Apart from the natural scenerios and adventurous events in Colorado, the state is famous for its wildlife too. Following are a few places where you can enjoy Colorado wildlife.

1. Lake Pueblo State Park – This is located in SouthEast region which comprises of wide range of mammals, including muskrats and beavers, red foxes and fox squirrels.

2. Bonny Lake State Park – Here you can watch newly hatched wood ducklings in summer and spring season.

3. Barr Lake State Park – This lake attracts different categories of water birds, including grebes, geese, coots, white pelicans and different species of duck.

4. Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge – This is the prime area to enjoy watching mallards, Canada geese, canvasbacks, redheads, ruddy ducks, green winged cinnamon teal and common mergansers.

5. Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge – In the early weeks of Spring i.e., just before ice gets melt down, you can watch hundreds of bald eagles hunting on fish.

If you are a lover of wildlife, then don’t miss any of the above parks when you visit Colorado.

Colorado Springs Airport is located miles from El Paso Country, southeast part of the Colorado Springs. This Aiport measures 280,000 square feet and on October 1994, 16 gate terminal was openeed to the public. An average of 2 million passengers pass through this Airport every year. COS is the abbreviation for Colorado Springs Airport. COS is well known for 2 things.
1. Panoramic views of the Front Range and Pikes Peak.
2. Growing business opportunities and development.

The airport is equipped well, so that it can handle around 100 departures and arrivals a day and serves eight airlines. Some among them are America West, United, Allegiant Air, Mesa, Continental Airlines and Delta. Also, the airfares are highly competitive. COS has non stop services to thirteen cities in the US. All facilities such as ATM centers, family care rooms, children’s play area, hotel services and a lot more. Local motels and hotels in Colorado springs offer to and fro shuttle service from COS.

Your trip to Colorado would not be completed, if you don’t visit Denver. There is an incredible building in Colorado, made of white granite. This building was built in the year 1886, with intensive care with the plan to stand for centuries. The dome of this building is becharming and dominates the skyline of Denver. The height is about 272 feet and is covered by gold leaf.

You will find wall paintings with in the building, that represent the history of the state. It is noted as a brillient piece of art and architecture, which words are not sufficient to describe. The better way to visit the capitol to take a guided tour. There are free tours avaiable and the guides will teach you about the Colorado history and the capitol construction. Generally tours take around 45 minutes, so that they are fit into any schedule. The capitol is from Monday to Friday, but will be closed on most holidays. Have fun!!!

When speaking about the “Must Visit” places in Colorado, Colorado Springs should not be missed out. It is an attractive city, located in Pikes Peak. The visitors will enjoy plenty of cultural, scenic and recreation opportunities at Colorado Spring. Pikes Peak, America’s famous mountain, is treated as the treasure of Colorado. There is a place near to Colorado springs where you will get chance to deeply into the earth. These explore passageways are filled with acidic water and lot more. This trip is known as Discovery Tour.

The travel goes up to 45 minutes walking tour, covering the distance of half a mile. Regardless to the outside temperature, you will feel 54 degrees Fahrenheit here. To be more adventurous, you can step forward to the Old West. Here, you will see the buildings of the 18th and 19th centuries. Once you pay a visit to Colorado, note down the above places and do not fail to visit those places at Colorado Springs.

If you have a small child and are looking for something to do let me suggest the Butterfly Pavilion in Westminster, Colorado. This is a place where your child can really learn about Butterflies plus other insects. There are many different exhibits you can tour that will have you talking for days.

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Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs – On April 1, 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the bill establishing the U.S. Air Force Academy. On July 11, 1955, although construction of the facility was not yet complete, the first class of 306 men were sworn in at a temporary site at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver.

The academy and visitor center is open to the public. People can visit the Visitors Center, Cadet Chapel, the Field House, Arnold Hall and the Honor Court. At the Visitors Center you can view historical exhibits on the history and the life of the cadets at the academy. Don’t forget to grab a snack at the snack bar and pick up a few souvenirs at the gift shop

Please remember that backpacks or large bags are not allowed in the Visitor Center, the paved nature trail, or the Cadet Chapel.

Hours:
Visitors’ Center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
Academy is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily

Location:
U.S. Air Force Academy
USAFA, CO 80840

Visitors to the Academy must enter through the North Gate, which can be accessed from Exit 156B on Interstate 25, 14 miles north of downtown Colorado Springs.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory -showcases technologies that can save energy, improve the environment and lower the cost of energy bills. Visitors can take a free self-guided tour through interactive exhibits and learn about energy from the sun, wind, biomass, and other sources of renewable energy.

Hours:
Open: Monday thru Friday 9 am to 5pm
Closed on weekends and major holidays

Location:
15013 Denver West Parkway
Golden, CO 80401
(303) 384-6565

Garden of the Gods – is a National Natural Landmark. The red sandstone formations are a must see when visiting Colorado. Activities in the park include, guided nature walks, hiking, technical rock climbing, horseback riding, as well as mountain and road biking. Don’t forget to visit the visitor center, café and the gift shop which has been voted one of the best in Colorado Springs.There homemade fudge is a must-try for any true chocolate lover!

Hours:
Memorial Weekend to Labor Day- 8 am – 8 pm
Labor Day to Memorial Weekend- 9 am – 5 pm

*Note that the gift shop will be closed on January 6th thru the 11th for inventory

Location:
1805 N 30th Street (at Gateway Rd.)
Colorado Springs, CO 80904
(719) 634-6666

The U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO – is an 8 million dollar Olympic Center that has approximately 140,000 visitors a year with a total of over 1.5 million visitors to date. The Center offers free public tours all year around. The tour includes a 12 minute film followed by a 45 minute walking tour of the complex. On the tour you will be able to view the training facilities where many of our very own U.S. athletes train. You will visit the Sport Center Gymnasium, weightlifting and wrestling facilities, the USA Shooting Center, Coaching and Sport Science centers, the Aquatics Center, Sports Medicine Center and the flume.The center also includes the US Olympic Hall of Fame Rotunda, the Olympic Spirit Store, indoor and outdoor patio eating facilities, a 225 seat auditorium, numerous art exhibitions and various other Olympic memorabilia with interactive kiosks.

Hours:
Aug. – May: Monday- Saturday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
June- July: Monday- Saturday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

There are no tours on Sundays, although the Olympic Spirit Store and Visitor Center is open from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm
Location:
1750 E. Boulder St.
Boulder, CO
888- 659-8687

Visitor Center Information- (719) 866-4618
Olympic Spirit Store (719) 866-4792 or www.usolympicshop.com

The Tattered Cover Book Store – is one of the largest independent bookstores in the United States. The book store was first opened in 1971 and it has grown from a small 950 sq. ft location to a 3 story store housing over half a million books. The atmosphere in this store is one of a kind. From its hard wood floors to small reading nooks scattered throughout the store, this place just inspires you to get lost in the pages of a good book. So buy yourself a cup of coffee at the café and enjoy some quite time at this must visit historical book store. I guarantee after just one visit you will be saying Barnes and Noble who?

Hours:

For the Historic LoDo location-

Open- Monday through Thursday 6:30 am- 9:00 pm

Friday 6:30 am- 11:00 pm

Saturday 9:00 am- 11:00 pm

Sunday 10:00 am- 6:00 pm

Location:

There are three locations through out the Denver metro area, although my favorite is the oldest one located in LoDo.

1628 16th Street
Denver, CO 80202
303-436-1070