Colorado Springs is a beautiful city near the mountains that offers plenty of great ways to have fun. Here are a few ideas of how to have fun in the area.
1. Make time to visit the Airplane restaurant. In addition to having wonderful barbecued ribs and other excellent food, the restaurant also features a full-size passenger plane. You can choose to sit in the “terminal” area to dine, or you can eat inside the plane. If you have children, this restaurant is especially fun because they can sit in the cockpit and play with the airplane controls.
2. If you enjoy window browsing or local shopping, spend some time in downtown Manitou Springs or Old Colorado City. Both of these areas feature great local cuisine, like Jake and Telly’s, a Greek restaurant and La Baguette, which features French Deli food. You can also visit shops like the Christmas Shop or the Commonweal artist’s co-op.
3. Plan to visit Pikes Peak. The drive is quite long (about an hour) but the views are well worth it. If you are a seasoned hiker, consider planning a day hike partway up the mountain. However, if you do this, remember to start early and wear sunscreen, regardless of the season. If you can’t make such a long hike, visit Garden of the God’s for a leisurely walk through the semi-outdoors where you can enjoy the fabulous rock formations that gave the area its name.
4. Make a visit to the downtown Colorado Springs money museum, which houses several collections of both coins and paper money, along with interactive activities for children.
5. Consider stopping by Acacia Park to have a picnic and visit Uncle Wilbur’s fountain. Streams of water, lights and music make a visit to this fountain a fun and refreshing treat, especially for children.
6. If you have children, consider visiting Biggs, and indoor amusement park featuring an arcade, go-karts, and lots of other fun things to do. This can be a great place to let children work out their extra energy.
7. If you enjoy art, check out the galleries at the Colorado Springs Fine Art Center. Those interested in dance and theater should check out the Lon Cheney theater for productions. For alternative and offbeat cinema, check out Kimball’s Twin Peaks theater.
8. Make time to visit the Cheyenne Mountain zoo and feed the giraffes, especially if you have children.
9. Take a visit to the Cave of the Winds, a series of underground tunnels near Manitou Springs that feature interesting caves and a guided tour. When you get done there, go up the road a little bit to the Cave Dwellings. See dwellings of the Anasazi people who lived in the area, as well as a gift shop and small museum.
10. If you need a few minutes to relax, stop by Manitou Springs’ Mate Factory, which serves yerba mate and delicious organic treats. After you are done, walk up to Old Tyme Photography and get a photo taken in Old West costume with your family. You will cherish the fun and wacky memories.
As you can see, there are tons of fun things to do next time you visit Colorado Springs!
