Colorado Springs

Introduction

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Although a sprawling urban area Colorado Springs is located right at the base of the beautiful Pikes Peak making for great hikes. Temperate weather year round and clean air makes this city an excellent place to visit. If you're looking for religion Focus on the Family might be the place for you. Wanting something a little more new age and exciting go to Manitou Springs for a visit.

Neighbourhoods

Sights and Activities

• Bristol Brewing Company
• Garden of the Gods is a free public park that is a collection stunning rock formation, some over 5 stories high, with great hikes and rock climbing.
• Phantom Canyon Brewery and Restaurant
• Professional Rodeo Hall Of Fame and Museum of the American Cowboy is located right off of I-25.

Events and Festivals

Weather

Getting There

By Plane

Colorado Springs has an airport (COS) at the southeast end of the city. Although this airport has connections to some major American cities and small cities in the American west no discount airlines are flying in at this time. Destinations include Las Vegas, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Salt Lake City, Denver, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington, D.C..

By Car

Driving into Colorado Springs can easily be done on I-25, Highway 24 or highway 115.

By Bus

Colorado Springs has a Greyhound bus station and daily commuter buses to Denver.

Getting Around

By Car

Colorado Springs is prairie on the east side and mountains on the west side. Public transportation is extremely basic so the only way to really get around town, other then inside downtown, is by having a car. I-25 runs north south down the city and Academy Blvd. does a loop out into the East suburbs. Highway 24 heads north west towards Manitou Springs, Colorado. While highway 115 heads south west around Fort Carson Military Base towards Florence, Colorado.

Many international rental companies have a wide selection of rental cars and these include Hertz, Avis, Dollar, Thrifty, Enterprise, Budget and Alamo/National. Most companies will require you are at least 25 years of age, although younger people might be able to rent cars at slightly higher rates and with some insurance differences as well. A national driver's license is usually enough, but an additional international one is recommended. Also note that it usually costs more to include lots of other extra things. For example extra drivers, GPS, the first full tank, SLI (Supplemental Liability Insurance), PAI (Personal Accident Insurance, usually covered already at home), road assistance/service plan, and drop-off costs for one-way rentals.
If you want to book a car, it is recommended that you book your car before arriving in the USA. This is almost always (much) cheaper compared to just showing up. Also, try and book with a so-called 'broker', which usually works together with a few or many car rental companies and can offer the best deal. Some examples include Holidayautos, Holidaycars and Sunny Cars. Some of the cheapest deals to book from Europe, includes Drive-USA, which also has a German version.

For more information and tips about renting cars and campers, additional costs, insurance, traffic rules, scenic routes and getting maps and fuel it is advised to check the USA Getting Around section.

By Public Transport

By Foot

By Bike

Eat

• Adam's Mountain Cafe is an excellent restaurant located in Manitou Springs.
• King Chef Diner is the classic American breakfast diner, eat there and join the clean plate club! Located in a purple castle just south of downtown only eat the green chili if you want something that burns.
• The Omelette Parlor is a nice breakfast place just off of south Nevada.

Drink

• The Golden Bee is a relocated British pub near the Broad Moor.
• Jack Quinns Pub an Irish theme bar located downtown with Irish sing along on thursday nights and occasional live music on the weekends.
• Navajo Hogan Road House is a bar on south Nevada with live music every weekend.

Sleep

Budget

Mid-Range

• Cheyenne Canon Inn is a nice bed and breakfast with rooms ranging from $125 to $200 a night.

• The Cliff House - A nice hotel located in Manitou Springs

• The Lennox House Bed and Breakfast is located near downtown Colorado Springs and serves a great breakfast. Rooms range from $130 to $200 a night.

Upscale

• The Broad Moor is a resort built in the beginning of the 20th century is everything someone would want from luxury in the Rocky Mountains.

Work

Learn

• Air Force Academy is a USA military academy and a very good school. Catching a football game here is always a good time
• Colorado College is a small private liberal arts school and is ranked very highly every year. It is on a unique education system called the Block Plan during which a student takes one class for 3 and half weeks then finishes it and then takes the next class.
• Pikes Peak Community College is a local school that is good for getting quick credits or a certification.
• University of Colorado at Colorado Springs is the local branch of the University of Colorado system and has several good degree programs.

Keep Connected

Internet

Phone

See also International Telephone Calls

Post

The US Postal Service is very good and well priced mail system. UPS stores can be found dotted throughout the city and will accept packages to be shipped by other carriers as well. Though you may pay a premium there, there is usually little or no line in these stores. This is a good alternative since, depending on time of day and the season, post offices can become fairly crowded. If wanting to send a letter or postcard it is best just to leave it in a blue mail box with the proper postage. There are also private postal services like FedEx, UPS and DHL.