Colorado Springs

So many of Colorado's cities and towns were built to accommodate the booming mining industry that began in the mid 19th century. Colorado Springs is no exception. The gold rush that happened here inspired the saying "Pike's Peak or Bust" and the town began to grow to support the mines on Pikes Peak and the surrounding mountains. Today, you can tour a gold mine while descending to 1,000 feet. The railroad that existed in the 1800s to transport ore and miners in and out of the mountains still exists today, offering trips to nearby Cripple Creek and into the Royal Gorge. Colorado Springs offers so many things for visitors to see and do that it's hard to name them all. Of course there is Pike's Peak, the most famous mountain in America, where you can take in the scenery, hike, and even pan for gold. In a canyon just outside of Colorado Springs you'll find the famous Cave of the Winds. There are actually three different systems of caverns involved, all of which are part of the amazing tour. Near the Cave of the Winds is the Garden of the Gods. The Garden of the Gods is a registered National Natural Landmark, and it's no wonder. This "garden" consists of dozens of beautiful sandstone formations of rock, some as high as 300 feet. The nearby city of Manitou Springs is home to the Manitou Cliff Dwellings. Seven hundred years ago this "town" was carved out of the side of a mountain and was home to the ancient Anasazi people. Colorado Springs is also the location of the United States Air Force Academy and the U.S. Olympic training center.