Plan our Spring Break (Denver, Colorado Springs: coupon, to rent, amusement park)

[davit]

Three kids: first grade, sixth grade and seventh grade, March 23rd - 27th (same as Co Springs schools), myself and the wife. This trip will be both to see the sights and sell the family on Colorado; we are driving from Wisconsin.

Wife and I are experienced with altitude, having ski-bummed Steamboat 1990-91. LOVED the hot springs at the fitness center (Strawberry Park was great too but interesting for us modest folks....)

Tentatively on the List:

Pikes Peak (drive, weather permitting)
Garden of the Gods
Air Force Academy
Hot Springs?
Royal Gorge

Free or cheap gets top priority

We will also be looking for a future neighborhood, prefer established with sidewalks and one-story homes (we are getting older) in the 200K range.

Thanks in advance for all the help and insight. This forum rocks!

[CS-Urbanist]

I would not bother with the Royal Gorge. Really expensive for what it is... Check out the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs and maybe walk around the Broadmoor Hotel. Another fun activity for only the cost of gas is hiking at Helen Hunt Falls (may want to wear shoes good on ice pending on when you are here). Continue the drive from there along Gold Camp Road. Kids always enjoy driving on the side of a mountain through mountain tunnels, etc. Always a crowd pleaser (unless a great fear of heights).

As far as a home, I would look around the Patty Jewet Golf Course area. Another area that may be of interest to you is along Cheyenne Road.

[Bullitt007]

US Olympic Training Center is also another good visit.

I too am from Wisconsin...been out here for over three years now and love it.

I work at the Air Force Academy, so PM me if you want and I'll help you in planning your visit to the Academy.

I live on the east side of town...great schools, lot's to do, and great neighborhood. (Stetson Hills)

You'll find some great deals pretty much everywhere in the Springs...just stay away from the higher crime areas on the south side of town.

[froggin4colorado]

If you stroll down through Manitou, stop in at the BAC, its free. There is a small art gallery and you might luck out with getting the opportunity to watch some artists in action. The BAC is short for Business Arts Center. It is an establishment for artists who can rent time/space and do their thing, sell, and display art. It isn't a large building but something to add to your to-do list in Manitou. Also, there is an outdoor arcade in Manitou that the kids will enjoy as you two sit and relax after strolling through the shops.

[Amery523]

A lot of Denver sights are only an hour away - Natural History museum, aquarium, Elitch Gardens amusement park.

I'll also throw out there a ski or snowboard lesson - not hugely cheap but an idea nevertheless. The resorts will be open until mid-April. A couple of them will stay open through end of May or first week of June, weather depending.

And what family wouldn't enjoy a visit to everyone's favorite Mexican food-cliff divers-cave hunting restaurant, CASA BONITA up in Denver.

Manitou Springs: Cave of the Winds

[reginhild]

I also recommend Manitou Springs: Cave of the Winds.

Royal Gorge is a good break that the kids will like to have more kid style fun (check the swing out over the canyon). Go online to get a coupon for a couple dollars off admission per person.

[springshomeblog]

I'd skip the Royal Gorge, too pricey for me.

We love driving some of the back roads like Gold Camp Rd (easy drive in any vehicle, you can take part of it all the way to Cripple Creek), Rampart Range Rd (easy drive but was pretty washboarded last time we were up there; goes from Garden of the Gods to Woodland Park), and Mount Herman Rd (pretty narrow in places, but we took our minivan up just fine; goes from Monument to Woodland Park).

Helen Hunt Falls is nice (and free), some hiking trails around there. Not sure how much it would cost to rent bikes or if you have room to bring them along, but there are a LOT of places that would be great to bike around here!

Carrie

[sskkc]

Don't forget the "North Pole", weather permitting... it's a Santa's Village style amusement park that my kids will really miss when we leave.