Nice park in downtown with lots of street meter parking. Surrounded by shops & restaurants. Park…read morehas 2 updated cool play areas for kids . Cute coffee spot onsite also with benches & seating in the park to relax.

Great spot for kids, dogs, and SOOO many options to shop & eat within walking distance!!!read more

A must to visit while in Colorado Springs. The visitor center is kid friendly and has lots of…read moreeducational fun facts for kids. We took a 45 min guided shuttle tour, which was a perfect amount of time for kids! Lots of trails, I will try next time

The visitor center offers a good view of the Garden of the Gods from afar. It's two floors. At the…read morefirst floor, there's a theater that shows how the Garden of the Gods came to be. Though this is not free, it's worth checking out since the theater is small and you're surrounded by very big screens. The second floor houses the gift shop which has stuffed toys, books, shirts, mugs, rocks, and other souvenir items. The cafe and restrooms are also here. There's another part that has an exhibit of flora/fauna around the area. The Garden of the Gods is beautiful. The paths were very easy to follow. Came here in February; it was not busy but we heard that during peak seasons, it can get very crowded. This is definitely worth visiting.

This was my favorite mineral spring in Manitou because of the sculpture, the interesting way we…read morefound it, and it just says "magic" to me. We only found 4 out of the 8 springs in town, but that's because we were walking around in snow and it was getting late. Prior to finding this spring (by accident) - This particular spring makes a high pitch noise that I mistook for birds screeching, so we walked over to investigate, and here it was! We also found the Shoshone Spring (not working), Cheyenne Spring and the Navajo Spring. All of these springs have their own stories. According to the Mineral Springs Foundation, this particular spring was named after Winfried Scott Stratton, who struck it rich with gold in the early 1900's. When he died he left his fortune of several millions of dollars to indigent children and the elderly. "On February 21, 1936, at a depth of 283 feet, sparkling soda water was struck flowing at 25 gallons per minute. Today, Stratton Spring stands as one of Manitou's iconic mineral spring assets along its downtown corridor, ensuring Winfield Scott Stratton's legacy. (from Mineral Springs Foundation webpage)" The water here is sparkling, but not as salty as the Cheyenne Spring. It had the mildest taste of all the springs in town and the sodium, potassium and calcium content here was less than all of the other springs.

You will find this natural spring right on the Manitou Springs strip near the traffic circle. It…read morenot only serves as a spring but is also has a nice sculpture on it. The bronze sculpture depicts a lady, known as "the maiden of the water", bending over. The statue is on a semicircular pedestal and under a semi-circular pergola. It is a very nice spring set-up and draws you to the spring. The statue, spring, and little plaza area that it is located could use a little TLC and is in need of some maintenance. It is still operational, but just needs some attention. The spring is named in honor of Winfield Scott Stratton, who became the region's first self-made millionaire in 1891, after discovering a huge payload of 1.3 million ounces of gold. In 1936 his Foundation drilled the Spring in his honor after his untimely death in 1902. The spring flows at about 25 gallons per minute and appeared to having air coming out with the water as evident from its hissing. It has a seltzer water taste, and this and water from the other springs are rumored to have healing properties. The water is an acquired taste, but drinkable. This is not a very long stop and is one of many springs in the area. This is something that you would probably just stumble across and not a destination. There is metered street parking within a reasonable walking distance from here but I recommend combining a stop here with other activities like a visit to the tourist strip, with shops and restaurants, that it is located. The good news is that you can fill your water bottles here as well as look at a nice piece of street art. It is definitely worth a look if you are in the area.

We found only 4 of 8 springs in Manitou Springs on a snowy March afternoon on a Saturday: Shoshone…read moreSpring (not working), Cheyenne Spring, Stratton Spring (my favorite), and this curious oddity. We would have never found it if it wasn't for a woman who saw us at the Cheyenne Spring drinking the water out of Cheyenne and trying to bottle it to take home. She said, "you gotta try the water at the Navajo Spring, it tastes like spicy carbonated water". When I asked her where it was, she said "right there!" and pointed to Navajo Spring a few feet away from where we were standing. I don't think we would have found this place unless it was pointed out to us as it's in a curious location, housed in a building where Patsy's Candy and Gift shop sits. The water here didn't taste that spicy to me, maybe more saltier than the Cheyenne's, but it was definitely carbonated. The history of this spring is fascinating. I got some information from The Mineral Springs Foundation: it was popular in the 1870s and young boys were hired to dip cups into the spring to quench the thirst of travelers and tourists. Cups and ladles on chains were also fastened to lower into the springs so everyone could taste the carbonated waters. The water from Navajo Springs were incorporated into Manitou Ginger Champagne, Manitou table water and cola drinks and were shipped all across the country by the Manitou Mineral Water Company. I was so enamored by the fact that this historical spring sits right in the middle of a candy store (outside and accessible) and right next door to an old-fashioned penny arcade! Right below our feet we could see the spring rushing by through the wooden floor slats. Amazing. Here's to 154 years of good health! I hope the springs stick around for another 150 years or more!

The Manitou Incline is a hike near Colorado Springs, Colorado, featuring 2,768 steps climbing…read morenearly 2,000 vertical feet in under a mile, with grades up to 68%. The Manitou Incline is not for the faint of heart, but if you're looking for a serious workout with jaw-dropping views, this is the hike for you. What makes it amazing is panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and the town of Manitou Springs at the top. The trail is well-marked, and the incline attracts a mix of serious hikers, runners, and tourists, which gives it a fun energy. Parking is a challenge as the lot was full and we parked in the town of Manitou Springs and walked about a mile to get to the incline. The website made it seem like the hike required reservations and there were not any available, so I was not sure if I was going to get to hike. However, once I got to the incline I was able to do the hike at my leisure. Whether you're looking for a bucket-list hike, an intense workout, or just a chance to experience Colorado's beauty up close, the Manitou Incline delivers an amazing experience.

Park at Hiawatha Gardens - $25 Parking for 4 hours and get free shuttle bus to the Incline. There…read moreshould be other better parking options, I think we're paying too much for that. Very steep steps, not many shaded areas for you to take a break. The view is okay, conquer the Incline is more on personal pride, not for the view. I don't think the view on the summit is awesome. there are few spot for you to bailout, 395 steps, 1300 and 1800. So, no pressure, just take the trail down whenever you feel like it.

I wanted some vibes like Garden of the gods but did not want the crowds so I checked out Red Rock…read moreCanyon Open Space! I was really impressed with this open space. Parking was easy, they had plenty of spots while I was visiting. They've got something for everyone! Hiking trails, bike park/paths, rock climbing (permit needed), an off leash dog park. I specifically went for the hiking trails. They were great for my 4 year old. When I go with him I try to look for trails under 3 miles. My only complaint is I wish they had real bathrooms by the parking lot. The porta potty was pretty gross. P.s. you can see garden of the gods from this park! They are pretty close to each other!

Colorado is the healthiest state in the US (this is fact, you can look this up on the CDC website)…read moreand I can see why. With such amazing hiking available, that is free to residents and visitors, all over the state, it encourages you to get outside and enjoy what mother nature has to offer. Red Rock Canyon Open Space has a series of canyons and ridges sculpted by erosion of the area's uplifted rock strata. The ridges and canyons offer beautiful views that are photo worthy for those wanting to post to their social media (or hey, just keeping these photo keepsakes in your own camera roll is also fine too). Red Rock Canyon Open Space is dog friendly, with some off leash areas (where noted), and 11 trails that you can hike. The trails are anywhere from 1.7 miles to 5.4 miles, with a lot of pretty easy trails for those that are not as active but still want to partake in the journey. You can also see views of Garden of the Gods, which is nearby. Red Rock Canyon Open Space is not nearly as busy as Garden of the Gods (but highly recommend a visit there too, which is also dog friendly). From May 1 and Oct. 31, you can enter Red Rock Canyon Open Space between 5 a.m. and 10 p.m.; during the rest of the year, the park closes at 9 p.m. There is free parking available and also one porta potty at the beginning of the trail (but I did not use it) and also trash cans (I did not see trash cans anywhere else in this open space). My husband and I visited Red Rock Canyon Open Space with our little girl dog. We came on a Sunday afternoon, a little after 1 pm. It was an overcast day, which was nice. But it was rather busy but not crowded. We were able to find a parking spot without any trouble. We only did 2 light trails but enjoyed the views. The trails we had were pretty easy for the most part. We also did see a handful of dogs during our visit. Please note that there is hardly any shade so make sure you plan accordingly (hat to shade your face, plenty of water, etc).

this is a fun little adventure. Historic waterfall park. It is seasonal so pay attention to that…read more It is worth the little hike very beautiful and peaceful. It is under a graditi bridge that is the only thing that takes away from nature but still very cool. There are also some little caves nearby just be careful can be slippery and bears and or people living in them

For me personally, this was a fun trip because we were able to enjoy nature and hike up the…read moremountain to the Falls since there weren't any parking spaces. HOWEVER, I noticed around lunch time spaces open up. So if you're wanting to plan it where you don't have to park in Manitou Springs then walk all the way up, go during lunch! My experience started rocky, pun intended. We arrive at 9:15 not knowing they didn't open until 10 and that's when we noticed there's hardly any parking spots inside that gate. My mom had already tried to visit 3 times before this most recent but didn't have time to wait for a spot to open, so she had to leave. Anyway, the Rainbow Falls attendant came out and told us to drive around until 10 and come back. Which we did. And when we came back, right at 10, every spot was taken as we knew would happen. It was frustrating at first. After we backed out, we decided to find a spot in town and just walk, mind you had a five year old with us and didn't know if she would be able to hang it there. It was also getting in the 90s, super hot. Thankfully, we all had brought water bottles so we were able to hike it. It really was a beautiful walk, at times there's weren't sidewalks so we had to walk in the road with traffic. There's also construction going on, a bit of a mess but we made the best of it and decided to soak in the nature! Once we reached the Falls, BEAUTIFUL!!! It was very cold and I would recommend wearing crocs or shoes you can walk in the water with, there's rocks that will hurt. For us, it was perfect since we were hiking up and down the mountain to get to/from our vehicle, so the water felt great and refreshing. We came on a Saturday right as they opened, perhaps during the week might be better, parking wise? If hiking sounds like your ideal thing, then DO ITTTT. Plan to pay for parking in town and take your time walking, it's worth it :)

We drove out to Colorado Springs from Denver with the intention of walking around Garden of the…read moreGods. When we arrived to park, however, we saw signs advertising a fall festival right next to the park. It was $8 entry. We were immediately greeted with a huge pumpkin patch, with awesome views of the rocks. We got to see a number of animals, watch living history demonstrations, enjoy live music, as well as have some great snacks and drinks. This was the perfect way to have a leisurely stroll and enjoy the views while also learning local history. Would recommend to both adults and children alike.

Colorado beauty at its best! I came here in the heart of (our very mild) winter to take my dog on…read morethe trails right at the base of Rock Ledge Ranch. Other reviews talk about a great place to bring the family in the summertime, and it's a cool piece of history since it's a working ranch that belonged to Palmers sister in the 1900s, but I'm here to talk about the beautiful and scenic trails right at the base of Garden of the Gods. This is the trailhead and lots of people bring their dogs to go on or off leash as well as being a popular path for bicyclists. The base of the trail has an off leash dog area and I have been told that there is another one inside the park, which is awesome, though I didn't explore it today. There are very easy trails to walk along and feel like you're in nature and you are right at the bottom of the Garden of the Gods rock formations.

I just want to update my already five star review now that I have gone through some of the…read moreinspection process. First of all, they STILL earn a high five stars for me. Yes it's a government agency and there are wait times when you go in to pay for your permit, get your plans reviewed/approved, etc. but if you are a homeowner trying to remodel anything or finish your basement, I have found that every single person in this office is incredibly helpful, including the inspectors. Not only are they friendly but they really take the time to ask if you have any questions as well as answer them. Kudos and thank you to all the employees at Regional! I admit, as a woman going down to ask a lot of questions about basement construction and code requirements, I was a nervous about how the experience would go. I was scammed by a contractor who wasn't a contractor and had a lot of questions to make sure that as we complete the rough in of the basement that things are up to code. I had to meet with four people to ask questions of each. Electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and construction. All four of these guys were helpful, did not condescend to me, answered my questions and volunteered information they thought I needed to know. In particular, I have to give a HUGE shout out to Brett Phillips. I was really worried about having to draw my basement plan in order to get it approved. This would have taken me quite a long time and cause me quite a bit of stress as I am not an experienced in any of this kind of stuff. I knew they already had the blueprint for my house from the builder, but I had been told that the contractors needed to redraw it up anyway. He printed out the existing floor plan for my basement which had everything I needed on it. He made my day, week, YEAR much better coming off of a bad experience. Is the second time I've dealt with people in this office and I have found them all to be incredibly helpful and courteous. A high five star rating from me.

I had a very complicated remodel that involved a lot of engineering and back-and-forth. I cannot…read moresay enough about every single person at regional who contributed positively in the process of a very complicated situation. A lot of times when I was there, I really didn't know what I was doing and they guided me and pointed me in the right direction every time. Really great bunch of people. Very, very, patient group of people who have to deal with a public that is not always easy to deal with.

If you are near Manitou Springs area, I would recommend visiting the Dwellings. It's self guided…read moreonce you pay the entrance fee. There are small informational signs around the area to let you know more about what you are looking at or you can download the auto tour. The Pueblo building holds pottery, photos, and artifacts. There is a very large gift shop. Bathrooms are located in that building as well.

After finishing the tours at Cave of the Winds Mountain Park, I decided to stop right next door at…read morethe Manitou Cliff Dwellings, and I'm so glad I did. The cliff dwellings are incredible to see up close. They're modeled after ancient Ancestral Puebloan structures (often associated with Southwest tribes like the Navajo), and walking through them really gives you a sense of how people lived long ago. One thing that stood out to me was seeing how small the doorways and rooms were -- it really shows how much shorter people were back then! What I loved most was the self-guided audio tour you can use on your phone. As you walk through, you just select the number for each section and it explains the history and significance of that area. It was super informative and easy to follow, and I liked being able to go at my own pace. I love history, so being able to take my time and really listen made the experience even better. The gift shop is huge and honestly impressive. They had beautiful handmade items inspired by Native American craftsmanship, along with the usual souvenirs like stickers, books, and t-shirts. But they also had unique items like jewelry, coffee, honey, and so many locally inspired pieces. It's basically a full building packed with things to browse. Overall, I absolutely enjoyed this stop. It was educational, interesting, and worth the time. I would definitely come back -- and I might bring my husband next time when he has a day off. If you love history, this is a must-stop when you're in the area.