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Colorado Springs
Toss the guidebook and listen to these locals as they show you around their mountain town.-- Becca Hensley
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.
BECCA HENSLEY is a travel and lifestyle writer based in Austin, Texas.
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
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