Colorado Springs
Entertainment

add to Travel Bag (NEW)  

Too often, perceptions of entertainment in Colorado are limited solely to the category of outdoor recreation. Home to magnificent Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs sits in the shadow of the mountain in more ways than one. But, in fact, the city is home to much more than great scenery and rugged adventure. Become a modern-day frontier explorer, and discover all the cultural treasures Colorado Springs has to offer.

Performing Arts

Maybe due to the inspiration provided by beautiful natural landscapes, Colorado Springs has cultivated a variety of artistic venues—establishments that explore the range of human creativity. Lovers of the classics will want to reserve a seat at the Colorado Springs Symphony Orchestra, the city's professional music group. Timeless productions can be found with the Star Bar Players, a theater troupe, which stages live shows throughout the year. For entertainment a bit more local in flavor, the Colorado Springs Dance Theater and Rocky Mountain Cloggers kick up their heels in high-energy performances. If high art is more your style, visit the Colorado Springs Fine Art Center, or for a more off-beat bent try the Smokebrush Center for the Arts. Lastly, regardless of when you visit, you are sure to find something scheduled at the World Arena, a popular venue for sporting events and a stop for many national tours.

Museums and Attractions

Although Colorado Springs is a relatively small, but growing, city, it is bursting with attractions famous the world over. At more than 14,000 feet, the imposing and impressive Pikes Peak is the most well-known draw. Whether you choose to drive up on the highway, travel to the top on the Pikes Peak Cog Railway, or merely marvel from the mountain's base in Mueller State Park, this is one sight that cannot be missed. Visitors can also catch a glimpse of Colorado Springs during its boom days in two historical neighborhoods: Ghost Town with its Ghost Town Museum and Old Colorado City. Other notable sites include the Air Force Academy, the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and the US Olympic Complex.

Local History

For a western city founded just over a century ago in 1871, Colorado Springs is rich with history. This legacy is captured in the city's many notable museums. The preeminent stop for local history is the Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site which features characters in period costumes and turn-of-the-century buildings. Local scientist, inventor and hero, Nikola Tesla, also has a museum devoted to his revolutionary works. The Peterson Air & Space Museum at Peterson Air Force Base is the perfect place for the aviation buff. Some institutions cover the world beyond the borders of Colorado, like the John May Natural History Museum, the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame and the World Figure Skating Museum.

Sports

Cave of the Winds, Garden of the Gods and Seven Falls. If you would like to truly interact with nature, there are outfitters such as Pikes Peak Mountain Bike Tours and Pikes Peak Alpine School to lead you into Colorado's famed backcountry. The love of sport is alive in Colorado Springs, and there is tremendous support for local teams. Denver may have the Broncos, but here the home teams are the Air Force Academy Falcons in football and the nationally ranked Colorado College Tigers in hockey. Baseball also has a place here with the Triple-A Sky Sox—the Colorado Rockies minor league farm team.

Casinos

Several of the state's cities are famous for their histories as gold-rush towns, and Colorado Springs is no exception. In nearby Cripple Creek, you do not have to go far to prospect for a fortune. You can still strike it rich at the many casino hotels and gaming establishments in the town known as 'little Las Vegas'. Casinos such as The Imperial, the Gold Rush Hotel and the Palace Hotel let guests take a whirl with Lady Luck.