Day 3
We decided to start the day exploring the Manitou Cliff Dwellings in nearby Manitou Springs. Visitors can climb all through the well-preserved cliff dwellings and spend hours in the multi-story gift shop.
After a tasty lunch at Mediterranean Café in downtown Colorado Springs, we shopped the local spots and wound up at the (free) Pioneer Museum. It’s located across from the jail in the old, restored county courthouse. It is a lovely building, surrounded by well-manicured native gardens and statuary. The interior of the building is just as beautiful.
We were greeted enthusiastically by volunteers and directed to the room that contains an overview of the 150 years of Colorado Springs’ history.
Up the beautifully decorated staircase, Hubby found the exhibit on TB fascinating. Mom and I loved learning about some women who made their mark in Colorado Springs, the author Helen Hunt Jackson and the entrepreneur, Fannie Mae Duncan.
We were ready to head out when we saw an art gallery of local artists. The discovery kept us about an hour longer!
Day 4
It was Father’s Day! We planned a special treat to celebrate our first-class dad: first-class tickets on the Royal Gorge Route Railroad.
We’d pre-ordered our meal. Hubby had bison, I ate salmon, and the girls had Chicken Marsala. It was a fantastic four-course meal. We give it 5 stars.
Mom had informed me that she’d never go back to the Royal Gorge; my dad had taken us years ago and had insisted we walk the bridge that covers the narrowest (and deepest) portion of the canyon.
I felt certain she could handle the train ride along the river, and she did. In fact, I think she rather enjoyed it!
Click here to continue on to Days 5 & 6 of our Colorado trip.
