Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak Region is like a giant playground for kids and adults who want to experience Colorado at its best! We offer many kid-friendly activities, attractions, and family activities that have something for everyone in the family to enjoy! So whether you are a kid or just a kid at heart, we want you to come and play in our beautiful back yard which is at the foot of the majestic Pikes Peak!
Use this three day vacation guide as is or a way to get started on your own vacation plan. There's something for kids of all ages!
Day One
An early start to the day will take you to the world famous Cheyenne Mountain Zoo where you'll watch the morning feeding and care for the collection of more than 500 exotic animals. Next stop will be a special dreamland, Santa's Workshop/North Pole, where believers of all ages enjoy Christmas all summer long. Catch a bite for lunch at
the Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center where you can also see their new HIGH DEFINITION movie on "How Did Those Red Rocks Get There?"
Then head for the caves, Cave of the Winds, that is. First opened in 1880, it is the oldest attraction in the region and includes a guided tour through 20 beautiful and colorfully lighted cavern rooms. Now, if you find yourselves all still together, stop by the
Ghost Town Museum for a peek at the Old West and relax with a refreshing glass of sarsaparilla.
Directions: Located on Highway 24 at 21st Street.
The Iron Springs Chateau and Melodrama Dinner Theater offers excellent family dining and entertainment all in one location. And, audience participation is encouraged! Directions: From I-25 in Colorado Springs (Exit 141) U.S. Hwy. 24 west to Manitou Exit, West on Manitou Avenue to Ruxton Avenue.
Day Two
Today will take you on a short one-hour drive south of Manitou Springs where you will enjoy one the Royal Gorge Bridge and the Historic Royal Gorge Route Railroad.
At the Royal Gorge Bridge you can walk or drive across the world's highest suspension bridge which spans 1,053 feet above the Arkansas River, or you can even take the aerial tramway across the gorge. You might also want to enjoy a trip aboard the world's steepest incline railway to the bottom of the canyon.. While enroute back to Manitou Springs, stop by the May Natural History Museum where you'll see 7,000 of the world's most beautiful and unusual invertebrates, including giant tropical insects from around the world.
Day Three
On this final day, you will enjoy the beauty of Pikes Peak from various vantage points. Either travel the 19 miles of Pikes Peak Highway, the world's highest toll road to reach the summit of Pikes Peak, or take the Pikes Peak Cog Railway, the highest railroad in the U.S. The Cog, as it's known locally, has safely and comfortably transported passengers to the 14,110-foot summit for more than 100 years. Once on top, you can enjoy lunch, or at least a world famous high altitude donut!
Day Four
Choose to visit several of the area attractions including the ProRodeo Hall of Fame and Museum of the American Cowboy Museum. Here you'll enjoy tributes to cowboys participating in the professional sport of rodeo, including live rodeo animals and special exhibits in the new rodeo arena.
Seven Falls has often been called the "grandest mile of scenery in Colorado" with seven separate waterfalls splashing 181 feet down a sheer granite cliff. Take a 224-step stairway to the top, or enjoy the convenience of a mountain elevator to the observation platform for one of the most panoramic views ever imagined.
Take an afternoon tour at the Western Museum of Mining and Industry, where you'll explore Colorado's rich and colorful mining past and future. You'll even see the actual operation of reconstructed multi-ton steam engines, drills, locomotives and more.
As an alternative we might suggest a short 45-minute drive to the historic town of Cripple Creek. Once there, be sure to experience the Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad, a 4-mile round trip adventure alongside old mines and ghost towns.
Directions: From I-25 in Colorado Springs take U.S. Hwy. 24 (Exit 141) west to Divide U.S. Hwy. 67 south.
The final evening is reserved for a very special taste of the Old West, literally! The Flying W Ranch will be your destination for an old fashioned evening of entertainment. Before partaking in the scrumptious chuckwagon supper, wander through the Old Western Town to observe western lifestyles in action, and perhaps, pick up a few last minute gifts and souvenirs. The evening entertainment features nationally recognized musicians, the Flying W Wranglers, who are sure to have you stomping, clapping and singing along.
Directions: From I-25 Exit 146 West on Garden of the Gods Road, North on 30th street. Follow the signs.
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