Attractions Guide, Colorado Springs

There are a lot of choices when it comes to attractions in Colorado Springs. Whether you want to tour one of the nations oldest show caves and its many magnificent cavern rooms or view a world-class collection of Southwestern art it is at your finger tips in Colorado Springs. If you would like to study the rich history of Colorado Springs and the Pike's Peak region or the famous Colorado gold rush days through various exhibits then you would enjoy a visit to one of Colorado Springs museums. Get off your feet by taking a drive down what has been described as the Grandest Mile of Scenery in Colorado. Colorado Springs is home to United States Air Force Academy and a favorite among tourists is the academy's 11:35 a.m. lunchtime formation, when all their squadrons march to their midday meal, with over 40 it is a sight to behold. Whatever your pleasure the diversity of offerings could please any one of any age. Let OnlineHotels.com show you some of our favorite places to stay and to play.

Cave of the Winds
Cave of the Winds, one of the nation's oldest show caves, offers a number of exciting ways to tour its 20 magnificent cavern rooms. The 45-minute, guided Discovery Tour, an easy trek that is ideal for all generations, provides information about the cave's geology, history, and lore. The Lantern Tour transports guests back to the 1800s, when explorers only possessed lanterns and candles to illuminate their adventures into dark caverns; guides dressed in period costumes regale tourists with stories about the 1800s and tales of the cave's first owners and visitors. The Explorer's Trip, recommended only for the physically fit, is a three- to four-hour trek through subterranean chambers and passageways - a safe and controlled experience that thrills first-time spelunkers. To reach Cave of the Winds, take Exit 141 off of Interstate 25 from Colorado Springs, and then travel six miles west on Highway 24. Call the Cave of the Winds at (719) 685-5444 to secure a spot on an Explorer's Trip, or to make reservations for groups of 15 or more people.

Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center
The Colorado Springs Arts Center contains a world-class collection of Southwestern art, works by notable artists such as John James Audubon and John Singer Sargent, and a tactile gallery for the visually impaired. The center also houses a performing arts theatre, sculpture garden, research library, and the Bemis Art School. Guided FAC Tours provide guests with in-depth knowledge of various areas or exhibits within the center. The arts center is located at 30 W. Dale St. Call the center at (719) 634-5581 for information about its hours and admission fees.

Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum
Permanent exhibits in the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum display the rich history of Colorado Springs and the Pike's Peak region. Various collections explore early Native American inhabitants, the founding of the city, the area's mining and agricultural history, and the city's status as a center for military training and operations. One of the museum's most popular attractions is its murals, painted by local artist Eric Bransby, which depict the region from its earliest human inhabitants to the building of the U.S. Air Force Academy in the 1950s. The museum's changing exhibition areas focus on varied subjects of popular interest - past features included Western Art, antique quilts, Plains and Pueblo Indian cultures, and space exploration. The Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum is located at 215 S. Tejon St. in the restored 1903 El Paso County Courthouse. Call the museum at (719) 385-5990 for information about its hours.

Garden of the Gods
The Garden of the Gods, a 1,300-acre giant sandstone rock garden formed through millions of years of rain and wind, is the top attraction in the Colorado Springs area. The free Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center serves as the gateway to these towering red formations. Its 12-minute video "How Did Those Red Rocks Get There?" discusses the history and geology of the park. The center also provides free nature talks that discuss the unusual animals and plants which call the park home. The visitor center is located at 1805 N. 30th St. (at Gateway Road). Call the center at (719) 634-6666 for additional park information.

Ghost Town Wild West Museum
The Ghost Town Wild West Museum, located at 400 S. 21st St., transports guests back in time to the 1800s, during Colorado's Gold Rush days. The 19th-century town, preserved entirely indoors, contains thousands of artifacts on display in historic buildings such as a jail, general store, blacksmith's shop, and assay office. Animated frontier characters entertain visitors with tales of the Old West. A shooting gallery, antique arcade machines, and nickelodeons are additional museum amusements. Guests can even pan for real gold during the summer months. Call the museum at (719) 634-0696 for information about its hours and admission fees.

Pikes Peak
Pikes Peak, which inspired Katharine Lee Bates to write "America the Beautiful," is referred to as America's mountain. There are three ways to reach the panoramic vistas at the mountain's summit house (an elevation of 14,110 feet) - Pikes Peak Highway (driving), Pikes Peak Cog Railway (riding), and Barr Trail (hiking). Every method provides a lifetime of memories and fantastic photographic opportunities. Notable events are held at Pikes Peak three times throughout the year: one is the Pikes Peak Marathon in August - a grueling 26-mile foot race up and down Barr Trail that draws runners from around the world.

Seven Falls
The one-mile drive through a box canyon, often referred to as the Grandest Mile of Scenery in Colorado, leads to a series of 181-foot cascades known as Seven Falls. A stairway built alongside the rushing waters, 224 grueling steps straight up, provide one photo opportunity after another to guests. Eagle's Nest, accessible via a mountain elevator or 185 steps, provides the best vantage point in which to view all seven falls. Computerized colored lights illuminate the waterfalls in the evening - an added treat for the eyes. Once guests reach the top of the steep stairway, they can walk a trail leading to Midnight Falls, a memorial site for author Helen Hunt Jackson, and panoramic views of Colorado Springs. Call the Seven Falls information line at (719) 632-0765 for information about its hours and admission fees.

United States Air Force Academy
The United States Air Force Academy (USAFA), located at Exit 156 B off of Interstate 25, is an academic and physical training ground that produces aerospace officers of the highest caliber. Visitors receive a 20-minute video presentation about cadet life and a self-guiding map of the facility; they are advised to arrive at USAFA with a full tank of gas, because there are no public service stations on the 18,000-acre campus. The academy's 11:35 a.m. lunchtime formation, when all 40 of the academy's squadrons march to their midday meal, is popular among tourists. The Cadet Chapel, an aluminum, glass and steel structure that serves as an all-faith house of worship for the academy, is another fantastic sight. The exterior of the building features 17 150-foot spires; the interior contains two all-faith worship rooms and separate chapels for the three predominant religious faiths in the Air Force. Call the visitor's center at (800) 955-4438 for additional information.

United States Olympic Complex
The United States Olympic Complex (USOC) receives approximately 140,000 annual visitors who want to know how America's past and future medalists train for competition. The state-of-the-art complex's free tours begin with a 12-minute film, and then a USOC Ambassador takes guests on a 45-minute walking tour of the facility. Almost all areas of the complex are covered, from its sophisticated athlete training facilities (with views of tomorrow's stars working out) to its interactive kiosks and U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame Rotunda. The complex also houses the Olympic Spirit Store, where every purchase helps support U.S. athletes. The complex is located at 1750 E. Boulder St. Call the U.S. Olympic Committee information hotline at (888) 659-8687 for tour times.

Western Museum of Mining and Industry
The Western Museum of Mining and Industry, located at 1025 N. Gate Road, displays mining artifacts and historical working machinery that help to explain the history of the Western Gold Rush. There are free, guided tours of the museum, which includes a re-creation of an assay office and an entrance to a full-size replica of a mine. Guests are welcome to activate specially marked scale models of machinery and witness historic equipment operating. The museum also contains a 12,000-volume research library, available by appointment. Call the museum at (719) 488-0880 for information about its hours, fees, and tour times.