Introduction
Colorado Springs is an ideal place for families who want to explore the outdoors. From hiking trails and parks to museums and educational institutions, there’s something for everyone. Here are 14 activities that will keep you entertained on your next trip to Colorado Springs:
1. Garden of the Gods
Located in Colorado Springs, this park is famous for its colorful sandstone formations and its proximity to the city. Visitors can hike, bike, and run on trails, play in playgrounds, view wildlife or just walk through the park to admire its scenery. If you have time, try going at sunrise or sunset when the lighting is more dramatic. Entrance fees are $8 per vehicle on weekdays and $10 per vehicle on weekends. Take I-25 north from Denver to exit 148B/C; follow CO 115 south toward Manitou Springs until it ends at Ruxton Ave.; turn left onto Ruxton Ave.; continue driving south until reaching CO 24A; turn right onto CO 24A; take the second left onto Mesa Road (CR 14); continue driving east for about 1 mile until reaching Garden of Gods Road; take right at Garden of Gods Road (CR 9).
2. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is a family-friendly attraction that’s perfect for everyone in your group. It’s open year-round, so you can visit any time. The zoo has an impressive collection of animals from all over the world, including lions, tigers, and bears (oh my!). You’ll also find pandas at this Colorado Springs attraction.
There are several different types of tickets you can buy when you go to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, including admission only or special features like express entry or front-of-the-line access. You can also choose between single-day passes or multi-day passes if you want to go more than once during your trip to Colorado Springs.
The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo hosts regular events throughout the year like feeding opportunities and holiday celebrations. Check out their website for more details!
3. National Museum of World War II Aviation
The National Museum of World War II Aviation is located at the Colorado Springs Municipal Airport and is open from 10 AM to 4 PM Tuesday through Saturday. The museum offers guided tours, as well as self-guided tours. Guided tours are $5 per person and last 90 minutes; self-guided tours are free with admission and last 30 minutes.
The museum houses more than 100 planes, including a Japanese Zero fighter plane that was shot down over Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in 1941 and later recovered by divers in 2009; an A6M5c Zero carrier fighter plane that has been restored to its original condition; a B-17E Flying Fortress bomber plane used during WWII; a P-40E Kittyhawk fighter plane used by American pilots in North Africa; a PT-13D Kaydet primary training aircraft that was part of the Civilian Pilot Training Program from 1939–1944 (this program trained more than half million civilians); an F4U Corsair single-engine carrier fighter plane used by both US Navy pilots and British Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm squadrons; two Lockheed Ventura medium twin-engined bombers (one on display outside the museum building itself)
4. Red Rock Canyon
Red Rock Canyon is located southeast of the city, and it’s a great place to go for a hike or take in the views. The park has an amazing array of rock formations and was designated as a national conservation area in 1991 due to its unique geological features. There are many hikes you can choose from to get different perspectives of the canyon, including beginner-friendly trails like the Hidden Valley Trail or popular loops like Mills Peak Loop Trail or Bear Creek Rim Loop Trail. You can also see plenty of wildlife if you visit at dusk—there are coyotes, deer, birds, bighorn sheep…you name it!
If you want something shorter and more relaxing than hiking all day long (or if you have little ones who don’t have much stamina), try one of the scenic drives through these areas instead: North Rim Drive Scenic Byway; Avalanche Creek Road Scenic Byway; Thirsty Canyon Road Scenic Byway; West Rim Drive Scenic Byway; Seven Falls Road Scenic Byway
5. United States Air Force Academy
The United States Air Force Academy is located in Colorado Springs, CO. While you may not be able to visit the actual base itself (unless you’re a member of the USAF), there are plenty of ways to get an up close and personal look at what it takes to be an officer in the US Air Force.
The purpose of this academy is twofold: 1) To train future officers for active duty in the US Air Force, and 2) To educate cadets on leadership development, military history, and ethics. The campus itself is gorgeous with plenty of opportunities for fun activities including hiking trails and horseback riding!
Visiting this campus requires several steps before arrival so make sure that you have everything ready beforehand – including reservations on campsites if applicable! If all else fails though just drop by during normal business hours Monday through Friday from 8 am until 5 pm PST without making any special arrangements beforehand; however we recommend calling ahead first just because sometimes things don’t always go as planned (plus who doesn’t love talking about their favorite subject matter?).
6. Cosmo’s Magic Theater
If you’re traveling with the kids, or just want a fun activity to do while in Colorado Springs, take them to Cosmo’s Magic Theater. Located in downtown Colorado Springs, this children’s theater is named after its original magician: Cosmo! The theater has been around since 1979 and has hosted thousands of performances since then. If your kids love seeing magic tricks like David Copperfield and Criss Angel perform on TV (or even if they don’t), they’ll love what Cosmo can do for them during their visit.
7. North Cheyenne Cañon Park and Starsmore Discovery Center
North Cheyenne Cañon Park is a great place to hike, bike, or picnic. However, the real highlight of North Cheyenne Cañon Park is Starsmore Discovery Center. This hands-on museum has planetarium shows and butterfly houses that are fun for all ages. If you are looking for something fun to do in Colorado Springs with kids, Starsmore Discovery Center should be at the top of your list.
The gift shop at Starsmore Discovery Center has lots of educational toys and games so you can bring home a souvenir from your visit!
8. Olympic Training Center
The Olympic Training Center is the official training site for all U.S. Olympic and Paralympic athletes. It’s located in Colorado Springs, and it offers a wide range of facilities for athletes to use. Even if you’re not an Olympian, though, you can still enjoy yourself at this site! The Olympic Training Center has public ice skating rinks where you can skate at any time except for when they’re being used by the athletes themselves. There are also restaurants so that you can grab something to eat while there (and maybe even pick up some souvenirs). If you want to see what it’s like inside one of these facilities or just get some exercise outside with your family members or friends, then this could be fun for anyone who goes there!
9. Old Colorado City Historic District
The Old Colorado City Historic District is the oldest neighborhood in Colorado Springs and one of the most scenic. The area’s historic buildings, shops, and restaurants have made it a popular destination for walking, biking, or jogging. You can also take a ride on the Pikes Peak Cog Railway (see below) to get an aerial view of this charming neighborhood.
10. U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum
The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum is located at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO. Visitors can explore several interactive exhibits that highlight American athletes and their accomplishments in the Olympics and Paralympics, as well as learn about the history of sports in America and how they are governed by USA Track & Field (USATF). The museum is free to visit, though there may be special events or programs that require an additional ticket purchase. It’s open daily from 10 am-5 pm during the regular season; please check their website for more information about hours outside of this period.
11. Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum
The Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum is one of the city’s most popular attractions. Located on the scenic grounds of Colorado College, it’s been open since 1873 and houses over 50,000 artifacts from its history. Some of the most notable items include:
- General William Jackson Palmer’s desk
- Teddy Roosevelt’s rocking chair (with horsehair stuffing!)
- A collection of Winchester rifles
12. Helen Hunt Falls
How to get there: You can reach this hike from the Bear Creek Trailhead, which is located near Garden of the Gods. From I-25, take exit 14 and go south on US 24 for about 7 miles until you reach 31st Street. Turn left onto US 24 and continue driving west for another 2 miles until you reach a large Y-intersection with traffic lights on your right. Go straight through these lights onto Pikes Peak Avenue and follow it until it dead ends into Bear Creek Road; turn left here and park in one of the many parking lots that line both sides of Bear Creek Road (you’ll pass several trailheads on your right). The trailhead for Helen Hunt Falls is located at 1615 S Holly Street in Colorado Spring’s Woodmen Valley neighborhood. If you’re coming by car but don’t want to drive out there yourself, Uber has plans where you can schedule an Uber driver to pick you up at any major airport or bus station within their service area—which includes Colorado Springs International Airport (COS) as well as Denver International Airport (DEN).
What to expect: This hike shouldn’t take more than two hours round trip if you’re going at a moderate pace with young children or pets in tow; however, if you plan on exploring other areas along this path such as Deer Ridge Open Space Area or Pawnee Buttes Natural Area Reserve then allow yourself ample time since those destinations require additional driving time from Helen Hunt Falls itself.*What should I bring? Here are some things that might come in handy when visiting natural spaces like these: binoculars/field guides for birdwatching; water bottles; snacks like granola bars/fruit cups/string cheese sticks (etc); sunscreen (plus sunglasses if needed); hats & layers depending on weather conditions!
This particular hike requires little physical exertion so most people should be able to enjoy themselves without breaking into too much sweat 🙂 However, be aware that summer
13. Seven Bridges Trail
The Seven Bridges Trail is open year-round, but it can get snowy in the winter. It’s a 3.2-mile trail that connects the east and west sides of Cheyenne Canyon. The trail passes through seven bridges, including one that crosses over a waterfall where you can see wildlife like deer and bears.
To get to Hooker Falls, take North Gate Road from I-25 and turn left onto Cheyenne Canyon Road at Eldorado Springs Drive (you’ll see signs for Hooker Falls). Follow this road until you reach its end at the parking area for Hooker Falls visitor center. You may want to pack some water shoes because there are many rocks along the path!
14. Seven Falls
- Seven Falls is family-friendly
- It’s a great place for a hike
- It’s a great place to cool off on a hot day
- You can take pictures there, too!
Conclusion
Here at Springs, we know that it can be hard to decide what to do with your free time. We hope you enjoyed this list and found some things that sound exciting to you!