Touring the Springs

You all know how we love to go for our little day trips all over the place.  We love discovering all the hidden gems our beautiful state has to offer, but what makes it even better is when we can share these hidden gems with our friends and family when they come to visit.  Because Tim and Leslie are doing a big driving RV vacation, the last thing they wanted to do was to spend another long day in the car for sightseeing.  Fortunately, Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs are only about 1 1/2 hours south of us, and there is plenty of things to see and do while in the area.

Our first stop was The Cave of the Winds.  As early legends of over a thousand years ago tell, the Jicarilla Apaches told of a cave near Manitou Springs where the Great Spirit of the Wind resided.  Approximately 4 – 7 million years ago, the limestone fell below the water table. … As more limestone dissolved over many thousands of years, pockets grew into passageways. Passageways grew into rooms, rooms grew into caverns, and the caves were slowly formed.  The name Wind Cave comes from the wind that naturally blows out (and in) of the small natural entrance to the cave. … Wind Cave is most known for its delicate calcite formations called “boxwork”. The vast majority of the world’s discovered boxwork, 95%, is found in Wind Cave.

Inside the Caves.

After leaving The Cave of the Winds, while still in the area, we could not leave without stopping at The Garden of the Gods.   Garden of the Gods Park is a registered National Natural Landmark that includes 480 acres of dramatic views of 300′ towering sandstone rock formations against a backdrop of snow-capped Pikes Peak and brilliant blue skies.  Back in 1859, when a surveyor named Rufus Cable first saw the towering fins of rock jutting over 300 feet into the air near Pikes Peak, he enthusiastically declared that it was “a fit place for the gods to assemble!” From this excited outburst came the name Garden of the Gods.  The Garden of the Gods is one of my favorite places to visit here in Colorado.  It is both spiritual and magical, and is truly a breathtaking miracle to behold.

Pictures are great, but they just don’t give it the full justice it deserves.

Sharing the magic and hiking the trails.

I hope you enjoyed the tour.  I never get tired of sharing my beautiful state of Colorado.

Stay safe and stay well Everyone.  ‘Til next time.