My family and I recently moved to Fort Collins from a small southwestern Coloradoan town. We fell in love with a 1958 home in South College Heights, and purchased it immediately. At the corner of Yale and Harvard, we see our mostly-retired neighbors shoveling their walks, cleaning out their gutters, and religiously walking to the nearby strip mall. My two young daughters rejoice in a diverse neighborhood of varying generations and cultures. They also love the
family walks to Whole Foods . . . and, when indulged, McDonalds. The strip mall and adjoining businesses to the West of South College Heights are as welcoming and diverse as our neighbors. We frequent three “restaurants” directly to the West—often “safely” jaywalking across College Ave. in less than five minutes.

Die-hard fans of Whole Foods prepared meals, we all love the “café” feel of the enclosed porch—open air in good weather. The girls love choosing their meals from the salad bar, while my husband and I usually opt for freshly prepared sushi. The self-serve water and amazing ice cubes are a hit with everyone. Following dinner, a bold espresso tops off our meal—a treat not often found in restaurants. I
also praise the Whole Foods staff for its clean-up hospitality. Every time we dine, one of our girls spills—water, coffee, whatever. The Whole Foods employees graciously (and immediately) clean up the mess without our offers of help.

We, like other discriminating parents, viewed “Supersize Me”—the McDonalds expose with disgust for one of the restaurants which fed us through college. Our first daughter probably never tasted McDonalds until age four, when her aunt treated her to a Happy Meal. Apathetic exhaustion, combined with a surge in road trips in the past year, led us to submit to the great arches more than we care to admit. The toy box, littered with McDonalds junk, professes our guilt. Despite our self-loathing for our parental laziness, we joyously skipped with the youngsters to McDonalds one fine fall day declaring that if you can walk to and from the restaurant, the exercise outweighs the fat and salt. We won “parents of the year” that day with the deciding votes by our adoring daughters.

The final venue we regularly visit is Mulligans. A pub atmosphere, the loud televisions and (outside) fire pit create a fine eatery for screaming young kids and their parents who enjoy a tasty local beer with dinner. The build-it burgers and chicken sandwiches provide choice and freshness. The kids’ chicken fingers actually resemble chicken. It’s a terrific place for a family, despite the pub facade.
Furthermore, pub-goers actually appreciate kids, I’ve found. After a few drinks, no one minds a two-year-old peering over the booth divider, saying “hi” for the fortieth time.

As these retro homes of South College Heights become available for one reason or another, I hope more young families consider this quaint, affordable, and convenient neighborhood. And it doesn’t hurt that our kids acquaint themselves with the names of universities and colleges to shoot for in their not-so-distant futures.

Whole Foods
[where: 2201 S College Ave, Fort Collins, CO 80525]
970- 267-9200
www.wholefoodsmarket.com

Mulligan's Pub
[where: 2439 S College Ave, Fort Collins, CO 80525]
970-482-2584
www.mulligans.com