# Tell Me What To Do In Colorado Springs **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 7, 2007, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-to-do-in-colorado-springs/407060 "2007-06-07T00:18:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Reepicheep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@Reepicheep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reepicheep)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-to-do-in-colorado-springs/407060/1 "2007-06-07T00:18:15Z")
I am going to Colorado Spring, CO for two weeks of training, later this month. The people I’ll be training work at night so I’ll have some daytime free to sight see, as well as a few free nights. What are the things I absolutely positively should not miss? Where should I go to eat? What are the local specialties that I should be sure to see/try/experience? I am trusting my fellow Dopers to show me ways to have fun. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-to-do-in-colorado-springs/407060/2 "2007-06-07T00:35:59Z")
Well, I have not been there in nearly 26 years, but when we were there we enjoyed [http://www.sevenfalls.com/](http://www.sevenfalls.com/) ---
**Author:** ![badkittypriestess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8baadc/32.png) [@badkittypriestess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badkittypriestess)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-to-do-in-colorado-springs/407060/3 "2007-06-07T01:03:12Z")
Cave of the Winds rocks! There is the Air Force Academy but I’m not sure they give tours anymore. My Mom swears the Broadmoor has good food. Cheyenne Mnt. Zoo is cool. Not sure how much time you will have when your here. As for eating places I can’t really help there that much. Hope this helps! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-to-do-in-colorado-springs/407060/4 "2007-06-07T01:11:26Z")
Oh, and we sure liked Pike’s Peak too! AND Cave of the Winds. But those are a bit out of town, no? ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-to-do-in-colorado-springs/407060/5 "2007-06-07T01:25:34Z")
I was in COS Memorial Day. Mostly played Unreal Tournament 2004 and board games. (annual gaming weekend, the hosting duties rotate) But when I’ve visited I’ve done (actual place names may differ): Pike’s Peak Olympic Training place May Natural history museum (big bugs) Numistatic Museum (old coins) Florescent park (petrified flowers) There was some sort of airplane / rocket museam near the airport. Garden of the Gods (though it was raining) Brian ---
**Author:** ![mlerose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/43a26b/32.png) [@mlerose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlerose)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-to-do-in-colorado-springs/407060/6 "2007-06-07T02:28:28Z")
The downtown area can be kind of fun to walk around - there are a lot of interesting shops and restaurants. Other than that, I’d recommend the Renaissance Festival (just north of the Springs in Larkspur), Pike’s Peak, and I have heard good things about the zoo. ---
**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-to-do-in-colorado-springs/407060/7 "2007-06-07T12:03:49Z")
We enjoyed the cog railway up to Pike’s Peak, and the Garden of the Gods. Shopping in Manitou Springs was pretty cool, too. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Dave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/46a35a/32.png) [@Great\_Dave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Dave)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-to-do-in-colorado-springs/407060/8 "2007-06-07T12:54:51Z")
Firebomb Focus on the Family world headquarters. j/k ---
**Author:** ![FisherQueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@FisherQueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FisherQueen)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-to-do-in-colorado-springs/407060/9 "2007-06-07T13:14:14Z")
No, firebombing Focus on the Family would be illegal. Just go inside and gayly kiss until they have you arrested. ---
**Author:** ![yanceylebeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yanceylebeef/32/12290_2.png) [@yanceylebeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yanceylebeef)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-to-do-in-colorado-springs/407060/10 "2007-06-07T15:03:00Z")
The Air Force Academy is back open to visitors, but there is some construction going on at both the North and South gates, so there may be some delays. Otherwise, if you like beer there are several microbrews in town, Bristol, Laughing Lab, and Phantom Canyon to name a few. I’d second a hike through Garden of the Gods. It’s truly remarkable. ETA: I work at the Academy, so drop me a private message when you get in, I’ll try and get out for lunch. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-to-do-in-colorado-springs/407060/11 "2007-06-07T15:19:42Z")
[QUOTE=mlerose] I have heard good things about the zoo. [/QUOTE] The zoo is nice, if a bit small (Colorado Springs is not a large place, by my perspective), but worth the visit if just to feed the giraffes. Very cool. There are some nice hiking trails, not too tough, tucked away in the foothills. Views up on Pike’s Peak are great, and Garden of the Gods is awe inspiring. Eat some Mexican food with green chile (chile verde). Ladyfoxfire turned me onto this, and it is delicious. ---
**Author:** ![Sunrazor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sunrazor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunrazor)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-to-do-in-colorado-springs/407060/12 "2007-06-07T15:37:44Z")
Don’t forget the PRCA Hall of Fame – if you’re a rodeo fan. The Broadmoor does have good food – my son studied as a chef’s apprentice there for three years – but it is shockingly expensive. Manhattanites have been known to go into sticker shock when they get the bill. ---
**Author:** ![Gordon\_Urquhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/db5fbb/32.png) [@Gordon\_Urquhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gordon_Urquhart)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-to-do-in-colorado-springs/407060/13 "2007-06-07T16:15:47Z")
Manitou Springs, which has already been mentioned and is just a few miles west of Colorado Springs, is definitely worth at least an afternoon – particularly if you have lunch at the Dutch Kitchen, which has great, great pie (specialty is buttermilk pie, but I’ve always been happy with everything else, too). There’s a great cooperative local artisan’s shop called The Common Wheel, with very cool pottery, paintings and sculptures. The town also has a number of mineral springs from which you can sample the waters. Further west of Colorado Springs on Highway 24 (about 40 miles west of C. Springs), you can visit Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument ([www.nps.gov/flfo/](http://www.nps.gov/flfo/)) – it’s got a number of very pretty trails that take hikers very close to some huge fossilized redwood stumps. It’d be a great day trip if your schedule permits. I’ll add to the list of Dopers recommending Garden of the Gods – it’s big, it’s very pretty, and it’s free. ---
**Author:** ![Reepicheep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@Reepicheep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reepicheep)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-to-do-in-colorado-springs/407060/14 "2007-06-07T19:32:10Z")
Thank you all for the many fun sounding things to do. The Grarden of the Gods is a definite with so many of you knowledgeable people recommending it. Pikes Peak also, how could I forget that when planning fun activities? Thanks out to everyone again. ---
**Author:** ![Shecky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@Shecky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shecky)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-to-do-in-colorado-springs/407060/15 "2007-06-07T19:59:25Z")
According to Eric Schlosser, look for the evolving house design and go to fast food outlets. I also hear the Little Cesar’s pizza is good! ---
**Author:** ![Bobotheoptimist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/919ad9/32.png) [@Bobotheoptimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobotheoptimist)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-to-do-in-colorado-springs/407060/16 "2007-06-07T20:14:05Z")
Anyone know if that rum bar is still around? I think it might have had the word “Parrot” in the name. Or maybe on the wall. Parrot Bay? No that’s a _bad_ rum … Rum Bay? Anyway, off of Kiowa street near City Auditorium. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2007, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-to-do-in-colorado-springs/407060/17 "2007-06-07T22:12:40Z")
Visit Denver. Seriously, the zoo is nice, and you can feed the giraffes - they’ll sell you the giraffe treats. I like the primate building a lot. Included is admission to a memorial tower (for Will Rogers?) that you drive through the zoo to get to, and has amazing views. Colorado Springs is an extremely tourist oriented town. When you’re in your hotel lobby, you won’t be able to move without tripping over tourist brochures. Many attractions are in or on the way to Manitou Springs, a short jaunt west into the foothills. ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-to-do-in-colorado-springs/407060/18 "2007-06-08T01:24:02Z")
I prefer the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo to the Denver one. It’s fun to watch the under-excercized walk up the hill to the top. And Everybody’s this the big stuff…if you’ve got a car, perhaps you could go to Cripple creek for western gambling, but it’s not as cool as the Royal Gorge, Cog railway, Garden of the Gods, or the Falls. ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2007, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-what-to-do-in-colorado-springs/407060/19 "2007-06-08T13:37:20Z")
I haven’t been to The Springs in 25 years…my daughter was born on Fort Carson…and it’s bringing back all sorts of memories, reading this thread! I heard it’s become very built up in the intervening years…used to be practically nothing along the road between the Springs and Ft. Carson except one or two new housing developments, and now it’s solid development, according to reports. I second the Zoo, and Rampart Range Road is a trip I will never forget…just don’t do it in a Volkswagen Rabbit loaded with three large adults…never a dull moment! Walk around the lake at the Broadmoor, and be sure to go downtown.