Colorado Springs is a gorgeous, yet down-to earth and accessible, city with a well-rounded sense of nature and the arts. Flying into Colorado Springs is like being swallowed up by a sea of green grass sprinkled with colorful wildflowers. Like Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz,” those visiting Colorado Springs will wake up to a Technicolor dreamscape. One of its largest claims to fame is the U.S. Olympic Headquarters and Training Center, beloved by local residents and frequented by future Olympians. It also is the home of some of the country’s most highly acclaimed personal trainer certification programs.
A Floating Spectacle of Color
The Colorado Balloon Classic is a must-see event. The largest and longest-running hot air balloon festival in Colorado, this impressive event is worth every minute. More than 100 hot air balloons are launched throughout the festival, punctuating the intense blue sky with a visual feast of colors.
The View from the Ground
Colorado Springs is a bicycle-friendly town, with bike lanes built into its wide roads and urban bicycle trails that connect much of the city. These make up an uninterrupted route for hikers and joggers as well. More than 160 miles of hiking trails at local parks give residents and visitors a great excuse to get outside and enjoy Colorado Spring’s beautiful weather. Those looking for a place to stay can choose a cottage, an historic inn, or a luxury resort. The five-star Broadmoor Hotel is the home of the U.S. Women’s Open Golf Championship and attracts tons of celebrities.
The View from Above—Pike’s Peak
Visitors can drive along the Pike’s Peak Highway to experience this historic symbol of the West that inspired the lyrics for the song “America the Beautiful.” They can also ride the Pikes Peak Cog Railway, which takes them on a scenic three-hour tour of this natural wonderland. Those looking for a more adventurous way to enjoy the mountain can go hiking, fishing, or camping in its varied landscape. Surrounded by imposing rock formations, Crystal Reservoir is a perfect place to paddle a canoe or pan for minerals.
The Cultural Landscape
Colorado Springs is rich in history and culture. Historic sites like Rock Ledge Ranch lets people see what life in this little jewel of a city was like for Native Americans, and then for settlers in the 1800s. The community is also vibrant with art and music. Art galleries, theaters, music hotspots, and museums give this town a lively vibe. Its people are friendly, outdoorsy, a little alternative, and very down to earth.
Colorado Springs is peppered with quaint mountain retreats, reminiscent of bygone era. The popular historic Manitou area is nestled in the foothills of Pike’s Peak. Meandering through unique shops filled with locally made treasures, ducking into restaurants packed with joyful people, enjoying the sounds of live musicians playing out their hearts on the streets of tiny community—these things and more bring visitors back for as many visits as they can squeeze in.
The people of Colorado Springs are surely some of the happiest people in the world. Perhaps living in this natural wonderland and breathing in the fresh air does something for the psyche. When you can curl up to your antique fireplace at the end of your, perched on the slopes of a mountain overlooking some of the most stunning expanses of land in the world, any stress of the outside world will surely melt away.
Richard Haynes is a former Colorado Springs resident, who now resides in Manitoba, Canada. Richard is an avid blogger, as well as a content contributor for Kanetix, an auto insurance comparison site, including Ontario auto insurance quotes.
If you like this post, you may want to subscribe to the feed via RSS or Email to get instantly updated for new posts soon to come.
Click here to print
{ 1 trackback }