Excursion of the Week: Colorado Springs Highlights

[ Caveat: I have posted about Garden of the gods and Helen Hunt Falls previously but it is time for an update. Also, the info on the Colorado Mountain Brewery and Cave of the Winds is new.]

(Garden of the gods as viewed from main Visitor Center)

Hike: Garden of the gods:

One of my favorite places to visit for a fun, casual hike is Garden of the gods in Colorado Springs, CO. Situated beneath the towering backdrop of Pikes Peak, Garden of the gods is home to red sandstone formations that appear like pinnacles and shark fins amid the park trails. One of my favorite trails is the Spring Canyon Trailhead, where you can hike to the Siamese Twins formations. There is a signature photo op, where if you bend down on one knee you can get a shot of your family in the hole of the rock formation with Pikes Peak in the background. (One of my favorite Colorado photo shots.)

(views)

 

There is a visitor center just outside the main entrance (on the east side) and also a gift shop with some cool art inside the park. At the main visitor center I recommend watching the 20 minute introductory video--quite informative about the geology and cultural history. The park is made up basically of a loop that you can drive around and then park at various trails or sites. The park is relatively small and makes for a good half-day experience. One of the great things about this park is that the entrance is free. And there are a ton of beautiful picnic spots!

Site Seeing: Manitou Springs, CO

(downtown Manitou Springs)

 

Garden of the gods is located in Colorado Springs but is also adjacent to another cute mountain town named Manitou Springs. (I have mentioned this gem before as well but it bares repeating: if you go to Garden of the gods, you must drive through Manitou Springs!). Manitou Springs is a cute town with a gritty, hippie vibe. It is also where you travel through to climb the famous Incline (literally an incline made of steps that traverse the side of a mountain...healthy, aerobic types seem to find this a fun activity of choice...for some reason), and is also home to the North Pole (a holiday point of interest), and the gateway to Pikes Peak and the Cog Railway.

For lodging in Manitou: read my post on Avenue Hotel Bed and Breakfast
For local pub feel check out happy hour at The Keg.



Hike: Helen Hunt Falls

Another personal favorite hike/picnic spot of mine is Helen Hunt Falls. Toward the base of Cheyenne Mountain, along North Cheyenne Canyon Rd., is a lovely, narrow road that leads you beside a river and high canyon walls. Eventually you will come to a pullout area and a sign that says Helen Hunt Falls. There is a small waterfall that you can see from the road with a trail that ascends above and past this first waterfall. This second waterfall area was an expansive rockface with a small watershed.The hike is short but steep in areas. The area here is what I enjoy--the sound of water and surrounded by trees. Perfect for a picnic and short hike.

Eat and Drink: Colorado Mountain Brewery

 

After a full day of hiking and site-seeing, head on over to the Colorado Mountain Brewery in Colorado Springs. This place is awesome! An old train station converted into a craft brewery/restaurant. The feel is cozy-upscale but suitable for jeans and t-shirt (as is most of Colorado, thank goodness).

I enjoyed a perfectly cooked steak filet and a serving of bread pudding that made me feel as though I were in the deep south instead of out west. It is definitely a popular place so make reservations if you aren't the patient type.





             But seriously, check this place out sometime!








Site-Seeing: Cave of the Winds

 About ten minutes northwest of Garden of the gods is Cave of the Winds. It seemed a bit touristy at first with all of the gift items shoved in my face but I really enjoyed the tour! Cave of the Winds is a large underground cave full of stalactites and stalagmites. There are varying "types" of tours and it seems the lantern tour would be quite fun! (I did the regular tour due to time schedule). If you can handle being underground and in often close confinements, I would definitely recommend booking a tour! Very fun and educational!

(Inside the cave, a group of stalagmites in the background. One of the longest recorded stalactites in the foreground).

(No, we didn't get to swing down into the cave! But I guess this used to be an old entrance)

Lodging: Cheyenne Mountain Resort

 

Cheyenne Mountain Resort: Nestled at the base of Cheyenne Mountain, with mountain views and decent rooms!



Also, because I am a huge National Park enthusiast....I can't mention this region without also mentioning (again) that Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument is just about 46 minutes northwest of Colorado Springs...another really cool place to visit. It often gets overlooked by Colorado's other National Parks/Monuments.  Check out my post: here.

Avenue Hotel B & B

I recently enjoyed a visit to Manitou Springs, just west of Colorado Springs. My Mom was in town and I wanted to splurge on a nice bed and breakfast for the two of us. I came across Avenue Hotel Bed and Breakfast. We stayed for one night in the upper part of the Carriage House. The innkeepers were very friendly and have done a great job tending to the place. I was impressed with the fresh paint and trim work, cleanliness, and the fancy wallpaper inside the main house among other things. There is also a cool fireplace in the living room of the main house made of Manitou greenstone; a unique stone of the area.The Carriage House was furnished with everything that we needed and more. Very cute and quaint! I especially loved that the Avenue Hotel sits right on the main street so you can literally step out the door and explore Manitou's stores and restaurants. Gwen puts a lot of time and thought into each meal!
 So, if you are looking for a cute place to stay while exploring Manitou Springs, Garden of the Gods, Pike's Peak, Cog Railroad, Cave of the Winds or any of the other dozens of sites in the Colorado Springs area here's the place for you! And the breakfast.....decadent and scrumptious!

Eleven Mile State Park

I recently camped at Eleven Mile State Park. This was my first time visiting the park. It is very picturesque seeing such a huge lake set amidst the backdrop of snow-capped peaks! There are over 300 campsites and it is very ideal for fishing and boating. I really enjoyed being near the water and it definitely met my desire to find a wide open space! However, there were some rules that put a slight damper on the trip: no swimming, only 3.2% alcohol allowed (though I'm not sure how well this is followed), and there was currently a fire ban. So, definitely check ahead if you absolutely have to have the campfire experience! Despite these minor setbacks, I really enjoyed my time here...gorgeous sunsets!!

Mueller State Park

Tucked away in the Pike's Peak region of Colorado, this lovely Colorado State Park is a beautiful spot for picnicking, hiking, and camping. There are over 50 miles of trails leading through evergreen and aspen meadows. Plenty of wildlife (including black bears) to observe and photograph. I was impressed by the practical facilities (visitor center, vault toilets, laundry and showers),ranger-led talks, cleanliness, and beauty of this park.

There are also alot of places nearby for activities...such as Florissant Fossil Beds , Woodland Park, Pike National Forest, Manitou Springs, and Colorado Springs.

Excursion of the week: Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

There are redwood trees in Colorado??

That was my first response when a friend invited me to come along with her to Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. It turns out there are at least half a dozen PETRIFIED redwood tree stumps in a dusty little town called Florissant, Colorado.

We were told that this area used to be home to a lake many thousands of years ago. Since then, they (read: paleontologists and archaeologists) have found hundreds of fossils of insects, plants, and even a couple of dinosaur fossils.

My friend and I consider ourselves a bit on the geeky side since we actually enjoyed looking at old fossils and tree stumps for a couple of hours. Honestly, this is quite the place for naturalist-minded adventurers. So, if you are into such things as old trees, plant life and digging in the dirt or under rocks--this is the site for you!

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument offers ranger-guided tours and lectures, several fossil specimen trays to observe, and even a hands-on opportunity to scrape away at your own piece of rock to discover buried fossils.