Fun In And Around Colorado Springs

Idaho Springs Colorado

2009-11-20T16:55:00.000-08:00

Idaho Springs Colorado is the birthplace of the famous Rocky Mountain Gold Rush. Back in the mid-1800s, gold was discovered here and a mining town quickly grew up around it to serve everyone coming to find their fortune in gold.

Today, there is an authentic nineteenth century town for you to explore and for your comfort, there are hot springs! If you have never experienced hot springs before, be sure to visit and experience them.

Indian Springs Resort Hot Springs is the place to relax and soak on 302 Soda Creek Road. They have pools, private baths, and outdoor jacuzzies. Prices start from $10 per person per hour up to $20 per person per hour.

There are galleries, art museums, and a ghost town for you to enjoy. The town has a gold mine for you to tour and you can even try panning for gold.

You can make this a day trip from Colorado Springs or you can stay in the town. There are plenty of good restaurants for you to choose from as well.

But the real beauty lies in the Colorado Rocky Mountain backdrop to this town. Be sure to drive on the highest paved road of North America, the 28 mile length of Mount Evans Scenic Byway. It goes up 7,000 feet from Idaho Springs up to the summit of Mount Evans. Mount Evans is 14,264 feet above sea level and offers spectacular views. It takes about one hour to go up this highway and another hour to return so allow plenty of time in your planning for the two hour drive plus time to take in the views and take photos.

Idaho Springs Colorado is about 30 miles west of the Denver area on I-70 and is well worth the drive. Golden Gate State Park is nearby with great views of the Continental Divide so be sure and visit there as well.

Hotels In Colorado Springs

2009-11-20T16:21:00.000-08:00

There are many hotels in Colorado Springs, spread out all over the city. Colorado Springs gets a lot of tourists because it is such a beautiful city with so many great things to do.

The first time we went to Colorado Springs, my husband called and made reservations with a hotel and wrote down all of the information. We drove to the Springs from El Paso, Texas and by the time we got there, we were ready to get out of the car. My husband pulled his papers out and could not find the paper with his reservation information on it. He thought he remembered the name so he went to a phone booth, looked up what he thought the name was and got an address.

We arrived but there was no reservation. We never did find out where our reservation was, but we checked into the hotel we were at and it was very nice. I do not remember the name of it but it was moderately priced, right in the heart of town, near Old Colorado City.

The next time we went, a little over a year later, we stayed on the outskirts of the city and it was nice as well. Several months later, we moved up to Colorado Springs so my husband could attend Nazarene Bible College. We lived near the brand new airport and the college. Everything there was convenient and when visitors came to see us, we were able to put them up in nice motels on Academy Blvd., which was very close to us, close to good restaurants, and close to shopping and some attractions.

The hotels in Colorado Springs closest to the major attractions cost a little more than those over by the airport and Academy Blvd., on the Southeast side.

Some of the best and least expensive by the airport that I suggest are:

1. The Best Western Airport Inn at 1780 Aeroplaza Drive. They have an indoor pool and a spa.

2. Comfort Inn/Days Inn Airport at 2115 Aerotech Drive. They offer free airport shuttle service, free breakfast, indoor pool and spa.

3. Econo Lodge Airport at 6715 Panamint Ct. They offer an indoor pool, hot tub, and a microwave and coffee pot in the rooms.

4. Radisson Hotel Colorado Springs Airport at 1645 Newport Road. This is a full-service hotel and is a little pricier than the previous listings.

5. Super 8 Airport at 1790 Aeroplaza Drive. They offer continental breakfast and kids 12 and under stay free.

The nicest hotel in Colorado Springs is the beautiful Broadmoor Hotel.

Stay at The Antlers Hilton Colorado Springs.

Glenwood Springs Colorado Lodging

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From April 1 through May 20, Glenwood Springs Colorado lodging offers bargain room rates from $59 to $159 a night. They call it the Springs Thaw. Temperatures are in the 50s and 60s in April and May and spring is the perfect time to visit without a lot of crowds. The altitude is 5,700 feet above sea level so it warms up faster here than in most Colorado towns.

There are 1,500 rooms available in the motels, hotels, lodges, cabins, cottages, and bed and breakfast establishments. There are also some ranches, campgrounds, condominiums, and vacation homes where guests can stay.

This city is 160 miles west of Denver, where the Colorado River meets the Roaring Fork River and is gorgeous year round.

During the spring, you can go river rafting, bike, hike, and play golf. Take your family to have fun at the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park. You can ride the mechanical bull, take a wild west wagon ride, climb a rock wall, and ride on the Iron Mountain Tramway. Your kids will have a blast at this park.

The world's largest natural hot springs pool is located right here in Glenwood Springs so once you are finished with your outdoor adventure, you can plunge in and relax your muscles in the hot springs.

The pool is at Glenwood Hot Springs, along with a 107 room lodge, water slides, miniature golf, an athletic club, and a spa.

The summer, fall, and winter are great times as well and there is a ski resort during the snowy weather.

Winter Park Colorado

2009-11-20T14:57:00.000-08:00

Winter Park Colorado is a snow lover's paradise. As of February 2009, there is a 75" snow base that will last well into spring so the skiiing is great! Come on up!

Located downtown, right next to our visitor's center, is a wonderful place for families to come and enjoy the snow called Hideaway Park. They offer FREE fun events for the whole family in the snow. There is free sledding and many other things to do, including classes to learn how to snowshoe. How fun is that?

Of course, there are plenty of mountains for skiing in Winter Park Colorado. If you do not want to drive up the mountains, how about taking the Ski Train instead? The Ski Train serves breakfast, has big screen TVs, reclining seats, and will drop you off right by your ski lift. It sure beats driving.

Reservations for the ski train in winter and in summer are recommended. So make reservations to coincide with your ski trip and have a blast all the way. In summer, you can tour the countryside in this incredible train and not worry about the heat.

Yes, even though this town's name is Winter, there are many great summer things to do when the snow melts. Biking, hiking, train rides, the river, and so much beauty awaits you when there is no snow. The whole family will love being out in nature among the wildflowers, trees, and local wildlife.

All of Colorado has spectacular scenery so be sure and bring a camera. Remember good walking shoes or very warm socks and boots, depending on the time of year you visit, and lots of sunscreen.

This Blog's Privacy Policy

2009-11-20T14:48:00.000-08:00

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The Flying W Ranch

2009-11-20T14:36:00.000-08:00

The Flying W Ranch is a real working cattle ranch in Colorado Springs, near Garden of the Gods. From Memorial Day weekend through the end of August, you can eat a chuckwagon dinner and then watch a show every evening. Yum and Yeeehaaaa!

This is a great place and one you should not miss if you have not visited a real working ranch before. The food is excellent and the shows are a lot of fun.

There is a western village for you to tour with shops and native Americans making craft work for you to purchase. Kids can ride the train around the ranch. See a horse get a new shoe put on.

Steaks, pork ribs, brisket, or barbecued chicken are served outside along with buttermilk biscuits, beans, baked potatoes, and salad on good weather nights. If there is rain, there is an indoor place so you can still enjoy the food.

For the month of September, you can catch the dinner and show from Thursday through Saturday each week. From March until Memorial Day weekend, and from October through December, they are open on weekends for dinner only. They are closed for all of January and February.

The Flying W Ranch has been serving locals and visitors since 1953. Reservations are required and can be made by calling (719) 598-4000 or (800)232-3599. In order to make reservations, you must provide a name, a credit card number and a telephone number. Trust me, the whole experience is worth it!

Arrive at 5pm so you have time to tour the village and have a look around. Dinner is served at 7pm. The show starts at 8pm. Some evenings, they serve 1,000 people so the earlier you get there, the better!

If you are interested in getting married cowboy style, there is a beautiful old western church just for weddings. There is also an outdoor area where you can get married.

Below are the current (2009) admission prices for dinner and the show.

General Admission- $22.00

Children ages 6-12-$12.00

Children ages 3-5-$5.00

13oz Kansas City Strip Steak Upgrade-$29.00

Children 2 and under-Free

Senior (Age 60) discount price-$20.00 and $27.00 for the 13oz Kansas City Strip Steak

Military (Active) discount price-$20.00 and $27.00 for the 13oz Kansas City Strip Steak

Have fun at the Flying W Ranch and tell them that Juanita sent you!

Cripple Creek Attractions

2009-11-20T14:31:00.000-08:00

Cripple Creek attractions include casinos, a railroad, the Butte Theater, a mine tour, and hiking and biking on an old gold trail, plus other things.

Back in the 1890s, this town was built to attract and keep gold miners. Casinos are still prevalent and many visitors who are vacationing in Colorado Springs take day trips out there to try their luck, instead of going to Las Vegas.

The town has a lot of museums for you to visit. You can drive through an old gold camp to another town called Victor and there you can tour old ghost towns and gold mines so you can see what life was like back in the 1890s.

The Mollie Kathleen Mine Tour is a great journey back in time. You will go into a real gold mine and travel down a mine shaft.

Go to a live play at the Butte Theater while you enjoy snacks and drinks in the audience.

Hike or ride a bike down the Trails of Gold through historic gold mining areas.

In June each year, the town has Donkey Derby Days. For 2009, the dates are June 27-29. There is a wild herd of donkeys that roam the hills of of the town. So each year to celebrate them, there is a donkey parade, activities, and music for visitors to enjoy.

For the 4th of July, there is a big party complete with fireworks that starts early in the morning and lasts on through the big fireworks show.

There are some nice hotels for you to stay in if you want to make your visit longer than a day trip from Colorado Springs. There are also many good places to eat in this little town.

There are many local stores and shops for you to buy souvenirs, clothing, and antiques.

Colorado Springs Weather

2009-11-20T14:29:00.000-08:00

The Colorado Springs weather is mild all year long. In the summer, the average high is usually 84 degrees or less. It is warm enough to go swimming, but never so hot that you feel uncomfortable, like in Texas.

In the photo above, my daughter and I are enjoying a beautiful spring day in the Springs at Garden of the Gods.

In the spring, the flowers push themselves out of the ground in time for Easter and the grass, once again, turns a vibrant green. There is a lot of rain because it is so green.

Air conditioning is not necessary for most of the summer days and it is always pleasant to be outdoors in the summer, (except for when there are thunderstorms) because the humidity is low. This is due to the high altitude of 6,035 feet. There are a lot of thunderstorms during the summer months, so you do need to be prepared for them. At the very least, carry umbrellas and/or rain jackets with you.

At this altitude, the oxygen level is only about two thirds of what it is at sea level. If you have a hard time breathing, you may want to take that into consideration. Some people do have a hard time acclimating to Colorado Springs if they already have breathing or heart problems.

There is always a breeze. We lived in Colorado Springs for four years and never did we experience a day without a breeze. Some days, the breeze turns into a hard wind. With three small children and a puppy, I spent a lot of time outside and the air is never still. That is one reason why the temperature never feels uncomfortably hot.

What used to crack us up is the TV show, "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman." Don't get me wrong. We love that show. We lived in Colorado Springs while the show originally aired and we got such a kick out of it each Saturday night.

The part that made my husband and me laugh so much was Grace's outdoor cafe. She was always cooking right outside and always serving the food out there on tables to the townspeople. Ha ha ha. The tablecloths always stayed put on the tables and no one's hair ever blew out of place.

In real life, we had a hard time having little picnics outside in our backyard because the wind was always blowing, yet the TV program never showed the gentlest breeze. The breezes could sometimes get quite violent and other times, they were mild, but the air is never still there.

In the winter, the lows sometimes reach the teens and 20's but the average highs get up to around 42 degrees. This means that when it snows, it normally melts within a day or two and then it starts all over again. There is no snow buildup like up in Denver.

You definitely need a winter coat, warm socks, boots, and gloves so if you visit in the winter, be sure that you have these items. It does snow often; the snow just doesn't stick around for long.

Colorado Springs weather allows you to experience all four seasons. Fall is especially dramatic with the turning of the beautiful aspen leaves to gold. They are an incredible sight to see and are a very popular tourist attraction each October.

Because of the mild Colorado Springs weather, summer is the perfect time to visit. When walking around outdoors, there is never an oppressive heat and no uncomfortable humidity so you are free to enjoy the beauty that God created in nature around this incredible city.

In the photo above, even though we are enjoying beautiful, warm Colorado Springs weather in May at Garden of the Gods, Pikes Peak still has plenty of glistening snow to look at. Talk about eye candy...every time I felt overwhelmed, I just looked up at that beauty and things fell into proper perspective.

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Colorado Springs Sky Sox

2009-11-20T14:01:00.001-08:00

The Colorado Springs Sky Sox is the minor league baseball team in the Springs. They play in the Pacific Coast League. They play baseball at Security Service Field which used to be known as Sky Sox Stadium, like when I was there.
A little history...Originally the team was an affiliate of the Chicago White Sox in the Western League from 1950 through 1958 when the Western League folded. Then there was no pro baseball team in the Pikes Peak region until 1988 after the Hawaiian Islanders moved to the Springs.

Going to a pro baseball game is a ton of fun. They really do play "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" using an organ and the whole audience sings along. The hot dogs really do taste better while you are watching the Sky Sox play. It is so exciting to have thousands of people cheering the guys on when they hit a homerun.

The stadium is first rate and so is the team. Starting in 2004, there have been ongoing renovations, modernizing everything. The Sky Sox have spent $8 million doing this. They have also put in a new picnic area and a banquet hall.

The stadium seats 8,500 screaming fans so there is plenty of room for you to catch a game or two while you are vacationing in Colorado Springs. Don't worry about sitting out in the sticky, miserable summer heat. There is always a cool breeze so you don't feel uncomfortably drenched while watching a Colorado Springs Sky Sox game. Humidity is low because Colorado Springs is in the Rocky Mountains at 6,531 feet above sea level.

So get some tickets and bring money for hot dogs, sodas, peanuts, and your favorite baseball snacks and get ready for a wonderful evening of baseball, singing, and cheering.

Colorado Springs Fitness

2009-11-20T13:55:00.000-08:00

Colorado Springs fitness is a great for 2009. According to Men's Fitness magazine, Colorado Springs is the second fittest city in the United States this year! They were beat out only by Salt Lake City, Utah.

The population is 380,000? and only 19% are obese. The national average is 25.19%. Why? It seems that the folks living in Colorado Springs get a lot more exercise than the average person in other cities around the country. And why is that?

Well, number one is the exceptional scenic beauty that its citizens can look at while they are outdoors. Pikes Peak, the other mountains, the beautiful trees, flowers, green grass, and perfect skies are much more desirable to look at than the television set or video games.

There is more time for adults to exercise because the average commute to work and back home is 45% less than other cities. This helps a great deal. There are 210 city parks and that is a lot. Men, women, boys, and girls go outside and play, walk, hike, run, and swim a lot. They love to get out in the wide, open spaces and run and play tag, catch, frisbee, and basketball.

More parks and other wide open spaces equals more exercise which
equals thinner, healthier people. 33% more people here participate in sports than in other cities.Why would anyone want to be cooped up inside when they can be outdoors in such a picturesque place. Just wait until you see this beautiful city up close and personal!

According to Men's Fitness magazine, people living in Colorado Springs are 100% more likely to take a hike than residents of other cities in their study. Wow! 100%! Why? Again, the beauty of God's creation in this spectacular city is the reason. The air is cool, dry, fresh, and clean. You feel comfortable when you are outside having fun. I used to take my three small children out each day to play in the yard, in the park near our home, and in many other places.

Once my oldest son started kindergarten, we walked him to school each morning and walked back over in the afternoon to pick him up on clear days and in snowstorms. There was no school bus because we lived too close to the school, not quite a mile away. I bought a double stroller and put my one year old and my two year old in it and I pushed them all over the city. That gave me even more exercise on my quest for Colorado Springs fitness after giving birth to my daughter there. My two little ones loved the stroller ride.

On snowy days, I bundled them up and covered them with blankets in the stroller. The temperature was never too cold and the snow was never too bad for it. Besides, we only had one car and my husband used it each day to get to work and school so I had
no choice. Turns out, it was great exercise for me.

Springs residents are 77% more likely to bike for fitness. Mountain biking and running, not to mention skiing and
snowshoeing, are very popular here as well.

Usually the weather is so lovely that many people walk to work if they live close enough. When I did work downtown several years later, I would go out and walk during lunch. The sidewalks downtown were always crowded with others on their lunch breaks, walking for their health. Colorado Springs fitness is extremely important to most of its citizens.

Colorado Springs Easter Sunrise Services

2009-11-20T13:51:00.000-08:00

Celebrate Easter Sunday early in the morning by attending one of the Colorado Springs Easter Sunrise services. What better way to celebrate this than to go to an early morning service and watch the sun come up. I have been to many sunrise services throughout the years and they are a wonderful way to begin the day.

Thousands of worshippers used to go to Garden of the Gods for Easter services. Since the early 1920's, Easter sunrise services have been held there but since 2003, formal services are no longer held. That has not stopped worshippers from going to Garden of the Gods for the services since then and thousands will arrive in 2009 on Easter morning to hold a service. Many local church groups meet there and hold services. For Easter of 2009, the sun will rise at 6:40am so plan to meet there accordingly.
A planned service will be held at Acacia Park at 6:00am on April 12, 2009. Acacia Park is located at Platte Avenue and Tejon Street. Watch the sun rise while you celebrate Jesus arising from the grave, proving once and for all that he is the Son of God and has power over sin and death. This is a beautiful spot to celebrate Jesus.

Another planned service will be held at Royal Gorge. The service for April 12, 2009 will be from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. on the South Rim of the Scenic Royal Gorge. Can you think of a more perfect spot to worship our risen Lord?

The Executive Director of Loaves and Fishes, Don Farr, a non-profit organization sponsored by the Canon City Ministerial Alliance will speak. Worship music will be provided by Larry Kettle, from the Bridge to Life Church of Canon City.

If I can find some information on more Colorado Springs Easter Sunrise services, I will post them on here. Most churches have Easter services at the regular time if you are not a very early morning person.

Happy Easter! He is risen! He is risen indeed! Hallelujah!

Colorado Springs Balloon Classic

2009-11-20T13:48:00.000-08:00

Every September, the Colorado Springs Balloon Classic is held at Memorial Park. Watching tons of gorgeous hot air balloons take off early in the morning and throughout the weekend is a spectacular sight.

After the balloons launch, they float through the city of Colorado Springs, past Pikes Peak, high in the air. From our home in Colorado Springs, we used to watch them float in front of Pikes Peak every September during the Labor Day weekend. They are so beautiful to watch, and even more so up close and personal.

Early one Saturday morning, our family drove over to Memorial Park around 6 am (no easy feat with three small children under five!) to see the balloons by the lake. We were excited, fascinated, and pretty thrilled as we watched the balloons fill with air, fire up, and ascend with people in them! The only thing cooler would have been if we had gotten to go up in the balloons ourselves.

We got to talk to some of the owners of the balloons as they were unfolding them and getting them ready to fill. Most of them go to various balloon festivals around the country, such as the one they have in Albuquerque.

The variety of balloons is amazing. We saw a lot of colorful rounded ones like the kind you normally see when you think of hot air balloons. We also saw some unusually shaped balloons at the Colorado Springs Balloon Classic, like Tyrannosaurus Rex, pictured above.

Our kids were excited to see dinosaurs, Spiderman, Tony the Tiger, cowboys, and various animals go up, up, up in the air early in the morning chill.

You might be surprised to know that Memorial Park was very crowded that early in the morning with hundreds of spectators. The crowd grows as the sun comes up. All through the day for the entire Labor Day weekend, the balloons lazily float across Pikes Peak.

If you are in Colorado Springs during the Labor Day weekend, be sure to visit Memorial Park early in the morning and watch the incredible balloons blow up and seem to come to life!

Colorado Springs Airport

2009-11-20T13:36:00.000-08:00

If you would like to save time, fly in to the Colorado Springs Airport instead of driving on your trip.

While we lived there, Colorado Springs built a beautiful new airport right near our home. When my husband's parents flew in for his graduation from Bible College, we got to go over and pick them up at the brand new Colorado Springs Airport. Very classy!

You can fly to Colorado Springs on United, Frontier, Skywest, Northwest, United, US Airways, Continental, or Delta Airlines. But not American Airlines or Southwest.

I suggest that you go online and look for deals through an online travel agency like Expedia or Travelocity. But sometimes, the airlines themselves can give you a good deal so you may want to check online with the actual airlines as well. Also, you can book reservations to rent a car and pick it up at the airport online. Hotel reservations, too, can be booked online.

Right now, with the economy in a slump, you can find some good deals. Usually a Saturday night stay at your destination makes the trip cheaper.

I used to book flights for American Airlines and a Saturday night stay would always make the flight less expensive. Of course, it all depends on how many others have booked your particular flight as well.

Before we moved to Colorado Springs, we used to drive from El Paso and believe me, it is way better to fly here than to drive, especially with small children! I love the idea that I can sit down, buckle up, and leave the driving to the pilot and in just a matter of a few hours, I can be at my destination.

The airport is not far from some major roads through Colorado Springs and you can go to a car rental counter at the airport and then conveniently pick up your vehicle there.

You should probably maximize your time and fly to Colorado Springs if you:

1. Don't have too much time to spend here.

2. Hate to drive across country.

3. Have a baby or young children who find it difficult to sit still for long amounts of time.

4. Are traveling with a senior citizen.

5. Are on your honeymoon.

Have a great flight in to the Colorado Springs Airport!

Build Your Own Business

2009-11-20T13:00:00.000-08:00

There is so much to do in Colorado that it may inspire you to build your own business online to tell everyone else about what you love to do in Colorado, any anywhere else, for that matter!

If you are not computer or internet-savvy, don't worry. I am not, either. I use a company called Site Build It, also known as SBI to build my sites. They make it simple to build a web site that works and earns you money.

Now, it is even easier because SBI is offering an online course you can take in the comfort of your own home to learn how to build a successful web site. This means that you do not have drive in the snow over treacherous mountain roads to get to class at a college or university. You just log on in your toasty-warm home and learn, while the snow gently falls outside.

This 12-week course starts by teaching you basic online business practices that so many web site builders do not understand. This will help your site to be found. What good is a beautifully-built site if no one finds it?

You will learn how to pick a great topic to write about, how to build a web page, and how to earn money from your web site. The process really works! I know because I earn money each month from my web sites.

No, this is not a Get-Rich-Quick scheme, but you can make real money from your web site! Who does not need extra money these days? My earnings have been increasing each month. Now, I earn enough to cover all of my monthly utilities, the household insurance, cable TV and high-speed internet, and I am saving for our vacation to Colorado this summer. Without my web site income, it would not be in our budget.

If I can do it, you can build your own business using E-Learning through SBI! Look into it today and start earning extra cash so you can plan your next vacation.

Broadmoor Hotel Colorado Springs

2009-11-20T12:56:00.000-08:00

The best place to stay for your vacation is the Broadmoor Hotel Colorado Springs. It is a beautiful place, but definitely not cheap.

This very old resort was built back in 1918 at the base of Cheyenne Mountain. It is made up of several Mediterranean-style buildings painted pink on 3,000 luxuriously manicured acres.

When you step inside the original building, you will think you are in a fabulous art museum. There are original paintings by Toulouse Lautrec hanging there. The most incredible marble staircase and Italian tiles adorn it, not to mention beautiful chandeliers. Ming dynasty ceramic pieces are also on display there.

The Broadmoor Hotel Resort, Colorado Springs

from broadmoor.com

Cheyenne Lake is right behind the main building. A pool is right next to the lake so it looks like a seaside resort. There is an outdoor lap pool for those who enjoy working out in the pool. There are waterslides, two outside hot tubs and 13 cabanas. There is also an outdoor cafe so you can enjoy the cool breezes year round.

Just in case you visit when it is not so warm outside, there is an indoor pool as well.

This luxury hotel has 700 rooms. Each large room holds either one king sized bed or two double beds and are decorated European-style with beautiful wooden furniture, chandeliers, and art pieces. The rooms are in a series of buildings around the lake. Wireless internet access and cable TV are in every room.

Of course, the rooms include air conditioning, desks, a coffee maker, a mini bar, an iron, a hair dryer, phones, and a safe. Valet laundry is provided for your convenience.

There are 12 restaurants on the premises and 24 hour room service.

If you love golf, there are three different 18 hole golf courses to enjoy. There are nine tennis courts. A state-of-the-art fitness center is there for your convenience. There is a spa and in-room massage therapy if you prefer. Aerobics classes are given for guests. The lake has paddleboats. Bikes can be rented.

A shopping arcade is also conveniently located on the premises, not to mention a movie theater. You never have to leave.

In the summer, there is a children's program designed for them so you can enjoy some of the adult activities listed above.

Riding stables are also on the property. Flyfishing classes can be attended so you can take full advantage of the beautiful lake.

A double room at the Broadmoor Hotel Colorado Springs starts at $350 and a large suite can cost up to $3500 for one night. There are many prices in between, depending on the unit you want and the time of year that you book. The service is really incredible. There are very few complaints about it.

About This Site

2009-11-20T12:52:00.000-08:00

Let me tell you a bit about this site and why I chose to build it.

My family and I lived in Colorado Springs for four years. We really enjoyed the beauty of living in the Rocky Mountains and were sad when it was time to leave to go into fulltime ministry. Frankly, I wish we had stayed there. But we traveled all over the country. Colorado Springs is one of the best places we have lived and I would like to go back to live permanently. It is that pretty.

I am building this site (and my other sites) using a company called Site Build It or SBI for short.

If you are like a lot of people who surf the web, you have heard of SBI! There is a lot of internet buzz about it and I have to tell you that I have been using them to build my sites for almost three years now. The positive buzz is true.

Perhaps you have been thinking about trying Site Build It.
If you have, I can tell you that you really can make money online. I do. No, I have not gotten rich and it takes time, but it is doable in your spare time. The good thing is that the amount of income grows over time.

You can buy one site anytime for $299 for one year and this is a great bargain considering all that you get for your money.

But, SBI! runs specials all throughout the year. You can buy one for $299 and buy a second one, for you or as a gift for a friend or family member for just $100 more. These specials usually happen around Valentine's Day, Memorial Day, the 4th of July, Labor Day, and Halloween.

The absolute best time of the year to buy Site Build It! is about halfway through December until New Year's Day when Ken Evoy offers his Holiday Special where you can buy-one-site and get-one-free. It ends up being about $150 per site.

That is a super bargain.

But what will I do with two sites, you ask?

You can buy one for now and build the second one later. Most people making a full-time living online have more than one site. You can start building one and wait up to nine months to start the second site.

Or you can...

Buy one for yourself and give the second one as a gift to a friend or a family member. Do you know anyone who would like to quit their day job or who needs extra money? Perhaps your husband, wife, son, daughter, mom, dad, friend, business associate, or anyone who is considering an online business that has the power to "change a life".

And the best part is Ken guarantees your success. He'll give you your money back if you decide you can't do it (actually for any reason.)
What have you got to lose?

If you do miss the Buy One, Get One Free Special, $299 for one SBI site is still a great value to start with. And, you can always catch a Buy One, Get One for $100 More Special throughout the year. The important thing is that you start sharing what you know with people and earn money. Begin to build your financial independence like I am doing.
To learn more check out this video.
Do you have questions about SBI?
Get them answered here!

Take an online course and learn how to build a web site.

Thank you for visiting my site and I hope that you visit Colorado Springs soon. You will love it.

Books About Colorado

2009-11-20T12:45:00.000-08:00

This page has some books about Colorado and Colorado Springs that you can buy on Amazon. You can also find some of them in your local bookstore, but Amazon's prices are much cheaper. I used to buy all of my books at Barnes and Noble and some of the other bookstores, but I spent way too much money, not realizing how much Amazon could save me.

Colorado Springs books are helpful as you plan for your vacation to the beautiful city of Colorado Springs. Books about the whole state of Colorado are also helpful, along with this web site.

So browse through the carousels of books that I handpicked for you and consider buying the ones that look interesting to you.

This is the first set about Colorado Springs.

This set is also about Colorado Springs.

Here are some Colorado books.

Old Colorado City

2009-11-09T18:17:00.000-08:00

Old Colorado City is a wonderful place to shop and sightsee in Colorado Springs. There are all sorts of great shops to explore.

There are restaurants, galleries, jewelry stores, hotels, and 42 specialty shops where you can find almost anything from toys and clothing to rocks and fossils.

This shopping mecca is also known as Old Town in Colorado Springs. Old Town is on West Colorado Avenue. Take I-25 over to W. Uintah Street and then head west to N. 21st Street. Turn South on N. 21st and then turn west on West Colorado Avenue and drive down just a few blocks. Park and get out of your car and walk along the street, visiting each shop that catches your interest.

There are several free public parking lots along the way so you do not have to pay for parking.

Old Town extends from 24th Street up to 28th Street on both sides of W. Colorado Avenue. Allow at least a half day to shop and explore. Eat lunch there and just have fun. My kids loved going there, especially when we went into toy shops and rock and fossil shops. There is something for everyone.

Old Colorado City was once the capitol of the Colorado Territory back in 1861. To celebrate this, each May, Territory Days are held. For 2009, the dates are May 23, 24, and 25. This is a huge street festival with food, music, arts and crafts and a big parade.

Up to 140,000 visitors attend this annual Memorial Day weekend event, depending on how the weather cooperates. Sometimes, the thunderstorms prevent some of the festivities.

Events include mechanical bull riding, trampolines, a rock climbing wall, balloon art and face painting for the kids, gold panning, gun fighting demonstrations, and lots of shopping.

Pets are not allowed during Territory Days so please do not attempt to bring them. They will not be let in. If you are traveling with your pet, please find a kennel to let them stay in for the day. Your pet will be much happier in a kennel than staying alone in a hot car.

Citadel Mall Colorado Springs

2009-11-09T18:14:00.000-08:00

The Citadel Mall in Colorado Springs was close to where we lived so it is where we did most of our mall shopping. Because we were on a budget, our two favorite places to go were Wal-Mart and Target, both on North Academy Boulevard.

This mall is right off of North Academy Boulevard. The actual address is 750 Citadel Drive East. You can see the mall from N. Academy. It is a good-sized, all-under-one-roof shopping mall and our children enjoyed going to see the fountains when they were little. They loved watching the water. I think what they really wanted was to get in them and pick up all of the coins!

Above, the Disney Store had a special day with Tigger at this mall while we were there. This was our first Disney Store experience and my boys, Andrew and Matthew, loved meeting Tigger!

There is a good variety of stores and restaurants there. Yes, restaurants not in the food court, like Ruby Tuesday and Villa Pizza. Even a Hooter's. Department stores and specialty stores abound so you should be able to find something for everyone on your list.

They have a nice food court, a Starbucks, and a Rocky Mountain chocolate factory. (What more could you want?)

Department stores include JCPenney, Macy's, Dillard's, and Burlington. No Sears anymore, but it was there when we lived there because we bought furniture, a dishwasher, and tools from Sears while we lived there.

They have several hair and nail salons, and if your glasses break while you are on vacation, they have a Lenscrafters where you can get new ones in about an hour. This is where I used to buy my glasses when we lived in Colorado Springs.

There is plenty of parking, except at Christmas, but that is true of any mall at Christmastime. Citadel Mall has grown since we have last been there. They now have about 170 stores and shops.

Colorado Springs also has Chapel Hills Mall with 150 stores.

Mesa Verde National Park

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Mesa Verde National Park has 600 Pueblo cliff dwellings and there are over 4,000 archaeological digs. The people lived here on this "green table" from 600 A.D. until about 1300 A.D. Today, you can visit their homes and the other buildings they left behind. This is a fascinating place if you enjoy seeing how people lived long ago.

There are guided tours or you can hike on designated park trails. You cannot enter a cliff dwelling unless you are accompanied by a park ranger. Pets are not allowed on park trails.

Almost all of the park trails are steep and strenuous. Make sure you are wearing proper foot wear--no flip-flops or sandals. There are eight hiking trails. This park is probably better for families with older children.

You can also go bird watching, look at plantlife, or check out local wildlife and photograph the animals,such as mule deer, black bears, owls, lizards, squirrels, coyotes, cottontail rabbits, and jackrabbits.

Look at the nighttime sky with a telescope. Because it is so dark, you can clearly see the stars, unlike in the city.

In the winter, you can go cross-country skiing.

This park is about one hour away from Cortez, Colorado if you go east on Highway 160. If you are coming from Durango, Colorado, head west on Highway 160.

McInnis Canyons NCA

2009-11-09T18:06:00.000-08:00

McInnis Canyons NCA or National Conservation Area is ten miles west from Grand Junction and is actually in Colorado and in Utah.

There are a lot of hiking trails here. They are Devils Canyon, Jones Canyon, Knowles Canyon, Pollock Bench, Rabbits Ear, Rattlesnake Arches, and Trail Through Time.

You can go camping at Rabbit Valley and Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness.

Go boating on the Colorado River in Loma, Colorado and in Westwater, Utah. Great fishing is here as well.

Your family can go mountain biking at Kokopelli's Trail Horsethief Bench, Lions, Mary's, Rustler's, Steve's, Troy Built Loops, and Rabbit Valley. Take your 4 wheel drive into Rabbit Valley.

Explore an active dinosaur quarry at the Trail Through Time.

Photograph wildlife which includes antelope, birds,owls, bald eagles, peregrine falcons, desert big horn sheep, deer, and elk. Early mornings and in the evenings are the best times for this.

Hovenweep National Monument

2009-11-09T18:04:00.000-08:00

Hovenweep National Monument is an area on the Colorado/Utah border with Pueblo housing from the 1200s to 1300s.

About 10,000 years ago, nomadic people would pass through the area, hunting and gathering food during the harvest season each year. Around 900 A.D., they settled here and began farming and building homes and other buildings. Then, mysteriously, around 1300 A.D., they left. The buildings they left behind are what make up this national monument for about 20 miles, along mesas and canyons in both Colorado and Utah.

There is a visitor center to give you an orientation. There are also some guided tours, but feel free to hike the area on your own to see all of the dwellings.

Near the visitor center, there is a camping area with 30 camp sites. They do not accept reservations, but are rarely full. The camp sites have no water or electricity hookups. They are for tents with tent pads, fire grills, and picnic tables, but a few of the sites can accommodate RVs 36 feet long or less. There are flushing toilets and running water nearby. No showers. The going rate as of March 2009 is $10 per night.

The main activity other than photography is hiking to see and explore the ruins left by the nomadic people who are ancestors of the Zuni, Hopi, and Pueblo people. The main trail by the visitor center is paved, but most are not.

From either Colorado or Utah, take Highway 191. The visitor center is near Cortez, Colorado.

Gunnison Gorge NCA

2009-11-09T18:00:00.000-08:00

Gunnison Gorge NCA is made up of 62,844 acres of wilderness and river. It is a beautiful area located between Delta, Montrose, and Gunnison. The NCA stands for National Conservation Area.

You can hike, camp, boat, ride horses, hunt, fish, and backpack in this incredible area. This is a park that is probably best enjoyed by people in good shape with older children. Small children would not have much fun on the trails or in the river. It is beautiful, but most of the activities are not small-child friendly.

There are specific regulations that visitors must follow. These can be found on their web site.

There are no cushy accommodations here. Campers rough it at this park. The beauty is rugged and so is the river.

The Gunnison Gorge River provides rafters, kayakers and whitewater canoeists with a great experience each year. Boater regulations and river information are also found on the above web site.

There are five hiking trails for you to enjoy. The Chukar trail is 1.1 miles long and has a moderate amount of difficulty. This trail has a high amount of foot and horse traffic.

The Bobcat trail is 1.5 miles long and is rated difficult. This one is not for horses as there is a steep descent down the face of a rock for the last half mile.

The Duncan trail is 1.5 miles and is also difficult and not for horses because of the steepness of the last half mile.

The Ute trail is 4.5 miles and is moderately difficult.

The North Fork to Smith Fork trail is 4 miles long and is a fairly easy trail near the river.

Great Sand Dunes National Park

2009-11-09T17:57:00.000-08:00

The Great Sand Dunes National Park is a giant sandy beach without water near the beautiful Sangre de Cristo mountains, 35 miles north east of Alamosa, Colorado.

The tallest sand dunes in all of North America are found here in Colorado. The tallest one rises 750 feet in the air! So what does that mean to you? It means FUN! How would you like to try and climb it?

When you first arrive, stop by the visitor center and watch a 15 minute video to learn about the sand dunes and the activities they offer.

There are a lot of hiking trails so you can get out and explore. Build sand castles and dig in the sand. Pretend you are in the snow and sled down the sandy hills. This is so much fun. The kids will love it, especially if they are not used to snow. No matter how hot it gets, this "snow" will not melt so you can go sledding all day long. Bring a saucer or a plastic sled and down you go.

Sometimes, there is some water to go along with the sandy beach on the west side of the dunes. This is water that has melted from the Sangre de Cristo mountains and has flown down to Medano Creek. It forms little ponds at the bottom of the dunes that you can wade in, but is not there all of the time.

Make sure you bring pails and shovels for the little ones so they can dig and build sand castles. If it is a breezy day, bring a kite and fly it. Bring frisbees and bouncing balls and have a blast playing at the beach all day long.

Make sure you have plenty of sunscreen and apply it often throughout the day. Bring hats and sunglasses to protect your face and eyes from sunburn and glare.

Make sure you bring plenty of picnic food and lots of drinks, especially water so you do stay comfortable and do not get dehydrated.

From northern Colorado, get on I-25 and come down. At Walsenburg, go west on US 160 and then north on state highway 150. If you are coming from the west, use Colorado 17 and then County Lane 6. From the south, take US 160 and then Colorado 150. Look it up on MapQuest or use a GPS.

Alamosa is 32 miles away from Great Sand Dunes National Park and you can stay at a motel there or just make it a day trip from Colorado Springs.

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

2009-11-09T17:55:00.001-08:00

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument is a beautiful area of fossils for you to explore. There are more than 1500 different kinds of insect fossils. There are plant fossils as well. Florissant is French and means flowering or blooming.

There are no bodies of water here so there is no swimming, fishing, or boating. But don't worry. There are plenty of other things you can do.

The whole family will enjoy it here. There are hiking trails and there is horseback riding so you can enjoy the great outdoors. This park is a great learning tool for any future botanists or insect lovers in the family. The exhibits here are great for homeschooled students.

You will see gorgeous live trees, along with petrified redwood trees. Wildlife here includes elk, squirrels, porcupines, mountain lions, and bears.

The visitor center has exhibits, fossil displays, and a bookstore. There is a quick orientation film to introduce you to the area.

If you visit in the winter, you can go cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, but you will have to bring your own equipment. None is available in the park. Sometimes in the winter, there are ranger-guided snowshoe hikes.

You cannot camp in this park. It is open only from 9am to 5pm daily. It is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument is not far from Colorado Springs, only about 16 miles from Cripple Creek. Take I-25 and get off at US 24 and go west to the town of Florrisant. Then follow the signs on Teller County Road to the visitor center.

Dinosaur National Monument

2009-11-09T17:41:00.000-08:00

Dinosaur National Monument is an incredible national park in Dinosaur, Colorado. The Canyon Area Visitor Center is located at
4545 Highway 40 in the town of Dinosaur. Dinosaur is close to the Colorado/Utah border and part of the park is located in Utah.

There are no dinosaur fossils in the Colorado portion of the park. Dinosaur fossils can be seen only in the Utah portion of the park, but, to the dismay of everyone, the Dinosaur Quarry Visitor Center is closed indefinitely due to some safety issues!

The foundation of this visitor center is shifting and the building is coming apart.

Now, there are still some fossils that can be seen if you take a short hike from the visitor's center. There are also a few fossils set up at the Temporary Visitor Center, near the Dinosaur Quarry Visitor Center.

The Canyon Area Visitor Center is located in Colorado. There are beautiful canyons in this portion of the park, but, again, no dinosaur fossils.

While you are there, you can paddle through a river canyon, where dinosaurs once roamed. You can go river rafting. You can hike trails through the park.

Entrance fees are collected on the Utah side of the park. The park is open from 8:30am to 4:30 pm everyday except Christmas, December 26, New Year's Day, and Thanksgiving on the Utah side. The Colorado side is closed during the fall and winter from October 27 on until Memorial Day.

Curecanti National Recreation Area

2009-11-09T17:37:00.000-08:00

Curecanti National Recreation Area is a beautiful national park in Colorado. This beautiful mountainous place has three reservoirs, including the largest body of water in the state of Colorado, the Blue Mesa Reservoir. The other two reservoirs are Morrow Point Reservoir and the East Portal Reservoir.

This area was named after a Ute Native American sub-chief in the 1860s and 1870s. Again, Blue Mesa Reservoir is the largest body of water in Colorado, at 20 miles long. It has 96 miles of shoreline. Interestingly, this area has a very low rainfall each year of about 12 inches. This means there are not many trees around Blue Mesa Reservoir.

But the wildlife abounds. There are black bears, coyotes, mountain lions, mule deer, prairie dogs, elk, bighorn sheep,and even some black-billed magpie and moose.

It is important for you to know that you should not disturb natural features, pick the flowers, or approach the wildlife. You can take all of the photos that you want.

There are some specific boating requirements so you should check with the park at their web site below before you bring a boat.

You can hike and marvel at the beauty all around you here. You can also swim, boat, fish, fly fish, ride horses, watch birds, go on scenic drives, and hunt. There are also boat tours that you can go on. If you love water and wildlife, this is the place to go.

Curecanti National Recreation Area is about 200 miles southwest of Denver, between Gunnison and Montrose on Highway 50. You can also get there from CO Hwy 149 and CO Hwy 92.

Colorado National Monument

2009-11-09T17:35:00.000-08:00

Colorado National Monument was established in 1911 by President William Taft and looks more like Arizona than the mountains of Colorado. It has that beautiful southwestern desert look. It is located near Grand Junction.

Hiking and biking are enjoyable ways for tourists to see the canyons and high walls of this 32 square mile park. Climbing the rock formations and horseback riding are also popular. In the winter, there is cross-country skiing.

There is local wildlife to see. Expect to find bighorn sheep, various reptiles, porcupines, jack rabbits, desert cottontails, mule deer, coyotes, ringtail cats, foxes, bobcats, bats, mountain lions, squirrels, chipmunks, and a few black bears. Have your cameras ready, but do not try to feed the wildlife or approach them.

Take Highway I-70 to Grand Junction, and take Exit 31 which is Horizon Drive. Then just follow the signs through Grand Junction to the east entrance.

For travelers going Eastbound through the Grand Valley: Take Highway I-70 to Exit 19 which is Fruita, and go south on Highway 340 to the west entrance, which is approximately three miles from Fruita. The Visitor Center and Campground are four miles up from the west entrance.

Canyons of the Ancients National Monument

2009-11-09T17:34:00.000-08:00

Canyons of the Ancients National Monument is in southwestern Colorado and has over 6,000 archaeological digs. Native American dwellings are found throughout the park.

Around 1500 BC, people called Basketmakers moved into the area and became farmers, planting corn. They made beautiful baskets. By 750 AD, they were putting up pueblos, made pottery, and started farming other crops. By 1300 AD, they left the area.

When you get to the park, visit the Anasazi Heritage Center to get information about the park. There is no camping in this park.

Hiking, hunting, mountain biking, and horseback riding are enjoyed here.

Be prepared to see wildlife like mountain lions, peregrine falcons, bald eagles, deer, elk, coyotes, foxes, wild turkeys, ducks, rabbits, doves, snakes, scorpions, and lizards. Have your camera ready for photos.

Stay on existing roads and trails. Wear good walking shoes. Have some bug spray to keep gnats off of you.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

2009-11-09T17:32:00.000-08:00

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park was formed over many years by water and rocks cutting through layers of Proterozoic crystalline rock. The Gunnison River flows through the gorge. The cliff walls are very high and the whole park is just beautiful.

Be sure that you stop off at the South Rim Visitor Center to learn about this park and get information. They have a junior ranger program for the kids.

It is important that you do not pick flowers, disturb the natural features, or approach or feed the wildlife.

This park offers rock climbing to experienced rock climbers only as it is very dangerous with crumbling cliff walls. River rafting, hiking, fishing, kayaking, horseback riding, camping, and watching wildlife are favorite activities for visitors to this park.

Be prepared to see and photograph yellow-bellied marmots, rock squirrels, golden-mantled ground squirrels, chipmunks, mountain cottontails, mule deer, elk, bighorn sheep, skunks, coyotes, badgers, weasels, ring-tail cats, mountain lions, bobcats, black bears, turkey vultures, golden eagles, canyon wrens, hawks, falcons, and grouse.

This park is located 250 miles southwest of Denver. To get to the South Rim, travel 15 miles east of Montrose, using US Highway 50 and CO Highway 347. To get to the North Rim, travel 11 miles south of Crawford, using CO Highway 92 and North Rim Road which is unpaved. You need to know that there is no bridge between the north and south rims so you will need to allow two to three hours to make the drive from one side to the other.

Bents Old Fort

2009-11-09T16:55:00.000-08:00

Bent's Old Fort or Bents Old Fort is an old fur trading post turned into a national park. On the old Santa Fe trail, there is an adobe post that was built back in the 1840s to trade furs. This building has been reconstructed and today you can relive those days through guided tours and demonstrations of how it was back then.

People wear clothing from the 1840s and reenact daily life. This is a great learning opportunity for home schoolers to learn about history.

Throughout the year, they have various programs where they reenact things like caravan rides, living history training, and fur trading so check their calendar and plan your visit around some of these activities. Some of these activities are for kids so they can learn firsthand.

The park is 70 miles from Pueblo and 110 miles from Colorado Springs. You can get there from U.S. Highway 50 and Highway 194. If you are coming from La Junta, Colorado on U.S. Highway 50, take Highway 109 north 1 mile to Highway 194, then east on Highway 194 six miles to the fort. If you are coming from Las Animas, Colorado, on U.S. Highway 50, take Highway 194 west 13 miles.

Arapahoe National Recreation Area

2009-11-09T16:53:00.000-08:00

Arapahoe National Recreation Area is close to where the Colorado River begins and also includes five lakes. It is in northern Colorado, near Rocky Mountain National Park, which is very close to Estes Park.

The five lakes are Monarch Lake, Shadow Mountain Lake, Lake Granby, Meadow Creek Lake, and Willow Creek Lake. They are known as the Great Lakes of Colorado. Fishing is allowed year-round with a Colorado fishing license. Ice fishing is popular during the winter months.

The Continental Divide passes through this national park. You can hike some of the trails on the Continental Divide or experience them while riding a horse.

Boating, fishing, swimming, camping, hiking, observing nature, and photographing everything are all activities your family will enjoy here.

Be prepared to see moose, elk, deer, coyotes, bobcats, bears, beavers, squirrels, red foxes, badgers, chipmunks, mountain lions, bighorn sheep, golden eagles, bald eagles, osprey, trout, and kokanee salmon.

The beauty here is incredible. Mountains, valleys, water, aspen trees, and many other kinds of trees make this park a true wilderness. You will experience gorgeous rock formations, deep canyons, rocky ridges, high alpine lakes, meadows, glaciers, and tundra, all in the same huge park.

You can get more information

It is closest to Granby, Colorado and offers rugged roughing-it camping.

Colorado National Parks

2009-11-09T16:39:00.000-08:00

There are 14 Colorado national parks to explore in the state and each one has beautiful scenery and unique features for you to experience.

You can camp, hike, fish, swim, watch birds and wildlife, learn about nature, boat, play in the snow, and just enjoy the incredible beauty of Colorado in these gorgeous national parks. The whole family will enjoy nature in any of them.

Here is the list in alphabetical order:

Arapahoe National Recreation Area is near where the Colorado River starts. There are five reservoirs in this area. They are Monarch Lake, Shadow Mountain, Granby, Meadow Creek, and Willow Creek.

Bent's Old Fort is a rebuilt fur-traders fort from the 1830s on the Santa Fe Trail. It was originally built by the Bent brothers and has been reproduced with authentic period antiques and reproductions of antiques and also has artifacts that were found at the fort.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is a 2,000 foot deep canyon cut by the Gunnison River two million years ago.

Canyons of the Ancients National Monument is near Dolores, Colorado and is known for being the richest archaeological area in the United States.

Colorado National Monument is a beautiful wonderland of canyons.

Curecanti National Recreation Area is over 60 miles long and has the largest reservoir in Colorado, the Blue Mesa Reservoir, along with two lakes.

Dinosaur National Monument has a wonderful fossil quarry and sandstone canyons.

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument was created by a volcanic eruption 35 million years ago.

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve has two sand mountains that each stand more than 1,000 feet high and is more than 565 square miles in size.

Gunnison Gorge NCA is filled with sandstone cliffs, a river canyon, pinon and juniper woods, and adobe hills.

Hovenweep National Monument has canyons with stone towers. Pueblo Indian dwellings from 900 years ago are located here as well.

McInnis Canyons NCA is filled with canyons, arches, rock spires, and the Colorado River.

Mesa Verde National Park has more than 600 cliff dwellings built into canyon walls and more than 4,000 archaeological sites.

Rocky Mountain National Park is perhaps the most famous of the Colorado National Parks. It is located near beautiful Estes Park and is the largest in the state. It is filled with streams, lakes, valleys and mountain peaks. The beauty here is incomparable.

Boyd Lake State Park

2009-11-09T16:27:00.000-08:00

Boyd Lake State Park is in Loveland, Colorado and is a water-lover's paradise. The lake has 1,700 surface acres of water for you to play on. Fishing, boating, and swimming are favorite things to do in the summer for tourists here.

In the winter, there is ice fishing and snowy hiking by the lake.

Fishers can expect to catch any of the following: channel catfish, carp, crappie, walleye, largemouth bass, white bass, yellow perch, and rainbow trout.

There is a sandy beach for swimmers with a nearby coffee shop for drinks and snacks. Canoes, sailboats, fishing boats, and ski-boats are all used in this gorgeous lake.

The campground in this park has 148 paved camping sites.

If you are into wildlife, bring your binoculars and cameras because there is a lot to see. Expect to see eagles, white pelicans, egrets, great-horned owls, hawks, great blue heron, red foxes, ground squirrels, coyotes, muskrats, cotton tail rabbits, and raccoons.

Hiking and biking through the park are also enjoyable. The trails are are good in summer and in winter, they become cross-country ski trails.

Bonny Lake State Park

2009-11-09T16:26:00.001-08:00

Bonny Lake State Park is a beautiful park close to Kansas, on the east side of Colorado.

The lake offers great fishing for bass, channel catfish, and walleye. This means boating is in at this lake.

Hunters love it here because there is an abundance of game--deer, turkeys, quail, rabbits, squirrels, waterfowl, and doves.

Camping is a great activity here. If you enjoy watching birds and wildlife, you can see turkeys, blue herons, bald eagles, ospreys, white pelicans, borrowing owls, prairie falcons, cardinals, eastern blue jays, mule deer, white-tailed deer, weasels, opossums, ground squirrels, raccoons, cotton-tailed rabbits, jackrabbits, coyotes, muskrats, coyotes, and beavers. As you can see, there are a lot of animals to observe. Make sure you bring binoculars, cameras, and a camcorder.

In the winter, you can go snowmobiling. In warmer weather, you can hike.

Barr Lake State Park

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Barr Lake State Park is northeast of Denver, not far at all. There is a lot to do at this park such as camping, birding, biking, boating, hiking, fishing, cross-country skiing, ice fishing, showshoeing, hunting, horseback riding, and sailboarding.

Unfortunately, no swimming is allowed in this park.

Be prepared to meet wildlife. You can see bald eagles, mule deer, white-tailed deer, coyotes, foxes, cottontail rabbits, ground squirrels, white pelicans, great blue herons, cormorants, egrets, and hawks. So bring a camera and document your visit by taking a lot of photos for your scrapbook.

This park has some wildlife tours in a motorized passenger cart called the Eagle Express.

If you fish, you can meet and catch rainbow trout, walleye, wiper, tiger muskie, largemouth bass, yellow perch, crappie, bluegill and channel, blue and flathead catfish. Your kids will have a blast trying to catch them.

From the city of Denver, head northeast on I-76 and exit on Bromley Lane. Then go east to Picadilly Road and then south to the park entrance.

Arkansas Headwaters

2009-11-09T16:22:00.001-08:00

The Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area is a very popular place for kayaking and for whitewater rafting. The Arkansas River goes on for 150 miles, sometimes calm and other times wild and raging. It is a lot of fun to raft. The rapids here are classed at II, III, IV, and V, so there is something for everyone. If you enjoy water, whitewater rafting is something you should try. It is a great deal of fun. A little scary, but loads of fun! Hundreds of visitors are in the water each day experiencing the rapids.

You may have seen whitewater rafting on one of your favorite TV shows and now it is time to try it for real. It is a blast!

Visitors can fish and camp, hike, bike, pan for gold, ride horses,climb rocks, cross-country ski, go snowmobiling, and go showshoeing. It is a fun place to be.

Fishing can be done from a raft or from the banks of the river.

Expect to see a lot of wildlife in the area including birds, ducks, owls, elk, mule deer, goats, and bighorn sheep.

The visitor center is located in Salida, Colorado on 307 W. Sackett Avenue.

Lathrop State Park

2009-11-09T16:21:00.001-08:00

A beautiful Colorado state park with two lakes is Lathrop State Park. Admission is $6 per day per vehicle.

This park offers biking, birding, boating, sail-boating, canoeing, swimming, fishing, year-round camping with electric and non-electric camping sites, golfing, hiking, hunting, jet-skiing, water skiing, picnicking, and in the summer, there are educational sessions given by park rangers.

The two lakes are Martin Lake and Horseshoe Lake and each offers a variety of fun things to do to please your whole family.

The park is located three miles west of Walsenburg on U.S. Highway 160. Walsenburg is located in the southeastern side of the state, below Pueblo, which is below Colorado Springs. Take I-25 and then Highway 160.

Yampa River State Park

2009-11-09T16:20:00.000-08:00

Yampa River State Park is located near the Utah/Colorado at Hayden, Colorado. There are several places to enter this park along a 134 mile path of the river. This is one of the prettiest Colorado state parks.

Some of the best fishing in Colorado is done here. Brown and Rainbow Trout, Small Mouth Bass, and Northern Pike are favorites in this river. Of course, boating is also allowed on the river. Canoeing, rafting, and kayaking are popular. Whitewater rafting is a lot of fun.

This gorgeous park is open for camping. It has 50 camp sites and 35 of them have electric hookups so bring the camper and know that you can feel like you are at home in the evenings, while spending the days out in nature.

If you are not into fishing, maybe you enjoy birding. Ornithologists love watching birds here. American Bald Eagles live here along with Blue Heron, Sandhill Cranes, and many other birds.

Antelope, deer, and elk are abundant if you want to photograph nature. Hunting is also allowed during hunting season with the proper license.

There are plenty of hiking trails. Picnicking here is fun for the whole family. Volleyball is popular with visitors.

Yampa River State Park is gorgeous all year long. There is so much to do in the snow and in the sun. Bring your camera, hat, comfortable walking shoes, and sunscreen and have a blast.

For more information, you can call the park at 970-276-2061. The office is located at 6185 W. US Hwy. 40 in Hayden, Colorado. There is a visitor center here with exhibits. There is also a gift store with books, t-shirts, and other souvenir items.

Colorado State Bird

2009-11-09T16:19:00.000-08:00

The Colorado State Bird is the Lark Bunting. This Colorado bird was made official on April 29.1931. To put it in perspective, my father was three months old when Colorado adopted this bird. Wow!

The Lark Bunting is a songbird that migrates back and forth, showing up in Colorado in April and leaving again in September to winter down south in Texas and in Mexico. While in Colorado, flocks of these sparrow-type birds stay in the Colorado plains and in places in Colorado up to 8,000 feet up from sea level.

The male Lark Bunting is a black bird with white patches on his wings and white edging along his tail and parts of his body. During the colder months, the male turns grayish brown, just like the female. The difference is that the female is gray brown on the top and white underneath her body. She stays these same colors all year long. The male bird is six to seven inches long and the female is just a little smaller.

The Lark Bunting makes its nest on the ground in a grassy place or under a shrub. The female usually lays three to six bluish-green eggs, sometimes with reddish-brown speckles on them. They take 10 to 12 days to hatch. Both the mother and the father Lark Buntings take care of the eggs before they hatch and feed and take care of the little ones once they hatch.

These pretty birds eat a lot of bugs such as ants, beetles, and grasshoppers. They also eat some grain and the seeds from wild plants. The longest this bird can live is four years.

Colorado State Flower

2009-11-09T16:18:00.000-08:00

The Colorado state flower is the lavender and white columbine, also known as Aquilegia caerules, aka the Rocky Mountain columbine. It became the official state flower by an act of the Colorado General Assembly on April 4, 1899.

Then in 1925, the Colorado General Assembly decided to protect the columbine from destruction and waste. Therefore, no one can dig up the flower on any public land in Colorado. Picking the Rocky Mountain columbine is limited to 25 stems, buds, and blossoms in one day. Also, this flower cannot be picked on private land at all without the permission of the landowner. Violators will be prosecuted!

Now that we got that over with, let's talk about the Rocky Mountain columbine. It is a beautiful flower that comes in white and lavender together in one blossom.

You will see this flower as you hike all over the state in May and June. It grows best in partial shade. If it is out in the hot sun all day long, it will not last long.

Colorado State Parks

2009-11-09T16:16:00.000-08:00

There are 42 Colorado state parks that you should acquaint yourself with before you visit Colorado. They are located all over the state. Learning about them will help you decide what part of Colorado you would like to visit first.

The beauty you will experience while exploring these parks is incredible. You and your family will experience the majesty of the Colorado mountains and the beauty of meadows, rivers, and lakes. You can hike, hunt, fish, swim, boat, play in the snow, or just enjoy the scenery. Learn about and observe Colorado's wildlife, birds, flowers, and trees.

Take sunscreen, comfortable walking shoes, and cameras because you will want to experience everything in these parks and you will want to remember the gorgeous scenery when you return home.

These parks are listed in alphabetical order for your convenience.

Arkansas Headwaters

Barr Lake State Park

Bonny Lake

Boyd Lake

Castlewood Canyon

Chatfield

Cherry Creek

Cheyenne Mountain

Colorado River

Crawford

Eldorado Canyon

Eleven Mile

Golden Gate Canyon

Harvey Gap

Highline Lake

Jackson Lake

John Martin Reservoir

Lake Pueblo

Lathrop

Lone Mesa

Lory

Mancos

Mueller

Navajo

North Sterling

Paonia

Pearl Lake

Ridgway

Rifle Falls

Rifle Gap

Roxborough

San Luis Lakes

Spinney Mountain

St. Vrain

Stagecoach

State Forest

Steamboat Lake

Sweitzer

Sylvan Lake

Trinidad Lake

Vega

Yampa River

There is a fee to get into the state parks. Some charge by the person and others charge by the vehicle. An annual state park pass can be purchased that is good in all 42 state parks for 12 months from the date of purchase. Some have different activities going on during the year that you may enjoy.

You can learn more and make reservations at any of these state parks by visiting the Colorado State Park web site.

Nazarene Bible College

2009-11-09T16:12:00.000-08:00

Nazarene Bible College is the college for older students who have families and get the call to be a minister a little later in life. The average age of their students is around 36. Families move up to Colorado Springs just so either the mom or dad, mostly the dad, can go to school to become a pastor.

That is what we did. We had a good life in El Paso. Then my husband decided that he wanted to uproot us so he could become a minister in the Church of the Nazarene so he moved up to Colorado Springs. I stayed in El Paso, trying to sell our manufactured home, unsuccessfully, I might add. David moved up shortly before school started so he could find a job. I kept our 2 little boys, a newborn and a 3 year old and continued to work at my place of employment.

David found a job and then another and started school. He came home every three or four weeks for the weekend and I continued to try and sell our home. Finally, we took out a loan and had the manufactured home moved up. My boys were four and one and I was four months pregnant with our daughter in January of 1992 when we joined my husband in Colorado Springs. We immediately loved it.

My husband enjoyed going to Nazarene Bible College. Back then, they did not offer a Bachelors degree, only an Associates degree. My husband earned his Associates degree in four years. He worked very hard and then we got our first church assignment, making $125 a week. What a joke! In five years, they moved us all over the country for very little pay, mostly living in dumps, being put in small churches with senior citizens who did not want us there so we never lasted long.

We should have gone with the Baptists who pay their pastors very well, not with a denomination who does not give a damn about their pastors and their families. We met a lot of other pastors and families who were going through the same terrible things we went through.

So the school experience was great, but they did not prepare us for how it would be in the real world in their church. Funny thing is I had been Nazarene my entire life, but I never realized how much pastors were abused. No wonder our pastors never stayed long when I was a child. Every one to four years, we would get a new pastor and we never knew why.

Anyway, getting back to the Bible college, for a year, I was enrolled as a student also. I loved going to school there and was an A student. I took some great classes and planned to get my degree in Christian education. But my husband wanted to finish and get an assignment as a pastor so we left sooner than we should have. I never got to finish. My husband finished his fourth year and earned his Bachelors degree later when Nazarene Bible College offered it, after we were already out of ministry and living in San Antonio, about 6 years ago.

Colorado Springs Colleges

2009-11-09T15:24:00.000-08:00

There are 11 area Colorado Springs colleges, including the Air Force Academy. Many people move to the Springs just to go to college. That is what brought our family there. We were living in El Paso, Texas and my husband decided that God wanted him to go to Bible College there. So we went up on vacation and checked out the city and Nazarene Bible College. We fell in love with the city and made plans to move up there.

At the time, we were living in a manufactured home parked in a trailer park in El Paso. We put it up for sale and waited but never could sell it. We finally moved it up to Colorado Springs with us and lived in it for the four years we were there.

This was a blessing because housing was hard to come by with all of the military personnel being transferred in. The housing construction could not keep up with the demand for housing. Living in our manufactured home in a trailer park was much cheaper than renting a house like so many of our Bible College friends were doing.

If you will be moving to the Springs to attend a college, try to go up prior to the start of school and check it out. See if you can find a job and a place to live if you will not be living on campus.

We loved living in the Springs. The city is gorgeous and there is so much to see and do. Sometimes, I wish we had never left. I cannot wait to go back this summer there on vacation and I am hoping that we move back soon.

Here is a list of all of the Colorado Springs colleges:

Air Force Academy

Nazarene Bible College (pictured above)

Colorado College

University of Colorado at Colorado Springs

Pikes Peak Community College

Remington College

Colorado Technical University

Colorado State University Pueblo

DeVry University

Regis University

Troy University

Many college students rent apartments or houses in the area and work, either part time or full time.

Colorado Springs Newspaper

2009-11-06T15:05:00.000-08:00

The Colorado Springs newspaper is called The Colorado Springs Gazette. There is also an online version of the newspaper. Both the paper and the online versions are full newspapers that come out every morning. When we lived in Colorado Springs, we used to get the Sunday paper because of all of the coupons and their version of the television guide.

We had two babies in diapers at the time and those $1 off coupons for diapers sure came in handy, not to mention all of the other coupons for food.

If you enjoy reading your news, it is a fine paper to read. When we lived there, my husband worked full time and went to school full time, and I had three very young children, so we never had much time to read the paper. We got our news on quick news blurbs on television or the radio most of the time.

The paper has all of the local, state, and national news, plus it carries syndicated columns, just like any other city newspaper.

You can have the paper delivered seven days a week for a little under $11 a month. You can have it delivered on weekdays only or just on weekends as well for varied prices. Just check their prices online at the above web site.

Colorado Springs Library

2009-11-06T14:33:00.000-08:00

One of the first things I did after we moved here was to find a Colorado Springs library near our home so my young children could check out tons of books. We all loved to read and it is important to nurture that love of reading by allowing children to pick out books and to go often.

Fortunately, there was a good-sized library close to where we lived. We went every one to two weeks. I read stories to my kids everyday and they loved it. This is good, educational, fun entertainment for children and the best part is that it is free.

Now, the libraries have DVDs that you can check out as well. So if Blockbuster or going to a theater is not in your budget, you can still pick up some good movies to watch that will please the kids. The library has a lot of older movies that you may not be able to find at Blockbuster as well.

In addition, you can check out CDs, tapes, and magazines. The library is a great place to go for a little while to give the kids a change of scenery. They can go and pick out some books and sit down at the kid's tables and read their books. Just stay close by to make sure they are safe. Remember that it is not the librarian's job to watch your kids! I cannot tell you how many times I have seen parents go off and leave their little ones unsupervised. That is so dangerous.

Each summer, the libraries have summer reading programs for the kids so that is additional entertainment.

There are movies, craft programs, and story times all throughout the year that are free, too.

Right now, there are 13 Colorado Springs library branches. We lived by the Sand Creek branch and it is still there, on South Academy Boulevard. Just about everything you need is on Academy Blvd., like stores, malls, Wal-Mart, discount stores...For information on where libraries are located, see this map.

Colorado Springs Map

2009-11-06T14:28:00.000-08:00

A great way to get around when you visit Colorado Springs is to buy a Colorado Springs map.

Below, this photo shows a view of Colorado Springs near the base of Pikes Peak. Sheer beauty all the way!

I-25 and North Academy

from City of Colorado Springs

The best way to get around is by car. Things are pretty spread out so walking will not get you far. There are city buses, but a car is pretty much a necessity. If you fly into Colorado Springs, plan to rent a vehicle. If you don't, you won't be able to drive up beautiful Pike's Peak, and, trust me, you definitely do want to!

I-25 at Garden of the Gods

from City of Colorado Springs

I-25 is the freeway running through the city north and south. US Highway 24 runs east and west through Colorado Springs.

Almost all of the roads are in great condition. The traffic is not bad at all in comparison to San Antonio, Dallas, or Los Angeles. It is pretty easy to get around and you can always look up and see a mountain to know in what direction you are headed.

I-25 at Pedestrian Bridge

from City of Colorado Springs

I suggest buying a Colorado Springs map before you arrive. Study it so you have a general idea of where you will be going and you should be fine.

Another great idea is to buy a GPS unit or rent a vehicle with a GPS unit in it. They are amazing tools to help you get around.

Most of the time in the winter, driving conditions are not that bad in Colorado Springs. The snow comes and goes. It does not stay throughout the winter the way that it does in Denver. Chains or snow tires are not required, but when the snow is coming down, you need to use extra caution, especially if you are not used to driving in snow.

If you visit in the summer, driving is no problem at all. Most of the time, with the wide open roads, driving is a pleasure.

There are very few traffic jams in the city, even during rush hour. Downtown driving is not even that bad, amazingly.

A Colorado Springs map should include the points of interest in the city and some of the surrounding areas. A lot of what you see is beautiful nature, but there are also a lot of stores, museums, and other indoor things that you will want to see.

Cripple Creek Colorado

2009-11-05T19:27:00.000-08:00

Cripple Creek Colorado is an old west gambling town that sprang up with the gold rush.

Gold was first discovered here in 1890 and the town quickly grew. At the population's peak, this town had 73 saloons, 19 schools, 16 churches, five newspapers that came out everyday, two opera houses, and a stock exchange.

It is interesting to see the priorities of its mining citizens, isn't it? They also built a railroad depot that had no less than 18 arrivals and departures each day. I read that there was also an elaborate streetcar system in this quaint, little town. The elevation is pretty high--9494 feet above sea level so keep that in mind if you have breathing or heart problems.

Gold mining stopped in 1961 and by then, over $800 million of gold ore had been mined.

When my husband first moved up to Colorado Springs to register for school, he went up to find a job before moving the family there so we would have an income. He got a job with a restaurant supply company and his route delivered restaurant supplies to some eateries out in Cripple Creek so he became familiar with the town.

After my kids and I moved up to Colorado Springs to join my husband, he drove us out to show us the old gambling town of Cripple Creek.

You can learn more about what there is to do by clicking the link above this sentence. It really is a quaint little town that looks sort of like something out of the old west, but with modern conveniences. And casinos.

The main strip is Bennett Avenue and this is where most of its casinos are located. (There are approximately 25 casinos there now.) Colorado Springs visitors drive the 45 miles west out there to gamble because there are no casinos in Colorado Springs.

Gamblers must be 21 years old to play. Some casinos do have children's areas while Mom and Dad try their luck and spend their money. This town loves tourists. Once you have lost your limit of money, get out of the casinos and see what is outside. You are in some beautiful country.

There are fun things to do in Cripple Creek Colorado for the whole family. There are some interesting old museums to visit and some guests actually stay out there for several days.

There are several good hotels for visitors to stay in if they want more than just a day trip. There are some good eateries. There is a lot to see and do inside the casinos and outside in the natural beauty. You might get to see a wild donkey roaming around in the hills, take a hike, ride a bike, take a train ride.

The Imperial Casino Hotel is popular among visitors. It was built in 1896 after a fire ripped through a great deal of the historic town.

To get to Cripple Creek Colorado, take U.S. 24 West out of Colorado Springs and then Colorado 67 South. The drive out is scenic. Bring your camera and prepare to have fun.

Alamosa Colorado

2009-11-05T19:25:00.000-08:00

Alamosa Colorado is a welcoming town in the San Luis Valley in South central Colorado with 10 motels and hotels and 35 places to eat. It is close to some great things to do in Colorado and you will enjoy your visit there. Shelter, food, and tons of beautiful things to see and do. What more could you want from a weekend getaway?

From Colorado Springs,take I-25 south to Route 160 and then head west until you come to this pretty town. Close by the Great Sand Dunes National Park, the incredible scenery will astound you. There are mountains, flat lands, bodies of water, sand dunes, and beautiful wildlife, including cranes in the spring. There is actually a crane festival each March there.

Also in March, there is an art festival, featuring the talents of regional artists for visitors to enjoy.

Other things to do include hiking, fishing, boating, birding, hunting, playing golf, and riding four-wheelers.

There are free summer concerts in Cole Park. A farmer's market sells fresh produce every Saturday during the summer in Oscar's parking lot downtown.

Take a ride on the Rio Grande Scenic Railroad, which goes each day from Alamosa to the towns of LaVeta, Monte Vista, and Antonito. It is known as the scenic line of the world. If you ride, you will see gorgeous mountain peaks, lots of wildlife, cliffs, canyons, and small towns along the way. This is a fun way to do some sightseeing without having to drive. Your kids will love riding the train.

Colorado Hot Springs

2009-11-05T19:22:00.001-08:00

You can find Colorado hot springs to relax in throughout the state. If you have never before soaked in a hot spring and you get the chance while on your visit to Colorado, treat yourself. You will love it.

Listed below, for your convenience are some of the nicest hot springs located in Colorado.

A Gingerbread Ski House in Salida

City of Ouray Hot Springs Pool and Fitness Center in Ouray

Cottonwood Hot Springs Inn and Spa in Buena Vista

Dunton Hot Springs in Dunton

Glenwood Lodge and Hot Springs in Glenwood Springs

Hot Sulphur Springs Resort and Spa in Hot Sulphur Springs

Indian Springs Resort in Idaho Springs

Joyful Journey Hot Springs Spa in Moffat

Old Town Hot Springs in Steamboat Springs

Sand Dunes Recreation Hot Springs Pool in Alamosa

Strawberry Hot Springs in Steamboat Springs

The Spa at Pagosa Springs in Pagosa Springs

The Springs Resort in Pagosa Springs

Trimble Spa and Natural Hot Springs in Durango

Yampa Spa in Glenwood Springs

These are natural springs of hot water, not warmed by electric heaters. They are heated by underground geothermal heat. It was once believed that the warm waters that occur naturally around the world had healing properties.

President Franklin Roosevelt used to travel to Warm Springs, Georgia to bathe in the hot springs there as he thought they would help him with his polio. He had heard that a man swimming there was healed of polio so he bought property in Warm Springs with natural warm springs to swim in. Unfortunately, the warm water did not heal him, but it did relieve discomfort he experienced in his legs. The warm waters certainly soften and relax the muscles, promoting relaxation.

It is much the same principle as swimming in a heated pool for a session of hydrotherapy massage. If you are at a spa, get a massage right after you get out of the hot springs. It will be unlike any other massage you have ever had. Take the time to try out one of the Colorado hot springs if you get the opportunity.

Black Forest Colorado

2009-11-05T19:20:00.000-08:00

Black Forest Colorado is a small town just northeast of Colorado Springs where we used to go to church every Sunday for the last two years that we lived there.

In Colorado Springs, we lived right by the airport. It took us about 30 minutes to drive out to this little town each Sunday morning. The drive out is spectacular. The scenery all over the area is just gorgeous.

Black Forest Colorado got its name from the woods there. A man from Germany settled there and thought that the dark coloring of the Ponderosa pines in the area looked like the Black Forest in Germany so the name stuck.

The town is a small one with a little over 13,000 people. The homes typically have finished basements. The basements are nice and cool in the summer, but very cold in winter so expect the heating bill to be a little higher if you plan on moving to this quaint little town or even to Colorado Springs if you currently live somewhere without basements, like Texas. Several of our friends from church lived out there and they really enjoyed it.

Most residents actually work in Colorado Springs. There are a lot of horses kept on residents' property out there so if you want to find a place near civilization where you can have horses, this may be the answer for you.

Black Forest Colorado got its name from the woods there. A man from Germany settled there and thought that the dark coloring of the Ponderosa pines in the area looked like the Black Forest in Germany so the name stuck.

The town is a small one with a little over 13,000 people. The homes typically have finished basements. The basements are nice and cool in the summer, but very cold in winter so expect the heating bill to be more then if you plan on moving to this quaint little town. Several of our friends from church lived out there and they really enjoyed it.

Most residents actually work in Colorado Springs. There are a lot of horses kept on residents' property out there so if you want to find a place near civilization where you can have horses, this may be the answer for you.

The elevation of this town is between 6500 and 7800 feet. There are a lot of deer and other animals out there in the woods. It is a good place for privacy. Most homes are on about 5 acres so it is a nice, rural area.

As far as tourism goes, there is not much to see, other than the sheer beauty. There is a Community Center, a Volunteer Fire Station, a gas station and a country store. Last I heard there was also a Curves and a movie rental store. There are several churches.

We went to the Black Forest Church of the Nazarene at the time and enjoyed it very much. The pastor was a fellow student with my husband at Nazarene Bible College who graduated a few years earlier than him. He has since moved on.

On the rest of this page is information about various Colorado day trips for you to consider while you visit Colorado Springs.

Antlers Hilton Colorado Springs

2009-11-05T19:15:00.000-08:00

The Antlers Hilton Colorado Springs claims they are the only full service hotel in the heart of downtown Colorado Springs on their web site. I never stayed there but it is a very good hotel according to some friends of ours who have stayed there.

It is located at 4 South Cascade Avenue and you can learn more by visiting their web site.

This hotel has 285 guest rooms and seven suites. Each room has electronic locks for your safety. There is a work area with two telephone lines and voice mail. This comes in handy if you are staying in Colorado Springs on business. To go with the work area, you get free high speed internet access, which is a must these days.

Of course, there is the usual cable TV and you can order pay per view movies as well. You get an iron and ironing board, coffee pot with free coffee and tea, and a hair dryer. The rooms look very nice and the scenery outside is spectacular so you will enjoy staying here.

Suites also offer a jacuzzi and a full-sized refrigerator, but no microwave. I like having a microwave so I can make popcorn while I watch a movie late at night and have done so all across the country so I am not sure why they do not include one.

They have a full-service restaurant that serves food from 6:30am until 11:00pm everyday of the week.

There is a coffee bar, a beautiful indoor swimming pool in a room with a lot of windows looking out at Pikes Peak and a lot of gorgeous scenery, and a fully equipped health club for your convenience. It is close to many Colorado Springs attractions, restaurants, museums, and shopping areas. There is valet parking as well.

Air Force Academy In Colorado Springs

2009-11-05T18:59:00.000-08:00

One of the most popular tourist destinations is the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs.

Above is the web cam at this fine military school in Colorado Springs.

Established back in 1954, approximately 4,000 cadets each year learn how to be the best possible Air Force officers they can be on 18,000 beautifully manicured acres.

We visited with three small children and had a blast. There is a lot of room to let the little ones run and burn off energy outside. Just remember that this is a military school and there are rules and regulations, but they are family-friendly. Keep an eye on your children and do not let them run wild.

You can observe cadets drilling and marching. Tour museums. See the beautiful Cadet Chapel. You have probably seen photos of it, such as the one above. It is the building with the 17 shining silver-colored spires reaching up to the sky, 150 feet up in the air. You can actually go inside and visit Monday through Saturday. Services are held on Sundays at 10am and they are open to the public.

Just so you know, during special events and for five days prior to graduation, the chapel is closed to the public so they can do special set ups as needed.

Located a short walk away from Cadet Chapel is Arnold Hall which houses some museum exhibits, the cafeteria, and a theater where lectures and shows are held.

In the photo above, my husband and son pose by an Air Force jet.

The academy is about 12 miles north of downtown Colorado Springs. Take exit 156B off of I-25. Use the North Gate to enter. There is a cool B-52 bomber at the corner of North Gate Boulevard and Stadium Boulevard that you will want to stop and look at. Take a few photos there.

In about one mile, North Gate Boulevard turns into Academy Drive. The Cadet Field House is located here where you can watch the ice hockey team and the basketball team play.

About six miles up Academy Drive, you will see signs for the Barry Goldwater Air Force Academy Visitor Center. Here you will find films, exhibits, tour maps, a gift shop and a coffee shop for your convenience. Restrooms, too.

The Airforce Academy is open everyday from 9am to 5pm. Admission is free. Bring your camera. For more information, you can visit their site.

In the photo above, wearing her baby and standing in front of the stairs to the Academy is me a few months after giving birth to my daughter, Tiffany. Our family visited the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. Matthew is in the stroller and Andrew is next to him. David is taking the photo. This is a family-friendly place, even with a newborn. It is beautiful and you will have a great time. Your kids will love it, too!

Colorado Springs Is Beautiful

2009-11-05T15:40:00.000-08:00

Colorado Springs Colorado is one of the most beautiful places in the United States. It is a great vacation spot because there is so much natural beauty and there are so many things to do.

Welcome to Fun In And Around Colorado Springs. My name is Juanita and I am so glad you stopped by to visit. My family and I lived here for four years while my husband attended Nazarene Bible College.

We had a great time living near Pikes Peak, which inspired the words to America The Beautiful. This truly is a majestic mountain, with snow on the top almost the entire year. We had an incredible view of this gorgeous mountain from our living room window. Below is the awesome view of Pikes Peak from our backyard.

It very seldom gets uncomfortably hot in the summer. In the winter, it snows, but usually melts within a few days and then snows all over again.

While we were there, my husband, David, got a good education and we got a living souvenir! Our daughter, Tiffany, was born at Memorial Hospital five months after we arrived. She is very proud of the fact that she was born in Colorado.

Our boys, Andrew and Matthew, were four years old and one year old, respectively, when we moved to Colorado Springs Colorado and they had a great time playing in the beautiful outdoors there.

Below is a photo of me holding my beautiful daughter with Pikes Peak behind us. Life was good in the Rocky Mountains, the best!

At Christmastime, we got to visit Santa at the North Pole, right on the base of Pikes Peak. Our children got to sit on Santa's lap, right in the midst of his workshop. We saw Santa's live reindeer and touched the icy North Pole! Our kids were delighted and so were we!

Driving up Pikes Peak is a MUST for any visitor to this beautiful city in Colorado. The view is incredible as you drive up. Take a jacket. It is cold, even in the summer! Yes, we found that out the hard way! During the summer, thunderstorms can quickly develop. All of a sudden, dark clouds appear over the top of Pikes Peak and the rains pour down. We got soaked more than once while we were out and about. We soon learned to always keep jackets and umbrellas in the car. Thank you for visiting Fun In And Around Colorado Springs. I hope our information is helpful to you as you plan an unforgettable trip to the area.