25 Date Ideas in Fort Collins for 2024
Are you trying to impress your special someone with new date ideas in Fort Collins, CO? Whether you want to treat your significant other to a lovely night out or you need first date ideas, there are plenty of romantic opportunities in Fort Collins.
Located on the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, Fort Collins is a destination for foodies, outdoor enthusiasts and those who love a vibrant, bustling downtown scene. From a hike along Horsetooth Reservoir to dinner at one of the numerous fantastic restaurants, you'll love the endless date ideas in Fort Collins.
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- Date Ideas in Fort Collins for Foodies
- Fun Date Ideas in Fort Collins
- Free or Cheap Date Ideas in Fort Collins
- Romantic Date Ideas in Fort Collins
- Date Night Ideas in Fort Collins
- Winter Date Ideas in Fort Collins
Date Ideas in Fort Collins for Foodies
1. Take a Cooking Class
If you’re looking to spend an intimate evening for two, consider cooking classes in Fort Collins. Taught by expert chefs, learn foundational cooking techniques and practice your knife skills as you create the perfect meal together. No matter what type of cuisine piques your interest, there are plenty of cooking classes near you to spend the perfect evening with each other.
2. Treat Yourselves to a Private Chef Meal
Not feeling a night out? Consider enjoying a meal with one of the private chefs in Fort Collins. Enjoy a relaxing, hands-off evening with your partner while a world-class chef does all the shopping and preparation to craft the perfect gourmet meal in your kitchen. They even do the clean-up! Learn about the private chefs near you and give yourself the night off in the kitchen.
3. Enjoy an Online Culinary Experience
Spend a relaxing night at home with your love interest while enjoying online experiences in the culinary world. Consider a virtual wine tasting with world-class sommeliers and learn the notes of your favorite wines from the best in the industry.
Online mixology classes are also a great way to spend a romantic evening with your partner. Master the art of cocktail-making from expert mixologists from the comfort of your home. You can also spend the evening taking online cooking classes to create the perfect meal with your favorite person. Regardless of what option you choose, online experiences make lovely stay-at-home date ideas in Fort Collins.
4. Book a Brewery Tour
Often referred to as the “Napa Valley of Beer,” Denver to Northern Colorado is known for its extensive amount of breweries. Explore the local craft brewery scene or visit the Clydesdales at the Budweiser Brewery Experience.
5. Go for a Fort Collins Foodie Walk
Every third Friday of the month, Old Town Fort Collins features the Fort Collins Foodie Walk. This is one of the top date night ideas in Fort Collins, giving you the chance to experience the best culinary-themed shops in the city as you sample snacks and treats throughout the town. This culinary experience is actually one of the best first date ideas if you and your love interest like to go for walks and want to jazz it up with delicious bites along the way.
6. Experience a Fort Collins Food Truck Rally
Annually, from May through September, you and your date can visit the Fort Collins Food Truck Rally every Tuesday night. The Food Truck Rally is the perfect date idea in Fort Collins to experience the best food trucks in town and discover new types of cuisine with your favorite person.
Fun Date Ideas in Fort Collins
7. Take a Pottery Class
Visit Smokestack Pottery for a romantic evening and create something special with your partner. This is one of the best date ideas in Fort Collins because you can learn a new skill and bring home a beautiful piece of art as a memory of the perfect evening. Classes are around $50 per person.
8. Try an Escape Room
Feeling adventurous? Take your significant other to an escape room in Fort Collins. Choose from multiple escape room options including Fort Collins Escape Room, ConTRAPtions Escape Room and Somewhere Secret Escape Room. Impress your partner with your problem-solving skills and escape the puzzle-filled room in less than sixty minutes.
9. Rent Bikes
The Fort Collins Bike Share Program is the perfect way to spend quality time with your favorite person while getting some exercise. Choose from the multiple bike stations throughout the city and rent your e-bike through the application. You can include multiple date ideas in Fort Collins while cruising throughout the city. Explore the downtown shops, check out local breweries or ride on local bike trails.
10. Attend a Trivia Night
With 24 breweries in Fort Collins alone, they offer plenty of events that make great weeknight date ideas. Many breweries host weekly trivia nights for people to enjoy their favorite brew, spend time with loved ones and show off their skills. Quite a few of them, including Maxline Brewing, Odell Brewing Co. and Mythmaker Brewing, host weeknight trivia challenges that are generally free to join and offer prizes to the winning team. Also, many breweries in Fort Collins are dog-friendly.
Free or Cheap Date Ideas in Fort Collins
11. Spend a Day on the Water at Horsetooth Reservoir
Whether you’re a local or just visiting, there are plenty of outdoor date ideas in Fort Collins to create a memorable day. Outdoor enthusiasts enjoy spending an afternoon in the sun at Horsetooth Reservoir. This lake is over six miles of recreational fun where visitors can enjoy boating, fishing, swimming and more. Bring your kayaks or rent stand-up paddleboards for the perfect day on the water.
12. Rocky Mountain National Park
While not located in Fort Collins, Rocky Mountain National Park is the perfect day trip with your date. About an hour from Fort Collins, Rocky Mountain National Park offers tremendous hiking, picnic date ideas and sightseeing. In the summer and fall seasons, drive Trail Ridge Road to enjoy scenic views with a maximum elevation of 12,183 feet. Take advantage of the many pull-offs to snap a photo of the breathtaking scenery and even local wildlife.
13. Take a Stroll Along the Poudre River Trail
The Cache la Poudre River is the ultimate water resource in Northern Colorado. With the river flowing directly through Fort Collins, the city constructed The Poudre River Trail for people to enjoy. Experience nature throughout Fort Collins while running, biking or taking a casual stroll with your date.
14. Climb Horsetooth Mountain
The Horsetooth Mountain Open Space is iconic when it comes to date ideas in Fort Collins. There are many trails throughout the mountain, but the real gem is climbing Horsetooth Mountain and taking a picture at Horsetooth Rock. Affectionately known as “The Tooth,” Horsetooth Rock watches over Fort Collins and is loved by the locals. It’s the perfect spot to spend a day surrounded by nature with your date.
Romantic Date Ideas in Fort Collins
15. Enjoy Live Jazz at Ace Gilletts
Turn up the romance with jazz and cocktails at Ace Gillett’s Lounge and Supper Club in Fort Collins. Enjoy a night out on the town while listening to local jazz artists perform iconic musical numbers. This is one of the best date ideas in Fort Collins to enjoy as a nice, relaxing night out with your favorite person.
16. Get a Couple’s Massage
When planning romantic date ideas in Fort Collins, consider a couple’s massage at a local spa like Spavia Day Spa or Daylight Massage. Couples massages are an intimate way to bond with your partner while relaxing after a long week at work. Too relaxed to go to dinner afterward? Grab a meal to go at one of the many fantastic Fort Collins restaurants.
17. Visit a Winery
Nothing says romantic date ideas in Fort Collins like a visit to a local winery. You and your special someone can sip your favorite glass of wine from wineries like Blanchard Family Wines or The OBC Wine Project. Pair with the perfect cheese and charcuterie board for the ideal afternoon.
18. Drive Through Poudre Canyon
It is entirely possible to plan romantic date ideas in Fort Collins while on a budget. Pack a lovely picnic and drive through Cache la Poudre River Canyon for beautiful views. This is also one of the top fall date ideas in Fort Collins because of the breathtaking foliage. Don’t forget to bring your camera to capture the stunning yellow Aspen leaves.
Date Night Ideas in Fort Collins
19. Visit the Museum of Art
If you’re considering unique date ideas in Fort Collins, visit the Museum of Art downtown. This historic building rotates the exhibits with quirky features and stunning paintings. Spend the day strolling through the museum, then visit a local brewery for a refreshing beer. Adult tickets at the Museum of Art are $10 per person.
20. Attend an Event at Old Firehouse Books
If you and your partner share a love for the written word, visit Old Firehouse Books for literary date ideas in Fort Collins. This local bookstore features book-related events, author presentations and book clubs. Attend an event together, or spend time in the bookstore choosing the next great read for your partner. Visit Happy Lucky’s Teahouse next door for the perfect cup of loose-leaf tea after you’ve satisfied your literary appetite.
21. Attend a Fort Collins Summer Series
For summer date ideas in Fort Collins, enjoy local music at music series like The Lagoon Summer Concert Series or the Downtown Sessions Concert Series. Spend an evening listening to great tunes while eating food and enjoying drinks local to Northern Colorado.
22. See a Comedy Show at The Comedy Fort
Spend an evening laughing with your date at The Comedy Fort. Watching a comedian is the perfect date idea in Fort Collins because you can relax, have a good laugh and get to know each other’s sense of humor. If comedy is central to your relationship, consider taking a class together like Standup 101 or Improv 101.
23. Catch a Movie
Cute date ideas in Fort Collins often include movies. If it’s a night for cuddling, curl up at Holiday Twin Drive-In for a nostalgic experience. If you’d rather see a movie indoors, visit The Lyric for a unique movie-viewing experience. Instead of box-office hits, check out independent films and Hollywood classics to get a taste of movies from the past.
Winter Date Ideas in Fort Collins
24. Rent Snowshoes
If you’re looking for winter date ideas in Fort Collins, consider renting snowshoes and visiting a local park. There are plenty of opportunities to snowshoe along the Front Range, but Lory State Park is the perfect place in Fort Collins. Bundle up with your partner for a romantic day in the snow.
25. Gaze at the Lights in Old Town Fort Collins
Spend a romantic evening with your partner while gazing at the downtown holiday lights. The Downtown Holiday Lighting Ceremony occurs annually in early November, and the lights remain lit through Valentine’s Day. They are spectacular to witness and take the romance to the next level as you stroll to your dinner reservation with your partner.
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Now that you know the best date ideas in Fort Collins, you and your partner can take on the city together. Try out new ideas and experiences with your favorite person in Fort Collins, CO. Whether you hike in the mountains, try a new restaurant or take a cooking class, expect the perfect night with your special someone.
For even more ways to explore Fort Collins and beyond, check out other experiences happening on Cozymeal.
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