Colorado Springs, CO

Answer 1

Colorado Springs is a destination that brings together the best of old and new. Although Colorado Springs is Colorado's second-largest city and the county seat of one of the state's most populous counties. it still has an intimacy and openness that is rare in a city of its size. Colorado Springs was founded in 1871 as a high-end resort community. Although the city has grown dramatically in the years since, it has never lost the friendliness to visitors that it began with. Colorado Springs offers many shopping, dining and entertainment options as well as its greatest asset: its breathtaking scenery, due to its location at the foot of Pikes Peak and the foot of the Rocky Mountains.

The city's biggest tourist attraction is the Air Force Academy, located just north of the city. Visitors can observe cadet life, enjoy the campus' many hiking trails and outdoor areas, and explore the dramatic modernist architecture of the Cadet Chapel and other buildings. Colorado Springs is also rich in outdoors amenities, particularly the unusual red-rock geological formations of Garden of the Gods, the crown jewel of the city's public-park system.

Most of the city's dining and shopping options are found on the city's major street. Academy Boulevard winds its way through Colorado Springs from the Air Force Academy in the north to just outside the city limits in the south. Larger shopping centers include the Citadel Mall and the upscale open-air marketplace The Promenade Shops at Briargate, but a drive down Academy also gives visitors access to ethnic food markets, antique stores, and an amazingly diverse set of restaurants, breweries and other eating and drinking options.

The Springs (as locals call it) also has one of the state's most charming and intact downtown areas. Downtown Colorado Springs is one of the oldest parts of the city, and its streets still contain unique shops, ethnic restaurants, interesting bars and other sights that should appeal to visitors looking for something different from the norm. While Colorado Springs as a whole is oriented towards the automobile, the city's downtown offers a pedestrian experience that is refreshing after a day of driving. A similar experience can be found in Manitou, just outside Colorado Springs. This small town features numerous antique stores and vintage boutiques in its carefully preserved historic buildings, and gives visitors a flavor of old Colorado just minutes from the interstate and Colorado Springs itself.

Answer 2

Nestled next to the impressive Rocky Mountains, Colorado Springs, CO provides a wealth of activities for people of all ages, and is a great vacation spot for young honeymooners, whole families, and older couples. Colorado Springs, CO can boast over 300 days of sunshine per year, which is more than most cities in California, making it an ideal spot for skiing and other outdoor activities. Its wide range of entertainment options also make this city quite a family-friendly location to visit, perhaps more so than anywhere else in the American West. Colorado Springs, CO rests under the massive edifice of Pike’s Peak, which towers over 14,000 feet high, and provides a great place to hike and camp, and the nearby mountains offer ample opportunities to fish, ski, and even hunt.

Colorado Springs, CO, while not as well known as its neighbor to the north, Denver, has quite a vibrant cultural and community feel to it which easily rivals the rest of the state. The rich history of the region, which was largely founded upon the ample mining, can be explored at historical centers such as the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum and Cripple Creek Heritage Center. Downtown Colorado Springs, CO caters toward family entertainment, with the Pioneer Days festival in the downtown area being a popular destination for tourists and locals alike, as well as the Colorado Springs, CO fair off of Powers Avenue, which is held every summer. World-famous skiing can be found at several resorts including Vail, Aspen, and Breckenridge a short ways from the city. If you enjoy music, there are a variety of clubs dotting Academy Blvd, as well as in the downtown area, particularly near Bijou and Tejon streets. Or escape on a day trip with the whole family to Manitou Springs, a small and quirky subsection of Colorado Springs, CO which offers shopping for all types of toys, clothing, trinkets, and hand made housewares, as well as spas for the adults and arcade gaming for the kids.

Food and drink are a high priority in a city as bustling and fun-oriented as Colorado Springs, CO, and you can expect to find world-famous chili in the ski resorts nearby the city, as well as outstanding Pizza from Marylin’s in Manitou. If you simply want to relax alone or with the family, a trip to Mate Factor can help you find great coffee, tea, or yerba mate in a bustling, quirky environment. A trip to Pike’s Peak or Garden of the Gods could be well rewarded with a visit to Pikes Peak Ice Cream and Gelato, which provides refreshing and delicious treats year-round. The downtown area of Colorado Springs, CO offers an incredibly vast array of dishes from all cultural heritages and cuisines. Coffee shops seem to pop up every few doors, and the Pita Pit restaurant offers delicious fast food which is also healthy, making this spot a great choice for anyone who wants to make sure their children are getting proper nutrition while on vacation.

Answer 3

Colorado Springs, Colorado offers some of the most amazing wonders in the nation. With a backdrop of mountain ranges and open space, Colorado Springs engages all who visit in a variety of fun.

Famous for Garden of the Gods Park, which contains sandstone rock formations up to 300 feet high, drive through and observe the beauty of a park formed by rushing water. Pike’s Peak, a dome shaped mountain, was formed one billion years ago when molten rock hardened and was thrust upward. Pike’s Peak was chiseled over time by glaciers. Ride the Pike’s Peak Cog Railroad to the summit, which is 14,110 feet high.

While there are hundreds of restaurants, try one that is truly unique. The Airplane Restaurant is a real Boeing KC-97 tanker that is totally intact! Along with the accommodations ranging from hotels to camping, a dude ranch may be an exciting choice.

This is just a fraction of what Colorado Springs has to offer!