I've searched the archives and haven't found this specifically.

We are going to Colorado Springs in August on a Wed-Wed trip. It will be my wife and I, in-laws and brother in law along with my 4 month old daughter.

I'm doing the Pikes Peak marathon on Sunday but other than that, I don't have a schedule. I've been to CS before, but I didn't have a kid and in-laws then. Looking for things to do with a stroller and older people that wouldn't be doing long hikes. Dog friendly is good as well.

I was thinking
- cog ride up Pikes Peak
- Garden of the Gods, walk/drive
- USOC facility
- walk around Manitou
- AFA tour

Anything else to add? We wouldn't be opposed to driving an hour or so either to get somewhere.

Head over to cripple creek to tour the gold mine, and gamble one afternoon, other than that the list looks good.

1) If anyone is current or retired military, look into staying at Farish, just west of USAFA. Reply if you need more info.

2) Re: Cripple Creek: Don't know why you'd want to gamble with that crowd, especially since 90% of the gambling is slots. The gold mine tour is cool, but the elevator is darn tight, don't know if they let little ones go in.

3) You might look into the little tourist train they run at Cripple Creek. Never did it myself, but it might be fun.

4) Never did the cog up Pikes, but we did the drive. Pretty cool at the top either way.

5) Manitou Springs is an artsy-fartsy old hippie arts and crafts kind of place. Women might like it.

6) Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is good, daughter might appreciate it more when she's older.

7) USAFA may or may not be open, depending on terror threat level. Likely you will be able to get on. Don't bring weapons.

At USAFA, you can go to the visitor's center, and hike across and see the Chapel, tours available and recommended. Elevation at USAFA is 7500', so pace the old folks. The basic cadets (fish) will be finishing their training about then. You might check the schedule at USAFA and make sure you don't try to get on base when a Parade is going on, unless you think it's worth fighting the crowds.

There is an airport overlook and some airplanes-on-sticks near the south gate. If you're lucky, you might see glider or parachute ops.

You can also tour the gym / hocky arena / etc.

You will not be able to get into the cadet areas: dorms, classrooms, mess hall. Although you can overlook the Terrazo (Quad) from the wall around the Chapel.

8) There's a mining museum off the north gate of USAFA. Never checked it out.

9) If you don't mind adding lots of driving, Florissant Fossil Beds are interesting, well west of COS. Also Royal Gorge west of Canon City. And if you go to Canon City, go across Skyline Drive, unless you are afraid of heights. Look for the dinosaur footprints.


And if you're driving, I recommend diverting across Johnson Mesa between Clayton and Raton.



[This message has been edited by CanyonAg77 (edited 7/8/2014 10:34p).]

smoke a bunch of weed right before the race.

May want to check out the Royal Gorge Train

https://www.royalgorgeroute.com/

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smoke a bunch of weed right before the race.

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Probably won't hurt me too much at this point

I forgot about Royal Gorge, went there as a kid and liked it.

We liked the Royal Gorge train. Also enjoyed the tram/cog railway from the bridge to the gorge. We were riding the train through when a helicopter tour passed through about 20 feet off the water.

Again, I highly recommend Skyline Drive near Canon City.

Since the Royal Gorge Fire, I do not believe the Cog Train down to the Gorge is open anymore. The Royal Gorge Railroad is a different deal and is still open.

Why have you been closed?

On June 11, 2013, we suffered extensive damage caused by the Royal Gorge Fire. This wildfire destroyed 48 of the 52 structures on the Bridge & Park grounds, including our Aerial Tram and antique carousel, as well as the park’s visitor center. Fortunately, the Bridge itself escaped with only minor damage to some of its wooden planks.


When will the Royal Gorge Bridge & Park reopen?

We are open weekends only for guided tours on our buses through the park, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., $10 per person, children under 3 free, first come, first serve, weather and construction permitting. We are excited about the future and are working hard to make the Bridge & Park a whole new experience for our visitors and expect to open daily beginning mid-to-late August 2014.

Read more: http://royalgorgebridge.com/park-info/#ixzz36zic8WvG


Train:

https://www.royalgorgeroute.com/


Skyline Drive:

http://www.royalgorgetravel.com/skyline-drive


Skyline Drive Dino Tracks:

http://www.dinosaurdepot.com/tracks_p1.htm



[This message has been edited by CanyonAg77 (edited 7/9/2014 12:50p).]

kids would probably enjoy the penny arcade in manitou, Also there's been a few decent, read not great breweries pop up in and around town here if that's your thing. I'd suggest Paradox up in woodland park, manitou brewing, nano 108 off of powers, and trinity off of garden of the gods.
Also, haven't personally been, but there's also the cave of the winds, the cliff dwelings, 7 falls, & the PRCA hall of fame.


[This message has been edited by Jock 07 (edited 7/9/2014 7:28p).]

I meant going to cripple creek more for the gold mine than gambling. Was one of the best tours I've been on,very informative, the guide was a 6th generation miner.
Penny arcade is fun even as an adult, seeing some of the games my dad played as a kid. Cliff dwellings are ok as you get to walk inside most of them.

Rafting trip at the Royal gorge.

I can't really add much because the only things I go to The Springs for is Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Sunday brunch at the Broadmoor (highly recommend), Garden of the Gods, Manitou, and Rudy's BBQ. I live 45 minutes away, and I make about 3 trips per year.

If you like beer, I'd check out the tasting room at Trinity, and if you don't mind driving 20 minutes, go to Pikes Peak Brewery in Monument. And as a proud Denver resident, I recommend at least a day trip to Denver (Zoo/City Park, downtown/16th St Mall, Cherry Creek, etc.).

sunday brunch at the broadmoor is pretty good if you want to drop some cash. Get reservations a few weeks in advance though it fills up

I'll be in CS in mid-may with a pregnant wife and two year old daughter. Planning to go to a baseball game, Garden of the Gods and the zoo. Any other suggestions?

Is there a place at the Academy to go look at old planes? My daughter and I (or just me) would really like that.

Any good hole in the wall restaurants we should try to catch a meal in?

^
Have you been to Cheyenne Mtn Zoo before? If not, your wife might get mad depending on how far along she is. The zoo is on the side of a mountain & requires walking up several hills.

There are awesome views though. My favorite exhibit is the mountain lions....you can get really close to them.

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Is there a place at the Academy to go look at old planes? My daughter and I (or just me) would really like that.

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The airplanes on a stick at the south airport overlook are easy to get to. They have a T-38 in Thunderbird livery and an A-10, the only one with an air-to-air kill. At the north gate is a B-52 you can walk up to. On the Terrazo (quad) they have Robin Olds' F-4, an F-16, an F-15 and an F-105. You cannot go on to the Terrzo, but you can see them from the Chapel overlook.

A word of warning: graduation week is May 21-28. COS will be a madhouse and lodging prices will be doubled. But a side benefit is the Thunderbirds will be practicing that week for the graduation air show the 28th. And any time in May, watch for various flyovers. Planes from all over the U.S. will be coming to USAFA to honor the grads.

If you see a flyover of four-ship of T-6 Texan IIs with CB tail codes, wave at my daughter.

I agree with Cripple Creek...cool old town worth just hanging out in. And go fly fishing

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I'll be in CS in mid-may with a pregnant wife and two year old daughter. Planning to go to a baseball game, Garden of the Gods and the zoo. Any other suggestions?

Is there a place at the Academy to go look at old planes? My daughter and I (or just me) would really like that.

Any good hole in the wall restaurants we should try to catch a meal in?

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There aren't really any mind blowing restaurants here, at least none that I've found in 2 years. Nosh downtown is pretty good, Lark burger makes a pretty good truffle burger, monica's taco shop makes a good smothered burrito, there's a newer place in old colorado city a coworker was telling me about the other day that I haven't made to yet but it's supposed to be pretty good as well. The broadmoor sunday brunch is good but spendy, haven't eaten at the penrose room however. None of these are really a hole in the wall type place sans monica's however.