Shellback wrote:
Pikes Peak
Air Force Academy Chapel
Garden of the Gods
Seven Falls
Broadmoor Hotel
Manitou Cliff Dwellings
Check out the old mining towns above Colorado Springs of Goldfield and Victor
Google them for images and you will get an idea of what camera you will want to take...
Enjoy your trip -
Pikes Peak definitely, bring a jacket, could be snow at the top...pay attention to cautions about altitude sickness
Seven Falls is closed due to flooding
Not sure where Goldfield is, but Cripple Creek is a few miles from Victor, colors should be starting to change but be prepared for heavy traffic...some of the best fall colors in Colorado are up Hwy 67 and
everyone knows it. In Cripple Creek you can ride on old open car train to view the colors.
Cave of the Winds...
Royal Gorge is approx. 50 miles south of Springs and has reopened for limited hours, call ahead. The train through the Gorge should still be running, get an open car for best photo ops.
I haven't seen them, but some friends have seen bald eagles in the canyon in late Sept and early Oct. Hwy 50 from Canon City to Salida.
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo...built on the side of mountain, lots of walking up and down, wear comfortable shoes! They have converted most of the exhibits to habitats instead of cages, it's a little pricey but definitely worth it. Spend the extra $5 and take the Sky Ride.
Will Rogers Shrine...high above the Zoo, included in Zoo admission, you can almost see to Kansas...LOL!
If you don't mind driving, Estes Park is about 4hrs north of Springs. Spend the night at the historic and famous (The Shining) Stanley Hotel or get a quaint cabin on the river. Get up at the crack of dawn and head into Rocky Mountain Park...the elk should still be in their rut and bugling...great photo ops. If it's still open, go over Trail Ridge Road. Coming back swing up to Brainard Lake above Boulder...absolutely beautiful, lots of wildlife including moose.