Labor Day Weekend: trip #1 (Colorado Springs, Air Force Academy: hotel, neighborhoods, casinos)

[DoodlemomCoS]

First, thanks to all of those that have given us great insight to CoS. We are big time researchers so we feel it's important to visit at various times of the year to see how things are there before we move forward. We are thinking about our first trip up there being on Labor Day weekend. We need to book now if its a good idea.
What do you think about that time? We'd like to visit roughly 4 times: early fall, late fall/early winter, winter and spring (since it seems like spring up there can still be lingering winter). I don't think summer is a time we need to come as we live in a hotter location and we have experienced frequent strong winds during springs on the west side of Albuquerque.

So what do you think about Labor Day? What type of things should we check out besides neighborhoods on our first expedition?

[otowi]

Sure, why not? Will probably be some holiday traffic. Snow is unlikely, hot or thunderstorms are possible.

[smdensbcs]

Originally Posted by DoodlemomNM

So what do you think about Labor Day? What type of things should we check out besides neighborhoods on our first expedition?

Labor Day is fine - should be nice.

Zoo (best small zoo in the country)
Fine Arts Center (not the best small museum in country, but you should go anyway)
Manitou Springs (specifically, to the old-time "penny" arcade)
Garden of the Gods Park (and/or Red Rock Canyon park, which just reopened after flooding)
Broadmoor Hotel (just let them valet park your car and wander the grounds/buildings for an hour)
Downtown (walk around for an hour just so you know where it is)
Numismatic Museum (just kidding, unless you have someone really into old coins)
Air Force Academy (I think they still let people in to see the campus, but not sure)

As you can tell, I tend to think central, west, and southwest COS are the most interesting/historic areas. At the risk of sounding negative, most of the rest of it seems to be various layers of suburban/big-box sprawl (not that there's anything wrong with that).

[Mike from back east]

It might be better to wait until late September or early October to see the Aspen trees when they turn gold. One only needs to drive up to Woodland Park then cut over to Cripple Creek (which has casinos) to see the trees. By only being a 5-6 hour drive away you can time it to visit when the trees are at their prime viewing and there's a slight chill in the air.

Labor Day will certainly be nice too, but with lots of end of summer traffic.

[shanen]

Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off. It is pretty magical with the lake setting and mountains in the background.

[Maynerd]

Labor Day weekend is both the Balloon Festival and Parents' Weekend at the Air Force Academy. Rooms might be a little tougher to come by, and room rates could go up a bit due to the anticipated out-of-towners.

Although, if you DO come out that weekend, you can add the balloons to your list of things to do.

[Mike from back east]

True, but Albq has a balloon festival that puts ours to shame....

[DoodlemomCoS]

We actually want to see your balloon show. That is one thing we will miss about ABQ so I think it's awesome that you have a smaller version.