Colorado Springs, Colorado is a beautiful town and a great family vacation destination. We visited late spring and had a great time. My family was thrilled that there was no shortage of things to see and activities to do, and we were definitely pleased that so many of them were free. Here are some of our favorites:<\/p>\n

<\/a>U.S. Olympic Training Center<\/strong><\/p>\n

From pools to weight rooms to basketball courts to dining halls, you can see where our nation’s best athletes live and train. It’s hard to not want to go for the gold yourself after a visit. You can watch a movie about our nation’s elite athletes striving to be their best that leaves you teary, chanting “USA!” or both, sit in a bobsled, or check out the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame. Not only is this place awesome and inspiring, it’s free. There are guided tours offered year round, with 15 offered per day from June through August. Check the website for details.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Cog Railway<\/a> to the top of Pike’s Peak<\/strong><\/p>\n

Katharine Lee Bates wrote the lyrics to America the Beautiful after her trip to the top of Pike’s Peak, and it’s easy to see why. The views are breathtaking. That photo is a view from our hotel room. (Sorry for the power lines.) It was so fun to return that evening and know that we had been to the top.<\/p>\n

The best way to get to the top of the 14,115 high peak is via the world’s highest cog railroad. The trip up is almost as memorable as the view from the top. My daughter still references the yellow bellied marmot we saw while ascending.<\/p>\n

<\/a>I know, I don’t get what’s so memorable about him, but she sure liked him.<\/p>\n

Dress warmly, no matter what time of year it is. It’s chilly at the top! Trust me on this. We thought we were prepared, and we still froze.<\/p>\n

This was our priciest activity, with trips for adults at $37, but it was worth the expenditure. Check here<\/a> to see if a coupon is available. It’s also fun to check out the webcam<\/a> that shows what the view looks like in real time.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Garden of the Gods<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is gorgeous and free! There are miles of trails, and many of them are paved, making them easy to navigate with strollers or wheelchairs. The Visitors Center wasn’t nearly as amazing as being out among the sandstone rock formations.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Seven Falls<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

A seven-tiered, 181-foot cascade of natural wonder is stunning both in the day and at night, when the falls are illuminated and colorful. If you’re there during the day, you can climb the a 224-step stairway next to the falls. We got lucky to time it at the end of the day, so saw the falls in the daylight and stuck around for twilight.<\/p>\n

Wander Manitou Springs and Sample the Spring Water<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Manitou Springs is located at the base of Pike’s Peak. If you’re going on the Cog Railway, you’ll be here, and it’s an attraction in and of itself as it has seven natural springs. There are a few places in town to get empty cups and you can sample the different springs as you wander the town.\u00a0 Both the sculptures surrounding are unique, too. My daughter loved a public park that was next to the the creek that runs through town. She enjoyed the downtime and we enjoyed the scenery.<\/p>\n

There is much more to see and do in the area, including visiting the Air Force Academy, Cave of the Winds<\/a>, and the Broadmoor<\/a>. If you’ve visited Colorado Springs, what were the highlights for your family? Please share them in the comments!<\/p>\n

None of this is sponsored or compensated. These places all have no idea that I exist, but we very much enjoyed them during our trip there.<\/em><\/p>\n

You may also like: <\/strong>What I learned on my banana taxi ride<\/a><\/p>\n

Prior post: <\/strong>Shamrock shake recipe<\/a><\/p>\n

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