Our Favorites in Colorado Springs
Garden of the Gods
Take a drive or a walk through Colorado Springs’ most famous landmark, and check out the iconic red rock formations, amazing mountain views, and plenty of trails…. for free! We love popping over to Garden of the Gods to get some fresh air after work in the summers — we also took our engagement photos there!
Pikes Peak
Nicknamed “America’s Mountain”, Pikes Peak towers above Colorado Springs at 14,115 feet. It is one of 58 “fourteeners” in Colorado, and the incredible views from the summit inspired the song “America the Beautiful”. The summit is accessible a few different ways — Maddie has done them all! Take the historic Pikes Peak Cog Railway, a scenic climb that winds through the mountains before dropping you at the summit. You do need to book tickets ahead of time -- click the "View" button to visit the website! The Pikes Peak Highway is a route you can drive all the way to the top, with plenty of scenic overlooks along the way. While the only way to hike to the summit requires a 13-mile grind up Barr Trail, there are still plenty of less demanding trails and scenic spots on and around the mountain!
Manitou Springs
Manitou is a small mountain town with a big personality! We love to spend a Saturday afternoon there grabbing a bite to eat, doing some shopping, or even getting a little competitive at the historic Penny Arcade! Manitou is also home to the infamous Manitou Incline, a 2768-step staircase up the side of a mountain. Whether you're in the mood for a challenge on the Incline, or just browsing and enjoying lunch with a view, Manitou is the spot!
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is America's only mountain-top zoo, and comes with beautiful views of the city, and (our personal favorite) the chance to hand-feed a giraffe! The zoo is always the perfect family excursion, especially on cooler days when you want to get outside. The zoo is also home to some Colorado natives like moose, mountain lions, and mountain goats!
Pulpit Rock
This quick 20-30 minute hike, located right off the intersection of Austin Bluffs Pkwy. and Nevada Ave., takes you to the top of a distinctive rock formation overlooking the city. This is a great family/beginner hike and it’s easily accessible. We love to go up for a quick walk in the evenings after work, set up some camping chairs, and hang out while enjoying the view! The parking situation can be a little confusing and the trailhead can be tricky to find, but we can help you out if you have questions!
Scheels
Part sporting‑goods store, part mall, part theme park, Scheels is a must-see hangout spot in Colorado Springs. Whether you’re in the mood for shopping, or eating, or playing games, or riding the indoor ferris wheel, Scheels somehow has literally everything. It’s a favorite weekend family outing for us, and somewhere we always recommend to people coming to visit — there’s definitely something for everyone!
Topgolf
Topgolf is a driving range for anyone who just wants to swing a club without taking themselves too seriously (like us)! It’s got delicious food and drinks (the mac n cheese bites are to die for) and games that make even the worst golfers feel like they’re crushing it!
Palmer Lake
Just north of Colorado Springs, Palmer Lake sits in the middle of a peaceful little town right at the foot of the mountains. There are plenty of walking paths, restaurants, and shops in the immediate area —paddleboarding at the Lake before grabbing lunch or an ice cream from the nearby Rock House cafe has become a summer staple for us!
Wayfinder Coffee Co.
Wayfinder is a favorite local coffee shop of ours! It’s travel-themed, has delicious drinks, pastries, and food, and is even open late, hosting live music, wine tastings, and other events on certain nights! Our favorite coffee treat is an affogato (espresso poured over vanilla ice cream), and Wayfinder has the best one in town!
Menya Briargate
Our favorite spot for ramen and Japanese cuisine! We love to go to Menya on cold or rainy days for some warm comfort food, and if you’re a fan of boba, theirs always hits the spot!
Josh & John's
Definitively named "the best ice cream in the Springs", Josh & John's is a downtown date night fave of ours! Some of our favorite flavors are salted peanut butter cup (Maddie's pick), oatmeal cookie (Kaiden's pick), and their signature Purple Mountain Majesty (everyone's pick!). We usually go to the downtown location, but there are a couple other locations (north and south), and even a shop in Manitou Springs that serves Josh & John's ice cream.
Urban Egg
Urban Egg is our go-to brunch restaurant. There's usually a long waitlist, especially on the weekends, but the wait is always worth it! The menu has a very wide range of options, so we're always switching up our orders, and it never disappoints! The location on North Nevada is probably the one we visit the most, but there are several locations all over the Springs.
Dos Dos
We are taco-holics, and have lots of taco spots and trucks we go to regularly, but if you want something a little more on the trendy side while you're checking out the downtown area, Dos Dos is where it's at! Their quesabirria tacos are incredible, and Maddie always has to get the fried plantains as an appetizer.
ViewHouse
ViewHouse is a Colorado good-time staple, combining everyone's favorite things: a something-for-everyone menu, patios with yard games, and (of course) beautiful views of the mountains. Grab a drink, share some apps, destroy your friends at cornhole, and soak up some of that Colorado sun! We've been to ViewHouse for birthday celebrations, date nights, get-togethers... Maddie even had her college graduation party here!
