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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).

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For the 10 best things to do in Colorado Springs…

CLICK HERE!

October 12, 2017 By
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12 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/

 

September 23, 2017 By
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18 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.

September 12, 2017 By
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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.

September 4, 2017 By
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