Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs / COME TO LIFE Head out to Cave of the Winds and The Broadmoor Seven Falls (7) , where a 181-foot waterfall cascades down seven granite steps. The Soaring Adventure zipline just outside the falls delights visitors with multiple courses. 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 adventure. 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. 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 or take a guided UTV tour of Pike National Forest with Great Outdoor Adventures. Head 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 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 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. Or explore Garden of the Gods (5) on foot, on horse, by Segway or via vintage scooter. This free National Natural Landmark features unusual sandstone rock formations up to 300 feet high. A new shuttle whisks visitors from the entrance to the main part of the park in no time. 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. 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 historic Manitou Springs ’ new galleries and restaurants. The town was recently named one of the 10 Coolest Small Towns in the country by Budget Travel magazine and was also named a Certified Colorado Creative District. A free shuttle will ferry you from parking lots into the downtown district. North of town, Rainbow Falls Historic Site — a series of small waterfalls along Fountain Creek — recently reopened to hikers and picnickers following improvements to the trail system. DAY 2 CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: GARDEN OF THE GODS, KENNAN HARVEY; THE BROADMOOR SEVEN FALLS, STAN ROSE; CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN STATE PARK, COLORADO PARKS AND WILDLIIFE. Start your day with a workout at Cheyenne Mountain State Park (6) , where the new Dixon Trail takes you to the top of Cheyenne Mountain, navigating 914 meters of elevation gain (work those calves!). 6 7 STAY & PLAY OPTIONS Cañon City (page 194), Cascade (page 194), Colorado Springs (page 194), Divide , Falcon (page 198), Franktown , Green Mountain Falls , Lake George , Manitou Springs (page 202), 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 / 111
Colorado Official State Vacation Guide 2020: Page 111
