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A Colorado Springs Guide to AttractionsThe ideas below are a Colorado Springs guide to the most popular attractions in the area. These are tried and true FUN expeditions. Use these recommendations straight away or think of them as a springboard for other ways to explore… One thing you won’t have to worry about is being bored! Have fun, and if you're so inclined, share your experience, so we can add to the Colorado Springs guide.
One of the first things we suggest visiting is Pikes Peak. Did you know it’s the most visited mountain in North America? There’s a good reason. At over 14,000 feet, it’s literally a breathtaking experience. You can drive up the mountain, or take the Pikes Peak Cog Railway for views all the way to Kansas. 
Another must-see is the astounding Garden of the Gods. And it’s free! Drive through this beautiful city park filled with 300 foot tall sandstone fins. Or hike or horseback ride through miles of trails. It really feels like you’re in one of those Warner Bros. Road Runner & Coyote cartoons—see “Balanced Rock” and you’ll know what I mean. 
If you love animals and mountains, but don’t necessarily want to tangle with a mountain lion, try visiting the only mountain zoo in America, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. That’s right, a zoo on a mountain! You can hand-feed a herd of giraffes in the African Rift Valley, study the exotic Amur tiger, or watch cougars in their natural habitat at the new Rocky Mountain Wild exhibit.
People don’t usually connect dinosaurs with the Rocky Mountains, but the Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center would like to show you otherwise. Only a 15 minute drive to the city of Woodland Park. See giant dinosaur skeleton exhibits, watch an IMAX movie about Sea Monsters, or feel dinosaur poop in the Children’s Learning Center. Yes, I said feel dinosaur poop.
For waterfall lovers, make your way to Seven Falls. Located in South Cheyenne Cañon, Seven Falls is a waterfall that cascades 181 feet in seven distinct steps down a solid cliff of pikes peak granite. Climb the steps to the top, or take the elevator to the Eagle’s Nest. Quite a view up there. Or, stay down below and feed the rainbow trout. Stick around until evening, as they illuminate the falls with a colorful light show.
No Colorado Springs guide would be complete without information on shopping in Colorado Springs. Try downtown or Old Colorado City where locally-owned shops abound. If you prefer traditional chains, the Citadel Mall and Chapel Hills Mall are great choices. 
The US Air Force Academy is an icon in Colorado Springs. Take a walk on their paved nature trail, wander around the visitor’s center, or step inside the stunning Cadet Chapel. If mountains, trails, and sunshine aren’t enough, go underground! Cave of the Winds offers “discovery” and “lantern” tours of underground caves, stalactites and all. 
If you find yourself hiking in Colorado Springs, you might pass an Olympiad or two in training. Wish them luck in China, then visit their headquarters:The US Olympic Training Center. Located close to downtown, this center has two sports complexes, an aquatics center, shooting center, and nearby velodrome. Visitors welcome!
The Colorado Springs Fine Art Center is home to an art museum, theater, and the Café 36 for patio dining with extraordinary views of Pikes Peak. 
Royal Gorge is exactly what is sounds like—a steep canyon 1,053 feet deep. And you can visit the bridge that spans it. A short drive to Cañon City will take you to the world’s highest suspension bridge! Hope this helps! We'll add more ideas to our Colorado Springs guide as we continue to explore the city ourselves... << From Colorado Springs Guide back home
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