“And then I realized— adventures are the best way to learn. Especially adventures that started out as FNTAKL and became a legend.”
Even though the past three days have been chilly and rainy, September seems to me to smell of fall. At least here in Colorado, it does. But what does fall smell like? Some would say Apple Cider and Cinnamon, Homework and Crunchy, colorful leaves. For me? Fall smells like home.
Fall smells like a strong cup of Earl Grey in the morning and fresh Apple Pie in the afternoon.
However, if you walked into my home in September, it’s highly unlikely that my house would smell of tea, let alone pie. But if you took a walk through Black Forest or looked out over the city from the top of Pikes Peak, you might just close your eyes right then, and stretch your arms straight out, and you would feel Earl Grey or Apple Pie. Do you know the feeling I’m talking about?
It’s the feeling of home.
My hometown? Well, if you haven’t figured it out by now, I was born and raised in Colorado Springs, hometown of “America the Beautiful”, The Olympic Training Center, and yes, General Palmer. It’s beautiful, and it’s been rated the best city in America twice, but why listen to me? Go see it yourself!
If you ever get a chance to visit my lovely hometown, here is my hit-the-ground-running top-10 list of things you must do, see, and eat in the Springs.
One warning before you read- make sure you’ve got plenty of gas in that rental car because I’m going to send you all over.
#10: Hiking
If you’ve read my other blogs, you’d know that I adore hiking and general outdoor adventures. There’s a lot of great hiking spots around the city, the most widely known would probably be Garden of the Gods. An excellent spot to watch the sunrise, just get a really good workout and potentially see some wildlife or get your photography on, click here to learn more about Garden of the Gods. Other awesome hiking spots are Section 16 in Black Forest, Red Rock Canyon Open Space, The Manitou Incline (if you’re inclined to climb a mile of stairs), or Cheyenne Mountain State Park.
#9: Our Castles
I’ll admit it. I love castles, and the idea of royalty and big, long corridors for practicing echoes. We have several famous castles here in the Springs, one of which hasn’t made it past my Bucket List. The two castles that I’ve been to are, a.) Glen Eyrie, and b.) Miramont castle. You can click on each to learn more interesting things about them, such as the fact that General Palmer had Glen Eyrie built for him and his family to live in, and the fact that at Miramont there are 9 different styles of architecture. The other castle on my bucket list: Will Rogers Shrine in Cheyenne Mountain. (This is the highest elevation castle in the U.S.)
#8: The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
The highest elevation zoo in the world, this trip is not for the faint at heart. The zoo is built on the side of a mountain, which literally means that when you’re in it, you go up, and you go down. If you want an adventure, (or a calf workout) this zoo is for you.
#7: The Olympic Training Center
Do you know why Olympians train at 7,000+ feet above sea level? Well, it’s because when they go to Rio, running is a piece of Apple Pie. You can go to the Olympic Training Center with its museum and gift shop, and you can also get a free tour. (If you’re interested in what an Olympic-sized pool looks like, TAKE THE TOUR.)
#6: Shopping!!
That’s right! We’re not just fun and games, we have the much-needed tourist shops as well as the drug stores. (Make sure you’re of age) If you’re not the least bit interested in weed, though, you can go and do some actual shopping. I highly recommend Manitou Springs for tourist-stuff as well as Old Colorado City. In old Colorado City, there’s the Colorado Creamery. If you need some ice cream, make sure you stop in. Garden of the Gods Trading Post is also a great tourist stop.
#5: Pikes Peak
If you’ve read “Life of a Local Tourist,” (LOALT) you already know about this one. Pikes Peak is obviously the reason you came, right? Just kidding. But if it is, there’s three choices on how you can get to it. Choice A: The Barr Trail. This is not for the faint of heart. If you are a good hiker and don’t mind hiking up to 12,000 feet, go for it. Personally, I say no thank you. Choice B: The Cog Railway. Although pricey, this is a super-fun way to experience the Peak-- in a train at practically a 90-degree angle. Choice C: Pikes Peak Highway. Also a small fee, but worth it. If you’re comfortable enough with your rental car to do hairpin turns on a mountain road, this is the choice for you. Just make sure you’re in a low gear on your way down, or you’ll have to stop and browse gift shops while your brakes cool down. Seven Falls was also mentioned in LOALT, and if you’re interested, check out the Broadmoor as well.
#4: Museums
Although COS may not be known for it’s museums, we do have some pretty cool ones here in the city. One of the more famous is the WWII Aviation museum. My only experience of this one was in eighth grade on a field trip-- and I was on crutches-- and it had rained-- and my crutches kept slipping. Yeah, interesting story. But if you like WWII or are thinking of going to the military, or if you like aviation, I highly recommend this museum. Other museums we have include: Ghost Town Museum, Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum, Cripple Creek Heritage Center, McAlister House Museum, The Mining Museum, and the Money Museum, Miramont Castle, Rocky Mountain Motorcycle Museum, and the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame. Check any of those out if they interest you.
#3: Restaurants
Whether you need a snack, have dietary restrictions, or need a fancy date night, Colorado Springs has something for you. Here are my favorites: 1.) The Airplane Restaurant: This is literally a restaurant inside an old airplane. Like, coolest thing ever. 2.) Jason’s Deli: I don’t think this one originated in Colorado Springs, but it’s awesome nonetheless. If you have dietary restrictions, are eating healthy, or just want a good salad, I recommend them. My favorite meal is “The Beef Eater.” 3.) Pikes Perk Coffee and Tea: I love this coffee shop. They will make you tea and a bagel and you can flop down on a couch and listen to live music or have a serious conversation with someone. 4.) Kangaroo Coffee: This is a drive-in coffee shop with great prices and the employees have great attitudes. They can make anything from a steamer with Almond milk, to my personal favorite, a Chocolate Peanut Butter Mocha. 5.) Nothing Bundt Cakes: This cute little gift shop will sell you a personal Bundt cake or a family size Bundt cake with a cute little bow. 6.) Rudy’s Country Store and Barbeque: An awesome barbeque place on the Southwest side of Colorado Springs. As long as you’re not a vegetarian, you’ll love it here. Authentic Colorado roots here, people. 7.) The Wines of Colorado: If you are looking for a date night, this is your place. A riverside dining experience, and great food.
#2: Cripple Creek
A short jaunt from the city itself, this adventure is so packed-full, it’ll take you a day to see the entirety of this little mining town. If gambling is your thing, there’s plenty of that, but there’s also Cripple Creek Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad. They have a jail museum, and a mine for exploring. If you haven’t gotten your museum fix quite yet, you can also explore several of the museums here.
#1: Black Forest
Black Forest. You may’ve already guessed it; Black Forest holds a special place in my heart. Not only did we survive a crazy wildfire in 2013, we’ve grown in population since then. If you’ve flown in from Denver, Black Forest is hardly a detour. Drive through, roll your window down, and enjoy our county-maintained roads and our Ponderosa Pines. We also have “Mountain View Café”- A father-son owned café in the heart of the forest.
Have you been here before? Or do you live here and maybe have the pleasure of knowing me in person? How many of these things on the list have you done? Could you make a list of things special about your hometown? Things that give you a warm Apple Pie kind of feeling as you’re driving down the road with the radio on? How many legends are you living? Adventures are best when they’re shared.
True Story.
~The Crazy Undercover Secret Agent living next door~
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