Hello friends and followers of Love a Latte! My name is Kylie Sutton, and Nicole asked me to write this blog for you, in case any of you may be traveling here and might need some suggestions! I’m from Washington State, which is where I met Nicole, and from there, the military has taken my husband and I to Georgia, and now Colorado. I’ve only been here a little over a year, so there’s still so much to be discovered, but I’ve found some great places I would love to share with you. This is my “blog debut” you might say, so hopefully this is helpful for someone out there!
THINGS TO SEE
Garden of the Gods
Garden of the Gods Park is a National Nature Landmark, which people come from all over to see! It’s beautiful, unique, and I always enjoy going. If you plan on visiting, bring some comfortable shoes; you will be walking to many different sites within the park! (Nicole here! This is definitely a must-see if you’ve never been to The Springs. It’s absolutely stunning, and I can’t wait to go back and explore some more)!
Red Rock Canyon Open Space
Bring some hiking shoes and get out to Red Rock Canyon Open Space! It’s a beautiful hike, and very beginner friendly. Dogs are welcome, so you can bring the whole family!
United States Air Force Academy
If you ever get the chance, I think visiting a military base is something everyone should do! I have so much respect for our military, and have loved being an army spouse. The Air Force Academy is just such a beautiful base. It’s built on the side of a mountain, so you have a great view of it coming into The Springs, especially the football field! The chapel there is breathtaking, and I highly suggest you get a visitors pass and spend a couple hours there.
Pikes Peak
This is definitely something I think everyone should experience. Whether you take the tram up (I think it’s closed
right now…hopefully they open it up again), drive up, or run up (like my mom). I will admit, the drive up was pretty scary for me, and might be for you to if you are afraid of heights. But I’m glad I did it; there’s a shop with food and merchandise up at the top, along with great views for pictures! If you don’t want to go all the way up, there’s plenty of stopping points with places to hike, and beautiful lakes!
THINGS TO DO
Old Downtown Colorado Springs
The hub of fun shops, touristy items we all secretly love, and great restaurants! A strip in town containing a little bit of history, it’s definitely a place you’ll want to visit while you’re here! (Such a fun and quaint little part of The Springs! I loved exploring Old Downtown).
Overdrive Raceway
I’m not sure if this would be considered a chain, but I’ve never been anywhere quite like this before! It’s high-speed electric indoor go-kart racing. There are two stories; downstairs is more family friendly if you have kids under 16, and upstairs is the “adult zone” including a sports bar. If it’s a rainy day and you want somewhere inside, consider checking this out!
The Promenade Shops at Briargate
Want to spend a day shopping while you’re here? These are my favorite shops here in The Springs! Lots of places to eat as well; including one of my favorites, Bad Daddy’s Burgers.
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
I LOVE this zoo! Minus the fact they don’t have hippos. But it’s a great, smaller zoo with lots of animals and great places to eat. It’s placed on the side of the mountain, so there’s lots of uphill walking, which would be the only downside. However, the upside to that are amazing views of The Springs. But my absolute favorite thing about this zoo, is the giraffe exhibit. You can purchase lettuce from the zoo and experience them up close and personal – it’s amazing!
RESTAURANTS
Favorite Italian restaurant! Located in Old Downtown Springs. You wont be disappointed with the food or the staff. Make sure to save room for cannoli’s!
Garden of the God’s Market & Café
My favorite place in The Springs, hands down. Breakfast or lunch, you can’t go wrong with either. Stay after and browse their market. Everything is homemade! (I 1000% agree with this. The atmosphere and overall look/feel of the place is so homey, yet so clean and classy. Get the BLT, add avocado, and get some fries…life-changing).
Colorado Mountain Brewery (at the Roundhouse)
A staple restaurant for my family! A great atmosphere, good beer selection, and tons of options for food. There’s something there for everyone! Get the brussels sprouts as an appetizer, thank me later.
If you don’t mind spending a pretty penny, this is an amazing steakhouse. AND if you can find a coupon (like we did), don’t sleep on it!
Customizable Burger? Sign me up! The chicken burger is my personal favorite. They also have the best tater tots I’ve ever had in my entire life!
Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery
My favorite place for a drink and appetizer! My go to order is – Brewery Nachos, Crispy Chicken Fingers, and a side of fries. To share of course! (I can attest to all three of those…delicious).
I love a good sushi roll, especially spicy tuna! Even being landlocked here in Colorado, I find this place has very fresh fish, and is definitely worth checking out if you’re craving some sushi.
3 words… Big Ass Pizza. Their words, not mine! 26inch New York style pizza, my absolute favorite!
Fuzzy’s Taco Shop (off Interquest)
This might not be the best Mexican food you’ll ever have. But get a few friends together, order a margarita, chips & guacamole, and sit outside on their patio!
Nicole again…I had to recommend this coffee shop for a few different reasons. The coffee was great, their food was incredible (get the breakfast tacos…you’re welcome), their outside seating area is so pretty, and there are so many fun walls outside to take photos in front of! They also serve beer and wine, if you’re interested in that as well.
Honorable Mention
This isn’t technically in The Springs, but I think it’s worth mentioning because it’s only about a 40 minute drive away, give or take a few minutes depending on where you are in The Springs. This wine bar is by far my favorite that I’ve been to. You won’t be disappointed with their wine selection, and their food is to die for! If you happen to go in, a drink I would recommend, is their Cabernet Sauvignon, Ramsay (North Coast, CA). As for their food, you can’t go wrong with anything on their menu, but I always enjoy their house-made baked macaroni & cheese, flatbreads, and of course no wine is complete without a charcuterie board!
Thanks for reading! If you ever get the chance to visit, I hope you find this post helpful. And if any of you live or have visited The Springs, leave a comment down below with your suggestions!
