Areas of Interest Nearby
Pikes
Peak
There is no mountain more famous in
the United States than Pikes Peak. In many ways this legendary
mountain is more famous than the state of Colorado. Today
this 14,110 foot mountain is visited by more people that any
other 
mountain in the world, with perhaps the exception of
Mt. Fugi in Japan.
After
two unsuccessful expeditions to tag the summit, Zebulon Pike
went on record stating that no man would ever reach the summit.
Today there are a number of ways to reach the summit. You
can hike up the famous Barr Trail if you’re in good
shape. Or you may elect to drive up the toll road through
winding and often exposed roads and save yourself the physical
exertion. And if you are still too nervous to drive, you can
take the world’s highest cog railroad, the Pikes Peak
Cog Railroad, all the way to the top.
And
while you're at the summit, have a bite at the restaurant and
gift shop. Enjoy a view so magnificent that you’ll personally
experience what gave Katherine Lee Bates the inspiration to
write the song, “America the Beautiful.”
Royal
Gorge
Boasting the highest suspension bridge in
the world, the Royal Gorge is a great day trip. You can walk
across this bridge supported by high tensile steel cables,
and look down 1,053 feet to the Arkansas River. The world’s
longest single span aerial tram will take you across the canyon
as well. If you would still like some excitement but would
like to be closer to the ground, take a ride on the world's
steepest incline railway that will whisk you to the very bottom
of the canyon. 
Of
course the extremeness of this place has attracted the most
adventurous of humans. People have base jumped, bungee jumped
and sky dived from or above the Royal Gorge making it a mecca
for extreme sport enthusiasts. Now, a new amusement park type
of ride called Royal Rush Skycoaster will allow riders to
drop 100 feet at speeds of up to 50 miles per hour providing
pure adrenaline.
And
for the less adventurous, there are great gift shops, restaurants
and wild life areas. The beauty of the area lends itself perfectly
for photography. There are plenty of activities for the kids
as well that don’t require death defying excitement.
Cripple
Creek
Once known as the richest gold mine
in the world, the small town of Cripple Creek is today more
famous for its tourist attractions than for active gold mining.
Visitors can still pan for gold in Cripple Creek, view a western
show, grab a drink in a saloon or take a ride on a narrow
gauge train. But, fairly new legislation has opened up Cripple
Creek to legalized gambling. And venturing into a casino here,
you will feel right at home with blue jeans, a cowboy hat
and boots.
