What's it like in Colorado Springs??? (move, activities, outdoor)

[Jubi]

I don't even live there yet, and it's like some of you don't even know of the places in your own back yards. Music venues:

MySpace.com - The Black Sheep - Colorado Springs, Colorado - 2-step - www.myspace.com/sodajerkcospgs

MySpace.com - Rocket Room, A Music Venue - Colorado Springs, Colorado - Rock / Rockabilly / Country - www.myspace.com/therocketroom

MySpace.com - The Element - COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado - Rock / Indie / Acoustic - www.myspace.com/theelementmusic

MySpace.com - Union Station - 69 - Male - Colorado Springs, US - www.myspace.com/unionstation

That's just in COS. There's a few in Denver and some larger venues as well.
Check this out:

Colorado Springs Local Music

I hope that helps.

[froggin4colorado]

DH works at USAFA as a firefighter and he says that the cadets always find plenty to get into and do...grin!!
Stay out of trouble and have fun- you will enjoy your time in Colorado Springs.

[ryanek9freak]

Yeah absolutley!! What are you guys talking about? There's the Black sheep over on platte, and Union Station. Recentley we've had some serious band come there, Like Drowning Pool and Tantric. ( I went to the drowning pool concert)

If you think there's nothing to do here, you seriously need to open your eyes.

Of course this is coming from someone who almost lives at the Dublin House.

[COflower]

It's totally not this generation but I have seen Sting here in C Springs. Other bands come here but The World Arena and even our lowly Pikes Peak Center brings in some big "acts". Granted Denver gets the majority of the hip and happenin' acts as their venues are much more than what we have but that's a pretty short drive to most of them up there.

Dating myself again, I saw Robert Plant on the 4th of July (Independence Day for those that are like me and care) 1987 at Red Rocks. Oh My Gosh...best show ever and the lightning in the plains only added to the serious show he had. Red Rocks is a serious MUST GO for anyone that lives in Colorado. I don't care what talent it is, it's worth it.

< never mind the passing of the mary jane > I don't do that, I don't but sure is fun!

[Fourteener]

Congrats on your USAFA appointment! My bro graduated a few years back, and my family was a host family. I still consider those x-cadets my extended brothers/sisters, we keep in touch and they look up my parents whenever they're back in the area.

True, USAFA will take up most of your leisure time. Most often the cadets prefered to simply hang out at our house and chill, some assemblance of a 'normal' life, if only for a day or weekend. For casual entertainment they'd go to movies, Chapel Hills Mall, restaurants, etc. along Academy Blvd. You can usually spot other cadets there since it's close by. You do have to SEEK OUT things to do in Colo.Spgs, it won't be as advertised or obvious as in a bigger action-packed city. For serious entertainment (big-name concerts, football, baseball, etc.) the cadets would usually head to Denver. But, plenty of acts roll through Colo.Spgs, too, at the World Arena and I even remember a few good ones right there at Arnold Hall!

Congrats again and Good Luck!!

[smguy101]

Well Sting and Drowning Pool are bands i like, so that's cool. I know until 2010 that I wont get much leisure time, but after 2010 when Im allowed to leave campus everyday and own a car is what im worried about. I talked to a couple of my parent's friends who lived in COS. They told me that Denver isn't that far so i wont be totally left in the dark.

[Colabear]

We visited New Life last Sunday and really enjoyed it. There seem to be a lot of good non-denominational churches in Springs. I think it's a pretty good town to explore and the younger folks I talked to told me they liked having so much to do so close by...Winter sports, live music venues, other recreational opportunities.

[ColoradoKirk]

For snowboarding, I'd have to go with Monarch Mountain, which is about 2 hours west, but definitely worth the beautiful drive out. MUCH less crowded than the resorts just west of Denver, and the snow is amazing. Also a very laid back vibe.

For Mexican, I'd check out Alice's, downtown. I guess technically it's Tex-Mex, but the reviews are great. They're known for their Tres Leches. Yum.

[westernhalf]

Congrats on the Academy acceptance. We've lived here for over 20 years, and it really is a great place to be, for the scenery if nothing else. Our college-aged son is always going to concerts--usually in Denver--but there have been good ones here, too. His latest was Death Cab for Cutie at Red Rocks Amphitheater.
As for churches, you will just have to check some out, but New Life, Woodmen Valley Chapel, Rocky Mountain Calvary are popular ....I'm pretty sure that New Life has tons of people in your age group, and it may be true for the others as well. I second the fact that your sponsoring family will be important for how you feel about your off-campus time here.
As for Mexican restaurants, we recently tried Pueblo Viejo (on North Acadamy Blvd.), and really liked it. It seemed authentic to me--I liked my mole dish--which few restaurants seem to serve. And it looked like it was family-owned.
Football games at the Academy are something else. We're not into football, but the one day we went, it was like a three-ring circus--really entertaining! Cadets were doing pushups on the field, a falconer was having his falcon dive and fly around, and I think a Thunderbird might have roared overhead. Oh, and there was a football game, too. I don't know if you've been to an Academy graduation, but people stop in parking lots and off the roads for miles around to watch those incredible Thunderbirds perform.
Well, welcome to Colorado Springs!

[kimod74]

Use things like the Independent Newspaper or GO! in the Gazette to see what's up with the local music scene. Yes, there are many bands playing and things going on. You have to be on top of things, sniff out your entertainment (if you will). You can find things to do here, just be pro active about it! Tons of movie theaters, shopping, restaurants to choose from. Other forms of entertainment like hiking and biking trails abound here. Not to mention the absolute beautiful land the Academy itself is on has some wonderful hiking trails. One of my favorite trails on the AFA land goes up to Stanley resevoir. Good luck.