31 Delightful Things To Do in Colorado Springs

Just south of Denver is a beautiful Colorado city ideal for lovers of the outdoors, but also offering great food, plentiful history and an authentic dose of the old west. It’s where Olympic athletes train and U.S. Air Force soldiers prepare and is frequently named one of America’s most healthy cities.

Colorado Springs, home base of the Pikes Peak Region of the Colorado Rockies, is an American gem with more than 300 days of sunshine and amazing mild weather. There are so many awesome things to do in this Colorado city, you could find something new to do every single day of the year!

Here are our favorite things to do in Colorado Springs, CO!

WHERE TO STAY IN COLORADO SPRINGS ON YOUR FAMILY VACATION

Best for Young Kids: If you’re a family with kids, you can’t go wrong with a stay at a water park! Great Wolf Lodge Colorado Springs is a family-friendly resort that features a full on-site water park. Guests can work up a sweat in the fitness center and then grab a bite to eat at one of several on-site restaurants. The on-site water park features 13 water slides and a 79,000 sq ft swimming pool.

Best for Couples: Located in downtown Colorado Springs, The Mining Exchange, A Wyndham Grand Hotel & Spa is a 4-star hotel in Colorado Springs that has 2 on-site restaurants and a full-service spa. The MX Spa offers massage and facial treatments. Guests can enjoy Cajun and Creole cuisine at Springs Orleans Restaurant and Bar, relax in the outdoor English Courtyard, or enjoy a cocktail and pub fare in the The Mining Exchange’s Lobby Bar.

Best Near Garden of the Gods: Garden of the Gods Club & Resort in Colorado Springs features a full spa and golf course. Kissing Camels Country Club is 1.5 miles from the hotel, and Garden of the Gods Park is 15 minutes’ drive away.

Best Active Family Resort: The AAA Four Diamond Cheyenne Mountain Resort is a great choice for active families with multiple pools, access to an aquatic center, a water play area and many outdoor activities, including kayaking on its 35-acre on-site lake, tennis, a Pete Dye-designed golf course and more. Plus, it sits right next to the beautiful Cheyenne Mountain perfect for hiking.

Most Luxurious: Perhaps the most famous resort in the area is The Broadmoor, a member of Historic Hotels of America which opened a century ago. This grand property has a range of plush accommodations, including more than 780 guest rooms, as well as cottages, brownstones and even private cabins.

Most Unique: Close to the Garden of the Gods is the English Tudor style Glen Eyrie Castle. This unique property is the 800-acre estate of the founder of Colorado Springs, General William Jackson Palmer. Choose from one of 95 rooms on the property, including 17 inside the castle itself. Visitors can also check out bighorn sheep on the grounds, an outdoor terrace and a bookstore.

EXPLORE GARDEN OF THE GODS

Not to be missed in Colorado Springs is the free Garden of the Gods city park and National Natural Landmark where towering red rocks jut strikingly out of the earth. Watch rock climbers as they tackle these formations, each of which have names based on what they resemble, such as Sleeping Giant and Siamese Twins.

There are 15 miles of trails within the park and lots of opportunities for scrambling over and on rocks. You can also see the giant formations via Segway or on a horseback ride.

Don’t miss a stop at the Visitor and Nature Center. The visitor center highlights Native American artifacts and offers a chance to chat with a ranger.

SUMMIT PIKES PEAK

Known as America’s Mountain, Pikes Peak inspired Katharine Lee Bates to write the song, “America the Beautiful.” As one of Colorado’s “fourteeners,” which are mountains with an elevation higher than 14,000 feet, this Colorado Springs Rocky Mountains peak is truly a majestic wonder.

Travel Pikes Peak Highway then take the Pikes Peak Cog Railway, which has been around since 1891, 9 miles to the peak where you may find yourself a touch out of breath due to the lack of oxygen. From the top, you can see five states from Colorado Springs. Pikes Peak is an absolute must-do!

Make a full day of it (or a weekend) because the Peak and Railway are not the only things to do in Pike National Forest. Hiking, biking, fishing and more are yours for the taking on this 1.1 million acre oasis.

If hiking in the alpine wilderness sounds a little scary, start with help from Pikes Peak Alpine School. The offer guided rock climbing (or a class on fundamentals), ice climbing instruction, summit clubs and more.

Finally, don’t forget to stop at the Penrose Heritage Museum (aka The Carriage Museum), which is devoted to the history and heritage of the region. The Museum exhibits 30 carriages, western cultural artifacts, and 15 race cars that competed in the infamous Race to the Clouds, one of the oldest motorsport events in the U.S., second only to the Indianapolis 500. 

Read More: 25 CHEAP WINTER FAMILY VACATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES

TAKE ON THE MANITOU INCLINE

Close to Pikes Peak is the Manitou Incline, once a railway for cable cars delivering supplies up the mountain, but now a favorite place to get the ultimate workout. See if you can climb the “stairs,” which are actually old railroad ties, for a mile while rising 2,000 vertical feet.

This is a favorite of Olympic athletes training in the area, so you never know who might be hiking next to you. Definitely grab a selfie if you make it to prove your impressive athletic skills.

CLIMB BROADMOOR SEVEN FALLS

Not tired yet from the Manitou Incline? How about another 200 plus steps to the top of a series of seven waterfalls?

Broadmoor Seven Falls is seven different waterfalls within a box canyon flanked by two 900-foot pink granite rocks known as the Pillars of Hercules. Once you make it to the top of the waterfalls, you can explore a series of hiking trails, take a zip line tour over the falls or dine at Restaurant 1858 right on the banks of the water.

Read More: 4 Colorado Springs Waterfalls You Don’t Want To Miss

GO HIKING

Lace up your hiking boots! With fantastic weather and jaw-dropping scenery, Colorado Springs is a great place for hiking. The area offers numerous state parks, including Red Rock Canyon, North Cheyenne Canon Park, Mueller State Park, Bear Creek Regional Park and the newest state park, Cheyenne Mountain State Park, all of which offer hiking and biking trails.

Popular hikes for capturing some fresh air include the Palmer Loop Trail through pine forests, the short trail to Helen Hunt Falls, and Seven Bridges, which is part of an old railroad line.

Staying a few more days? There are some great things to do in Glenwood Springs, not too far away!

Flying into Colorado Springs? You’re going to need a car. Great rates and comparisons on all major brands, including Enterprise and Hertz make Discover Cars our favorite travel tool. Click here to compare rental car prices.

GO WHITEWATER RAFTING

Head to the Royal Gorge for a white water rafting adventure on the Arkansas River. Choose from a gentle river ride to wild rapids if you’re looking for more of a thrill and enjoy the Colorado mountain scenery from the water.

While there, take a look at the Royal Gorge Bridge, one of the world’s highest over-water suspension bridges.

TAKE A JEEP TOUR

Get off the beaten path and into the wilderness on a Colorado Springs jeep tour to places only accessible by four-wheel drive.

Colorado Jeep Tours offers open-air jeep trips focused around geology, paleontology and wild west history to the Royal Gorge area, old mining districts and more.

TRY ROCK CLIMBING

Rock climbers the world over come to Colorado Springs to tackle some of the most difficult rock formations. Rock climbing guides and outfitters will lead first-timers in proper technique and take you to formations ideal for newbies. Experienced climbers enjoy Garden of the Gods, Red Rock Canyon and North Cheyenne Canon.

PS – Don’t forget Pikes Peak Alpine School that we mentioned earlier if you need a guided climb or instruction.

PLAY DISC GOLF

Disc golf is a popular pastime in Colorado — who wouldn’t want to toss a frisbee as you make your way up a mountain? Plus, the Colorado Springs area is known for its sunny days and mild weather, making it a great spot to play disc golf year round.

Choose from seven nine- or 18-hole courses for amazing outdoor fun.

TOUR THE OLYMPIC TRAINING CENTER

Lucky Olympic athletes who get to train in Colorado Springs – aka Olympic City USA! The Olympic Training Center is the flagship of the U.S. Olympic committee training centers and houses the national headquarters for USA Swimming and USA Shooting.

You can take one-hour walking tours of the complex and then be sure to stop by one of only two Team USA stores in the country where all purchases support the athletes.

SIGHTSEE AT THE US AIR FORCE ACADEMY

More than a million people visit the U.S. Air Force Academy each year to see the undergraduate institution for Air Force officers. The standards for admission are rigorous, and cadets are usually recommended by their local member of Congress. While they pay no tuition, they must serve a set number of years in the service.

One of the most impressive buildings on the Air Force Academy campus — and in Colorado Springs — is the multi-faith cadet chapel made from glass, aluminum and steel with 17 spires. It features separate areas for major faiths, including Protestant, Catholicism, Islam, Buddhism and Judaism.

TASTE THE FLAVORS WITH ROCKY MOUNTAIN FOOD TOURS

Start with the Original food tour, with five stops including local restaurants, hole-in-the-walls, and artisan food shops. You’ll get a belly full of local eats and an ear-full of local history.

For the grown ups, there is also a Rocky Mountain Food Tours cocktail or craft beer crawl. Four cocktails (or four flights) are served with appys and a history lesson.

Book Your Tour Now: The Original Colorado Springs Food Tour

GO UNDERGROUND AT CAVEOF THE WINDS MOUNTAIN PARK

Imagine being one of the young boys who in the 1800s stumbled upon this 500-million-year-old cave that sits at 6000 feet in elevation. At Cave of the Winds Mountain Park, visitors can take the Discovery Tour of the cave, which is perfect for families, as it’s well-lit and there are not too many tight enclosures.

Learn about stalactites and stalagmites and then head outdoors for a thrill ride like the Bat-a-pult, which is much like a zipline but for two people, or the ropes course, both of which soar over a vast gorge.

LEARN A NEW CULTURE AT MANITOU CLIFF DWELLINGS

At this historic site in Colorado Springs, you can see where ancient peoples made their home inside caves alongside cliffs.

The Manitou Cliff Dwellings in the Pikes Peak area give you a peek inside the way indigenous Anasazi peoples lived 800 years ago. Kids will love climbing from room to room and learning the function of each area in this coolest of historic places.

GET SPOOKED AT THE GHOST TOWN MUSEUM

Step inside an authentic ghost town at the Ghost Town Museum, which has preserved items from old western towns in the area all in one spot.

They’ve recreated a wild west town indoors, complete with a barber shop, saloon, general store and old-time apothecary. You can also challenge each other at the shooting gallery, see real carriages and even pan for gold during the summer months.

EXPLORE COLORADO WOLF & WILDLIFE CENTER

Get up close with wolves, foxes and coyotes at the Colorado Wolf & Wildlife Center, about an hour from the city.

The center teaches visitors about these wild animals, each of which live in large wooded enclosures. All tours end with everyone giving their best wolf howl to see if the wolves will chime in.

FEED A GIRAFFE AT CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN ZOO

Visiting Colorado Springs with kids? America’s only mountain zoo, the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is not only a great place to see hundreds of animals, but a top spot for a fabulous view of the city. At 6,800 feet, the zoo is home to one of the largest reticulated giraffe herds in the world, grizzlies, wallabies and more.

The zoo also has an antique carousel and a chairlift that takes you to its summit where you can enjoy even more picturesque vistas. Included in your mountain zoo ticket is a visit to the Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun, which is just more than a mile from the zoo. The shrine, at an elevation of 8,000 feet, pays tribute to the famous entertainer.

If you’re looking for something unique, consider an Animal Art Experience at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo…take a Safari Trail Tour…or enjoy an animal encounter!

VISIT OLD COLORADO CITY HISTORIC DISTRICT

Step back in time to 1859 and the Pikes Peak gold rush to Old Colorado City, the first capital of the Territory of Colorado and where miners would come for their goods.

Today, the area is thriving with retailers, art studios and restaurants, though you can still find historic structures, as well as artifacts from the time period at the Old Colorado City History Center.

DISCOVER DINOSAURS

If you have a dinosaur fan in the family, don’t miss the Royal Gorge Dinosaur Experience. You’ll get to see actual dinosaur fossils discovered in the area and walk through an a simulated prehistoric habitat filled with animatronic dinos.

There’s even a ropes course with a giant T-Rex staring you down!

EXPLORE COLORADO SPRINGS PIONEERS MUSEUM

Located in the 1903 El Paso County Courthouse building in Downtown Colorado Springs, which is known for its clock tower, the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum is free for everyone and provides an overview of the unique history of the area.

Inside you’ll find information about Native American culture, the old west, mining and the military and a collection of more than 60,000 items including Western art, quilts and manuscripts.

VISIT PETERSON AIR & SPACE MUSEUM

The Peterson Air & Space Museum, located on the site of the Colorado Springs Airport, the city’s first municipal airfield, focuses on the history of aviation and space in the Colorado Springs region, starting from early airplanes through World War II and modern history. You can see a variety of aircraft parked at the museum, as well as surface-to-air missiles.

Visit the city’s first airport passenger terminal, which is in Art Deco style, and visit the 1928 old city hangar to tour exhibits on North America’s air defense system. .

SOAR AT NATIONAL MUSEUM OF WORLD WAR II AVIATION

In addition to the above Air & Space Museum, which takes a broad look at the area’s aviation history over time, the National Museum of World War II Aviation (also on Peterson Air Force Base) focuses specifically on aircraft and advancements in aviation technology during the World War II era.

There are also more than 3,000 artifacts on display in addition to a collection of vehicles used by US forces and their allies during the war.

TOUR THE WESTERN MUSEUM OF MINING AND INDUSTRY

Mining has been an important economic driver for the state of Colorado since the 1800s, and this a museum devoted to the endeavor and its processes.

At the Western Museum of Mining and Industry, visitors can tour a reproduction stamp mill with restored mining machines, including the “jaw crusher,” see an 1894 Queen Anne farmhouse from an old railroad supply town, and learn about the process of reclamation, or restoring land that was once used for mining.

EXPLORE COLORADO SPRINGS FINE ARTS CENTER

The Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College, built in 1936, has a little bit of everything you could want when it comes to the arts.

Catch a show at the theatre, tour the permanent exhibits at the museum or take a class in fine arts at its school.

HANG OUT IN MANITOU SPRINGS

While in the area, be sure to spend an afternoon in the town of Manitou Springs. With its own identity and charming quirkiness, it’s been a vacation destination since the 1870’s when people came to soak in water from underground mineral springs.

Close to both Pikes Peak and Garden of the Gods, Manitou Springs is great place to spend some down time at a local restaurant or exploring its many art galleries. A fun spot is the check out the Penny Arcade, an antique arcade with loads of pinball machines, skeeball games and other oldies but goodies.

RIDE THE CRIPPLE CREEK & VICTOR NARROW GUAGE RAILROAD

Taking a train ride in Colorado is always fun because of the amazing scenery that zips by out your window. The Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad is a steam engine locomotive that takes riders on a 45-minute trip past several historic mines.

September is an especially beautiful season to take the train ride, as the aspens and other trees change into their fall splendor.

VISIT THE PRORODEO HALL OF FAME

With a mission to bring an appreciation of the American Cowboy and the sport of professional rodeo to the hearts and minds of the public, the ProRodeo Hall of Fame was born through their partner – the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.

Visit the Hall of Champions honoring winners in all events of the rodeo. The Heritage Hall shows you all the amazing artifacts of the sport, and the Sculpture Garden is a great place for a selfie with life-size bronze statues near the stables.

WHERE TO EAT IN COLORADO SPRINGS

There are more than 20 craft breweries in the area, and, in fact, not too far away you’ll find the home of Coors in Golden, Colorado.

Try the Gourdy Pumpkin brew at Iron Bird Brewing, the Sticky Paws at Fieldhouse Brewing Company or the Coffee Porter at Smiling Toad Brewing Company. Phantom Canyon Brewing Company is also a local favorite and they offer a kids menu!

Read More: 23 AMAZING THINGS TO DO IN GOLDEN CO YOU’LL LOVE

EAT IN AN AIRPLANE

For a truly unique experience, eat inside an airplane at the Airplane Restaurant close to the small Colorado Springs Municipal Airport.

The Boeing KC-97 tanker built in 1953 once refueled aircraft worldwide, but now holds more than 40 diners for lunch and dinner. Inside are pictures, artifacts and memorabilia paying tribute to aviation history.

SIP WINE AT AN ABBEY

Visit the beautiful Holy Cross Abbey, once the home of Benedictine monks, in Canon City at the base of the Wet Mountains.

Today, the Winery at Holy Cross Abbey produces a Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot and more.  You’re welcome to sample them in the abbey’s tasting room open year-round, no advance reservations required!

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