How to Spend a Fun 24 Hours in Colorado Springs

October 10, 2024

In this post, I’m sharing a fun-filled one day itinerary for Colorado Springs featuring some of the best local attractions.

We have been traveling a lot lately and it’s been fun exploring new areas. One of our latest trips was to visit our daughter in Colorado Springs. To be honest, I didn’t know what to expect. I had only been to the Denver area and places in the Rockies like Aspen and Grand Lake. We were amazed at how beautiful the area around Colorado Springs is!

I arrived a day later than my husband, who was already in Colorado on business. (Our poor dog Belle wasn’t feeling well, and I didn’t want to leave her until she was better.) We stopped at Phantom Canyon Brewery for dinner on the way back from the airport. I highly recommend the wedge salad! I also enjoyed a whiskey flight. My favorite was Woody Creek Distillery’s straight bourbon.

Garden of the Gods

Since we only had a day to explore, our daughter mapped out the perfect plan to see some of the highlights. Our first stop the next day was at the Garden of the Gods. It is a must-see geological wonder! The site features towering red rock formations and the area is perfect for hiking, rock climbing and taking beautiful photos. We drove around the formations and stopped to take a few photos. I’d love to go back and walk around some more.

Brunch at Garden of the Gods Resort

Our next stop was brunch at the Garden of the Gods Resort, which overlooks the rock formations. We dined on the outdoor patio with a stunning view of the Garden of the Gods and the Rockies beyond. The food was excellent and the service was great too. The lawn area in front of us was set up for an evening wedding. I can’t imagine a more stunning backdrop for wedding photos. I wouldn’t mind staying here for a few days!

Manitou Springs

After brunch we made the short drive to Manitou Springs. This charming town is known for its mineral springs, eclectic shops, and art galleries. The Manitou Incline, just outside of town, is a steep hike with breathtaking views. My daughter has in fact hiked it and lived to tell the tale. I would need time to acclimate to the altitude before attempting 2,744 steps climbing 2000 ft. in elevation in under one mile! Some locals climb it daily! The video about it below is fascinating and worth a watch.

Manitou was very crowded with tourists, but there was a lot to see and do. Some of the most interesting things we saw were the eight naturally carbonated springs scattered throughout the town. Each spring was itself an artistic sculpture or statue. There were signs nearby the springs that indicated that the water is safe to drink in limited amounts. This is due to the amount of naturally occurring manganese in the water. We chose not to try the spring water. We quenched our thirst instead at the Manitou Brewing Company. While we were there we also discovered 291 Colorado Whiskey, another great Colorado whiskey.

The Broadmoor Hotel & Resort

After checking out Manitou we took a short drive to the famous Broadmoor Hotel. This luxurious historic resort offers fine dining, golf, and beautiful grounds to explore, even if you’re not staying overnight. It’s worth a visit just to walk the grounds and see the breathtaking views. We started our visit with a stop at The Golden Bee Gastropub, located about a block away from the hotel. As the name implies, it’s a bee-themed English-style pub. We enjoyed the English cheese plate at their bar.

Afterward, we took a stroll around the hotel and the surrounding property, which includes a lake. It’s a truly stunning resort with the Rocky Mountains as its backdrop. Definitely another place I’m putting on my hotel bucket list!

Bonny & Read

For dinner, we headed downtown to Bonny & Read, an American seafood restaurant. The food was very good, although we waited almost an hour for our dinner with no explanation for the delay. I had two tasty and reasonably-priced lobster tails. My husband and daughter also enjoyed their filet mignons.

Tip -We thought nothing of bringing a bottle of wine to enjoy with dinner. This is totally fine in California if you don’t mind paying corkage fees. However, we discovered that it’s against Colorado law to bring in outside alcohol. Haha! Oops! Our server was very nice about it. We gave the bottle to our daughter to enjoy at a later date.

The Shrunken Head

After dinner, we explored the downtown a little more and found ourselves at The Shrunken Head tiki bar. We LOVE tiki bars – the kitschier the better! They had swings for patrons to sit in while enjoying a drink. It was a fun way to wrap up the night.

So that’s it for our quick trip to Colorado Springs. Our daughter did a fantastic time showing us around and we thoroughly enjoyed our visit. Colorado Springs is clean, safe and beautiful and is definitely worth a visit if you’re in the Denver area.

Getting There

One last tip – I recommend flying in and out of Denver and driving to/from Colorado Springs. The first leg of our flight home from Colorado Springs to Denver was canceled due to a mechanical issue. It’s a small airport and flights are limited. We ended up driving to Denver and flying home much later in the day. What should have been a five hour travel day turned into a twelve hour travel day. Not fun.

Thank goodness for the airport therapy dog! Keep this sweet boy in your thoughts. I chatted with his handler and learned he’s an older guy and has bone cancer. He was going to have surgery soon. Fingers crossed for him. He’s such a love.

Other Sights to See

There are so many other sights to see in Colorado Springs. We could spend several more days there!

Pikes Peak

Drive or take the Pikes Peak Cog Railway to the summit of this iconic mountain. You will enjoy stunning panoramic views of the Rockies there.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

A unique, mountainside zoo offering incredible views, interactive exhibits, and a giraffe feeding experience.

United States Air Force Academy

Tour the beautiful campus, visit the iconic Cadet Chapel, and learn about the history and significance of this military institution.

Seven Falls

You can hike the 224 steps alongside cascading waterfalls. Alternatively, take the elevator to the top. Enjoy breathtaking views of the surrounding canyon.

Red Rock Canyon Open Space

This is another fantastic spot for hiking, biking, and climbing. It has fewer crowds than Garden of the Gods. The red rock formations are equally impressive.

Old Colorado City

Explore this historic district. It is filled with art galleries, boutique shops, and restaurants. These places offer a glimpse into Colorado Springs’ Wild West past.

Cave of the Winds

Take a guided tour of these ancient caves. Try zip-lining. Test your nerves on the Terror-Dactyl ride for an adrenaline-pumping experience.

Each of these activities offers something unique. This makes Colorado Springs an ideal destination for outdoor enthusiasts, history buffs, and adventure seekers alike. I’d love to hear your recommendations for things to do in Colorado Springs in the comments below!