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Fort Collins, Colorado
September 1, 2012
New Belgium Brewing, the makers of Fat Tire Amber Ale, are serious about not taking themselves too seriously. A case in point is the Tour de Fat (Free, newbelgium.com), an annual series of bike parades and events that’ll hit 15 cities this summer. The flagship event is still in the brewery’s hometown, Fort Collins, Colorado, where some 20,000 cyclists have turned out for a gigantic beer-soused bike parade. (Costumes encouraged.) There are also vaudeville acts, yo-yo performances, bands, slow-riding contests, and, of course, plenty of New Belgium brews. The Tour is free, and proceeds from beer sales go to bike-related charities. Over the past 12 years, New Belgium has raised nearly $2 million. Cheers to that.
Stay: The Armstrong Hotel (from $129; thearmstronghotel.com), in downtown Fort Collins, has 43 bright, funky rooms with vintage furniture and hardwood floors. Bikes are complimentary and pets are welcome.
