Rest and Restore Colorado guidebook

Jeff
Rest and Restore Colorado guidebook

Sightseeing

A great first place to visit while adjusting to altitude. Can just drive the loop or get out and walk the many paths.
238 locals recommend
Garden of the Gods
1805 N 30th St
238 locals recommend
A great first place to visit while adjusting to altitude. Can just drive the loop or get out and walk the many paths.
Excellent place for hiking for all ages and abilities!
430 locals recommend
Red Rock Canyon Open Space
3550 W High St
430 locals recommend
Excellent place for hiking for all ages and abilities!
Located east of Colorado Springs, this is a unique and fascinating place to explore. Fun for kids, families, and people of all ages.
72 locals recommend
Paint Mines Interpretive Park
29950 Paint Mine Rd
72 locals recommend
Located east of Colorado Springs, this is a unique and fascinating place to explore. Fun for kids, families, and people of all ages.
Fun to hike and beautiful mountain scenery. Be aware of limited parking.
169 locals recommend
Helen Hunt Falls
3440 North Cheyenne Canyon Road
169 locals recommend
Fun to hike and beautiful mountain scenery. Be aware of limited parking.
The world highest altitude zoo! A unique and fun zoo - and make sure to feed the giraffes!
569 locals recommend
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
4250 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Rd
569 locals recommend
The world highest altitude zoo! A unique and fun zoo - and make sure to feed the giraffes!
Great hiking trails for all ages.
58 locals recommend
Ute Valley Park
1705 Vindicator Dr
58 locals recommend
Great hiking trails for all ages.
U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum
200 S Sierra Madre St
150 locals recommend
An incredibly sight to see, but it's about an hour and a half drive from Colorado Springs.
340 locals recommend
Royal Gorge Bridge and Park
4218 Co Rd 3A
340 locals recommend
An incredibly sight to see, but it's about an hour and a half drive from Colorado Springs.
A large sporting goods store with an indoor ferris wheel, cafe, arcade, and much more.
14 locals recommend
SCHEELS
1226 Interquest Pkwy
14 locals recommend
A large sporting goods store with an indoor ferris wheel, cafe, arcade, and much more.
A smaller, but fun climb that is great for scrambling - either for hiking or mountain biking.
176 locals recommend
Palmer Park
3344-3376 Paseo Rd
176 locals recommend
A smaller, but fun climb that is great for scrambling - either for hiking or mountain biking.
An old historic castle on the ground of the Navigators. You can't walk around on property unless you're staying at the castle, but you can drive through the property to the books store and coffee shop, allowing you to see the castle. The castle also offers tours.
71 locals recommend
Glen Eyrie Castle
3820 N 30th St
71 locals recommend
An old historic castle on the ground of the Navigators. You can't walk around on property unless you're staying at the castle, but you can drive through the property to the books store and coffee shop, allowing you to see the castle. The castle also offers tours.
215 locals recommend
U.S. Air Force Academy
215 locals recommend
A nearby beautiful park and lake to walk around.
40 locals recommend
Memorial Park
1605 E Pikes Peak Ave
40 locals recommend
A nearby beautiful park and lake to walk around.
Beautiful scenic falls - but does cost $ for entry.
339 locals recommend
The Broadmoor Seven Falls
1045 Lower Gold Camp Rd
339 locals recommend
Beautiful scenic falls - but does cost $ for entry.
Explore the fascinating architecture of the ancient cliff dwellers and browse through two museums featuring cultural displays all overlooking the historic town of Manitou Springs
288 locals recommend
Manitou Cliff Dwellings
10 Cliff Rd
288 locals recommend
Explore the fascinating architecture of the ancient cliff dwellers and browse through two museums featuring cultural displays all overlooking the historic town of Manitou Springs

Food scene

Tucked back in Garden of the Gods, the Trading Post is an old Indian Trading Post that is great for souvenir shopping, along with a restaurant and coffee shop.
38 locals recommend
Garden of the Gods Trading Post
324 Beckers Ln
38 locals recommend
Tucked back in Garden of the Gods, the Trading Post is an old Indian Trading Post that is great for souvenir shopping, along with a restaurant and coffee shop.
Fun and unique coffee shop
20 locals recommend
Wayfinder Coffee Co.
6140 Austin Bluffs Pkwy
20 locals recommend
Fun and unique coffee shop
Great night time outing with friends for local live music and dining.
8 locals recommend
Boot Barn Hall at Bourbon Brothers
13071 Bass Pro Dr
8 locals recommend
Great night time outing with friends for local live music and dining.
Local favorite restaurant that was featured on the Food Network.
146 locals recommend
The Skirted Heifer
204 N Tejon St
146 locals recommend
Local favorite restaurant that was featured on the Food Network.
High tea at the Miramont castle! Such a fun experience with a small group. Reservations required.
63 locals recommend
Miramont Castle Museum
9 Capitol Hill Ave
63 locals recommend
High tea at the Miramont castle! Such a fun experience with a small group. Reservations required.
One of the oldest parts of the city, great for shopping and dining.
388 locals recommend
Old Colorado City
388 locals recommend
One of the oldest parts of the city, great for shopping and dining.
A local favorite ice cream shop
54 locals recommend
Josh & John's Ice Cream-Downtown
329 N Tejon St
54 locals recommend
A local favorite ice cream shop
Delicious donuts!
7 locals recommend
Lily Donuts & Drinks AKA Donuts & Noodles
7607 North Union Boulevard
7 locals recommend
Delicious donuts!
Looking for a date night? Mona Lisa is a great fondue restaurant!
44 locals recommend
Mona Lisa Fondue Restaurant
733 Manitou Ave
44 locals recommend
Looking for a date night? Mona Lisa is a great fondue restaurant!
Good coffee shop nearby the house
86 locals recommend
SwitchBack Coffee Roasters
330 N Institute St
86 locals recommend
Good coffee shop nearby the house
9 locals recommend
Brass Brewing Co.
318 E Colorado Ave
9 locals recommend
Great pizza! A little further north, but great pizza and they offer a good gluten free version as well!
19 locals recommend
Walter's 303 Pizzeria & Publik House - Flying Horse
2690 North Gate Blvd
19 locals recommend
Great pizza! A little further north, but great pizza and they offer a good gluten free version as well!
A unique and fun underground restaurant in downtown Colorado Springs(a little higher end in price)!
243 locals recommend
The Rabbit Hole
101 N Tejon St
243 locals recommend
A unique and fun underground restaurant in downtown Colorado Springs(a little higher end in price)!

City/town information

Fun mountain town for souvenir shopping and dining.
649 locals recommend
Manitou Springs
649 locals recommend
Fun mountain town for souvenir shopping and dining.
Cute mountain town and a breathtaking drive to get there. There's also a dinosaur museum in the town.
129 locals recommend
Woodland Park
129 locals recommend
Cute mountain town and a breathtaking drive to get there. There's also a dinosaur museum in the town.

Traveler advice

Book before you go

Preparing for altitude.

Most people adjust to altitude in a day or two if they drink plenty of water and take things slow as they adjust. A day or two before arriving, it's helpful to drink a lot of water to help oxygenate the blood. Once you arrive, continue drinking a LOT of water and limit dehydrating activities. Choose activities that are less strenuous at the beginning of the trip and increase to higher altitude and more strenuous activities once your body has adjusted. If needed, small cans of oxygen can be purchased at Walmart or sporting goods stores.
What to pack

Pack for warm and cool weather

One thing about Colorado Springs - the sun is HOT. Because we are so close to the sun, the daytime can be fairly warm in the winter and quite hot in the summer (although not humid). However, no matter how hot the daytime is, it almost always gets quite cool/cold in the early morning and evening/night. The weather can also change very quickly, so be prepared for warm/cold weather.
What to pack

Protect from the sun!

As I said, we are very close to the sun in Colorado Springs and it's very easy to get burned. Regardless of temperature, be prepared with sunscreen, sunglasses, and water (especially when hiking).