Looking for the perfect destination for this summer’s family vacation? Colorado Springs marks the spot! When founder General Palmer gazed upon the beauty of Garden of the Gods with Pikes Peak and the Rocky Mountains as the back drop, he knew he had found his dream location. Looking on that same beauty today, so will you. Colorado Springs is the perfect blend of mountain escape and bustling city.
The little ones will have so much to explore. Whether dining on an authentic Chuckwagon supper at Flying W Ranch, coming face to face with the giraffes at America’s only mountain zoo, becoming a junior ranger at Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, tasting the natural mineral spring waters in nearby Manitou Springs or gazing at the lights of Seven Falls after the sun sets, an exciting adventure is around every turn. Tweens and teens will be just enthralled with horseback riding through Garden of the Gods Park, a climbing adventure through Cave of the Winds new Wind Walker Challenge Course or navigating the rapids of the Arkansas River. No matter what the season, with over 300 days of annual sunshine, travelers to the area will thrive on outdoor recreation.
Arts and culture is all over the city, literally. Art on the Streets showcases various sculptures that are scattered through Downtown. The Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2011. Established in 1936, it is home to world-class art galleries and Broadway-worthy live theatre. Award-winning performances take place year-round at Stargazers Theatre and the Colorado Springs World Arena.
History and heritage is always nearby with numerous museums, multiple heritage centers and many ways to learn about the area’s past. The Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum, located in the heart of Downtown, provides a glimpse into the people and events that shaped Colorado Springs. This year, several new exhibits focus on military history. The Cripple Creek Heritage Center’s new transportation display includes a Conestoga Wagon, an 1892 Studebaker Cab and a turn-of-the-century horse-drawn sleigh. The Manitou Springs Heritage Center offers a speaker series.
Make sure to saddle up for Pikes Peak Western Heritage Days, a summer-long celebration of cowboy, mining and Native American history. It’s easy to experience life like a real cowboy (or girl) wandering the halls of the ProRodeo Hall of Fame & Museum of the American Cowboy, panning for gold at the Ghost Town Museum or cheering on donkeys being raced down the street in Cripple Creek, CO.
Area lodgers have come together with attractions, activities and restaurants to offer fuel-friendly deals and discounts called Tank Full of Summer Savings that can all be found in one simple place, VisitCOS.com/Fuel. The city and surrounding Pikes Peak region also offer 29 free things to do. Stop by VisitCOS.com to order your FREE printed or electronic Official Visitor Guide and find more about this great escape nestled in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.
