Canon City Harvest Festival

What are your plans for next weekend? Not sure yet? You might want to check out the Harvest Festival in Canon City on September 26th and 27th. The Holy Cross Winery opens their doors, with wine tasting, delicious food and entertainment.

Admission is free – but you will have to pay for tickets to taste the wine, as well as for food. All in all – it’s a great festival. (Be sure to bring a designated driver!)

Check out the site: http://www.abbeywinery.com/index.php/harvest-fest/event-schedule

What do you think? Are you going to take a trip to Canon City?

Colorado Springs Summer Events

Looking for something to do in Colorado Springs? Ready to enjoy the summer and have fun? Check out the following:

American Soldier tribute – A photo tribute to the American Soldier – at the Phil Long Expo Center, from Saturday through September 13th. For more info call 867-6635.

Outdoors activities more “your thing”? Check out White Water Rafting Trips. Call 526-5366 for more info. Trips are $40 per person and include transportation, gear and guides.

Enjoy the Colorado State Fair- from August 28th through September 7th at the State Fair Grounds in Pueblo. For tickets, call Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000 or go online at http://www.ticketmaster.com .

From July 8th through the 11th, you can enjoy the 69th annual Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeoat the Norris-Penrose Events Center Arena. The Fort Carson Night is July 8th. Tickets start at $10 for Adults and $7.50 for Children. Call 576-2626, go online at http://www.ticketswest.com or go to any King Soopers Customer Service.

Free entry to National Parks: The weekend of July 18th/19th and August 15th/16th - Entrance Fees to many national parks and monuments in Colorado will be waived.

Fort Carson’s annual Independence Day Celebrationwill happen July 3rd, from 4-10:30 pm at Ironhorse Park. The event is free and the public is invited.

For an Old Fashioned Fourth of July, check out the Rock Ledge Historic Site on July 4th from 9am to 5pm. This includes speeches, carnival games, ice cream, a Civil War encampment, Buffalo Soldier bivouac etc. Solders and retired military get in for half price by showing ID. Regular admission is $2-$6.

Thanks to Nel Lampe and the Mountaineer for compiling this info!

Climbing In Garden Of The Gods

Have you ever wanted to climb in the Garden of the Gods?

Did you know that you have to register with the Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center before you can climb? But if you neglect to do so – you can be find by the park rangers. (And yes – they ARE out there…)

Once you’re registerd – which only takes a few minutes (Honestly!) includes reading over the current rules (pay attention – there are always areas that are Off limits) and regulations and filling out a short form. It’s all done to be sure that you know what you’re doing!

Technical Climbing is permitted on established routes, in group of two or more – NO single climbing! (For safety purposes). Proper climbing equipment is MANDATORY and the use of eco-chalk is recommended/encouraged.

All other climbing or rock scrambling is ILLEGAL.

While this may sound harsh- it’s done – once again – for your safety. Tragic accidents have happened…and they are just trying to prevent them as much as possible. So be safe – and enjoy!

Colorado Springs Guide

Whether you’re from Colorado Springs, moving here or planning a visit – check out the new Colorado Springs Visitor Guide from the Convention and Visitors Bureau.

You can either read it online or you can have it mailed to you.

Just don’t wait too long – they do disappear rather fast.

Aspen Skiing Season Extended

According to a report by the Denver Post, the Aspen Skiing Company will extend the Season until April 27th, thanks to more than 120 inches of snow on the ground in the Highland Bowl and nearly 100 inches at mid-mountain!

Happy skiing!

Kids in Colorado Springs

If you have children, specially smaller children, you might wonder what’s there to do – for fun and entertainment. Check out the Pikes Peak Kidssite, which offers a variety of options; from after-school activities to Camp directory, from parent resources to Fun Things to do.

In addition you can find coupons for “Things to do” on the page – to save some money while you’re enjoying some fun stuff, as well as enter contests to win weekly prizes.

Living in Colorado? It’s that time of the year again…..

…..nope, we’re not talking about shopping season, and not even about the upcoming Holiday Season. We’re talking about SKI SEASON! Yep, that’s right – time to bring out those skis and/or boards…. For the latest, up to date Info, check out the Colorado Ski & Snowboard Site with Snow Reports!

Are you “New” to Colorado Springs?

If you’ve just moved here – Welcome to Colorado Springs! I hope you’ll love it here! And to make things a little easier for you….to get “moved in and aquainted” – check out the following links:

Colorado Springs City Map

City of Colorado Springs Website

El Paso County Government

Chamber of Commerce

Convention and Visitors Bureau

Colorado Springs Schools

Hope you were able to find what you were looking for! 

Colorado Springs – Colorado

Whether you live in Colorado Springs or are here on vacation – there is always something to do. If you’re anything like me, you wont’ see many of the attractions until you have visitors. It’s a sad but true fact, mostly we are too busy to take it all in. We have our favorites, which we actually go see without having visitors here – but overall – we’re doing the “touristy thing” right alongside with our guests.

Regardless on how, why or when you see the local attractions, I was just wondering – which one of the following attractions is YOUR favorite and why? Is it:

• taking a tour of the Air Force Academy (www.usafa.af.mil)
• staying at the Broadmoor (www.broadmoor.com)
• being entertained at Buckskin Joe Frontier Town & Railway 
• seeing the Royal Gorge Scenic Railway (www.buckskinjoes.com)
• take a ride on the Royal Gorge Railroad Dinner Train (www.royalgorgeroute.com)
• tour through the Cave of the Winds (www.caveofthewinds.com)
• visit the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (www.cmzoo.org)
• discover the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument
• stroll through the Garden of the Gods Park (www.gardenofthegods.com)
• discover Gold in the Molly Kathleen Gold Mine (www.goldminetours.com)
• play at Santa’s North Pole (www.santas-colo.com)
• ride the Pikes Peak Cog Railway (www.cograilway.com)
• marvel at Seven Falls (www.sevenfalls.com)
• see the US Olympic Complex (www.usoc.org)

We’ve seen many of them, yet each time – it’s amazing and fascinating all over again. Our guests love it and every time we take anyone to see one of the places, we feel grateful for living here – all over again.

Full of ….. Hot Air?

It’s that time of the year again! From September 1st to the 3rd,  Balloons of all colors and shapes will dot the sky above Colorado Springs! It’s a free event, with Music, Food and of course, Balloons! If you’re there early morning – you can watch them set up and go up. If late afternoon, early evening is more your style, weather permitting, you can watch the Balloon Glow! Either is great!

My personal preference – early morning. Not because I’m a “Morning Person” – but it is an amazing sight to see all the balloons go up! It’s a colorful way to officially end summer!

But never fear, that’s not the end of fun and games,  there’s “Bunches more” to do in Colorado. Check out the website of the Colorado Welcome Center, where you can search Events by time, location and type, request a free Welcome Guide, browse photo galleries, find info on lodging, etc., etc., ………. Have fun!