Linda Duval - Insiders Guide® to Colorado Springs

INSIDERS GUIDE TO

COLORADO SPRINGS

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INSIDERS GUIDE

Copyright 2011 Morris Book Publishing, LLC

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, except as may be expressly permitted in writing from the publisher. Requests for permission should be addressed to Globe Pequot Press, Attn: Rights and Permissions Department, P.O. Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437.

Insiders Guide is a registered trademark of Morris Book Publishing, LLC.

Editor: Kevin Sirois

Project Editor: Lynn Zelem

Layout: Joanna Beyer

Text Design: Sheryl Kober

Maps: Sue Murray Morris Book Publishing, LLC

ISBN 978-0-7627-6469-3

Printed in the United States of America

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Linda DuVal grew up in the Midwest but has lived in Colorado Springs for more than 40 years. She attended St. Cloud State University in Minnesota for three years, finishing her degree at the University of Southern Colorado. She was a reporter, staff writer, and section editor for The Gazette in Colorado Springs for 32 years. She has been freelancing since 2004, focusing on travel journalism but also writing about food, wine, architecture, and general features. She has been a member of the Society of American Travel Writers since 1999 and is a Lowell Thomas award-winner. She specializes in Colorado and the Rocky Mountain West. She also has a local website, Pikes Peak on the Cheap (www.pikespeakonthecheap.com), which tells both residents and visitors about freebies, bargains, and deals for dining, lodging, shopping, and events. Linda is a regular contributor to regional magazines and newspapers, and her work has appeared in The Writer, a national publication, and online for HGTV, AOL Travel, and other websites. After all this time, she still is fascinated by Colorado and the Pikes Peak region and takes every opportunity to tell others about it.

Marty Banks has a long and deep history with Colorado. While growing up in Southern California, she spent a few summers in Fort Collins with her college-age brothers. Simply to be different, she chose to attend the University of Colorado-Boulder. After earning a degree in journalism, Marty moved to Colorado Springs where shes been ever sinceminus a few journeys along the way. She has been an associate editor at Western Horseman magazine, a technical editor at Digital Equipment Corporation, a marketing writer and account executive for clients such as the United States Olympic Committee, and now is a freelance writer. Marty also writes fiction. Shes attended the University of Iowa Writers Workshop, has published adult short stories and creative nonfiction, and is a member of the Society of Childrens Book Writers and Illustrators. Her childrens picture book, The Splatters Learn Some Manners, was honored as a finalist in childrens literature at the 2010 Colorado Book Awards. Learn more from her website: www.martymoklerbanks.com.

Writing this book was a real learning experience! Between us, we have lived in the Pikes Peak region and written about it for more than 65 years. Still, we learned something new every day as we pursued information to fill the various chapters. Needless to say, this book wasnt written in a vacuum.

First, we need to thank Rick DuVal for his enduring and sometimes frustrating work on the maps that accompany and illustrate the text in this book. Without the maps, you might be disoriented, indeed.

We also need to thank some local sources of assistance and information: Matt Mayberry of the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum for vetting the history chapter; and, for quick answers to endless questions, Chelsy Murphy of Experience Colorado Springs, Floyd ONeil of the Manitou Springs Chamber of Commerce, Leslie Weddell at Colorado College, and Kurt Schroeder at the city of Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services.

Also thanks to Sean Anglum at the Kennedy Center Imagination Celebration; and Jackie McGee, Stephanie Kasanicky, and Lynette Wheaton at ERA Shields Real Estate. And, for their expert guidance, we are grateful to Lisa Heaston, Jeff Cooper, and Rob McGee.

Also, thanks to the countless others who answered questions, returned phone calls, filled out questionnaires, and responded to e-mails. They each, in their own way, helped write this book.

Finally, we want to thank Globe Pequot Press for the opportunity to really explore our region, and a special thanks goes to Kevin Sirois, the most laid-back, reasonable, and cooperative editor ever!

What a marvelous place this is! Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak region not only offer stunning scenery, a fantastic climate, an abundance of things to see and do, but its a great place to live as well as visit. For a city of its size, it has remarkable resources for outdoor recreation, a broad range of great dining, plenty of lodging in all price ranges, abundant nightlife, a real love of the arts, an eclectic mix of shopping opportunities, and enough attractions to keep visitors coming back year after year. Sure, there are a few tourist trapsbut theyre mostly fun. What youll find really appealing here is its authenticityrare geological features and a great outdoors you cant beat. Its history is short (compared to many cities) but well preserved.

Colorado Springs was named one of the 2011 Dozen Distinctive Destinations by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Its walkable historic areas, natural attractions and ample recreational opportunities helped it win this distinction.

Its a family-friendly city, with tons of stuff to do with kids. There are more parks than you can count, and more hiking trails than you could master in years of wandering. Open space has been planned into the rapidly growing metropolitan area, so theres always a place to run with your dog or take off on your bike.