Colorado - Manitou Springs Area

It is time I gave my home state some love - Colorado.  We will make a start with  The Colorado Springs area, well even more specifically the Manitou Springs area.

 The Manitou Springs cave dwellings are a spectacle to see, especially if you can't make a trip to Mesa Verde at the moment.  In fact, this is a 

re-creation of a site from closer to Mesa Verde.  If you are looking to immerse yourself in authentic Native American dwellings, this is not the place for you.

Manitou Cave Dwellings Real Deal or Really fake?

I think this site is worthy of a visit, with beautiful surroundings and a museum feel. You can get literally more hands on than with other sites.  This is a good starter course for children interested in Native Americans. 

You can learn quite a bit about the everyday goings on of the Anasazi. 

Another bonus if you go on the right day, Native Americans display their dance for you.  This fellow is a nationwide contest winner. 

Manitou Springs Cliff Dwellings

 

Heading back into modern day living....

Nearby you can find Manitou Springs.   

A quaint town that is the starting point for a ride to the top of Pike's Peak on the cog railroad.

You may want to quench your thirst at the many springs around town first.  You will need plenty of water to avoid altitude sickness.

Here is the rundown of the 8 different public springs that you can sample.

The Springs:

Iron Spring Geyser
Navajo Spring
Shoshone Spring
Twin Spring
Wheeler Spring
7 Minute Spring

Stratton Spring

 

Cheyenne Spring



Your spot to cog your way up to the top of Pikes Peak - Pikes Peak Cog Railway.

Passing other trains and critters (marmot) along the way.  

At the top 14,110 ft.  

 If you are hungry after your 3 hour round trip, try this place back at Manitou Springs:

European Cafe

We actually had breakfast here, it didn't disappoint.

Garden Of the Gods 

M. S. Beach, suggested that it would be a "capital place for a beer garden". His companion, the young Rufus Cable, awestruck by the impressive rock formations, exclaimed, "Beer Garden! Why it is a fit place for the gods to assemble. We will call it the Garden of the Gods." 

Balanced Rock

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I'd like to give a shout out to Clifford Fewtrell, as some ofthe photography in this particular blog post is his (yeah, like the ones with me in them.)

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