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Colorado Springs
Colorado’s second-largest city is a great place to take
the family
By Janna Graber
Here’s a pop quiz from the Centennial State. What
Colorado city has a cosmopolitan culture, a picturesque setting at the foot
of the Rockies, over 50 top attractions and a smaller-town feel?
Nope, it’s not Denver. Just an hour south of the
Mile-High City is Colorado Springs, the state's second-largest city and a
great place for a family vacation.
Colorado Springs, or “The Springs” as it is called by
locals, has a young population (average age is 33) of 465,000 residents. The
town values its sporty lifestyle, and many popular activities make good use
of the city’s stunning Rocky Mountain setting. Several attractions are free
or at little cost, making it an affordable destination for families.
While
vacationing in The Springs recently, my family and I made our base at the
Cheyenne Mountain Resort, which offered enough diversions all on its own.
The resort, which is near the base of Cheyenne Mountain, has its own private
lake for boating, swimming and windsailing. We rented several types of craft
and spent the day on the water and the lake’s sandy beach, which sat against
the dramatic backdrop of the Rockies. For those with an urge to fish, daily
fishing passes and roads are available for rental at the lake.
Resort guests have access to the upscale Country Club
of Colorado, which includes several swimming pools, a spa (which I made good
use of), a fitness center and tennis courts. The championship 18-hole
Cheyenne Mountain Golf course is a major draw for guests.
Under the direction of General Manager Fredo Killing,
who first came to Colorado Springs to pursue his passion for glide planes,
the resort is molding itself into a family-friendly destination. There is a
children’s program, and onsite restaurants have all the usual kid favorites.
If the resort doesn’t keep you busy on your weekend
getaway, then the city of Colorado Springs will.
The town has become synonymous with Pikes Peak and the
picturesque mountain view that inspired Katharine Lee Bates to write
“America the Beautiful” in 1893. You can hike or drive Pikes Peak, but the
most historic way to climb the mountain is via the Pikes Peak Cog Railway,
which was built in 1891. The ascent climbs from the Manitou Springs depot to
the 14,110’ peak in just an hour, and the ride offers amazing views.
Ballooning is
another great way to check out the city panoramas. My husband and I took an
early morning flight with Adventures Out West – a trip that showed just how
mighty the massive Rocky Mountain Range really is. Due to the close
proximity to the peaks, ballooning in Colorado Springs requires special
attention. Still, the town is host to major ballooning events, such as the
Balloon Classic from August 31st to September 3, 2002. Over 125 colorful hot
air balloons will lift off from Memorial Park during the event.
No trip to The Springs would be complete without a stop
to the Air Force Academy. If you’ve never been there, it’s worth taking an
hour to look around the base and the free museum and visitor center. The
cadets and the base are an impressive display of America’s strength.
Since
Colorado Springs is, after all, part of the Old West, it’s only natural that
a visit includes an afternoon of horseback riding. We rode our trusty steeds
through the Pike National Forest under the guidance of the Stables at
Broadmoor, who have a special permit with the Forest Service. The path wound
through thick Aspen groves and piney forests, even stopping for a rest in a
grassy meadow. Since our littlest one is only four years old and too little
to ride a big horse, he stayed behind for a tour of the ranch by pony, even
stopping to look at the bison onsite.
The North Pole is another favorite stop for younger
visitors to Colorado Springs. The Christmas-themed family amusement park has
been around since 1956, and provides rides and activities that are best
suited for those under 10. There is an ice-covered pole that never melts in
the center of the park, and Christmas music plays in the background. At
$12.95 a person (coupons can be found on their website), it provides a fun
and affordable afternoon. The park is open from May through the end of
December.
Our
older children found that the Cave of the Winds offered a more adventurous
thrill. They took a lantern-lit tour of the geological wonder, crawling at
times on their hands and knees through the cavern. “It was creepy,” one of
the kids said, “when they turned out all the lights and it was totally pitch
black.” No wonder the caverns are one of the area’s top attractions.
Garden of the Gods is a must-see for those who like to
get out and enjoy nature. Besides hiking through the towering sandstone rock
formations, you can also visit the free museum and nature center, which is
the gateway to Garden of the Gods City Park. The kids enjoyed the hands-on
exhibits and the multi-media presentation on how the rocks were formed.
(Admission is $2 for adults; $1 for kids. Coupons can be found on their
website.)
Just ten miles from downtown Colorado Springs via
Cheyenne Boulevard is Seven Falls, a 180 foot waterfall in South Cheyenne
Canon. You can hike, bike, take an elevator to a viewing platform, or even
enjoy lunch at the picnic facilities along the way. There is a $7 admission
charge (children and seniors discounted).
For a look into the region’s varied past, stop by the
Pioneers Museum. The area’s first residents were native Ute, Cheyenne and
Kiowa Indians. Then in 1871, William Jackson Palmer founded the town of
Colorado Springs and the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad.
The rest, as they say, is history. Today the town
claims it is “as Colorado as it gets”, and perhaps that assertion is true.
The city’s gorgeous location, clean mountain air and outdoor lifestyle
represent some of the top assets that the Centennial State has to offer.
If You Go:
Colorado Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau
http://www.coloradosprings-travel.com
PH: 800-888-4748
Cheyenne Mountain Resort
3225 Broadmoor Valley Rd.
Colorado Springs, CO 80906
PH: 719-538-4000
http://www.cheyennemountain.com
Pikes Peak Cog Railway
Reservations Advised
$26 adults/$14 children 3-11
Open April to December
PH: 719-685-5401
Email: info@cograilway.com
http://www.cograilway.com
Ballooning over the Springs
Adventures Out West
Jeep Tours (Year-round)
Balloon Flights year-round
PH: 800-755-0935
http://www.adventuresoutwest.com
Stables at the Broadmoor
Located in Pike National Forest under special use permit
PH: 719-448-0371
http://www.COmtnadventure.com
Garden of the Gods Visitor Center & Natural History
Museum
1805 N. 30th St.
Colorado Springs, CO 80904
PH: 719-634-6666
Email:
gardenofgods@rmi.net
http://www.gardenofgods.com
Cave of the Winds
P. O. Box 826
Manitou Springs, CO 80829
PH: 719-634-2888
Email:
info@caveofthewinds.com
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
4250 Cheyenne Mtn. Zoo Rd.
Colorado Springs, CO 80906
PH: 719-633-9925
Email:
info@cmzoo.org
http://www.cmzoo.org
Seven Falls
P.O.Box 118
Colorado Springs, CO 80901
PH: 719-632-0765
Email:
falls@pcisys.net
www.sevenfalls.com
Colorado Springs Pioneer Museum
215 S. Tejon St.
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Phone: 719-385-5990
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