Red Rock Canyon

#1 Garden of the Gods It's easy to see how this natural landmark earned such an ethereal title: These magnificent red rock formations look as though deities themselves could've carved them. However, the ... Read more » Courtesy of Colorado Springs CVB

#2 Pikes Peak Rising 8,000 feet above Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak – aka "America's Mountain" – has been beckoning to visitors since the 19th century. Gold brought the pioneers here, but it was ... Read more » Courtesy of the Colorado Springs CVB

#3 Manitou Springs Let's get one thing straight: Manitou Springs is not a part of Colorado Springs, and residents here won't hesitate to remind you of that. Unlike its much larger ... Read more » VisitCOS

#4 United States Olympic Training Center This facility in Colorado Springs is the flagship training center of the U.S. Olympic team and the active headquarters of the U.S. Olympic Committee. The 35-acre complex houses ... Read more » Courtesy of the Colorado Springs CVB

#5 North Cheyenne Canon Park If you're visiting Colorado Springs during the summer, consider spending a day at North Cheyenne Cañon Park, located about 6 miles southwest of town. This park comprises more than ... Read more » Hundley_Photography / Getty Images

#6 United States Air Force Academy If you feel a need for speed, then plan a visit to the U.S. Air Force Academy. Not only is the academy a must for any lover of the ... Read more » Beverly & Pack / Flickr

#7 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Animal lovers say that the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is a must if you're visiting Colorado Springs with kids. Located south of the city on the side of Cheyenne Mountain ... Read more » VisitCOS

#8 Old Colorado City Sitting just west of the downtown area is Old Colorado City, the original capital of the Colorado Territory. Founded back in 1859, this area was once a hotbed of activity ... Read more » VisitCOS

#9 Red Rock Canyon Arizona and Utah aren't the only states that boast rust-colored rocks – Colorado has them, too. And you don't have to stray too far from Colorado Springs to get ... Read more » mark byzewski / Flickr

#10 Mueller State Park When you don't feel like driving nearly three hours to Rocky Mountain National Park, Mueller State Park offers a convenient alternative. Located about 30 miles west of Colorado Springs ... Read more » Courtesy of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources

#11 Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum After you've toured the historic streets of Old Colorado City, consider making a stop at the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum. Housed in what was once the early 20th-century El ... Read more » sfgamchick / Flickr

#12 Western Museum of Mining & Industry To get a taste for the city's rich history as a Colorado Gold Rush mining town, stop at the Western Museum of Mining & Industry. Here, you'll learn ... Read more » VisitCOS

# Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site Read more » Scott Book / Flickr

# National Museum of World War II Aviation Read more » inabeanpod / Flickr

# Colorado Wolf Adventures Read more » Adria Photography / Getty Images