Live Here · Things to Do
Beyond the hike.
Colorado Springs has grown up. Olympic City USA — yes, that's a real thing. Plus museums, family attractions, downtown culture, military heritage, and a craft scene that's worth the trip from Denver. Here's what's actually worth your time.
What's worth your time
Beyond the postcard tourism.
U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum
Downtown. Built in 2020. Genuinely impressive design and interactive exhibits. Even non-sports people walk out wowed. Worth a 2-3 hour visit.
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
America's only mountain zoo. Built on the side of Cheyenne Mountain. Feed giraffes from a deck overlooking the city. Top-rated for kids and adults alike.
U.S. Air Force Academy
The campus is open to the public. Cadet Chapel, Visitor Center, and the lunch-time formation marches. Free. Combine with Fort Carson tours if you're PCSing in.
Old Colorado City + Manitou Springs
Old Colorado City: cobblestone street, mid-1800s buildings, restaurants, boutique shops. Manitou Springs: original mineral springs, hippie-meets-history, the Cog Railway to Pikes Peak summit.
Downtown Colorado Springs
New growth zone. Brewery district, ICE event center, Boulder Crescent district. First Fridays art walks. Way more vibrant than 5 years ago.
Cripple Creek · Royal Gorge · Great Sand Dunes
Cripple Creek (historic mining town, casinos): 1 hour. Royal Gorge (canyon railroad + bridge): 1 hour. Great Sand Dunes (national park, surreal): 2.5 hours. All worth it.
Visiting before you commit?
Spend the weekend. Then let's talk.
If you're thinking about moving here, do a long weekend first. Then we'll talk about neighborhoods. I can give you a recon route that hits the right mix.