Colorado Springs Bucket List - Backpacks and Motorbikes

Get up in the morning, throw your kayak in the car and enjoy an hour on the Catamount lakes on Pikes Peak before work.
Bike down Pikes Peak and stop at the Colorado Wines restaurant, sit creekside and enjoy a yummy veggie burger. (They have other tasty food too.)
Release your inner child by playing in the Penny Arcade in Manitou Springs
Dance in the water at the Uncle Wilber water fountain in downtown Colorado Springs (Acacia Park)
Eat breakfast at the famous King’s Chef Diner (cash only!)
~~Hike around Garden of the Gods, take a selfie at Balance Rock, hunt for The Scotsman and find the infamous “window” photo op at the Siamese Twins formation.~~
Run a 5k on a Tuesday night with the Jack Quinn’s Running Club.
Watch the New Year’s Eve fireworks from the Peak.
Climb the Manitou Incline.
Hike Barr Trail to Pikes Peak
Fish in 11-Mile-Canyon for the best Brown Trout Fishing in the country!
Pack a cup and enjoy a taste of the free-flowing spring waters in Manitou Springs.
Attend the annual Territory Days Festival in Old Colorado City. Enjoy funnel cakes, vintage gunfights, music, shopping and giant turkey legs.
Enjoy the Rodeo Days Western Street Pancake Breakfast
Don’t miss the Longhorn Cattle Drive on Tejon street.
On a Sunday morning, load up the kayaks or a canoe, drive to Woodland Park, stop at the Hungry Bear Restaurant for breakfast, then spend a lazy afternoon on Rampart Range Reservoir.
Shop the summer farmers market in Old Colorado City.
Attend a Simpich marionette show.
Listen to the Symphony Above the Clouds in Woodland Park on July 5
Stroll the Folk Art Festival at Rock Ledge Ranch. Make sure to stop by the blacksmith, watch them at work, visit the homestead and enjoy the smells of freshly baked cookies or applesauce.
Drive out to the Paint Mines Interpretive Park
Visit the Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel.
Tour the Olympic Training Center.
Take the day off for the AFA graduation in May. Pack a picnic and find a spot on the eastern side of I-25, across from the Academy and watch as the Thunderbirds buzz your head
Visit the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame.
Plan a night at the Broadmoor during the holidays. Admire the giant gingerbread house, walk around the lake and then sit by the fire at Bar del Largo while sipping your favorite hot beverage.
Plan a brewery tour with your friends
Hike up to Helen Hunt Falls.
Drive Gold Camp Road (make sure you have 4WD)
You have to attend at least one night at the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo!
Descend 1,000 feet into a mountain during the Mollie Kathleen Mine Tour.
Drive up to Divide, Colo., to the Wolf Wildlife Refuge and then hike the Fossil National Monument.
In the fall, spend the day driving to Cripple Creek for the views and amazing aspen leaves!
Enjoy the history of the Manitou Cliff Dwellings.
Pick the hottest summer day and go to Cave of the Winds.
Rent costumes at Zeezo’s and attend the Renaissance Festival.
Eat brunch at the Broadmoor.
Have a drink of whiskey in the Principal’s Office. (Shhhh! Actually, it’s ok)
Pack a blanket and a bottle of wine for the St. Stephens Jazz in the Garden or at Hillside Gardens.
Get fresh roasted chilies and fabulous wine tastings at the Holy Cross Abbey Harvest Fest.
Sign up to run one of the many races around the city.
Enjoy a winter day at the Cripple Creek Ice Fest
Get up early on Labor Day to watch the hot air balloon launch
Attend a Murder-Mystery dinner at the Briarhurst Manor
Gather a group of friends and race with a coffin through Manitou Springs.
Participate in a wild donkey race at Donkey Derby Days
Bike the Santa Fe Trail
Go ahead and fall down The Rabbit Hole.
Experience the Gold Room.
Take a train ride through the Royal Gorge.
Plan a day trip to Bishop Castle.
Drive one hour west on a cold, snowy day and soak in the mountain creek at the Mt. Princeton Hot Springs.
Mark your calendar for some good ‘ol summer music festivals like Bands In The Backyard.
Raft the Arkansas River.
Experience the quaint shopping and whitewater park at South Main, Buena Vista.
Attend a Sky Sox baseball game on a Friday night.
Sing a few tunes and enjoy a yard of beer at the Golden Bee.
Experience high tea at the Glenn Eyrie Castle.
Have a latte in a tiny house at Story Coffee Co.
Admire the Big Horn sheep through binoculars at the Garden of the Gods Visitors Center.
Attend a free concert at Stargazers.
Drive through Independence Pass
Valley View – see the alien lady along the way
Hike Pulpit Rock
Hike North Cheyenne Canyon Park
Have a beer at Mother Muffs while walking along Old Colorado City
Hike Red Rock Open Space
Mueller State Park
Have a meal at Casa Bonita
Great Sand Dunes National Park
See a concert at Red Rocks Ampitheatre
Devils Head
Rainbow Falls
Visit Gunnison
Black Canyon
Telluride
Ouray
Glenwood Springs – hanging lakes hot springs
Mount Muscoco
Louds Cabin in Cheyenne Mountain
7 Bridges
Mount Herman
Section 61
Gamble at Cripple Creek
Black Hawk Casino (near Denver)

Get up in the morning, throw your kayak in the car and enjoy an hour on the Catamount lakes on Pikes Peak before work.

Bike down Pikes Peak and stop at the Colorado Wines restaurant, sit creekside and enjoy a yummy veggie burger. (They have other tasty food too.)

Release your inner child by playing in the Penny Arcade in Manitou Springs

Dance in the water at the Uncle Wilber water fountain in downtown Colorado Springs (Acacia Park)

Eat breakfast at the famous King’s Chef Diner (cash only!)

Hike around Garden of the Gods, take a selfie at Balance Rock, hunt for The Scotsman and find the infamous “window” photo op at the Siamese Twins formation.

Run a 5k on a Tuesday night with the Jack Quinn’s Running Club.

Watch the New Year’s Eve fireworks from the Peak.

Climb the Manitou Incline.

Hike Barr Trail to Pikes Peak

Fish in 11-Mile-Canyon for the best Brown Trout Fishing in the country!

Pack a cup and enjoy a taste of the free-flowing spring waters in Manitou Springs.

Attend the annual Territory Days Festival in Old Colorado City. Enjoy funnel cakes, vintage gunfights, music, shopping and giant turkey legs.

Enjoy the Rodeo Days Western Street Pancake Breakfast

Don’t miss the Longhorn Cattle Drive on Tejon street.

On a Sunday morning, load up the kayaks or a canoe, drive to Woodland Park, stop at the Hungry Bear Restaurant for breakfast, then spend a lazy afternoon on Rampart Range Reservoir.

Shop the summer farmers market in Old Colorado City.

Attend a Simpich marionette show.

Listen to the Symphony Above the Clouds in Woodland Park on July 5

Stroll the Folk Art Festival at Rock Ledge Ranch. Make sure to stop by the blacksmith, watch them at work, visit the homestead and enjoy the smells of freshly baked cookies or applesauce.

Drive out to the Paint Mines Interpretive Park

Visit the Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel.

Tour the Olympic Training Center.

Take the day off for the AFA graduation in May. Pack a picnic and find a spot on the eastern side of I-25, across from the Academy and watch as the Thunderbirds buzz your head

Visit the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame.

Plan a night at the Broadmoor during the holidays. Admire the giant gingerbread house, walk around the lake and then sit by the fire at Bar del Largo while sipping your favorite hot beverage.

Plan a brewery tour with your friends

Hike up to Helen Hunt Falls.

Drive Gold Camp Road (make sure you have 4WD)

You have to attend at least one night at the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo!

Descend 1,000 feet into a mountain during the Mollie Kathleen Mine Tour.

Drive up to Divide, Colo., to the Wolf Wildlife Refuge and then hike the Fossil National Monument.

In the fall, spend the day driving to Cripple Creek for the views and amazing aspen leaves!

Enjoy the history of the Manitou Cliff Dwellings.

Pick the hottest summer day and go to Cave of the Winds.

Rent costumes at Zeezo’s and attend the Renaissance Festival.

Eat brunch at the Broadmoor.

Have a drink of whiskey in the Principal’s Office. (Shhhh! Actually, it’s ok)

Pack a blanket and a bottle of wine for the St. Stephens Jazz in the Garden or at Hillside Gardens.

Get fresh roasted chilies and fabulous wine tastings at the Holy Cross Abbey Harvest Fest.

Sign up to run one of the many races around the city.

Enjoy a winter day at the Cripple Creek Ice Fest

Get up early on Labor Day to watch the hot air balloon launch

Attend a Murder-Mystery dinner at the Briarhurst Manor

Gather a group of friends and race with a coffin through Manitou Springs.

Participate in a wild donkey race at Donkey Derby Days

Bike the Santa Fe Trail

Go ahead and fall down The Rabbit Hole.

Experience the Gold Room.

Take a train ride through the Royal Gorge.

Plan a day trip to Bishop Castle.

Drive one hour west on a cold, snowy day and soak in the mountain creek at the Mt. Princeton Hot Springs.

Mark your calendar for some good ‘ol summer music festivals like Bands In The Backyard.

Raft the Arkansas River.

Experience the quaint shopping and whitewater park at South Main, Buena Vista.

Attend a Sky Sox baseball game on a Friday night.

Sing a few tunes and enjoy a yard of beer at the Golden Bee.

Experience high tea at the Glenn Eyrie Castle.

Have a latte in a tiny house at Story Coffee Co.

Admire the Big Horn sheep through binoculars at the Garden of the Gods Visitors Center.

Attend a free concert at Stargazers.

Drive through Independence Pass

Valley View – see the alien lady along the way

Hike Pulpit Rock

Hike North Cheyenne Canyon Park

Have a beer at Mother Muffs while walking along Old Colorado City

Hike Red Rock Open Space

Mueller State Park

Have a meal at Casa Bonita

Great Sand Dunes National Park

See a concert at Red Rocks Ampitheatre

Devils Head

Rainbow Falls

Visit Gunnison

Black Canyon

Telluride

Ouray

Glenwood Springs – hanging lakes hot springs

Mount Muscoco

Louds Cabin in Cheyenne Mountain