We spent our last day in Santa Fe on July 6 taking it easy and enjoying the pleasant weather before moving on to our next destination.
On July 7 we drove about 320 miles north to Colorado Springs, a fairly easy trip straight up Interstate 25. Unfortunately, the weather was cloudy and rainy when we arrived, so Pike's Peak—one of the city's most famous landmarks—remained hidden behind the clouds.
We checked into Peak RV Resort. Calling it a "resort" might be stretching the definition a bit. About half of the sites appear to be occupied by permanent residents, and the campground sits right next to a major highway. It is definitely noisy! Still, we're gradually getting used to it, and it will serve us well for the two weeks we'll be here.
Our first stop was the Garden of the Gods, a spectacular city park filled with towering red sandstone formations. Most visitors either drive the scenic road or stop to hike the many trails. This visit we chose to drive through, stopping at Balancing Rock for a few photographs. We also spent some time at the Trading Post, which was much larger than we expected. Besides the gift shop, it featured a beautiful patio shaded by mature trees alongside a lively stream—a wonderfully peaceful place to relax.
One of the biggest surprises was learning that Garden of the Gods is owned by the City of Colorado Springs, has an excellent visitor center, and is completely free to everyone. It's easy to see why so many families have visited over the years. We both realized that we had been here as children, when our families could enjoy one of Colorado's most beautiful attractions without spending a dime.
Another enjoyable stop was Manitou Springs. Once an elegant Victorian resort town famous for its mineral springs and their supposed healing properties, today it has become a charming tourist community on the western edge of Colorado Springs. The highlight for us was undoubtedly the Penny Arcade. What a delight! It is filled with vintage pinball machines, shooting galleries, mutoscopes (look them up!), mechanical kiddie rides, and dozens of other classic amusements. The place was packed with families having a wonderful time. Before we leave Colorado Springs, we'd love to return with a pocketful of pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters to try some of these marvelous old machines ourselves.
Yesterday we explored downtown Colorado Springs and visited the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum. The museum occupies a magnificent courthouse completed in 1909. Amazingly, the building came very close to being demolished during the 1970s. Thank goodness cooler heads prevailed and this architectural treasure was preserved.
The museum's exhibits covered a fascinating range of local history. We learned about Artus and Anne Van Briggle and their beautiful Art Nouveau pottery, discovered that actor Lon Chaney was born in Colorado Springs, and read about Nikola Tesla's time here conducting his famous electrical experiments. Apparently, Tesla's experiments were remarkable, but his financial management was less so—he reportedly slipped out of town under cover of darkness owing money to just about everyone! I'll write a full review of the museum in the near future.
One unexpected moment occurred outside the museum, where we noticed large groups of people standing around staring intently at their phones. It was one of the strangest sights we'd seen. Jerry finally asked someone what was happening and learned that a special Pokémon GO event was taking place. A rare Pokémon had appeared near the museum, drawing players from all over the area. It was certainly not something we expected to encounter during our museum visit! You truly never know what adventures await when you travel.
Tomorrow we're heading into the mountains to visit Cripple Creek, one of Colorado's most famous gold-mining towns. Stay tuned!