Colorado Springs Off The Beaten Path

Looking for a place to take a walk, perhaps view some nature, and get away from the beaten path, Nancy and I chose Bear Creek Nature Center, an El Paso County-owned park on the outskirts of Colorado Springs. It is a very nice park and includes an exceptional visitor's center with a lot of very interesting nature exhibits geared for kids, but enjoyable by adults.

224 Total steps that are located right next to the Seven Falls. At night they have a light show on the falls.

We were not used to the high altitude so we had only made it to the first landing. Of course I was also leary of the open stairs. I always imagine my foot going right through it, and down I will go. :)

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One of my favorite afternoons in Colorado was spent with my family driving "the back way" to Cripple Creek. The back way is called Gold Camp Road, and it has some great scenery. From the start, you will see wonderful views of Colorado Springs. As you go up in elevation and get away from the town, you will see deer and possibly elk...we also saw turkeys during our drive. Later you will drive along roads with sheer drop offs and no guardrails--not for the faint of heart! You will also pass through an old tunnel carved through the rock. At the other end, you will end up in Victor, Colorado; a great spot to grab a beer!

To get to Gold Camp Road: go toward Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (behind the Broadmoor), then take Old Stage Road... after a few miles, turn onto Gold Camp Road. The trip takes 2-3 hours and the road is closed during much of the year due to snow.... Even in May, parts of the road were iced covered, causing us to consider turning around.

Under highway 24,before Manitou,there is a waterfall.It is on the South side of the highway,if you are going West. It can not be seen from the highway.You go down a dirt road and it dead ends.You hike a very short distance.Great place for a hot summer day to get cooled off.

If you ever find yourself up in the wee hours in the morning with a rumbling in your belly, noting is better then Albertacos. It is on the corner of Austin Bluffs and Barns. They make the best breakfast burritos in town! One warning, it is not a place to go during the day. I have found that it is only good after a long night of drinking and fun.

"Briargate Mustangs" were commissioned in 1987 by Vintage Communities and dedicated in May of 1988. This public art is the creation of horseman and self-taught artist T.D. Kelsey of Elbert.

Located near Briargate shopping center.

This was originally erected as an early mixed-use building. Prominent residents, including Spencer Penrose, founder of the Broadmoor Hotel and the El Pomar Foundation, occupied apartments on the second floor. Storefronts housed a drugstore, grocery, china shop, tailor’s shop and offices in 1910.
Built 1897 / Architect Thomas MacLaren

Address" 17 East Bijou Street

Historic Downtown Colorado Springs Walking Tour

This imposing, formal building served as the center of municipal government from its construction in 1904 until 1980. A major rehabilitation project in 2000-01 restored the building as City Hall, which once again contains the City Council chambers, as well as offices for the Mayor, City Council and the City Manager. Part of the civic complex that includes the City Auditorium and the 1998 Robert M. Isaac Municipal Court to the east.

The $140,000 building reflected the prestige and affluence generated by the
Cripple Creek mining district. This is the earliest of the Classical Revival public
buildings downtown, and reflects the influence of the City Beautiful Movement.
The name of the building, carved into the frieze in 1921, may have been added to
identify and distinguish this building from the City Auditorium located south
across Kiowa Street.

Architect Barber and MacLaren.

Address: 107 North Nevada Avenue

Historic Downtown Colorado Springs Walking Tour

This building represents the efforts of the Young Women’s Christian Association, which was initiated locally in 1899. A fundraising campaign began in 1909 and by 1912, this building emerged to provide classrooms, a gymnasium, and dining area, private rooms and space for religious, social and cultural activities. Used as a hospital by the Red Cross during the influenza epidemic of 1918-19, the building also served as the USO center during World War II.
Architect was Nicholas van den Arend. Continuing in its cultural mission until 1971, the building was threatened with demolition until the William A. Simpsons, a local family involved in banking, purchased and rehabilitated it for commercial use.
Architect Nicholas van den Arend.

Address: 130 East Kiowa Street.

Historic Downtown Colorado Springs Walking Tour

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The Mining Exchange Building, where the Cripple Creek millionaires used to trade, is one of a few buildings that left from old Colorado Springs.

This five-story, 1902 building was constructed by Winfield Scott Stratton. The first structure in the city to rise above four stories, the Mining Exchange was also the first fully fireproof office building. The original walls at the ground floor were gray granite, but were covered with the existing Italian marble panels in a 1963 remodeling project. The architect was T. E. Linn and the builders were Roberts and Bishoff.

Now different offices are located in the building, however, you can come in and look at the pictures of Colorado Springs early 1900s on the first floor, try elevator (very funny old looking thing that makes me tremble in disbelief it will bring me to the right floor but not down-down-down). If you go upstairs, you may even find old doors with old signs, like one on the picture, also to see fine work of banisters.

Architectural Style: Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals/Italian Renaissance

Address: 8 S. Nevada Ave./127-29 E. Pikes Peak Ave.