Colorado Springs is 70 miles south of Denver and it sits at the base of the world-famous Pikes Peak. Colorado Springs was recently branded as “Olympic City USA” as it is a destination for world class athletes looking for the best training. This includes the U.S. Olympic Training Center. Colorado Springs is also home to a huge military presence, most notably the US Air Force Academy. Colorado Springs is surrounded by natural beauty. Garden of the Gods is a registered national natural landmark that is very popular for hiking and technical rock climbing. Pikes Peak dominates the skyline as the mountain rises 8,000 vertical feet above the city of Colorado Springs. Pikes Peak is a top destination for hikers and bikers.
The best reason to visit Colorado Springs is simply to experience the natural beauty. Garden of the Gods is unreal with the awe-inspiring red rocks protruding from the ground. Pikes Peak offers various ways of exploring, including the Cog Railway, which takes visitors to the summit via railcar.
Olympic City USA is part of the larger active culture that Colorado Springs provides. Colorado Springs has been ranked one of the top 10 mountain biking cities. It was also ranked #5 best US city to live, largely due to the healthy lifestyle.
Colorado Springs has an interesting mix of people. It is generally considered one of the most conservative cities in Colorado, largely due to the military and church presence, but it also has several universities and academies, including Air Force Academy, Colorado College and University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. Colorado Springs is beginning to get attention for the up-and-coming foodie scene.
Winters are cool and a lot of the outdoors activities close down. Colorado Springs isn't close to major ski resorts, so winter is dead time for tourism. rnrnPro tip - If visiting in the winter, stay at the city's most famous hotel, the Broadmoor. The hotel offers a wide range of winter and holiday entertainment.
Spring and summer are relatively the wet seasons, but still fairly dry. Late spring (before schools let out for summer) is a great time to visit Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak.
Summers in Colorado Springs are nearly perfect with daily high temps in the low 80s, which is great for enjoying the great outdoors.
Falls are mild with daily high temps in the 60s. rnPro tip - one of the best experiences is to attend an Air Force Academy home football game in the fall. The flyovers alone are worth the price of admission.