Colorado Springs, Colorado is truly a majestic place. You can easily vacation here on a budget while experiencing the Earth’s glorious natural beauty. It’s a great place for a family vacation or a solo vacation. I took a solo trip here in September and it was so relaxing and wonderful!
Garden of the Gods
The Garden of the Gods is a beautiful and wonderous place that you must see in person. The park is free and open to the public. There are plenty of places to pull over to park to take photos or walk the trails. Or you can just drive through and admire the beauty from your vehicle. The park offers free trolley rides as well. You can book a climbing excursion, walking tour, or rent a bike/e-bike. The visitor’s center has a gift shop and restaurant. The Bean Spouts Café is located on the second floor of the visitor center and offers gluten-free options! The Garden of the Gods got its name in 1859 when two German surveyors came upon the area. One exclaimed it would be a great place for a Biergarten (beer garden) and the other disagreed and said it was fit for a place for gods to assemble. “We will call it Garden of the Gods,” they decided, and in my opinion the name is very fitting.
Wolves
The Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center will make your trip to Colorado Springs a trip to remember. Take a tour to see these beautiful wolves up close. They offer a variety of tours and packages like the Meet and Greet, VIP Encounter, Full Moon tours and more.
Another place to not only visit, but take wolves on a walk is Wolf Adventures.
Want to learn how to train like an athlete? Visit the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center, located near downtown Colorado Springs and is an amazing building. You can experience interactive technology that will make you feel like an Olympian. They are closed on Tuesday and Wednesday. Entry is $19.95 for adults and $13.95 for children. Discounts for Seniors, Military, College Students and First Responders with I.D. Entry for children 5 and under are free.
If you’re looking for a peaceful and quiet place, to commune with God or to get away from the hustle and bustle, this is a great place to do it. Glen Eyrie has been Headquarters to the Ministry of the Navigators since 1953. You can book a tour for $12 and enjoy a 1.5-hour guided walk of the castle and grounds. You can also book Afternoon Tea for $36 per person (plus tax) in a beautiful castle dining room. While on the grounds, you may get a peek at the turkeys, long horned sheep, deer, or other wildlife. Be sure to be kind and give the animals space. 😊 Glen Eyrie Castle has a fascinating history and was founded in 1871 by William Jackson Palmer, the founder of Colorado Springs. Glen Eyrie has a small gift shop/coffee shop on site. If you book a night here, know that there are no TVs in the rooms. No alcohol or marijuana is permitted on the grounds, and no smoking indoors. Free breakfast is offered to overnight guests in the dinning room. They have retreats and other events that take place year-round. A marriage retreat was taking place during my stay. I got to chat with some friendly people. It’s located next door to the Garden of the Gods and the grounds are truly beautiful and peaceful.
When you’re feeling hungry and looking for gluten free and vegan options, visit Kawa Coffee. This local coffee shop is cute place that offers breakfast, sandwiches, hot and cold drinks, and baked goods. You can order a bagel breakfast with a gluten free tortilla instead. I tried their gluten free burritos both for breakfast and lunch and they were great! I also tried their gluten free Triple Chocolate Cookie. If you love rich chocolate, you’ll love this cookie. It is a small coffee shop, so you may want to order online in advance in lieu of waiting.
These ancient dwellings encompass ancestral Puebloan ruins the date back about 1000 years. You can enter and roam the dwellings to learn more about the way the tribes lived and learn even more in the museum where you’ll see pottery, ancient cave paintings, and more. It’s fun and interesting for all ages! There is a gift shop, bathrooms, and picnic area. Entry is $12 per person.
The Broadmoor Hotel is a site to behold. This historic hotel opened in 1918 and is a 5-star, AAA Five-diamond resort hotel and has won many awards. Even if you stay elsewhere, come visit for an afternoon and enjoy the stunning views, restaurants, and shopping. Broadmoor guests get to also enjoy amenities like golf, tennis, pickle ball, the spa, and more. While I was on the Glen Eyrie castle tour they mentioned a funny historic fact that links the Broadmoor Hotel and Glen Eyrie castle.
If you want to see spectacular views and are not afraid of heights, visit the summit of Pikes Peak by taking the Cog Railway. The summit has an altitude of 14,115 feet/4,302.31 meters. Tickets sell out weeks in advance to be sure to purchase yours early. Parking is $10. You can also park at Manitou Springs and take the free shuttle. You can not bring outside food but you can purchase snacks at the Depot. For those that are not used to the high altitude, oxygen cans are also available/sold at the Depot. Total ride to and from is 3 hours. It’s about 1 hour and 10 minutes each way with about 40 minutes to walk around at the top of the summit or explore the new Visitor’s Center. The Visitor’s Center has restaurants and a gift shop. They are reported to be 100% ADA accessible.