Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs welcomes more than 6 million visitors annually. Located in southeast Colorado nestled at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, the city is surrounded by majestic mountain peaks that guide you like the North Star.
Downtown is a blend of historic and modern, and against the back drop of Pike’s Peak, it is a picturesque setting that puts life into perspective . If you like outdoor activities, the places to hike are numerous, whether it be the mountains, the red rocks of Garden of the Gods, or any number of area parks.
I visited Colorado Springs as a youngster and now that we have family that live there, we find plenty of excuses to visit there again. In addition to hiking the trails and the parks, we enjoy visiting the older cities in the area, like Manitous Springs. This quaint city offers boutique shops, plenty of dining options, and everything backs up to the beauty of the mountains.
Cripple Creek is another community that should be added to your list of day trips. Here you will find an older town surrounded by remnants of mines left over from the city’s time of glory during the gold rush. Some of these cities offer spas and natural hot springs to further help you unwind and rejuvenate.
After a long day of hiking and enjoying all there is to see, we recommend taking in one of 30+ microbreweries located in Colorado Springs. Colorado has been known for its clear mountain water and perhaps this special water is what makes so many of these brews so refreshing!
And when you get hungry, you are in luck because Colorado Springs has incredibly-interesting and gastronomically-pleasing establishments to eat that rival those found in Austin. Some of the restaurants that delight our tastebuds are the Denver Biscuit Company, The Rabbit Hole (formerly a morgue), The Warehouse Restaurant (also an art gallery), The Airplane Restaurant (literally inside a former tanker plane), and Restaurant 1858 (which is in the famous Broadmoor).
And, speaking of The Broadmoor, if you need a place to stay in Colorado Springs, I can’t think of a more special place than The Broadmoor Resort. Opening in 1918, this legendary resort, its reputation is unmatched and it holds the longest-running consecutive winner of both the AAA Five Diamond and the Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star awards.
Colorado Springs has so many activities you can do on your own, but if you are looking for some adventure while you are there, I particularly recommend the balloon ride, zipline and rafting trips!