The Tourist In Us

We started to explore the area here in Colorado Springs on Thursday.  In anticipation of coming here we had some ideas of the places we wanted to see and had planned on staying for about 5 days.  Well, since the RV park is just outstanding, the weather is beautiful and the tourist list has grown, we have extended our stay for another week and possibly a little longer.  The downside is that we do have to move our trailer to another site to continue our stay here.

First up on Thursday was to go to Pikes Peak.  The peak is 14,110 feet with a road leading to the top.  The access to the peak is controlled by the city and they charge $12 per person.  Oh well, we have to see it.  The drive is 19 miles to the top on a two lane road that is narrow with many switchbacks and hair pin curves.  It was an experience to drive it in a huge pick-up with dual rear wheels, especially with no guard rails and drop offs that would scare you. 

When we arrived at the entrance we were informed there would be delays on the road as they were paving and a car commercial was being filmed on the road.  We came across the production for the commercial and it appeared it was for a Cadillac as those were the two cars outfitted with cameras.  Not sure what model but it was their smaller crossover.  I mention all this because as we were leaving the peak we were stopped as the road was closed for the filming.  A production crew member came over to tell us and we started talking to him.  I asked if it was a Cadillac commercial and he said he was not allowed to say as it was some new model. 

We arrived at the top and immediately upon exiting the truck we both felt a little dizzy.  The limited oxygen could really be felt.  Here are some pictures from the top.

We learned that the song America the Beautiful was written after the writer visited Pikes Peak.  She wrote the song while staying in Colorado Springs.  There is a monument regarding this at the top.

Another view from the top

Supposedly the café at the top is famous for their donuts, but the ones in the café were plain donuts so we opted for the fudge dipped ones that were in the gift shop at $2.99 each.  Nothing special.

We descended the peak and stopped for lunch just outside the entrance at a restaurant called The Wines of Colorado.  It was a combination wine shop and restaurant.  Food was good and we sampled Colorado wines (not that impressed).

Next up was the Cliff Dwellings in Manitou Springs, just down the road from Pikes Peak park.  This was interesting and worth the stop.  These dwellings are over 700 years old.

For Friday we decided to do the Royal Gorge bridge.  Before reading up on this I had assumed it was a regular bridge as part of a highway.  As I read up on it on Thursday night I discovered it is a tourist destination.  The bridge is part of a larger park that has rides and activities.  The bridge just takes you to the other side of the gorge where many of the activities are.  The reviews online were mixed with many saying it was not worth the money, $25 per person, to see.  We decided we still wanted to see it, and are glad that we did.  The views from the bridge, the tram and the park were just spectacular.  The bridge is at 1000 feet over the gorge and is the largest suspension bridge in the United States.  When built in 1929 it was the largest in the world.  We walked the bridge then drove over it to have a picnic lunch on the other side. 

Walking the bridge

View from the aerial tram

View of the gorge from the bridge

View from the tram

Another ride was an incline railway that takes you down to the bottom of the gorge.

At the bottom

The ride back up

Fran having fun

Still on the list, Air Force Academy, Cheyenne Mountain State Park, Garden of the Gods park, Manitou Springs, Seven Falls and the Colorado Springs Zoo.