Toss the guidebook and listen to these locals as they show you around their mountain town.--

Martile Rowland Founder, producer, and artistic director, Opera Theatre of the Rockies
July visitors should cowboy up for the Ride for the Brand Ranch Rodeo, a Western extravaganza and fund-raiser featuring professional cowboys competing in the Norris-Penrose arena, which overlooks Pikes Peak.

Patrizia Herminjard Colorado College dance faculty; director of the Colorado College Dance Festival
For the best carrot cake ever, head over to Wooglin’s Deli by the Colorado College campus downtown ... Ask for two forks; the servings are very generous.

Sallie Clark El Paso County commissioner and owner/innkeeper of Holden House 1902 Bed & Breakfast Inn
Our county offers a wealth of entertainment and activities. Stop in Old Colorado City to take a carriage ride; head to Paravicini’s, Jake and Telly’s Greek Restaurant, Front Range Barbeque, or Gertrude’s to tempt your culinary senses; [and] ride horses at Academy Riding Stables.

Richard “Goose” Gossage Major League Baseball Hall of Fame closer
Golfers will want to stay at the Broadmoor, where there are three championship golf courses. For excellent Italian food, head to family-owned Fratelli Ristorante Italiano. Don’t miss spectacular sights like the Air Force Academy and Cheyenne Cañon.

Jeremy Abbott United States Figure Skating 2008–09 team member
My favorite place is a bar called Blue Star, [which has] an amazing atmosphere and a massive martini menu. Visitors ought to take a tour of the Olympic Training Center or a whirl around the ice at the World Arena Ice Hall.

Lionel Rivera Mayor
For authentic Mexican food, you can’t beat Pueblo Viejo, which has become a family favorite; if you’re in the mood for a great Southwestern Mexican dish, head up to the northern part of our city and go to Salsa Brava. Both of these excellent restaurants will satisfy your cravings for tantalizing, spicy Mexican cuisine.

Paul Butcher Director of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services
Hike with the locals in Red Rock Canyon Open Space, a park with [60-million-year-old rock formations and] great vistas. No trip downtown is complete without a stop by the Uncle Wilber Fountain -- an animated sculptural feature and a place to cool off while listening to a one-man water-powered band.

Bettina Swigger Executive director, Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region
Smokebrush Gallery is a funky complex of gallery spaces, and the First Friday openings are always a blast. Local microbrewer Bristol Brewing Company brews some great beer. My favorite is Mass Transit Ale, but the most famous is Laughing Lab. The theme continues with snacks served in dog dishes!

Milo Bryant Columnist, Colorado Springs Gazette; owner of No Bullfit Fitness
For a perfect day in the Springs, start with breakfast at the Omelette Parlor. Later, head to Slayton’s for lunch. It’s a barbecue spot, but get the catfish nuggets! Dinner has to be at Howard’s Backyard Pit Bar-B-Q. And finish the day with listening to blues at Southside Johnny’s.


global traveler that you are, you surely have favorite places in all the cities you visit. why not share them with others? send us an e-mail with your picks at favorites@americanwaymag.com, or go to www.americanwaymag.com/favorites and join in the discussion.

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information

academy riding stables
4 el paso boulevard
(888) 700-0410
www.academyridingstables.com

the blue star
1645 south tejon street
(719) 632-1086
www.thebluestar.net

bristol brewing company
1647 south tejon street
(719) 633-2555
www.bristolbrewing.com

the broadmoor
1 lake avenue
(719) 634-7711
www.broadmoor.com

the colorado springs omelette parlor
900 east fillmore street
(719) 633-7770
co-spgs-omeletteparlor.com

fratelli ristorante italiano
124 north nevada avenue
(719) 575-9571
www.fratelliristorante.com

front range barbeque
2330 west colorado avenue
(719) 632-2596
4935 templeton gap road
(719) 598-8895
www.frontrangebbq.com

gertrude’s restaurant
2625 west colorado avenue
(719) 471-0887
www.gertrudesrestaurant.com

holden house 1902 bed & breakfast inn
1102 west pikes peak avenue
(719) 471-3980
www.holdenhouse.com

howard’s backyard pit bar-b-q
1169 north circle drive
(719) 473-7427

jake and telly’s greek cuisine
2616 west colorado avenue #24
(719) 633-0406
www.jakeandtellys.com

north cheyenne cañon park
(719) 385-5940
www.springsgov.com

paravicini’s italian bistro
2802 west colorado avenue
(719) 471-8200
www.paravicinis.com

pueblo viejo
5598 north academy boulevard
(719) 266-1999

red rock canyon open space
(719)385-5940
www.springsgov.com

ride for the brand ranch rodeo
norris-penrose event center
1045 west rio grande street
(719) 635-1101
www.rideforthebrandranchrodeo.com
www.norrispenrose.com

salsa brava fresh mexican grill
802 village center drive
(719) 266-9244
9420 briar village point
(719) 955-6650
www.salsabravaonline.com

slayton’s
806 village center drive
(719) 266-5300
www.slaytonsbbq.com

smokebrush gallery
218 west colorado avenue #102
(719) 444-1012
www.smokebrush.org

southside johnny’s
528 south tejon street
(719) 444-8487
www.southsidejohnnys.biz

uncle wilber fountain
acacia park
corner of bijou and tejon streets
www.unclewilber.com

united states air force academy
visitors my enter through the north gate, via exit 156b on interstate 25
(719) 333-2025
www.usafa.af.mil

united states olympic training center
1 olympic plaza
(719) 866-4444
www.usoc.org

wooglin’s deli
823 north tejon street
(719) 578-9443
www.wooglinsdeli.com

world arena ice hall
3185 venetucci boulevard
(719) 477-2100
www.worldarena.com