Colorado Springs Attractions

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Colorado Springs is the second largest city in the mountainous state of Colorado. Because it is more than one hour's drive south of Denver, it is not considered part of the Denver/Boulder metropolitan area. This relative isolation means that Colorado Springs draws tourists with a desire to experience the adventures and scenery that the Rockies have to offer. Indeed, Colorado Springs is a top notch outdoor adventure destination, but it is also a pleasant city with more urban attractions than one might expect from a city of its size.

Here are the best attractions (both natural and man-made) in and around Colorado Springs:

Budget

The Ghost Town Museum (400 S. 21st Street) is a tourist favorite that includes a realistic ghost town. This half-living history museum/half-tourist trap includes exhibits where visitors can pan for real gold and make their way through realistic 19th Century buildings. This is an especially good family attraction because children under 6 are free.

Garden of the Gods (1805 N 30th St) is a city park that features a series of spectacular sandstone cliffs. Rock climbers come to scale the sandstone, but most park-goers simply use the rocks as a background for their picnics or walks. This is one of the most visually interesting urban parks in the country.

Value

The Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame (101 Pro Rodeo Drive) features interactive exhibits and multimedia presentations. This is the only museum of its kind in the country and it allows visitors to look into the history of rodeo in depth.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (4250 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Road) is a small zoo with a decent collection of exotic wildlife. The zoo is also notable because of its scenic surroundings and the panoramic views of the mountains that can be seen from its grounds.

Splurge

If you are serious about learning to rock climb, your best bet is the Colorado Climbing School (1370 Windmill Ave). Their climbing classes take place on the rocks outside of Colorado Springs, perhaps the best rock climbing classroom in the world. For those who have completed the classes or already have experience, the outfit also leads guided climbing tours of the Colorado Rockies.

Flying W Ranch (3330 Chuckwagon Road) is a working ranch that is also a major tourist destination. Aside from seeing the day-to-day workings of a ranch, it is also possible try a chuck-wagon meal and attend a western stage show put on by professional actors.