Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs sits 70 miles south of Denver on Fountain Creek, 6,035 feet above sea level at the eastern foot of 14,115-foot Pikes Peak. Founded in 1871 by Civil War hero General William J. Palmer and once nicknamed Little London, the city has a population of 497,331 in 2024, making it Colorado’s second-largest city and the 40th-largest in the United States. U.S. News & World Report ranks it the nation’s most desirable and third-best place to live, and more than 55 local attractions give you plenty of ways to explore under those famous blue skies.

Adventure comes easy. Strap into the country’s highest zip line and fly 1,000 feet over the Arkansas River in the Royal Gorge, then climb its granite on a Via Ferrata course found nowhere else in the state. Ride the Royal Gorge Route Railroad for a rolling restaurant experience with fresh, locally sourced meals and canyon views.

Back in town, Garden of the Gods welcomes you for free with red-rock towers, paved walkways, climbing routes, and sweeping shots of snow-framed Pikes Peak.

You can reach the summit of “America’s Mountain” by tour, car, bike, or hike, and each summer professional drivers race the Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Hit award-winning Arkansas River rapids on a guided raft, choose gentle family floats, or tackle advanced whitewater.

As Olympic City USA, Colorado Springs hosts the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum, the Olympic & Paralympic Training Center, and the steep Manitou Incline that challenges athletes and visitors alike.

Families and sightseers can add Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, The Broadmoor Seven Falls, the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum, the Money Museum, and the U.S. Air Force Academy to any itinerary. Lodging spans the five-star Broadmoor to cozy cottages in Pike National Forest. You can sample more than 30 craft beverage stops, dine inside a Boeing KC-97 tanker, join a Rocky Mountain Food Tour, or toast with Victorian tea. Hidden gems include gold panning at Ghost Town Museum, vintage aircraft at the National Museum of WWII Aviation, the deep shafts of the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine, and quiet trails near Woodland Park and Monument.