BF and I will have a rare two days off together this weekend, and I have decided we need to get the hell outta Dodge. Even though we live in CO, neither of us have been to the Royal Gorge or Canon City area.
Anyone who has been have any advice on where to stay or what not to miss?
Um, it’s a gorge. The Royal Gorge bridge was built solely for tourism - it doesn’t really go anywhere. You can walk or drive across it (once you pay admission), and it is WAY above the Arkansas River. I liked taking the cable car to the bottom - the view looking up at the bridge is pretty cool and for whatever reason the bottom isn’t as touristy as the top.
But once you’ve blown a few hours there I don’t think there’s a lot else to do. I like driving Phantom Canyon, which ends up being CO 67 again. It’s many miles of scenic dirt road, much of it one lane wide, with sheer drop-offs. It runs from Cripple Creek down towards Canon City (it actually comes out between Canon and Pueblo).
The Pike’s Peak highway might be open by Memorial day weekend - I don’t remember.
Where in CO are you? That’ll help. Denver?
I think you’ll find Cave of the Winds on your way to Royal Gorge, which is an interesting add-on. Further north the Garden of the Gods is and interesting touristy place. Definitely go to Pikes Peak if the drive is open. It is really beautiful and the views are outsatnding. I had gone there on Memorial Day a couple of years back, and luckily it was the first day of the season. There was hardly anbody there. If you don’t feel like driving to the top you can always take the train ride. That way you’ll also have your boyfriend’s undivided attention 
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Pikes Peak Train
I liked Royal Gorge Bridge, but was a bit disappointed with the fact that it was built solely as tourist attraction. It doesn’t really go anywhere. Though, if you go there, make sure you go down into the gorge by the rail car.
Oh by theway, COLORADO ROCKS!!!
Hawkeyejo’s and my recommendations assume that you get off I-25 in Colorado Springs and head either west or southwest. Cave of the Winds is on US 24 west of the Springs, on the way to the Pikes peak highway. (I married Mrs Pagan in Green Mountain Falls, just past the Pikes Peak turnoff.)
But the short route from points north to Royal Gorge is a straight shot from Colorado Springs to Canon City via CO 115. Your call.
And Colorado does indeed rock. I lived along the front range and in the foothills for 12 years, and I still miss it 7 years later…
A lot of dinosaur fossil quarries in the the Canon City area, with a small museum in town.
Thanks for all the replies so far. 
I am in Fort Collins…a.k.a. “Fort Fun”. We have done the drive out Big Thompson and Poudre River Canyons more times than I can imagine. And every year we go to Telluride for Blues and Brews. But we really haven’t seen much of the state, even though we’ve been here a total of five years. I haven’t seen Pike’s Peak either, btw.
Kilvert’s Pagan , I can see how you can miss it here even after 7 years. We lived here together for two years, moved away for two, and just couldn’t stand it so we came back. It would take an awful lot to get me to move away from here again. No place like it on earth, in my opinion.
Yeah, I lived in FC for four years. It’s good to know someone from Ram town is on the boards. Another alternative for you might be to go to Estes Park, which is closer, or to Steamboat Springs and soak in the hot springs there. It’s clothing optional after dark, which is kinda fun.
With two Fort Collins folks on this thread, I shouldn’t admit that I also lived in Fort Collins’ evis twin sister, Laramie.
But I did. FWIW, the drive over Medicine Bow Pass (Wyoming 130) is gorgeous, and WAY less traveled than Trial Ridge Road in RMNP. But I wouldn’t go there this weekend - they’re just now getting it plowed open. Go in mid-July. There’s a hot spring in Saratoga on the other side, although it sounds less fun than the one in Steamboat.
Ever been to the Bucksnort Saloon near Pine?
Haven’t been to the Bucksnort Saloon. With a name like that though, it’s got to be a fun time.
hawkeyejoe , we go to Estes all the time! I love the drive through Big Thompson. We have an annual pass to Rocky Mountain National Park. I’ve never been to Steamboat though. The hot springs sound fun. 
And I’ll have to check out Medicine Bow, too.
Now we’re having a hard time deciding between Royal Gorge and Pike’s Peak for Sunday (I hate only having two days off together!).
Either way, I think we’ll make a stop at Garden of the Gods on the way home on Monday.
From the Wayne Faust website: