Colorado Springs - Olympic City USA

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There's More of Colorado in Colorado Springs - The Landscape that Inspired "America the Beautiful" - America's Mountain Pikes Peak - - Drive, Hike, Bike or Ride the Cog Railway

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Visit Colorado Springs - Olympic City USA

Plenty to See, Do, and Explore in the Pikes Peak Region

Colorado Springs is the second largest city in the state. Visitors travel world-wide to enjoy the area's astonishing beauty and more than 55 unique museums, cultural and natural attractions. Colorado Springs boasts 300 days of blue skies a year, sits at an elevation of 6,035 feet, and is home to Pikes Peak, Garden of the Gods, the U.S. Air Force Academy and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum. Adventure awaits around every corner. The Pikes Peak area offers lake and river fishing, ATVing, mountain biking, rafting, rock-climbing, golfing, caving, hiking, zip-lining and ice skating.

Colorado Springs in the Pikes Peak Region

One of Colorado Springs' most scenic drives is up Pikes Peak, America's Mountain!

REACH THE SUMMIT OF PIKES PEAK: There are two ways to get to the summit of Pikes Peak without hiking up Barr Trail. You can drive the 19-mile Pikes Peak Highway (toll road) to the top; the entire route is completely paved. There are numerous pullouts to stop, look at, and photograph. The road is usually open year-round, weather permitting. The highway is patrolled regularly; providing roadside assistance. The Pikes Peak Highway begins off Highway 24 in the little town of Cascade. You can also hop aboard the Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway for a scenic trek on the south side of the mountain. The depot is located in the charming town of Manitou Springs. Either way, you'll be amazed at the views you'll soak in from the new Pikes Peak Summit Visitor Center, which have interactive exhibits, an expanded menu at the cafe, and a large gift shop. Their world-famous donuts are a must.

Palmer, Buckskin-Charley, Niobrara, and Bretag Trail Loop - Dog and Kid Friendly - 4 miles - View Wildlife and Wildflowers

Explore the Snowcapped Red Rock Formations in Winter at Garden of the Gods Park - Less Crowded - Amazing Photos

Outdoor Adventures in Colorado Springs

With a sunny, dry climate and mild year-round temperatures, Colorado Springs is the perfect place if you love the outdoors. Families flock to Colorado Springs for fantastic outdoor activities: whitewater rafting, rock-climbing, horseback riding, and biking. There are a wide variety of great family adventures in the Colorado Springs area that offer visitors the opportunity to experience the beauty and grandeur of the Colorado Rockies in fun, exciting ways. Imagine soaring over canyons, valleys, forests, and mountain tops in a hot air balloon, or zipping through the treetops on a zip line tour. If you'd like to keep your feet a little closer to the ground, tear up a trail on one of Colorado Springs' all-terrain ATV or Jeep tours, cruise the city on a Segway or cycle down Pikes Peak to see the sights from a new perspective.

Colorado Springs Golf Courses

In Colorado Springs you will enjoy championship golf courses that challenge the PGA tour, to family 9-hole courses to the fun of mini-golf. Practice your putts, watch your drives soar or relax and unwind on vacation. With a variety of great courses to choose from, you are sure to find one that is perfect for your Colorado Springs golf trip.

Horseback Riding in Colorado Springs

There is no better way to experience the sights on your vacation than while horseback riding in Colorado Springs. The city has trails and parks that offer riding through Garden of the Gods Park or Cheyenne Canon. If you prefer wide open spaces, you can visit one of the many dude ranches in the area, ride with real cowboys and cowgirls, and have an authentic western experience.

SPECIAL ANNUAL EVENT -- Experience Colorado Spring Culture

DECEMBER and JANUARY: CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN ZOO'S ELECTRIC SAFARI, the Zoo reopens each evening from 5 to 7:30pm for an Electric Safari. Stroll through more than one million sparkling lights and animated animal sculptures. Visit Santa and linger over warm fires throughout the Zoo. This holiday tradition is not to be missed.

MAY - TERRITORY DAYS IN OLD COLORADO CITY commemorates Old Colorado City as the first capitol of the Colorado Territory in 1861. Territory Days began as a barbecue and parade and have grown into a three-day street festival. The historic district on Colorado Avenue between 23rd Street and 27th Street will come alive with live music, food, fun and entertainment for the entire family. Enjoy this event every Memorial Weekend.

JUNE - PIKES PEAK INTERNATIONAL HILL CLIMB THE 2ND OLDEST AUTO RACE IN THE US: Also known as The Race to the Clouds, is an annual automobile and motorcycle hill climb to the summit of Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs. It is the second oldest auto race in the US; this 12-mile course has 156 turns ending at the 14,115 foot summit of America's Mountain. When it's not race day, you may drive up the Pikes Peak Highway yourself, at a more leisurely pace.

JULY - NFR OPEN AT THE PIKES PEAK OR BUST RODEO AT NORRIS PENROSE EVENT CENTER: The weekend kicks off with a parade in the true hometown tradition; you'll see floats and equestrian groups as they head south on Tejon Street. There are four performances of the invitational championship rodeo and a final championship Shoot Out on Saturday night. The best athletes in rodeo are competing for top prize money in bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, barrel racing, and bull riding. It's edge of your seat excitement from the first event to the last!

SEPTEMBER - COLORADO SPRINGS LABOR DAY LIFT OFF AT MEMORIAL PARK: The tradition of hot air ballooning in Colorado Springs started in 1976 bringing fun and excitement throughout the Labor Day Weekend for the entire family. The Opening ceremony starts at 6:30am, with the first wave of inflations beginning at 7am on Saturday and Sunday, weather and wind permitting. After all the launches are complete, stick around to enjoy watching the Wings of Blue U.S. Air Force Skydiving Team Demonstration. Throughout the morning, there are a variety of activities and vendors to enjoy. You can even purchase a ride from Rainbow Ryders for an experience of a lifetime. Come back at sundown on Saturday and Sunday night for the Balloon-Glo.

OCTOBER - ANNUAL EMMA CRAWFORD COFFIN RACES AND FESTIVAL IN MANITOU SPRINGS: Since October 1995 Manitou Springs, in honor of Emma Crawford, has coffin races. This is a fun and crazy event, honoring her dying wish to be buried on top of Red Mountain; 12 men carried her coffin up the 7,200 foot slope, in a rainstorm eventually washed her coffin down the mountain into Manitou Springs. A parade and awards for the best Emma, the most creative coffin, and the best overall entourage complete the day-long event. All Month long Manitou Springs celebrates with Skeleton Craze and ghost tours of Old Manitou each weekend.

OCTOBER - ARTS MONTH: Each October, the Pikes Peak Region celebrates Arts Month, an annual initiative that raises awareness for the quality, diversity, and value of the arts in our community. Our Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region Orchestrates our local Arts Month initiative to coincide with "National Arts & Humanities Month," that has been observed throughout the United States for several decades. Make plans to have at least one new cultural experience with family or friends this #ArtsOctober! Visit ArtsOctober.com to learn more and find out how you can get involved this Arts Month.

TIDBITS -- About the Greater Area of Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs is Colorado's second-largest city and founded in 1871 by General William Jackson Palmer.

Elevation: 6,035 feet in Colorado Springs to 14,115 at the top of Pikes Peak

Average annual precipitation: 17.5 inches

Average annual snowfall: 37 inches

January temperatures: High: 43 / Low: 18

July temperatures: High: 85 / Low: 57

Days of Sunshine per year: 300+

Colorado Springs is home to The United States Air Force Academy and The US Olympic Training Center.

The Spanish name for Pikes Peak was Almagre, a reference to the reddish color of the granite.

Pikes Peak is known as America's Mountain to honor Katharine Lee Bates, a visiting professor at Colorado College, who penned the words to the poem that then became the song "America the Beautiful."

For your FREE Official Vacation Planner to Colorado Springs

Stop by our offices or call us and we will send it to you. The Center is open 8:30am-5pm Monday-Friday and 10am-2pm on Saturday and Sunday.

DRIVE TIMES to COLORADO SPRINGS: Forty minutes from Denver and Pueblo, CO. Two hours from Fort Collins. Two and a half hours from Cheyenne WY. Five hours from Grand Junction CO. Five and a half hours from Durango CO, Albuquerque NM, and Amarillo TX. Eight hours from Lincoln NE. Nine hours from Kansas City KS or MO, Salt Lake City UT, and Oklahoma City OK. And, ten hours from Flagstaff AZ.

ADDRESS: 515 S Cascade Ave, Colorado Springs CO 80903

PHONE: 800-888-4748 - Call Toll Free For a Vacation Planner; Mention the Colorado Vacation Directory.

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