveling or going on vacation. It is a BEAUTFIUL airport, DIA, but it is a little bit of a trek to get there. If you’re flying on a weekly basis, don’t move to Fort Collins Colorado, maybe consider a little further South.
Waking up to 6-12 Inches of Snow
We have 7-10 snowstorms a year here in Fort Collins which equates to around 14 to 20 opportunities for you to snow shovel. So, another thing you should know is that it can be exhausting when you wake up, open the door, and see that you’ve got work to do to clear your driveway. The City of Fort Collins allows 24 hours AFTER accumulation for you to clear public sidewalks adjacent to your property.
While your kids may love playing in the snow, you’ve got some work to do! It’s all worth it though and really not too bad.
People Asking you to do Outdoor Activities
Fort Collins is all about lifestyle and doing things outdoors. That could be going for a bike ride, hiking, or just walking. So, if you move here, you can expect to get asked by friends to go do these activities.
We’re NOT a Ski Town
Fort Collins is not a ski town. BUT, we are very close to some world class skiing. Our closest ski hill is Eldora which is about a 2-3 hours drive depending on how fast you go. Otherwise, you could easily head up I70 to Vail, Breckenridge, Keystone or up the Poudre Canyon to Steamboat Springs. Getting a season pass is most definitely worth it if you’re going to go any more than 2-3 weekends!
A lot of sunshine and nice people
If you can’t stand sunshine and kind people, Fort Collins is not the place for you. We have a small community vibe with people waving to you and smiling at you everywhere you go. We have more sun than cloudy days by far, so if you dig the dreary, over cast days, you’re not going to get a ton of them.
So there you have it! Those were 10 things you should be aware of before deciding to move to Fort Collins.
If you’re looking for more information about buying or renting here in Northern Colorado, drop me a message and we’ll get to work. I’d love to help out! In the meantime, watch the full video on YouTube below, and consider subscribing to my channel:
