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About Colorado Springs
If you’re planning a visit to Olympic City USA, you’re probably trying to learn everything you can about Colorado Springs before you go. Fortunately, you have come to the right place. We have all the details you need to get to know this amazing city! We have created a helpful breakdown of basic facts, helpful hints and cool things to do while you’re here. Let’s start exploring.
A Brief History of the City
General Palmer originally founded the city as a resort town. The climate had already proved to be excellent for tuberculosis patients and the fresh, unpolluted air was great for everyone. Over 125 years later, Colorado Springs is still a prime destination for visitors, although it has developed many new industries and grown beyond anything the founders could have imagined.
Quick Facts About Colorado Springs
- Colorado Springs is the second largest city in the state of Colorado. Denver is the biggest city, but we’re taller, despite their designation as the “Mile High” city.
- The city sits at an elevation of 6,035 feet (1,839 m), sprawling its 750,000+ population across the Front Range from the United States Air Force Academy in the north, to Fort Carson in the South.
- Colorado Springs is home to the Cheyenne Mountain Complex/NORAD, Peterson Air Force Base and Schriever Air Force Base to the east, in addition to Fort Carson and the AFA.
- The economy is built upon defense, technology and tourism (thank you!).
- Colorado Springs also has a thriving artistic community, great restaurant scene, fun area attractions, innovative outdoor manufacturers, premium distillers, craft brewers and many other contributors powering the community.
- The city is home to multiple popular colleges that rank highly in the United States, including Colorado College, University of Colorado Colorado Springs and Pikes Peak State College.
- We are the training ground for tomorrow’s Olympic champions. One of the country’s three Olympic Training Centers is here. The United States Olympic City is located in the heart of Downtown Colorado Springs just blocks from the United States Olympic museum. Dozens of the organization’s NGOs have made this city home, as well.
What Else is Great About Colorado Springs?
Open Space
Colorado Springs has thousands of acres of land dedicated solely to pure enjoyment of the great outdoors. You can hike, bike, climb, paddleboard, fish and kayak without driving very far at all. Parks small and large can be found all over the city. We love:
- Palmer Park
- Bear Creek Park
- Ute Valley Park
- Garden of the Gods
- Cheyenne Mountain State Park
- Red Rock Canyon Open Space
- Rainbow Falls
The Arts
The city’s dedicated artists have worked hard to build a proud creative community and excellent art scene. Here are some places to find and engage with cool art in Colorado Springs.
- Manitou Springs — Home to multiple galleries, the Manitou Art Center and frequent arts events, including First Friday.
- Old Colorado City — This charming area is an excellent source of local art and Colorado themed art. Like Manitou, OCC hosts frequent events and participates in First Friday.
- Downtown Colorado Springs — Check out Art on the Streets, a tour of outdoor art in the downtown area. Many restaurants feature the work of local artists and several galleries can be found in allies and along the street. Downtown participates in First Friday.
- Garden of the Gods Trading Post — This giant shop has curated a collection of indigenous art, Colorado-themed works, jewelry and pottery. It is a great stop for artistic mementos.
- Fine Arts Center — This gallery and school is part of Colorado College. They host theater performances, frequent art shows, year-round art classes and much more.
History
You’ve already read about the founding and the indigenous Ute peoples who lived here, but here’s so much more to learn! Explorers, miners and pioneers all became apart of the fabric of city’s history. Learn more about the region with these popular attractions and museums:
- Colorado Springs Pioneer Museum
- Western Museum of Mining and Industry
- Museum of the American Cowboy (Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame)
- Wild West Ghost Town Museum
- Mollie Kathleen Mine (Cripple Creek)
- Cripple Creek District Museum
- Manitou Springs Heritage Center
Family Fun
We know it’s hard to travel in a pack, but this city works hard to welcome families and make sure everyone has fun! Check out these family-friendly attractions:
- The North Pole — Santa’s Workshop
- Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
- Uncle Wilbur’s Fountain (Downtown)
- America the Beautiful Park water feature
- Flying W Ranch
- Adventures Out West
- Cave of the Winds
- Space Foundation Discovery Center
- The Broadmoor Seven Falls
Three Things You Must Do While You’re Here:
- Ascend Pikes Peak. Whether you take the Pikes Peak Highway, ride the Cog Railway or hitch a ride to bike down with Challenge Unlimited, you should not miss out on summiting America’s Mountain. You’ll love the scenery, the wildlife, the hot donuts and the unforgettable photos.
- Visit Garden of the Gods. This free park is a frequent bucket list activity for Colorado Springs visitors. The stunning red rock formations have been visited by millions of people! Hike, drive or bike your way through, but do not skip this trip! Don’t forget to stop at the Balanced Rock Cafe for ice cream or hot cocoa (depending on the season).
- Spend a day at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. This incredible zoo isn’t just home to hundreds of animals in dynamic habitats. It’s North America’s only mountainside zoo. You’ll be treated to panoramic views of the city at every turn, especially if you try out the Sky Ride. Feed the giraffes, pet the goats, meet the penguins and more, all in spectacular Colorado scenery.
The Best Time of Year to Visit Olympic City USA
The most popular season for Colorado Springs is the summer. The days and nights are hot and the days are long. It’s totally understandable. However, you can also enjoy the city if you travel during the less busy times. In fact, you may even enjoy your visit more with a little more space to explore.
September/October: September and October are both great months to visit Colorado. The temperatures stay pretty hot in September, with cooler nights than the summer. October can be a bit more chilly, but it’s still pleasant at this elevation. If you want a more green and summery scenery, travel early in September after Labor Day. If you want to catch the autumn aspens, travel in October.
Late April – Early June: Spring is a little bit riskier than fall when it comes to snow. However, the weather between snowstorms can be downright perfect. While this time of year is jokingly called “mud season,” we prefer “waterfall season.” Local waters run hard as the snow begins to melt and it’s a beautiful sight. Temperatures will be coldest in April but we’ve seen paddleboarders and kayakers braving thawed ponds late in the month so it’s not all bad.
How to Get to Colorado Springs
While we can’t really help you with exact directions if you’re driving (we hear Waze is great for that), we can help with the easiest way to get here — by plane.
Colorado Springs Airport
Colorado Springs is a small airport in eastern Colorado Springs. It is easy to navigate, with quick security lines and frequent inbound and outbound domestic flights. Leaving the airport is fast and simple and it is reasonably close to the most popular parts of the city. Transportation is recommended.
Directions: Take Milton E Proby Parkway out of the airport and follow for about 3.5 miles. Follow signage to connect to I-25 via South Academy Boulevard. Drivers can also take the parkway to Powers Boulevard/CO-21 and turn right. Powers can connect drivers to several major routes in the city.
Transportation Options:
- Onsite rental car agencies
- Hotel shuttles
- Off site rental car agency shuttles
- Ride shares
- Mountain Metro Transit bus Route 37. You will need to make more than one transfer to get to your final destination.
Denver International Airport
Denver International Airport is about 85 miles from Colorado Springs on the east side of Denver. The airport is large, with frequent domestic and international flights. Security can be slow and the airport has frequent construction projects that can make navigation confusing.
Directions: You can exit the airport by taking Peña Boulevard out of the airport to I-70W/I-225S. I-225 will connect drivers to I-25 and south to Colorado Springs. Alternatively, drivers can also takePeña Boulevard to toll road E-470 south and connect to I-25 near the edge of Denver. It can be very pricey, so be aware of that before you take the exit.
Transportation Options:
- Onsite rental car agencies
- Off site rental car agency shuttles
- Ride shares
- Groome Transportation DIA shuttle
For more information about getting around Colorado Springs, check out this article.
Additional Resources
Check out these articles for more help with your visit:
