Duty Station Highlight: Spending the Day in Colorado Springs

Some people dream of travel and exploring new places.  You get to experience that and on the military dime!  Take advantage of your current duty station culture and adventure by planning a staycation around your current duty station?  Here are some suggestions of how I’d spend my day in Colorado Springs, the location of Fort Carson, Peterson Space Force Base (SFB), Schriever SFB, Air Force Academy, and Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station. 

1. Watch the sunrise over Garden of the Gods.  Enjoy the display of nature and one of the most popular tourist destinations in all the city by watching the sunrise at the scenic overlook on Mesa Road.  Watch the sun’s rays sweep over the Front Range and Pike’s Peak.  Enjoy the display of changing colors as the sun meanders down the unique red rocks of the garden.  
2. Visit and tour the Olympic Training Center.  If you’ve ever enjoyed watching the Olympics – you’ll enjoy learning more about training at high altitude at the Olympic Training Center.  The visit starts with a 12-minute film and then a 45-minute outdoor walking tour of the training complex, including the weightlifting and wrestling facilities and the aquatics center.  You’ll learn about all the unique equipment to help athletes recover quickly from an injury and all the nutrition that goes into creating a champion. 
3. Hike Mount Cutler.  One of the best easy hikes to see panoramic views of Colorado Springs and the surrounding mountains is the Mount Cutler trail in Cheyenne Canyon.  The trail is 2 miles roundtrip and leads to a peak that overlooks Seven Falls and ziplining course that are both run by the Broadmoor Hotel.  It offers full views of nearby mountain peaks and views of downtown Colorado Springs.  The hike is less than 500 feet in elevation, so relatively easy for great views.  
4. Grab a Meal in Old Colorado City.  Old Colorado City includes a variety of unique and local restaurant options along with some unique shops.  Stroll the streets and pick one of the foodie favorites along this strip of West Colorado Avenue.  Many of these restaurants have won the “Best of” awards for their menus and yummy bites.
5. Watch the Sunset from Pulpit Rock. Wrap up your day watching the sunset over the Front Range by visiting the Pulpit Rock Park, just off I-25.  Hike to the moderate, 550 feet climb which includes a bit of easy rock scrambling.  Find a flat area to stop or sit and watch nature show off across the Pike’s Peak region.  Look west to enjoy the breathtaking sunset.

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