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Top 10 Things to Do in Colorado Springs

Things To Do In Colorado Springs

If you’re searching for a perfect destination for those who love culture or nature, it doesn’t get much better than Colorado Springs. And it’s even better if you love both!

There’s no shortage of beauty to admire, history to absorb, and good food to eat, both in restaurants and in via alternative options like food trucks.

As the second-largest city in the state of Colorado, Colorado Springs has plenty to offer. It is, however, quite spread out, so you’ll want to explore by car. If you’re traveling by air, be sure to rent a car as soon as you arrive.

Surrounded by magnificent views of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, this is a worthy destination for your next family or solo trip. Read on to learn more about the wondrous things this city has to offer via our very own top-10 things you can’t miss!

1. Enjoy the Beautiful View from the Summit of Pikes Peak

While it’s not the highest peak in Colorado Springs, the stunning view from Pikes Peak makes it a favorite for locals and visitors alike. You can reach it via Pikes Peak Highway, the Cog Railway, or — if you want to walk — via the Barr Trail. Be sure to take advantage of the natural beauty and get that that Insta shot to brag a little on your social-media channels.

2. Walk Through the Garden of Gods

This breathtaking park delivers a stunning mix of snowy views and more than 300 sandstone formations. The stunning contrast of colors makes another perfect backdrop for your trip photos. Garden of the Gods is a natural wonder and a must-see!

3. Eat Something Delicious from One of the City’s Food Trucks

There’s no shortage of good food options here, but for a more casual option, you must visit some of the famous Colorado Springs food trucks. They’re anything but conventional. You’ll find a range of delicious options that go from tacos to barbecue, and even gourmet ice cream. The selection is truly something extraordinary that you won’t find anywhere else.

4. Check Out the Art Galleries at Manitou Springs

This National Historic District is full of authentic hippie charm and old-school cafes that will take you back in time. It’s the perfect place to spend hours wandering on foot with no particular destination.

5. Visit the Manitou Springs Penny Arcade

This arcade will take you on a perfect trip down memory lane, where you can enjoy more than 400 old gaming machines. It’s not only fun but also very inexpensive because the machines still operate on pennies, just as they did back in the day.

6. Check Out the Wildlife at North Cheyenne Canon Park

The magical outdoors come alive in North Cheyenne Canon Park. It’s perfect for spotting mountain lions, black bears, and deer – and a must-see for animal and nature lovers.

7. Go to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

This phenomenal zoo is another great stop for animal lovers, especially if you’re traveling with younger kids and want to see some local critters up close.

8. Get Inspired at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center

This cultural center boasts an incredible sculpture garden. It also hosts a fantastic collection of Latin American Art, including folk art and Mexican clay works.

9. Go for a Hike at Red Rock Canyon Park

Spanning about 787 acres, Red Rock Canyon Park is the perfect place to enjoy nature in a hike or do some cycling and climbing. It’s also a photographer’s dream, so enjoy the view and take pictures of the vast, striking red cliffs that are the park’s mainstay.

10. Explore Old Colorado City

Founded in 1859, Old Colorado City was the original capital of Colorado. It will transport you directly to the 19th Century’s Wild West, where you can shop for curios at the many locally-owned shops.

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10 Best Places to Eat in Colorado Springs

Best Places To Eat Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs, Colorado, is an unexpected, yet delightful, culinary destination. The local chefs effectuate a delicate balance of traditional fodder and cutting-edge cuisine.

This city’s eating establishments include everything from fancy traditional restaurants to contemporary alternatives led by visionary new chefs, unusual decadent desserts, and some fabulous food trucks! You would be hard-pressed to run out of incredible places to enjoy scrumptious snacks or meals in this special place.

Our top “can’t-miss” recommendations for your next visit to Colorado Springs include:

Piglatin Cocina

This one began as a food truck and now has a brick-and-mortar location. It specializes in pork-fusion Latin American Dishes that feature jalapeños, plantain, and arepa sliders. Even though they currently serve in an indoor restaurant, they didn’t abandon their food-truck roots: Your food is still served in simple cardboard containers.

The Pepper Tree

With fantastic city views and food shows served to tables in mobile carts and flambeed right in front of you, this is a dining experience you don’t want to miss. This restaurant offers traditional favorites, including its signature Pepper Steak. More than just a restaurant, the Pepper Tree is considered a Colorado Springs institution.

Shuga’s

In addition to having an attractive eclectic decor, multicultural and truly global menu options, and a quaint patio to lounge on, Shuga’s also invites guests to stay for Cinemaholix. This film club is as lovely as the Brazilian Spicy Shrimp Soup. You don’t want to miss this stop, either!

Mountain Shadows Restaurant

Mountain Shadows is the place to visit for the best breakfast of a lifetime. This is a family-run operation that serves the best (and biggest) cinnamon rolls, as well as some incredible hash browns with mouthwatering green chili. Forget the diet. You’re on vacation!

503W

If cocktails are more your speed, you’ll want to stop by 503W, because this place has some excellent craft ones. Order a side of Asian-fusion offerings and have the night of your life.

Lake Terrace Dining Room at The Broadmoor

The Lake Terrace Dining Room at the acclaimed Broadmoor Hotel is famous for its delectable Bananas Foster. The menu is extensive, but whatever you order, finish it with these legendary dessert bananas, which are the true local star. If you can visit on a Sunday, you’ll get a chance to enjoy the exquisite brunch experience.

Moxie

Moxie is perfect for vegans and plant-based eaters. The menu varies with the seasons, but the flavor doesn’t. Anything you order is 100% plant-based and delicious!

Now, here you will some of the best food trucks in Colorado Springs and the country, so no list of food recommendations would be complete without them. Hunt them down with the Truckster App for the full culinary experience that Colorado Springs has to offer:

  • Dvine Ice Cream – Stop at Dvine for the best gourmet and most indulgent ice cream around. Try the premium wine flavors – including Champagne Vanilla, Peach Crisp with Riesling, Mint Chip with Pinot Grigio, and Dark Chocolate Brownie with Sangiovese – for the ultimate mix of creamy texture and spectacular flavor.
  • Sando San Food Truck – At Sando’s, you’ll get delicious, unique Japanese sandwiches and sushi. Request unusual combinations, and the chef will be happy to accommodate you.
  • Sapo Guapo Tacos Food Truck – If you’re a taco-lover, this is the truck to visit. The Korean BBQ tacos are highly rated and recommended by many regular customers. Yum!

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Famous People from Colorado Springs

Famous People From Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs, Colorado, is the birthplace of a multitude of prominent Americans from a horde of professions and industries. In fact, some of these notable folks boast worldwide fame. Read on to learn more about some of Truckster’s favorite celebs from this Colorado Springs:

Dorothy Marie “Dottie” Metcalf-Lindenburger

Born in Colorado Springs, Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger is a former teacher and American NASA astronaut, who was selected as an Educator Mission Specialist in 2004. She was the first Space Camp alumna to become an astronaut and was honored in 2007 as the inaugural inductee into the Space Camp Hall of Fame.

Kelly Bishop

Kelly Bishop is the beloved actress and dancer who might be best known as the matriarch Emily Gilmore on television’s Gilmore Girls and the mother of Jennifer Grey’s Frances “Baby” Houserman in the film Dirty Dancing. She trained as a ballerina in Denver but originally hailed from Colorado Springs. Kelly originated the role of Sheila in “A Chorus Line.”

Anne Parrish

Anne Parrish was a novelist whose most notable works for children included The Dream Coach, Floating Island, and The Story of Appleby Capple. She was a three-time runner-up for the Newberry Award.

Bob Sapp

Bob Sapp is a worldwide famous football player and wrestler. During his career, he won two black belts and played for the Minnesota Vikings and the Chicago Bears. Today, he is known mostly as a kickboxer and mixed martial artist. If you’re lucky, you might catch Bob eating at one of the food trucks in Colorado Springs!

Sherry Stringfield

Sherry Stringfield is a television actress you’ll probably recognize if you watched NBC’s ER in the ‘90s. Her portrayal of Dr. Susan Lewis garnered her several Emmy nominations, and you’ll still see her regularly on your screens today.

Talcott Parsons

Talcott was a sociologist of the classical tradition and considered one of the most influential of the 20th Century. He is best known for his work on social-action theory and structural functionalism and was a crucial player in the establishment of the Department of Social Relations at Harvard University. His pioneering social-action theory was the first generalizable theory of social systems.

Michelle Waterson

Michelle Waterson is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) She won the Atomweight of the Year in 2013, the Most Vulgar Display of Power Award in the same year, and the Fight of the Year in 2014. She has also done some modeling, which contributed to her wide popularity.

Martin Filler

Martin Filler is an American architecture critic and essayist, best known for his long essays about modern architecture in the New York Review of Books. He also writes about art, prominent artists, and general design.

Ancel Keys

Ancel Keys was a pioneering physiologist who studied the influence of diet on health and was the first to hypothesize that dietary saturated fat could be a culprit in cardiovascular disease. Modern diet studies confirmed the connection, and today’s dietary guidelines recommend avoiding those fats as much as possible. Keys also published The Biology of Human Starvation and popularized the Mediterranean Diet as a healthy ideal.

Paul L. Kirk

A chemist and forensic scientist, Paul Kirk specialized in microscopy and was a pioneer in criminalistics. He is most famous for working on the case and leading the conviction and later acquittal of Sam Sheppard.

Augie Lohman

Angie Lohman is a special-effects artist whose most notable work was in the movie The Last Voyager, which won him an Academy Award nomination.