All Destinations are Not Created Equally
Since I am currently in between travel (at least for another week!) I was thinking about cities that I could go back to over and over again. There are some places that you visit and you leave and say "I'm really glad I saw that. I don't need to come back though." and then there are places that just get under your skin and fall in love with. Colorado Springs is one of those special places for me.
My husband happens to travel to Colorado Springs for business several times a year and this is always one of the places that I try to "tag along" for an add on weekend as often as I can. There is just something about this area that just pulls me back.
The great thing about this city is that there are so many things to do and so many of those things are free or very inexpensive! Here are a few of my favorite things that I've seen over the past several years that I have been lucky enough to travel to the Colorado Springs area!
Garden of the Gods (Free)
Whether you are a big hiker/rock climber, a nature lover or are just looking for an inspiring place to have lunch or a cup of coffee, the Garden of the Gods is a must when you are in Colorado Springs. The "garden" is in the city and is located at 1805 North 30th Street Colorado Springs, Colorado. You are just driving along the highway and there it is...turn in and take a look around. You certainly won't be sorry!
There is no admission fee to the park and roadways are paved all around so driving is easy. There are restroom facilities, gift shops and visitor's centers with informative displays.
It is really an amazing place to spend half an hour or half a day depending on what you prefer. Whatever you decide. It isn't what you expect to see in a city and you will find some awe-inspiring sights to take with you on the rest of your travels.
For more information and to check on park hours and amenities please check out their website. http://www.gardenofgods.com/home/index.cfm?flash=1
Pikes Peak (Small Fee)
Pike's Peak also known as "America's Mountain" is located in Colorado Springs. It is a beautiful sight to see from a distance and provides amazing views from the 14,110 foot summit. This is a definite "must do" if you are in town. The mountain is open to public year round but many times of the year it is not possible to reach the summit due to inclement weather and snowfall. If you want to be sure you get to the summit, check the weather before you go and choose a time when you have a good chance that the roadways are open to the top.
There are two options to get to the summit of Pike's Peak. One of these is the Cog Railway. The other is to drive up the 19 mile scenic drive in your own vehicle. I have been lucky enough to do this trip both ways and definitely have a preference but let me first provide you with information on both.
Cog Railway ($36.00/Adult 19.50/Children 2-12)
The cog railway is open year round. The prices listed above is the cost for a trip to the summit in the summer season. There is a slight discount during winter months. The cog railway will take you as high up as the railway is open or to the summit if it is open. There is an area for parking at the depot. You simply pick up your ticket and grab a sack lunch or snacks to take with you (they do not allow any outside food to be taken on the train....you must purchase food and drinks at the depot before you depart) and board the train when it is your time to depart. You are then boarded into a train with a guide who gives you information on what you are seeing as you travel to the top. The train moves very slowly so plan on several hours to get to the top and back. (It is at least a half a day adventure). There are no restrooms until you reach the summit. The seats are small wooden seats that are not terribly comfortable to sit in especially with the incline. The scenery is interesting till you get part way up and then there isn't much to see until you reach the summit. Once you arrive, you are given about a half hour or so to look around and check out the gift shop at the top as well as use the restrooms. You will then board the train for the return trip to the bottom. It is an easy way to get to the top without having to drive the roadway (which can be a bit scary in spots with no guardrails).
For more information on the cog railway...visit their website at http://www.cograilway.com
Scenic Highway ($12.00/adult $5.00/child or $40.00/carload 5 max)
The Scenic Highway is your second option to drive to the summit. For this option you take your own vehicle and drive the roadway to to the top. The majority of the road is paved. There is a section that is unpaved. However, any vehicle will make the trip...you do not need to rent a special 4 wheel drive vehicle for this trip. There are areas to stop and beautiful scenery to see on your way to the top. Again the roadway does close due to snow and weather so call ahead to make sure of the weather conditions and how far up the road is open.
Be sure to plan on about a 2-3 hour trip to and from the summit. Bring warm clothes/jacket to wear when you reach the summit area. The temperature is about 30 degrees colder at the summit than at the bottom where you start your trip. You will be happy you brought that sweatshirt with you!
Make sure you stop and take a look at the beautiful scenery on your way up and down the highway. Visit the website for more information and contact information: http://www.pikes-peak.com/attractions/pikes-peak-americas-mountain/
Personal Preference
My personal preference for traveling to the summit is taking the Pike's Peak Highway and driving up yourself. The difference in the scenery that you see and the comfort of the trip is worth the drive in my opinion. The cog railway is very slow and there really isn't all that much to see as it is on the other side of the mountain from the scenic highway. We have even traveled along the scenic highway when the summit hasn't been open. It's a beautiful drive no matter how far you can go and definitely worth the time and small fee to make the trek.
US Air Force Academy (Free)
The Visitor's Center is very interesting. There is an informative video about the Academy and displays throughout the building. There is also a gift shop. It is definitely worth a stop and look around. I would plan to spend at least 45 min - 1 hour at the visitor's center getting oriented.
While there are other areas to visit while you are there, I would highly recommend heading to the cadet chapel as one of your main stops. The chapel is an incredible building both inside and outside. As long as there is not an event taking place in the chapel, you are free to walk around the inside for as long as you would like. The day we were there, there was an event planned so we only had a few minutes but it was beautiful to see the chapel. There are other denominational chapels nearby that you can also visit while you are there. They do offer a booklet that you can take with you for a recommended donation of $5.00 that provides some photos and information on the chapel.
Make sure that you take time to walk around the area by the chapel and drive around the roadways that are open to visitor's while you are on the academy grounds. It is well worth a 2-3 hour visit to see where some of our nation's finest are trained.
Visit the academy website at http://www.usafa.af.mil/information/visitors/ for additional information.
Other Free/Low Cost Attractions:
Make sure to check out my next blog for additional budget attraction options in Colorado Springs such as the US Olympic Training Facility, Cave of the Winds and Royal Gorge. The possibilities are endless!
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