With all of the lists Fort Collins has made it seems ironic to call it “underrated,” but that is exactly what Life.com has done on its new list of “Most Underrated Cities in the West.”
Fort Collins comes in at No. 4 on the list behind Helena, Mont., Walla Walla, Wash. and Oakland, Calif. taking the top spot.
The list compiled by Katie Tamony, editor-in-chief of Sunset magazine, last month calls Fort Collins as a “bike heaven,” noting the Poudre River Trail and Fort Collins Bike Library. Fort Collins also made the list because of its brewing community. Tamony cited New Belgium Brewing Co. as “one of the best in the country.”
“Think Colorado college town and you think Boulder. Here’s why you should think Fort Collins, home to Colorado State University,” Tamony wrote on Life.com list. “One, its great historic downtown, which was used as a model for Disneyland’s Main Street.”
Jim Clark, president and CEO of the Fort Collins Convention and Visitors Bureau, said even though Fort Collins has been featured in a lot of national publications, the Life ranking will continue to get the word out to segments that have not heard of Fort Collins.
“It’s cumulative. In our case every time we are able to receive national publicity… It keeps visitors coming,” said Clark, who noted Fort Collins is ranked the No. 3 visitor destination behind Denver and Colorado Springs.
Most Underrated Cities in the West:
1 Oakland, Calif.
2 Walla Walla, Washin.
3 Helena, Mont.
4 Fort Collins, Co.
5 Flagstaff, Ariz.
6 Long Beach, Calif.
7 Portland, Ore.
8 Boise, Idaho
9 Albuquerque, N.M.
10 Honolulu, Hawaii
Source: http://www.life.com/image/ugc1049192/in-gallery/42692/most-underrated-cities-in-the-west
From The Coloradoan
