Colorado Springs is one of my favorite cities.
Home to Pike’s Peak, an Olympic training center, and a downright awesome view of the Rocky Mountains, Colorado Springs is situated at the foot of the Rockies just an hour south of Denver. The city is two hours from Breckenridge, so a weekend in the mountains is totally doable. There is really something for everyone here.
One of the things I love about Colorado Springs is it’s family friendly vibe. Because of the heavy military presence, there are a lot of young families in the area and the city has done a great job of providing various parks and attractions for families to enjoy.
My most favorite place to take my kids in CS is the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. It’s designed to be interactive so feeding the giraffes or having a wallaby hop alongside you on the sidewalk are just part of the experience. Riding the carousel, venturing up to the lookout, and petting the elephants are just a few more reasons to make sure you visit the zoo. I could have a blast there all by myself for crying out loud!
One thing to take note of is that the weather here changes quickly. Sunny skies can shift suddenly and bring torrential downpours on summer afternoons. Warm weather can turn cold in less than an hour. Just make sure you check the weather right up until you head that way to ensure you have the correct apparel for your trip. Don’t forget to use Liz’s method for packing!
Free Attractions:
- Parks galore – Colorado Springs has over 9,000 acres of parkland! No matter what part of the city you find yourself in, there will undoubtedly be a park nearby.
- Red Rock Canyon Open SpaceĀ – Great for hiking or mountain biking with the kids.
- United States Air Force Academy – Whether you want to tour the grounds or attend a football game, the Air Force Academy is a great place to visit. It’s located on the northern end of Colorado Springs close to great shopping and dining.
- Focus on the Family indoor playgroundĀ – The Christian bookstore has a huge facility in Colorado Springs. The play area is all indoor, which is great for rainy, or windy days. Their best known feature is the two story indoor slide that children and adults alike love to ride.
- Garden of the Gods – walking the trails of GotG makes for one of the most worshipful experiences you can imagine. It’s always fun to marvel at the giant rock formations that seem to have appeared out of nowhere.Ā
- Mountain Biking – There are several parks including Cheyenne Mountain State Park that have trails for mountain biking.
- The Incline (in Manitou Springs) – The Incline is an exhilarating challenge! On this extreme trail, hikers gain over 2,000 feet of elevation in less than a mile. It’s quite a feat, but the view from the top makes it all worth it!
- Olympic Training Center – The USA Swim team and the USA shooting team both have their headquarters on the training center’s campus, and tours of the facility are available daily.
Other Attractions:
- Cheyenne Mountain ZooĀ – It’s not free, but it’s worth every penny! This zoo is interactive – that’s right! You get to feed giraffes, maybe pet the elephants, and feed the birds. So much fun! The CM Zoo is actually on the side of Cheyenne Mountain so not only is it fun, but the views are breathtaking!
- Pike’s Peak (closed from November to May-ish) – a classic tourist attraction. You can drive up and enjoy the views along the way, or take the COG from Manitou Springs if you don’t mind riding in an open air train.
- Seven FallsĀ – located less than a mile from The Broadmoor, Seven Falls is another must see attraction.
- Old Colorado City Historic DistrictĀ – OCC is a national historic district of Colorado Springs. Shopping and dining won’t disappoint here.
- Downtown Colorado SpringsĀ – a culmination of art museums, shopping, and fine dining, there is something for everyone in the downtown district. My favorite restaurant, Cocquette’s is here as well.
- Pro Rodeo Hall of FameĀ – a museum dedicated to preserving the legacy of professional rodeo. An educational experience for the museum buff.
- Cave of the Winds – Choose from 3 cave tours that take visitors into the mountains for varying degrees of adventure! There are tours that suit all ages.
Places to Stay
- Holiday Inn Express & Suites Colorado Springs North
- Garden of the Gods Club and Resort
- The Mining Exchange A Wyndham Grand Hotel & Spa
Where to Eat
- Coquette’s – 100% Gluten Free restaurant, but don’t let that stop you from going. They make fresh cupcakes daily and they are DELISH!
- Uchenna – Authentic Ethiopian cuisine. Make sure you get a slice of the flourless chocolate cake too. Oh my word.
- Lark Burger – Great burgers. The truffle fries are amazing!
- Biaggi’s – Delicious Italian food – this is a sit down restaurant and may not be ideal for kiddos.
- Adam’s Mountain Cafe – Okay I have a story with this one:
So, Michael and I took the kids biking at Red Rock Canyon for several hours one afternoon. When we finished up we decided to grab something to eat before heading home. We found Adam’s and didn’t know anything about it but decided to give it a try. Let’s just say they were not amused by our scrubby, smelly selves coming in for a quick bite. They sort of kindly let us know it was a “nice place” so we left and ate somewhere else. Oopsie!
A few months later Michael and I returned – dressed nicely and with a group of adults – and had a nice meal and a pleasant experience.Ā So note to self – don’t go to Adam’s unless you’re showered up and kidless.
Tell me your favorite things to do in Colorado Springs!
We absolutely loved all the touristy shops and walking around in near by Manitou springs on our recent visit to Colorado springs
It’s such an interesting place! Always an adventure in Manitou.