As we enter the winter months once again, our thoughts turn to skiing. But even if you're not a contender for the next downhill competition, few places in the United States offer a more spectacular winter wonderland than Colorado Springs, a city of approximately 361,901 residents and located at an altitude of more than 6,000 feet. This town at the edge of the Rockies is one of Colorado's most popular tourist destinations. Whether or not you're an athlete, you'll enjoy Colorado Springs for its scenery. For many relocating families and tourists alike, it's a smaller-town alternative to bustling and congested Denver.

Among Colorado Springs' most revered attractions is Pikes Peak, rising above the Colorado Plateau. Visitors flock to Pikes Peak to hike, picnic or just take in the mountain vistas. Those who prefer sticking to the lower altitudes head to the 18,000-acre United States Air Force Academy, sitting at the base of the Rampart Mountains, which attracts more than 1 million tourists every year. On the campus is a 17-spire chapel, a favorite of visitors who tour the academy. If you take a tour on a weekday during the school year, you'll find cadets marching on the square below the chapel at noontime. The air force academy sets the tone for Colorado Springs' large military presence. In and around the city, you'll find the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), Fort Carson and Peterson Air Force Base, and the U.S. Space Command. Other common industries in the city include high-tech electronics and tourism.

The Garden of the Gods is a 1,350-acre park in Colorado Springs filled with sculptures created from nature -- rocks balanced in unusual configurations, forms created from red sandstone, for example. The formations were created approximately 250 million years ago when erosion, wind, and other natural forces brought debris down from the nearby mountains. When the Rocky Mountains began to rise, the park's rock layers shifted at an angle. Years of water flow and more wind formed the strange formations visitors see at the city park today. The rock formations have been named; for example, the Rocking Chair, the Three Graces, Steamboat Rock, and Balanced Rock. A visit here is a true wonder for any tourist; the park, now a Registered National Landmark, proves that some of the most spectacular art forms are not made by man, but rather by nature. It's well worth your while to wander its trails, check out its several scenic points perfect for photography enthusiasts, and visit the Hidden Inn, located in the center of the Garden of the Gods, and which contains a lookout tower. Head to the west end of the park to visit the Trading Post, where you'll find various Southwest Indian arts and crafts.

Also noteworthy in Colorado Springs: Seven Falls, a series of connected falls that cascade down a 300-foot drop from a granite cliff located in the South Cheyenne Canyon (an evening visit here reveals thousands of multicolored lights illuminating Cheyenne Canyon, creating a far more dramatic view); and the Cave of the Winds, filled with stalactites and stalagmites. Guided tours are offered. The Cave of the Winds is located six miles west of Colorado Springs. Adults and children alike will enjoy Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, which houses a vast assortment of species, many of them rare and/or endangered. And last but certainly not least, you'll want to visit the popular U.S. Olympic Complex, the training center for nine U.S. Olympic teams. Many athletes train here on a regular basis, so there's no telling who you'll find during your stop here. Guided tours of the complex are available.

Colorado Springs averages 250 days per year of sunshine, with an annual average of 15.42 inches of precipitation. Average humidity stands at just 49 percent. These fairly friendly weather conditions, as well as a strong economic base and the presence of a winter (and) summer recreational playground, keep the region's real estate market humming. Nearly one-third of the city's population has lived in Colorado Springs four years or less. The median household income in Colorado Springs is $49,385 according to 1998 figures, which means that many families can afford to buy, and enter the move-up market, as well. The median age is just 33.7 years old, representing the growth of a young, skilled work force ready and able to buy homes at a comparatively younger age.

Although it's just 70 miles south of Denver, Colorado Springs is another world unto itself. This city is reaping the benefits of economic growth, fueled in part by its large military complex and high-tech industries. Yet, Colorado Springs continues to exude a smaller-town feel. Its wealth of natural beauty allows its residents to play hard as well as work hard -- in short, to enjoy the good life in the midst of a spectacular landcape.

Published: November 16, 1998

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