Travel Diaries: Exploring Garden of the Gods in Colorado
Garden of the Gods – the name itself evokes an image of majesty and wonder. Here’s all the information you need to get up close and personal with some of the most iconic rock formations, at Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
For those of you who love hiking, there is an extensive network of trails to explore within the Garden of the Gods – about 21 miles.
Perkins Central Garden Trail
The Perkins Central Garden Trail is at the heart of the Garden of the Gods at the base of the highest rock formations. The trail is a quick and easy 1.5-mile roundtrip path. Featuring less than a 30-foot rise.
Ridge Trail
Feel like you are among the rocks while you adventure the Ridge Trail. This trail features a moderate half-mile loop, with less than 100-foot rise in elevation.
Siamese Twins Trail
The Siamese Twins Trail offers a quick and easy 1-mile roundtrip adventure with less than a 150-foot rise. You will also find gorgeous and unique views of Pikes Peak.
Chambers/Bretag/Palmer Trail
This moderate 3-mile hike has less than a 250-foot rise and is designed to circle nearly the entire Garden of the Gods park. The trail features rolling rocky terrain that is away from the traffic.
Scotsman/Buckskin Charlie Trail
The moderate Scotsman/Buckskin Charlie Trail loops you through the Garden of the Gods park and gives you gorgeous views of rock formations.
Garden of the Gods trails expands far beyond anything you could imagine. I recommend starting at Central Garden if it is your first time visiting. Central Garden is home to many of the iconic rock formations that you have seen or heard about before. You don’t have to worry about getting lost while exploring the Central Garden. With surrounding parking lots, it’s easy to walk and wander and then head back to your car.
The roads and parking lots make it easy to explore part of the Garden of the Gods park by car. If you are unsure where to start, simply try driving around the Central Garden and stop at different parking lots and viewpoints to see all the different views before you get out of your car and walk.
With a variety of trails to explore at Garden of the Gods, and plenty of sights to see, no matter where you wander and which formations you end up finding, you will be impressed by the beauty and uniqueness that Garden of the Gods brings. It really does live up to its name and is a garden fit for the Gods.
Garden of the Gods History
Did you know… Garden of the Gods was once private land? Charles Elliott Perkins was not only head of the railroad company Burlington Railroad, but he was also the lucky owner of the Garden of the Gods. Perkins moved to Colorado with the intention of building his railroad from Colorado Springs to Chicago, unfortunately, that dream never became a reality (I wish it would have though – I mean how cool would that be). With Perkins goal in mind, he purchased 240 acres of land as a place where he would build his summer home in 1879. Luckily for all of us Garden of the Gods lovers, Perkins never built on the gorgeous property. Instead, he left it in its natural and untouched state for the public to enjoy with him. His family knew how much Perkins loved the properly and sharing it with others, so when he passed away they donated the 480 acres that Perkins had acquired by that time to the city of Colorado Springs. With this donation, the family specified that the city could have it under one condition “given by the children of Charles Elliott Perkins in fulfillment of his wish that it be kept forever free to the public” (you will even see this on a plaque when you enter the central garden. Thanks to Perkins and his children, the Garden of the Gods cost to enter will be free forever.
Why is it called “Garden of the Gods”?
You might be wondering (I know I was), why the park is called “Garden of the Gods”? Well, in 1859 there were two surveyors who came upon this location while they were exploring nearby. One of the surveyors mentioned he thought it would be a “capital place for a beer garden.” While the other surveyor responded “beer garden! Why it is a fit place for the Gods to assemble. We will call it the Garden of the Gods.” There you have it, one simple conversation alters history forever.
As mentioned earlier, by the time Perkins had passed away he had acquired 480 acres of Garden of the Gods. Today, the Garden of the Gods Park measures nearly 1,367 acres! That’s a lot of exploring.
Happy reNEW Year: My Plans for 2020
My word for 2019 was DISCOVERY
2019 was the year I really wanted to find myself, learn what I truly liked, what I didn’t like, where I wanted to be in my career, where I wanted to live, things I wanted to accomplish and more. One thing that I really wanted to accomplish as part of my 2019 discovery was to jet set somewhere. You see, I was always waiting around for others to want to do something, and wasn’t just doing what I wanted to. December rolled around, and there I was, no trip planned at all. I had a fear of flying (I mean I had only done it once in my adult life), and I had a fear of exploring alone. After a rough year (my best friend suddenly passed away, my cousin took his life and Papa left us to be with Meeme), I knew that I needed to make a bold move. I bought a plane ticket to Colorado and flew out on New Year’s Eve. That’s right it took me 364 days to reach the main goal I had, but I did it and that right there leads me right into my word for 2020: Renew.
Why did I choose renew?
When I was thinking of what I wanted to achieve for the year, it wasn’t anything innovative – I just wanted to get back on track with life and do all the things I have been begging myself to do for the past couple of years.
The definition of renew:
Regenerate
Gain a renewed spirit. Where I thought all hope was lost, work to regain it, and become the best version of myself.
Revive
Bring me back to life. Simply remember what my goals are, what I want to achieve and do it – because life isn’t going to wait around.
Rebuild
Extensive repairs need to happen in my life, I spent so much time being “broken” after the loss of my grandma, it’s time to stop. It’s time to accomplish my goals.
Repeat
I need to repeat what is working for me, and the things that make me happy. This one is really going to revolve around traveling. Traveling is where I find myself, and I lost that because I was too scared to do things on my own. 2019 taught me that I am capable of greater things than just sitting at home staring at pictures of places I want to be.
Resume
It’s time to resume activities that are important to me, booty classes, travel, spin classes – just to name a few.
My plans for 2020
Renew my commitment to healthy eating.
Somewhere in the middle of my depressive state last year I decided that I would stop weighing myself, and start eating whatever I want. This was probably the worst thing I could do, my confidence level dropped, I started wearing baggy clothing, I became insecure. I genuinely feel better when I eat healthier and workout – so getting back to healthy eating and working out to become the best version of me is one of the important things on my agenda for 2020.
Renew my spirit
I lost sight of the happy, bubbly girl that I am and I am ready to bring her back in 2020 in a bigger and better way. This year I want to volunteer and help others, travel, take classes, start a new workout routine, really just being the best version of myself.
As I look toward re-committing to things that are important to me, it will also be important for me to Marie Kondo my life and release those things that no longer bring me joy. 2020 is all about choosing what is best for me and making things happen.
24 Hours in Colorado Springs, Colorado: Winter Edition
I started the new year off by crossing a new destination off my travel bucket list: Colorado Springs! This was also my first time in Colorado, and I can’t wait to head back to check out, Denver, Aspen, Breckenridge, Boulder, and Vail.
Not only was this my first visit to Colorado Springs, but this was my first time ever visiting Colorado – or heading out west… hello, altitude. Let me first start by saying, I am not a skier and I did not go to Colorado to ski. Colorado Springs is one of those places everyone wants to visit. With everything from Pikes Peak to old west trails, Colorado Springs is jampacked with history and adventure.
Colorado Springs is located at the eastern foot of the Rocky Mountains and is known for its beautiful rock formations and one of the highest peaks in the entire state of Colorado. Colorado Springs comes with no shortage of things to do. While you’re visiting Colorado Springs check out museums, zoos, hikes and more.
Pro Tip: Visit https://www.pikes-peak.com/ to grab coupons and tickets to all of these attractions!
Visit Pikes Peak: The Highest Peak in North America
Pikes Peak is located in west downtown Colorado Springs. The mountain is known as the highest peak of the Rocky Mountains in North America at 14,115 feet. Pikes Peak is the second most visited mountain in the world and is a must for anyone’s bucket list. You can reach the summit a few ways, my personal favorite is the 19-mile drive up via Pikes Peak Highway. There are plenty of areas to pull off along the way.
Tips for visiting Pikes Peak
1. Bring a jacket. No matter what the weather is once you ascend to 14,000 feet you’ll be wanting some layers.
2. Drink lots of water. I know, I know. Literally, everyone will be telling you to chug water by the gallons if you aren’t from an area with higher elevation – but they’re not lying. It’s so easy to start feeling a bit woozy at that altitude.
3. Stop and take pictures. Pikes Peak is filled with some beautiful scenery, be sure to stop at all the overlook areas.
4. Get there early. Pikes Peak is a hot spot, and to get the most out of your experience make sure you get there early.
Pro Tip: Head up with a full tank of gas and 2-4 hours to spare.
Garden of the Gods
Garden of the Gods is one of the most places that I have ever been and is completely FREE to the public. The red rock formations that fill the Garden of the Gods are breathtaking and draw people from all over the world. If you want more adventure out of Garden of the Gods check out options for hiking, rock climbing, cycling, and even horseback riding.
Pro Tip: Parking is limited at Garden of the Gods and it can be even trickier as the day goes on, be sure to get there early.
Cave of the Winds
If you’re into tight and dark spaces, then Cave of the Winds in Manitou Springs is the perfect place for you! This cave gets its name from the cool breeze that emanates from the entrance. Cave of the Winds opened in 1880 and is now home to over 20 massive and lighted rooms. The spaces feature limestone, stalagmites, cave bacon, and other amazing rock features. Cave of the Winds offers two types of tours for its visitors.
The Discovery Tour
The Discovery Tour is the basic walkthrough of Cave of the Winds and provides brief histories about rock formations and caves. Since I was battling an upper respiratory infection while I was visiting Cave of the Winds, this is the tour I opted to do. My tour guide was amazing, informative and lots of fun. At one point in this tour, you will experience total darkness for about one minute, which was a really neat experience.
The Lantern Tour
The Lantern Tour at Cave of the Winds is not designed for younger children or anyone with mobility issues This tour takes you through the undeveloped sections of the caverns with only a lantern for light. At one point, you experience total darkness for about one minute. The caverns are considered to be haunted and feature tons of uneven surfaces, low ceiling heights and tight spaces.
Manitou Cliff Dwellings
Explore the gorgeous architecture of the ancient Anasazi as well as walk through two museums featuring cultural displays, while overlooking the historic town of Manitou Springs.
PS: Notice all that sunshine? Gotta love Colorado!
Alphabet Dating: Winter Date Ideas From A-Z
If you aren’t a fan of winter, know that you are not alone. Don’t get me wrong having all four seasons in Michigan is fantastic, and while I do love snow – I absolutely hate driving in it. Not to mention, winter makes it hard for anyone to get motivated. Since winter has arrived I thought it was the perfect opportunity to share winter date ideas from A-Z. This list is jampacked with plenty of ideas from comedy shows, to quickies a progressive dinner and everything in between. Looking for more ideas? Check out A-Z Summer Date Ideas and A-Z Fall Date Ideas.
A – Arcade, Art Gallery, Airbnb
B – Bowling, Bookstore, Bed & Breakfast
C – Comedy Show,
D – Dance Class
E – Early Bird Specials
F – Fondu
G – Game Night, Go-Karts
H – Hockey Game
I – Ice Skate
J – Junk Food
K – Karaoke, Kickbox
L – Live Show, Laser Tag
M – Massage
N – Netflix, Nerf Gun War
O – Opera
P – Progressive Dinner
Q – Quickie
R – Random Acts of Kindness, Roller Skate
S – Staycation
T – Trivia
U – Use a new ingredient in a recipe
V – Vacation, Volunteer
W – Walking Tour
X – Xtreme Sports
Y – Yaktrax it up and go on an ice adventure
Z – Zoo
Winter Necessities: 11 things you need in your car this winter
It’s beginning to look a lot like winter weather, every single day. Let’s face it, no one plans to slide off the road, get stuck in a snowbank or on the side of the road waiting for a tow truck in subzero temperatures. However, the reality of it, is this could happen to anyone of us and it’s better to be prepared then not prepared at all. Do you have a winter emergency kit in your car? If you don’t I highly recommend creating one! If you already have one, good for you! Just make sure you have these 11 items in it. Trust me, you’re going to want to keep this emergency kit stashed in the trunk of your vehicle for those just in case unexpected moments that life may throw at you.
Jumper cables
Jumpers cables are a must. Keep them stashed in your truck, you never know when you or someone else may need them.
Flashlight with fresh batteries
You’ll want to make sure you have a working flashlight.
Pro Tip: Keep it in your glove box, center console or door compartment so you do not have to dig around for it.
Portable phone charger
When heading out into dicey road conditions – or any time really, you will want to make sure your phone has a full charge. Phones typically die quickly when it is cold outside. Having a portable phone charger that is fully charged as a backup is important, especially if your vehicle loses power and you cannot charge your phone.
First aid kit
You always hope that you will not need a first aid kit, however accidents do happen, so it’s best to have one in your car.
Pro Tip: Stock your first aid kit with bandages, gauze, pain reliever and disinfectant.
Emergency roadside flares
You make think this is overkill, however, it will be easier for drivers to see your vehicle pulled over on the side of the road when you have flares and reflective triangles out.
Extra mittens, hat, and warm clothing
Even though you may have your winter jacket with you, if you have to wait in a cold vehicle for any length of time you will be thankful for a little extra warmth. This will also be especially helpful if you have to walk to get help.
Blankets or a sleeping bag
Having an extra blanket or even a sleeping bag can provide extra warmth while you wait for help.
Kitty litter or sand
Keep roadside sand or a container of kitty litter in your trunk during this winter months. If you get stuck and need some traction simply sprinkle the sand or kitty litter around your wheels for instant traction. This inexpensive solution could be the difference between getting back on your way or calling a tow truck.
Snacks and water
Put small snacks such as granola bars, nuts, Snickers and more in a Ziploc bag for those just-in-case instances. Remember, water freezes so this is something that you want to bring with you on every trick. Especially if you are going on a long road trip.
Ice Scraper
Make sure to always keep an ice scraper in your car. Keeping it in your garage doesn’t do you any good when you’re away from home.
Shovel
Yes, shovels are typically for driveways – but it’s better to be safe than sorry. I used to keep one in my car just so I could shovel my car out at work.
Do you have any tips you’d like to share?
Fashion meets Food 