COME TO LIFE / Pikes Peak Country PIKES PEAK COUNTRY: COLORADO SPRINGS & MANITOU SPRINGS COLORADO Colorado Springs is the state’s second-largest city, but it’s first in the hearts of many visitors as a place of astonishing beauty with more than 55 unique museums and cultural and natural attractions. 1 2 DAY 1 Use your first day in “The Springs” to explore the town. Downtown has plenty of options for breakfast, and the new PikeRide bike-share program makes it easy to get around on two wheels. Head to Tejon Street for window-shopping and latte sipping. Spend time at one of the area’s museums, such as the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center (2) (catch the acclaimed theater company in action), the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum , the Penrose Heritage Museum and the new Ent Center for the Arts , a magnificent cultural building complete with a contemporary-art gallery. Or stop in for tea at Miramont Castle (1) , a Victorian castle at the base of Pikes Peak with nine styles of architecture. With more than 50 pieces of permanent public art, esteemed cultural institutions and a roster of events and festivals, it’s no surprise that downtown Colorado Springs has been named one of 23 Certified Colorado Creative Districts. A free First Friday Art Walk shuttle will take you to the galleries around town, as well as in nearby Old Colorado City and Manitou Springs, from April to December. Stop for lunch at the Ivywild School (4) , a 1916 elementary school renovated into a commu-nity market featuring Bristol Brewing Co. , Axe and the Oak whiskey distillery, community gardens, music and a bakery/eatery — all selling local items. Next, see where Team USA prepares for competition at the U.S. Olympic Training Center . Tour the athlete training facilities and U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame. For dinner, there are tons of fine-dining options, including one of Colorado’s two five-star restaurants, The Broadmoor’s Penrose Room . There’s also Four by Brother Luck , a local chef Be sure to visit COLORADO.com/ FieldGuide for even more itineraries! @mmmbeans 3 4 QUICK TIP 102 / Originally one of the campus’s original structures, the U.S. Air Force Academy Planetarium reopened last year after a long hiatus and thorough renovation. Now, it boasts modern educational experiences and a theater for STEM-related shows, in addition to its planetarium presentations. 1-800-COLORADO CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: MIRAMONT CASTLE, PIKES PEAK COUNTRY ATTRACTIONS; COLORADO SPRINGS FINE ART CENTER AT COLORADO COLLEGE; IVYWILD SCHOOL; CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN ZOO, @MMMBEANS.
Colorado Official State Vacation Guide 2019: Page 102
