Colorado Springs, Colorado - Part 2

Cave of the Winds
Another site you shouldn’t miss if you visit the Colorado Springs area is the Cave of the Winds.  We took the tour (about 45 minutes) exploring an immense cavern just above Manitou Springs.  It was Winston's first experience caving and he was a trooper!  Did you know that if you are exposed to ultimate darkness, such as when they shut the lights off in the cave, your eyes will continue looking for a light source of some kind for about a month before they "shut down"?  If after that time, you come out into the light, you will be permanently blind.  Kind of disturbing that we know this.  Anyway, we enjoyed the cave experience quite a bit.

Seven Falls
After Cave of the Winds, we headed off to Seven Falls.  No work involved here.  You pay the park fee and drive right up to the falls.  There is an elevator that will whisk you up to the middle of the falls (saving you from climbing approximately 200 stairs) and from there you have an awesome view.  For those looking for a little more strenuous workout, you can continue on up – approximately another 200 stairs to the top.  Seven Falls is exactly that, seven separate waterfalls which cascade down the side of the mountain.  If you visit in the summer and at night, they even light the falls.  Alas, we weren’t visiting at a time when we could see them at night.

Air Force Academy

Approximately 15 miles from our campground was the Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs.  Although I wasn’t sure what they would have to offer, I’m am glad we went.  Of course, the chapel building is one of the most famous structures associated with the Air Force Academy and for good reason.  It is spectacular.  The architecture of the building and the use of stained glass in the walls and ceiling make this the most beautiful chapel I’ve ever seen.  Check out the pictures which definitely don’t do justice to the magnificent site.   You get a feeling standing in the chapel and looking at the altar that I can’t begin to describe. 

Exterior of Chapel

 

 

 

 Altar

 

Organ

 

 

Love the stained glass

 

Ceiling

 

Due to the snow and rain during some of our time in Colorado Springs, we missed out on going over Pikes Peak.  Maybe next time.  And that wraps up Colorado Springs for us.  Next stop, Cherry Creek State Park in Denver, Colorado.

 

Colorado Springs, CO

I'm a little behind on posting as we left Colorado Springs two weeks ago.  We are currently camped out at the Cherry Creek State Park in the Denver area, but more on that later.

Colorado Springs was a wonderful town to visit.  They have several attractions worth experiencing and all within a very short drive, my kind of place.  We stayed at the Garden of the Gods campground.  Nice campground, good facilities and close to everything. 

Garden of the Gods is a national natural landmark with dramatic views of towering sandstone rock formations. Garden of the Gods got its name from two surveyors who decided that it would be a fitting place for the Gods to have a beer (beer garden) and although the beer garden didn't materialize the name stuck. 

 It's free to visit the park.  There are numerous trails for hiking, road and mountain biking.  Rock climbing is allowed by permit. 

 

Pikes Peak in the Background



 

We also visited the Manitou Cliff Dwellings.  The Anasazi who lived and roamed the Four Corner area of the United States Southwest from 1200 B.C. to A.D. 1300 were the master minds of these incredibly sophisticated dwellings for the time.  Manitou Cliff Dwellings is a 40 room site that was originally located in the southwest corner of Colorado near Mesa Verde, but was relocated for preservation.  It took several years to collect, package and move the pieces by oxen and then railroad to Colorado Springs (between 1904 and 1907) where they were reassembled in their original dimension and appearance.  The Cliff Dwellings are now considered a museum and you can actually walk through the rooms which are interconnected and protected by the mountain face.

 

 

 

Since there was so much to see in Colorado Springs, I'll detail the rest of the Colorado Springs adventure in a sequel.

 

Royal Gorge, Canon City, Colorado

The Royal Gorge bridge is one of the world's highest suspension bridges in the world.  Built in 1929 for $350,000, the bridge was a legendary feet of engineering for the time.  The bridge was built for no other reason than to see if it could be done.  It took 7 months to build and the project was funded by a group of investors.  Kinda of the bridge to no where.  Now the bridge is part of an amusement attraction.

For those who enjoy conquering a vertical challenge, there is an incline railway which travels at a 45 degree angle from the top to the canyon floor.  It is one of the steepest and most difficult structures ever built.  There is also a skycoaster which is a free fall tower sweeping you 50 mph to hang momentarily 1,300 feet above the Arkansas River.  Many feel that it is the scariest skycoaster in the world.  We passed on trying out these and settled for merely walking across the bridge.  You can't believe the wind gusts that high up!  The bridge is made of wooden slats with spaces that allow you to look through to the canyon floor a million feet down (seriously, that's how far it seems) and the bridge moves with the wind gusts.  Scary for those of us who don't care for heights.

 

Arkansas River - Canyon Floor Approx. 1,500 Feet Below

Bridge

 

Incline Railway

 

 

Oso Caliente, New Mexico

After departing Santa Fe, we travelled about 50ish miles north to the Ojo Caliente, NM, home of the Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs and Resort.  They have an awesome little RV park right on the resort grounds, primarily for smaller RV’s and YOLO fit nicely—she’s not too big, she’s not too small, she’s just right!  Our spot included the tranquil sounds of a nearby stream and was set among the foliage which afforded us maximum privacy. 

A hop, skip and a jump from the RV park was the Spa where for $28 you get an all-day pass to soak in several (non-stinky) mineral pools, steam, sauna, mud bath and bake or just lounge around the pools swinging in a hammock.  Mark and I reserved a private cliffside pool where you are permitted to frolic au naturel should you choose.  Did we?  I’ll never tell.  Our personal pool was reserved for 8 p.m. and included a kiva fireplace for warmth and added ambiance.  Very romantic!   Three sides of the personal pool area were walled and the fourth side opened up to a cliff face (hence, cliffside pool) which was lighted after dark illuminating the cliffs.      

Oso Caliente offers a myriad of spa treatments  - everything from massages to facials to wraps, etc. if you’re in the mood to partake.  The cottages on site were small, but looked cute and comfortable.  We didn’t try the on sight restaurant, preferring to eat at home.  If you ever find yourself traveling along US 285 between Colorado and Santa Fe, it’s well worth a stop.