Fun Things to do Alone in Colorado Springs

Posted: 02/09/2007--25/11/2008 || Rate this Article: 3 || Views|| Sign In || Register ||Hello Guest

Colorado Springs is a great place to visit, and there are many fun things to see and do there whether youre with friends, family, or all by yourself. In fact, flying solo may be the best way to go if you want to fit everything into your agenda C its true what they say, he travels fastest who travels alone! And even if speed-tourism isnt your goal, still, solo travel means that you will get to spend exactly as much time as you want to where you want to, and will never again have to be bored waiting for someone else to decide its time to go.

So what are the Springs must-sees for the solo traveler? Perhaps your first stop might be at the most famous landmark, Pikes Peak. This is the purple mountain whose majesty inspired Katharine Lee Bates to write America the Beautiful C if you get up to the top, see if you can spot those amber waves of grain! You can make the 13-mile trek up or ride the cog railway (open late spring-early fall, $24.50 for adults and $13 for ages 3-11) or even drive (highway open 7 AM-7 PM daily, cost $10 per adult over 16). Whichever way you choose to go, its certainly a beautiful trip with an amazing view at the summit.

Another natural wonder is the Royal Gorge, where you can walk across the world's highest suspension bridge which floats 1,053 feet above the Arkansas River. Or perhaps you would like to cross the Gorge on the world's longest single-span aerial tram or ride down to the bottom on the world's steepest incline railway. You can even experience the world's highest Skycoaster, a ride that will let you free-fall into the canyon at speeds of up to 50 miles per hour! (I wouldnt, but you can.)

Even closer to town is the beautiful Garden of the Gods Park, open from 5 a.m.. to 11 p.m.. in the summer and 5 a.m... to 9 p.m.. in the winter. The Visitors Center is open from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. in the winter and 8 A.M. to 8 P.M. Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, and admission to both center and park is free. You can drive through the park, walk around it, or even rent horses for trail riding from the nearby Academy Stables. If you want to go rock-climbing, though, you will need a partner-only

technical climbing in properly-equipped groups of two or more is permitted, and you must register at the Visitor Center. If you are traveling alone and would like to climb, you can check at the Center to see if they will let you join another group or would-be solo climber.

If you want to experience the areas top man-made attraction, the Air Force Academy is that place. 1.4 million visitors a year pass through the Academys Visitors Center, where they can learn about Academy history and present-day life, purchase souvenirs, and pick up a map for a self-guided tour of the entire campus. Most visitors also like to see (and take pictures of) the 17 spired, aluminum, glass, and steel Cadet Chapel. The B-52 Bomber display just past the north entrance gate is another must-see.

Do you like animals? The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (only mountain zoo in the US-gorgeous scenery as well as zoo animals) has, among its many attractions, a world-famous giraffe herd, a 1920s carousel, and the Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun. Or if sports are your thing, how about a visit to the U.S. Olympic Training Center, to see future world-class athletes in action? If you like coin collecting, you wont want to miss the American Numismatic Museum. Other museums of interest include the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum, where you can learn about the regions history, the Pro

Rodeo Hall of Fame and Museum of the American Cowboy, the Rocky Mountain Motorcycle Museum, the Nikola Tesla Museum of Science and Industry, the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame, and of course the John May Museum Center, home of the giant bug (a replica of the West Indian Hercules Beetle marks the turnoff to this museum just southwest of the Springs, a museum which also displays a collection of some 8,000 different insect species).

Baseball fans visiting Colorado Springs in spring, summer, or early fall will want to check out the Sky Sox, the AAA farm team for the big-league Colorado Rockies who play up in Denver. The Sky Sox usually have a better winning record then their MLB big brothers, and the ticket prices ($5 general admission, $7 reserved, $9 for a box seat) cant be beat. Needless to say, the hotdogs and beer cost quite a bit less at Sky Sox Stadium than they do at Coors Field, too.

Whatever your interest, you are sure to find something to interest you in Colorado Springs. Visit for a day, a week, or even longer C this is an area with plenty to amuse and amaze you every day.