Where to stay

Healing waters and gold helped to create Colorado Springs and its surrounding neighborhoods. Stay in the Manitou Springs Historic District to learn about the natural springs that drew early settlers in the 1870s. Enjoy the art, dining, shopping, and events of this charming destination. Hotels in Downtown Colorado Springs are convenient for visiting the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum and the McAllister House Museum, one of the oldest landmarks in the city. Head west to tour the National Historic District of Old Colorado City. Just a few miles north is Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site, a living museum that tells the story of the area from 1775 onwards. Arrange accommodations in Cripple Creek or Victor to drive along the Golden Loop Historic Parkway or Gold Belt Scenic Byway and discover where early miners made their wealth.

Outdoor attractions around Colorado Springs are spectacular. Book a hotel in Downtown Colorado Springs and you'll be just 15 minutes' drive from the Garden of the Gods, a park to the northwest with hiking trails and unmatched views. From downtown, head west to Red Rock Canyon Open Space, north for Austin Bluffs Open Space and southwest for Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun, all inspirational places for hiking, picnics, and meditation. Stay in Manitou Springs or Green Mountain Falls to drive to Pikes Peak, where the views of "purple mountains majesties above the fruited plains" were immortalized by Katharine Lee Bates. Accommodations in Cripple Creek are great for viewing and hiking Mt. Pisgah. Hotels near the Colorado Springs Airport are great for exploring the Bluestem Prairie Open Space.

While the region's outdoor attractions are inspirational, the cultural attractions of Colorado Springs are also quite interesting. Downtown Colorado Springs is the best place to stay for Pikes Peak Center for the Performing Arts and the renowned Colorado Springs Philharmonic. The area is also home to the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College and Cornerstone Arts Center. Just north is the Money Museum, quite appropriate in this gold-rich region. From downtown venture southeast for Cosmo's Magic Theater and southwest for Cheyenne Mountain Zoo with giraffes. Book a hotel in Manitou Springs as the jumping-off point for a visit to Pikes Peak to see where Katharine Lee Bates was inspired to write the poem that became the beloved patriotic song America the Beautiful.