If you’re visiting Denver and looking to see some mountainy areas without going too far, then Colorado Springs is a great option. There are so many different and interesting things to do in the area. We’ve been there countless times and I have enjoyed multiple visits to places there like Garden of the Gods, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Pikes Peak, and many more.

Garden of the Gods is a place I’ve been going to since I was a kid. When I was younger, it did feel like we were ALWAYS going there and I did grow tired of it, but now that I appreciate nature more and my visits are infrequent, I enjoy it whenever I go. It’s a great place to walk around when you’re looking for something simple and not strenuous. It’s a great place to go with the kids to enjoy some fascinating red rock formations. I love the views best in late spring and early summer when everything is turning green and there’s still snow on the mountains. I think it’s the spot we would take just about everyone to when they came to visit. Since it’s only about an hour drive from Denver, it makes for a wonderful quick little mountain trip. It can get pretty busy, especially on weekends so, it’s best to get there early.

Another of my favorite spots to take the kids to is the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. It seems to go up in price each year, but it is a really nice zoo. It’s not the biggest zoo in terms of number of animals, but it is definitely beautiful to walk around there. They also have animal encounters that you can pay extra for. We’ve done the giraffe one a few times where you can buy some food to feed the giraffes and on our last visit, we also did the elephant encounter. The kids were a bit young at the time so, I’m not sure they remember it much, but they did enjoy it at the time. The elephant encounter is quite quick and there’s only one elephant to feed unlike with the giraffes. So, once you have the elephant you have to leave. The giraffe area is much larger and you can still try to get close to them even without food.

The views from the zoo are so beautiful and since it’s higher up than Denver, it’s usually a little cooler. I have only been to a handful of zoos, but this one is my favorite. I also love the wallabies wondering around and the sloths moving along the trees and cables above. I definitely recommend a visit and highly recommend continuing on the zoo road to reach the Shrine of the Sun. The views from there are absolutely amazing and it’s free with your zoo ticket and can only be visited if you buy a zoo ticket. At the time of this post, general admission is $25.

Another cool spot near Colorado Springs is Pikes Peak, which is about 20 minutes west near Manitou Springs. It’s been a long time since I had actually been up the road, but the last visit I took the cog railway to go to the peak when some friends were visiting Denver at the same time I was. It was in November so it was very cold up at the top, but the views were so amazing. I enjoyed the railway ride as well. The trip take 3 hours total with 40 minutes at the summit. Tickets are about $65-80 for adults and $60-$73 for kids 12 and under. Pricing depends on day and time you choose to go. At the time of year we went, that was more than enough time since it was so cold. We ran out of the visitor center to snap some photos and then went back in for hot chocolate until it was time to head back. I honestly can’t recall if any of us tried the “world-famous” donuts there. I would love to go again in the summer.

To get to Pikes Peak via car is about 3 hours roundtrip from Manitou Springs and is definitely cheaper, but it isn’t for those nervous with steep grades, winding roads, and sheer drops. There’s also a timed-entry required for driving to the summit during peak season (May through September). The admission fee is $18 per adult and $8 for children aged 6-15. They also offer a “carload discount rate” of $65 for up to 5 passengers, with $13 per additional adult and $5 per additional child. It is not recommended to take infants under 6 months because of the high altitude (something I never knew about or thought about when I took my youngest to Sprague Lake – 8,700ft elevation when he was only 2 months!!). The higher altitude is no joke. Even for someone born and raised in Colorado, getting acclimated to the altitude and hydrating is very important!

Some other spots near Colorado Springs are Seven Falls and the US Olympic Training Center. Seven Falls is, seven falls, that you can climb to the top of via many stairs. It’s a cool spot though I haven’t been there in 20 some years. Tickets for that $21-25 for adult and $15-19 for children 2-12, if bought online (which is recommended). Last spot I’ve visited in the area (but many many years ago) is the US Olympic Training Center. It’s an interesting place to visit to see where the team trains. Athletes may or may not be training during the tour. Tickets for that are $16 for adult and $12 for ages 5-12. Another spot is the Olympic Museum, but I have yet to visit it.

If you’re only in Colorado Springs for a day, my top recommendations would be Garden of the Gods and the Cheyenne Zoo with the shrine. If visiting without kids, are looking to do some hiking, and you only have time for one, then probably Garden of the Gods would be best. While the views up at the shrine are wonderful, it’s a lot to buy a zoo ticket just for that. If you have a little more time then I also definitely recommend Pikes Peak. I truly love all three of those spots and am happy to visit frequently. Hopefully you get the chance to visit!

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