Pikes Peak Country / COME TO LIFE Head out to Cave of the Winds (5) and The Broadmoor Seven Falls , where a 181-foot waterfall cascades down seven granite steps. The Soaring Adventure zipline just outside the falls delights visitors with multiple courses and scenic features. At Cave of the Winds, explore caverns, soar on the Terror-dactyl aerial dive ride, tackle the Wind Walker Challenge Course or clip-in for a new via ferrata climbing adven-ture. Or celebrate early at North Pole , Home of Santa’s Workshop , where it’s Christmas all year and a zipline whisks you around the park in Santa’s sleigh. Or, hit up the ProRodeo Hall of Fame & Muse-um of the American Cowboy to see exhibits on famous cowboys such as Chris LeDoux, Lane Frost and Gene Autry. There’s also the National Museum of World War II Aviation , the only U.S. museum that exclusively promotes the importance of aviation in World War II. If you’ve got time to get sidetracked, peek into Woodland Park to explore the Dinosaur Resource Center (6) and farther on to Divide to visit Mueller State Park , which happens to have amazing Pikes Peak views. Old Colorado City is another favorite spot for strolling visitors looking for shops, patio dining, art galleries, events and more. 5 who went the distance on Bravo’s “Top Chef Colorado.” Then, see a show at the Pikes Peak Center for the Performing Arts , host to more than 200 performances every year. Dominating the skyline is Pikes Peak . Reach the summit by car, foot or bike. Stop into the new Summit House for info on the peak’s importance to the area’s history, amazing overlooks and to pick up one of the famous doughnuts at the Summit House. Explore in the peak’s shadow at the South Slope Recreation Area , with hiking and singletrack trails, fishing and bighorn-sheep viewing. Or head over to the Red Rock Canyon Open Space , with picnic areas, hiking trails, a free-ride bike park, technical climbing routes and off-leash dog loops. If your pooch is along, finish his day at Pub Dog , the state’s only restaurant where dogs can eat indoors with their owners and plenty of Fido-friendly amenities make it worth their while. Before dinner, stop by the Winery at Pikes Peak in Cascade for a few sips at the base of Pikes Peak and then check out Manitou Springs’ SunWater Spa ’s hot soaking springs for further relaxation. Grab dinner in historic Manitou Springs , named one of the 10 Coolest Small Towns in the country by Budget Travel magazine. The town is home to historic restau-rants, neighborhood eateries, boutiques and galleries — and was also named a Certified Colorado Creative District. A free shuttle will ferry you from parking lots into the downtown district or up to the popular Manitou Incline , a steep and challenging trail for those seeking a killer workout. DAY 2 Start your day exploring Garden of the Gods (7) on foot, on horse or by Segway. This free National Natural Landmark features un-usual sandstone rock formations up to 300 feet high. While in the area, stop into the Northrop Grumman Science Center to see Science on a Sphere for views of the Earth, sun, moons and planets in space. 6 CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: CAVE OF THE WINDS; GARDEN OF THE GODS PARK, KENNAN HARVEY; DINOSAUR RESOURCE CENTER, EFRAÍN M. PADRÓ. 7 STAY & PLAY OPTIONS Cañon City (page 193), Cascade (page 193), Colorado Springs (page 194), Divide , Falcon (page 197), Franktown , Green Mountain Falls , Lake George , Manitou Springs (page 201), Monument , Palmer Lake , Woodland Park DAY 3 Start your morning with a visit to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (3) . Ride the tram around the park, feed giraffes and parakeets, walk among the wallabies and check out the Encounter Africa exhibit. COLORADO.COM / 103
Colorado Official State Vacation Guide 2019: Page 103
