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2 In Colorado/ Colorado Springs/ Things to do in Colorado/ Traveling

10 Best Hikes for kids in Colorado Springs (All FREE & FANTASTIC!)

1. Garden of the Gods:

Voted one of the best parks in the US – everyone should visit Garden of the Gods at least ONCE in your lifetime. You can park anywhere and find an amazing and beautiful hike! The main parking lot gets crowded, so start early. It was our favorite place to hike when Luke was in a stroller because the paths are paved.  However, you can park anywhere in this incredible park and find an easy path to explore.

2. Fox run park:

Fox Run Park

Fox Run Regional Park is on the north side of Colorado Springs and has lots of trails, a pond, a creek, and a couple of play areas! You could spend the day here or just an hour. My kids love this place. Click this link for a map of the trails.

3.  Palmer Park:

Enjoying the view at Palmer Park

Palmer Park is an amazing place to visit at least once. You can drive up to the top of the mesa and enjoy the breath-taking view of the city and Pikes Peak. There are some easy trails at the top or bottom. Make time to stop at the huge playground off Maizeland on your way out. Click here to look at some trails.

4. Red Rock Open Space:

Red Rock Canyon Open Space

Red Rock Open Space is similar to Garden of the Gods, but even more “natural” – meaning no paved areas, no bathrooms and lots of winding trails. There are beautiful hikes no matter where you start! I could go here every week for a year and find a new trail. It gets a little confusing – trails split and you need to understand the “map” they have provided on signs throughout the park (I’m not that good). However, if you just keep walking, you’ll find your way again (or, ask someone else hiking which way to go). No matter what your age – two or 92 – you will love this place! Click here to view the trails.

5. Paint Mines:

Paint Mines

The Paint Mines Interpretive Park is about 30-40 minutes outside of Colorado Springs, but worth the drive for an awesome adventure. Your family will love the gentle hike through the colorful caverns.

6. Bear Creek Nature Center:

Bear Creek Nature Center

and the

7. Fountain Creek Nature Center

Fountain Nature Center

George – Bird Watching at the Fountain Creek Nature Center

Take a hike around the lovely grounds and enjoy the shaded trails, creeks and marshes. Then stop by the Nature center(s) to play with the interactive exhibits and learn about the animals that live in the region.

8. Pulpit Rock:

Paul at Pulpit Rock

I wrote more about this amazing hike here.

9. Helen Hunt Falls:

Helen Hunt Falls is a gorgeous spot to visit any time of the year, but with kids, I recommend you visit in the summer. There are lots of steps and they get slippery/icy in the winter. There’s a handrail all the way up to the top of the falls. Then, enjoy a beautiful and easy hike at the top. The Starsmore Nature Center is nearby with beautiful and easy hikes all around as well. We absolutely love Cheyenne Canyon and all the adventure it offers our family.

10. Seven Bridges:

Seven Bridges makes us Crazy for Colorado

We love Seven Bridges. It’s a fantastic spot to explore and take in the beauty of Colorado Springs. With all four of our boys (ages 3, 5, 7 and 9) – we only made it to the FIRST of the “Seven Bridges” and then played in the creek before we hiked back. As they get older, we hope to conquer ALL SEVEN Bridges!

Would you like to purchase a copy of our book? It’s a great souvenir! The Egly boys take a hike up Pikes Peak and teach the reader about animals that live on this glorious mountain.

You can purchase a signed copy by clicking here, adding $10, and I’ll ship your book!

Thanks for your support!

To discover 20 free, fun, family friendly things to do around Colorado Springs, CLICK HERE!

1 In Colorado/ Colorado Springs/ Family/ Peek into our Week/ Raising boys/ Things to do in Colorado/ Traveling

Our family of six braved Seven Falls!

Our Seven Falls Adventure!

This area is called the “GRANDEST MILE OF SCENERY” in Colorado and I think that describes it pretty well!  It really is spectacular and absolutely worth a visit or two (or seven)!

My husband took me to Seven Falls for my birthday a couple of years ago. We went on a “double date” with my sister and her husband. It was amazing. I definitely recommend this place for a date or double date spot! You get to chat, enjoy the scenery, connect with each other and with nature, all while getting some exercise! We LOVED it!

We’ve wanted to get back here ever since that first visit, so we decided to take all four of our boys during their spring break. We weren’t sure how it would go because our youngest two sons were only 3 and 6-year-olds and there is a lot of walking and climbing involved. Read on to find out how it all went!

To get started, park in the lot at the Broadmoor off of 1st street – next to the Golden Bee Restaurant. Parking is free, and a complimentary shuttle picks you up right there. After an 8 minute drive, you are dropped off at the ticket gate. The cost in the winter is $10 for adults, and $5 for children. Summer is $14.50 for adults and $9 for children over 2. Seniors and military $12.50. (Prices may change)

After you pay the entrance fee you are 0.8 miles from the base of the Falls, so you have two choices:

  1. Jump on a tram that will drive you to the base of the Falls. The cost is $2 per person. Seniors are free.
  2. Walk to the Falls. Walking allows you the opportunity to absorb this grand mile. The 6 of us chose to walk. Well, our 3 year old got a piggy back ride for most of it.

The Grandest Mile and my iPhone doesn’t do it justice.

When you arrive at the base of the Falls, I recommend that you start by walking through a tunnel inside the mountain. The corridor is lined with pictures and artifacts from history.

Tunnel through the mountain to the elevator

At the end of the tunnel is an elevator that will take you up to Eagle’s Nest landing. After spending a few minutes taking in the magnificent view…walk down the steps or ride the elevator back down.

Our family picture on the Eagle's Nest Landing

Next, walk past a trout pound and watch for the HUGE fish that occasionally jump up to say hello! Then, take a deep breath and begin the climb up the 224 VERY STEEP steps. Thankfully, there is a landing halfway up the staircase so that you can take in the view, rest your legs and catch your breath.

We didn’t know how our young boys would handle climbing more than 200 STEEP steps. Our three oldest sons did not complain ONE TIME. My husband carried our 3-year-old most of the way.   I can’t imagine having to carry 30+ extra pounds up all those steps. I was exhausted just getting myself to the top. However, 224 steps isn’t difficult for Ted, who climbs the Manitou Incline on a regular basis. The Incline is 2,744 steps – more than 10 times as many steps as Seven Falls.

If you make it to the top, you are rewarded with a gorgeous hike!

First, you’ll encounter a Ponderosa Pine Tree that’s more than 450 years old! Stop here and try to wrap your arms around this gigantic tree.  It took all four of our sons touching hands to get their arms around the trunk of this beautiful tree.

Next, you’ll come to a fork in the path. Go to the right for an easy, 20-minute hike. Go to the left for a hike that will take you about an hour. If you have children in tow, I recommend the shorter hike – we loved it. My sister took the long hike and said it was incredible. If you have the time and the energy, do both!

Next, SLOWLY walk down all the stairs. The climb down is easy but VERY steep and sometimes crowded. Keep ahold onto the handrail!

Stop at the bottom and relax in one of the wooden rocking chairs. Take a few minutes to enjoy the view and reflect on that beautiful hike you just completed.

Rocking Luke and enjoying the view

Take time to watch the trout play in the pond.

Hungry? Eat at the fabulous Restaurant 1858. I recommend the Chili Con Queso nachos. They are made with homemade wild boar chili, chips, cheese and pickled jalapeños.

For all my favorite restaurants in Colorado Springs, click here!

Slowly make your way back to the entrance where a shuttle will pick up and drop you off at the parking lot.

Before you leave, take time to stroll around the lake at the Broadmoor Hotel! This is one of the most beautiful hotels in the country and you’ve just got to see it – or stay the night.

I absolutely recommend that you make some time to visit Seven Falls in Colorado Springs. Add it to your bucket list now, and thank me later!

Watch to see how many #eglyboys it takes to hug the Ponderosa Pine!

For my top ten places to visit in Colorado Springs, CLICK HERE!
For the top ten things to do in Manitou Springs, CLICK HERE!
For 20 FREE things to do in Colorado Springs, CLICK HERE!
To get a signed copy of my Colorado Springs Children’s Book, CLICK HERE!

11 In Colorado/ Colorado Springs/ My Journey/ Traveling

Ten things I didn’t know about Colorado until I moved here

2 In Family/ Motherhood/ Raising boys/ Traveling

Peek into our Week

A Peak into our week before Christmas 2017

Friday, December 15

Every year, my husband’s company (The Center for Creative Leadership) host a Christmas event and Santa comes to visit. I picked up the kids from school a little early to spend some time with them at the event.

 

Santa and Luke

The boys got to hear Santa tell a story, sang some Christmas songs, opened a gift, and ate together while headed over to New Life (where I work on Friday nights).

At church, I had a two meetings with two new volunteers and helped a couple of others get connected with the people with whom they’d be serving. Once the service started, I noticed a mom standing in the lobby with her kids. I found out that her son didn’t want to go to class because he wasn’t sure if he knew anyone. I asked if he would go with me and told him I’d help him get to know some other boys. We walked into his class and two boys came over, gave hugged him and told him they’d missed him! You could see the smile grow on his face. Then, one of the boys remembered he had severe food allergies and asked if they could pray for him. The two 9 and 10 year old boys gathered around this young man and prayed that God would heal him! From there, the boys spent the rest of the evening together! This is why I love working with kids!

Saturday, December 16

We had a little family Christmas.

  • Clark was SO excited about his “Heely’s” (shoes that have “rollers”) and new Bible,
  • George loved his soccer shirts/jerseys,
  • Paul enjoyed his new games,
  • Luke loves his new running shoes because the make him SO fast!

 

Sunday, December 17

We went to church, then I had coffee with a friend. That evening I went to a Volunteer appreciation dinner at Holly Newman’s hone. It was an incredible evening. I got to know volunteers better over dinner, and then we gathered in the living room and reflected on what God has done in New Life Kids in 2017. There was SO.MUCH.GOOD that happened this year and I’m so grateful to be a small part of it!

 

Monday, December 18

We enjoyed a day where we didn’t have to go anywhere or do anything! Then the doorbell rang…and on the porch sat two large boxes ….

In the boxes were my books!!!!!! It was thrilling. Like Christmas had arrived at my door. (I wrote a little bit about it on instagram)

 

That evening I signed books, dropped some off at the post office, and made personal deliveries.

 

Tuesday, December 19

I had 7-8 kids at my house all day. I watched 3 kids for a friend and a neighbor spent most of the day with us too. We played in the morning, then jumped in the “Egly Sleigh” and delivered a few books, then played some more.

 

Wednesday, December 20

I went to a volunteer meeting at church, then got to drop off a bunch of books and gifts at the Hope and Home Foster Care. Every year they have a day where foster parents can come pick up gifts for their foster children! We’ve donated gifts for this event for the last two years, and I as excited to donate a bunch of books this year too! Each book was personally signed with a note of love and encouragement inside.

We were planning to leave for Tulsa on Thursday, but bad weather was coming our way and we decided to stay ahead of that and left as soon as I got home.

(Playing with a Rubix Cube to pass the time on the drive to Tulsa)

Thursday, December 21

I got to spend time with my sisters Brooke, Rachelle and Rachelle’s family. We took the kids to explore an old engine and see the Tulsa Driller. That evening, we went to look at Christmas Lights.

Friday, December 22

My boys played all day with one of their favorite Tulsa friends (Caleb Blonsky)…then Ted and I went our with some of our favorite Tulsa friends that night – the Blonsky brothers and their wives. We’ve been friends since before we were married and always pick up right where we left off when we are together. It’s as if no time has passed and we cherish our time with them. We were all together 16 years ago for Craig and Robin’s wedding (the couple on the far left) and we all got to be together again to celebrate their 16th anniversary!

 

 

What have you been up to this week? Leave me a comment!

6 In Colorado/ Family/ Review/ Things to do in Colorado/ Traveling

Family day in Estes Park

This weekend we drove from Colorado Springs to Estes Park. I brought a book to read for the 2 hour drive, but only read for a few minutes because driving in Colorado is too beautiful to be looking down at a book!

As we approached Estes, we told the boys that the first person to spot an elk would earn a quarter.

PAUL was the first to spot not one – but a herd of about 50 elk!

We stopped and spent some time just watching them rest, walk, and play. Two elk were locking antlers, and we had fun watching them ‘wrestle it out!’

Then we stopped by the Estes Park visit center. It’s pretty basic – just bathroom and flyers and people available to answer any questions. We grabbed a map and picked a place for lunch and continued on our day.

We spent some time window shopping along the main street (Elkhorn) in Estes. I love these little Colorado towns with shops built right into the side of mountains!

We ate lunch at BigHorns. Is it bad to admit we ate Elk burgers!? Thank you, Mr. Elk, for feeding us!

After lunch, we purchased some taffy from this adorable, historic “Taffy Shop.” They give free samples of whatever flavor you want to try! Usually, I would pass on taffy. (I’d rather have chocolate) But this was taffy was DELICIOUS! It’s freshly made right there in the store, so it’s really soft and fluffy and oh, so good! I bought a small bag to take home – vanilla for me (so boring, right?), pecan taffy for Ted, cotton candy flavor for Clark and Paul, and raspberry for Luke and George.

After some time on the main street, we got in the car and drove up to see The Stanley Hotel where a couple of movies have been filled. (Dumb and Dumber and a Stephen King movie that I have not seen – I can’t watch scary movies)

Next, we visited the Estes Park visitor center. It’s free and had some interesting exhibits about the history of Estes Park. We enjoyed this little museum, and you can’t beat FREE!

It’s hard to visit Estes without going to the Rocky Mountain National Park. However, we didn’t go on this day because it’s $20 per car to enter and we knew we wouldn’t be staying long.  It was snowing, windy, and cold. We also considered just driving around the Park, but my kids had already been driving for a couple of hours earlier today and as beautiful as this park is, they didn’t want to be stuck in the car any more today.

We had a great family day and I’m glad we got to see beautiful Estes Park! Have you been here? What do you like to do? Leave a comment!

2 In Colorado/ Family/ Raising boys/ Traveling

The 10 BEST things to do Manitou Springs, Colorado

Manitou Springs…what a quaint little town! I had no idea this gem was hidden just next to Colorado Springs.  There is so much culture, history and beauty in this town. Here are my ten most favorite parts of Manitou Springs:

1. Play at the historic Penny Arcade.

              

I love Skeeball!!

Compete with your friends and family in Horse Racing!

There are some really OLD and unique games!    

Flying airplanes like his Poppy!

2. Taste the healing mineral water.

3. Hike Rainbow Falls  

4. Climb the Incline

  • A mile high staircase up the side of Cheyenne mountain. Or you can bail out at the halfway point for a pretty walk back down.
  • Gorgeous views at the top! (Well, that’s what I’ve been told by my husband, I’m not sure I’m tough enough to hike all the way to to the top! Honestly, my legs hurt just thinking about it.)
  • Manitou Incline

5. Drive to the top of Pikes Peak

This drive is magnificent! Breathtaking … fantastic! You must take the drive to the top of America’s Mountain at least once in your lifetime. Thankfully, my husband drove so I could just enjoy every mile. I recommend visiting in the summer time – the Peak gets COLD! And bring LOTS of water – elevation sickness is a real thing. Add this drive to your Bucket List!

6. Get a treat

  • Patsy’s is a 100 year old snack shop. Try something from there or one of the other fantastic coffee and ice cream shops around town!

7. Shop

8. Soak in the warm mineral water at the Sunwater Spa.

9. Visit the Cliff Dwellings

“Is this where the Cliff Dwellers watched movies?” Asked by my 4 year old.

10. Eat

Eat & Shop

Don’t forget to take a souvenir home with you! Grab a copy of my Pikes Peak Children’s book.  All artwork is painted by a local artist. Click here to purchase a signed copy!

What’s your favorite thing about Manitou?

Leave a comment (in the little box to the right of the title).

Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE (in the column on the right) so you don’t miss a post!

For the 10 best things to do in Colorado Springs…

CLICK HERE!

14 In Colorado/ Colorado Springs/ Things to do in Colorado/ Traveling

10 things you MUST DO in Colorado Springs!

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There are so many incredible free things to do in Colorado Springs, CO (click here to see that list)!  However, there are a few things that are absolutely worth spending a little money to see in do when you visit this incredible city.

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Here are ten experiences you won’t want to miss:

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1. Ride the Cog Railroad or Drive to the top of Pikes Peak

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This will be one of the most specular rides/drives you will ever take. Plan for about 1.5 hours up to the top of this mountain.  Be sure to get a picture at the Summit and try a DONUT!   If you aren’t up for driving, the COG railroad is a fun way to get to the top. It’s a bit pricier but a memorable experience!

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I wrote a children’s book about Pikes Peak and the Cog Railroad. Get your copy by clicking here.

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2. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

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This is a beautiful zoo right on the side of the mountain. Get right up close to the animals and enjoy gorgeous views! Your family will love a day spent here. My favorite part was feeding the giraffes.

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3. Space Foundation Discovery Center

This is a space museum for families. Everyone will learn something and enjoy the hands on exhibits. It’s a great way to get your kids out of the house on a cold or rainy day.

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4. Olympic Training Center

What I love about this place is that you get to watch real Olympians in training! We took our kids at ages 2, 4, 6 and 8, and they enjoyed it, but I would probably recommend that it’s best for ages 5 and up.

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5. North Pole

A great little Christmas-themed amusement park for kids, right on the side of the mountain. Best for families with children under 10 years old.

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6. Cave of the winds

Wind your way through Colorado caverns. Explore the wonders of the underground or sail through the sky on the Terror-dactyl ride. There’s something for everyone here.

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7. Penny Arcade

The Penny Arcade

(The Penny Arcade is in Manitou Springs – next to Colorado Springs – but worth mentioning!) Come to this historic arcade and play lots of different games – some old, some new. There are even a few antique games that you can play for a penny, but most games are 25¢. All ages will enjoy this place. I appreciate the history, my kids (and husband) enjoy the games.

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8. Glen Eyrie Castle

This hidden gem is a MUST SEE! It’s one of my favorite spots in our city. It’s the home built by the founder of our city. Schedule a tour of the inside, stay the night, enjoy High Tea, or simply explore the incredible grounds.

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9. Seven Falls

With my husband, sister & brother in law at Seven Falls

This area is called the “GRANDEST MILE OF SCENERY” in Colorado and I think that describes it pretty well!  I’d recommend going with a friend or on a date. You’ll get a good workout as you climb 224 steps. The stairs lead to a beautiful place hike. Click here to read more about my visit, see the pictures, prices, and get all the deets.

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10. Stay the night at the Broadmoor

The Broadmoor

My husband took me here for my birthday, and it was AMAZING. I hope that each one of you can stay the night here at some point in your life because it is truly fantastic.  Go in the summer so that you can take advantage of the amazing outdoor pool! When you visit, don’t miss the “wall of fame” – a hallway with pictures of all the celebrities that have stayed here!

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Those are, in my opinion, the top ten best places to see in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

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This map was made with Wanderlog, a road trip planner app on iOS and Android

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Would you like a souvenir of your visit?! Click here to buy!

Thanks for your support!

Here’s a list of 20 FREE things to do in Colorado Springs!

And click here for some ideas of what to do in Manitou Springs!

For the best places to EAT in Colorado Springs, click here!

Here is a link to some COUPONS to use for some of the attractions I just mentioned – http://www.pikes-peak.com/coupons/

 

19 In Colorado/ Colorado Springs/ Raising boys/ Things to do in Colorado/ Traveling

20 FREE, fun and family-friendly places to visit in Colorado Springs

One of the reasons why we moved here and why I love my city is so much is because of the endless things to do with our family!

Here are 20 of the FREE things to do in Colorado Springs:

Outdoor activities:

This is a national landmark for a good reason. It should be on every person’s bucket list and I love that it’s right here in town. Every time we visit we see new things. The main parking lot has a bathroom, and the hike from there is stroller friendly! Start there, but I hope you’ll take time to visit every part of this park! Balanced Rock and Siamese twins are two of our favorite spots.

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A huge playground for kids with a gorgeous view. A large grassy area and a unique water sculpture for kids to play in during the summer.

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You’ll see this phenomenal rock structure as you drive down the highway. Click here to see pictures and read all the details about our adventure to the top of this rock.

Paul at Pulpit Rock

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This a gorgeous place to hike with trails that are easy or difficult, short or long – you choose!  We love this place! My mom said it’s better than Garden of the Gods because it’s more “natural.”

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You can enjoy a little museum and pretty view from the base of the falls or take a short and beautiful walk to the top of the falls.

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If you drive past Helen Hunt falls and park at the top of the hill, there is a gorgeous hike to take with your family. My little ones only made it to the first of the ‘seven bridges’, but we loved the hike and enjoyed playing in the creek at the first bridge.

Crazy for Colorado

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Drive to the top for an amazing view! Take a hike around the area, then drive to the bottom and play at the huge playground on Maizeland Road.

The view at Palmer Park

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This is a fantastic, brand new park! It has a splash pad, sandy area, playground, picnic area, places to play basketball, soccer, and tennis; there are biking and hiking trails…it’s incredible!

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A beautiful park where you can explore and play!

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Indoor activities:

Luke at the Pioneer Museum

This is a gorgeous building right down town. It’s a free museum that is full of interesting facts and displays that teach about the history of Colorado Springs. My boys enjoy playing in the children’s play area, going to story hour, and riding the old elevator. (This is also a good place to go WITHOUT kids so that you can read and enjoy each exhibit a little more thoroughly.)

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This is a museum you will go through pretty fast, but if you are in the Broadmoor area, or have an interest in cars, this is a neat museum worth checking out! My boys still talk about it. It shows old race cars, including one that CRASHED with the video showing how it happened.

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Focus on the family has an incredible indoor play area with a giant four-story slide. There’s also an ice cream/snack shop and a bookstore so you may want to bring a few dollars with you, but it’s not necessary. You can play for FREE. Focus on the Family is such an amazing ministry, and it’s a fun place to visit if you are in town.

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We are blessed with an INCREDIBLE network of libraries in Colorado Springs! Besides being able to check out movies and books – You can attend dance classes, story time, or just play on the computers and with their toys! They have free classes for all ages!

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Take a tour of their facility and see what they do around the world! It’s interesting and fun for all ages.

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You can hike, visit the beautiful chapel, the visitor center, one of the playgrounds, or go to a game! This place is HUGE and worth visiting! Go to usafa.edu/visitors to see everything you can do here!

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A great view of Garden of the Gods park, interesting things to see inside, and history to learn.

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Activities that have Indoor and Outdoor Space:

A pretty place to hike outdoors and explore the exhibits indoors!

My youngest son, Luke, at the Bear Creek Nature Center

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This stone building was originally the home of the Starsmore family.  It serves as an introduction to Cheyenne Cañon and its beautiful waterfalls, rock formations, and trails. In the nature center you can get a map of the area, bird watch, and play with the hands-on exhibits.

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An aviation museum with lots of history to learn and planes to see. (Need to register 24 hours in advance to get on base)

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If you’d like to purchase Climb, Soar, Swim, Explore, click here, submit $10 and I will ship out your SIGNED copy! 

Click here for the best hikes to take in Colorado Springs!
Click here for 10 Bucket list items to do in Colorado Springs 

Click here for the best places to EAT in Colorado Springs

Click here for the best things to do in Manitou Springs

Ice cream at historic Patsy’s in Manitou Springs

Click here for FREE things to do in Breckenridge, CO


For 50+ activities to do with your kids, click here! 

Don’t forget to subscribe (on the right) so you don’t miss any posts! They’ll come right to your inbox.

0 In Colorado/ Colorado Springs/ Faith/ Finding our place/ House Hunting/ Moving/ Traveling

Taking a Leap of Faith

Come to the edge, He said.

They said: We are afraid.

Come to the edge, He said.

They came. He pushed them,

And they flew…

GUILLAUME APOLLINAIRE

We decided to put our house on the market, and it sold in three weeks (Click here to read about that).

NOW WHAT?

Well, the week we put our house on the market, a friend reached out to my husband to tell him that a company in Colorado Springs was hiring and that Ted would be a perfect fit. My husband immediately applied for this position.

We wanted to get to Colorado as soon as possible, but it would be several months before my husband knew if he got the job in Colorado Springs. How could we move there without any definite work or way to provide for our family. We discussed staying in Illinois and renting until we had things lined up perfectly.

Instead, we stepped out in faith. We believed that Colorado should be our new home and we were just going to take that LEAP. We would move forward and trust God to open the doors and go before us.

This “leap of faith” stuff is frightening. Imagine closing your eyes and jumping off into an abyss. How does that make you feel? That’s how I was feeling at that moment.

Where would we live?

How would we provide for our family?

How long until we found a job?

“I’ve spent my whole life trying to get less comfortable.  I don’t think God wants us to be comfortable.  I think God wants you and I to live right on the edge of YIKES.” – Bob Goff

Ted told his current employer about our decision to move. Instead of giving him the ‘two weeks notice,’ they let him keep his job!  They were able to work out an arrangement for him to work remote and travel back and forth from Colorado to Chicago on a monthly basis!

Then we had to decide where in Colorado we wanted to plant our roots.

Colorado Springs was the one spot that, even before ever visiting, seemed to be “calling my name. “ I thought that if Dr. Dobson, Focus on the Family and Compassion International could call this place home, then perhaps, so could we!  Plus, Colorado Springs is so beautiful with Pike’s Peak as its backdrop. It’s a city with so much to offer young families, plenty to do if you are seeking adventure, and a reasonable cost of living. After talking it through, that’s where we decided to go.

Once we had chosen our city, we had to find a place to live. Our closing date was soon approaching, and our moving company wanted to know where they were taking our stuff. I wanted to know where they’d be taking our stuff, too!

I had no idea how HARD it would be to find a home to rent in Colorado Springs. As soon as a good one would pop up online, I’d call, and then find out that it had already been rented! It was challenging, but I was at peace knowing that God was going before us. I knew there was a home for us in Colorado Springs.

With only one week before our closing date and move, Ted flew out to Colorado Springs for an in-person interview. He was also planning to nail down a place for us to live. I had been talking to a realtor, and she lined up three houses for him to tour. Unfortunately, he didn’t think any of them were right for us. When he called me that evening to tell me we still didn’t have a home, I took a deep breath and prayed: “God, I know you have a place for us. Please help us find it…soon. ”

Click here to find out how God answered our prayer! And please subscribe (in the column on the right) so you don’t have to miss an update.