Fort Collins

Fort Collins

Fort Collins is the home of New Belgium Brewing (Fat Tire's origin) and a thriving craft beer scene with more breweries than Boulder. Old Town's brick streets and historic storefronts are charming enough that they're said to have influenced Disney's Main Street USA designers. CSU keeps the energy young. The foothills rise right outside town, and Rocky Mountain National Park is an hour away. Quieter than Boulder, less expensive.

Greeley

Greeley is northern Colorado's ag city, sitting on the South Platte River with cattle feedlots, sugar beets, and the University of Northern Colorado. The annual Greeley Stampede every July is one of the bigger rodeos in the country. It's an honest, wide-sky kind of town with deep ag roots. Cheaper than Fort Collins, with mountain access still under an hour away.