Explore Colorado Springs Like A Local

Last week on the podcast, I got behind the mic with host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi to share our favorite Colorado day-trips ahead of the long weekend. When Colorado Springs was brought up … well, we kinda shrugged it off. There’s nothing cool down there … right?

WRONG — according to listener Carol B.

“I think you need to take another look — maybe you've never driven south on I-25 past the What A Burger and In-N-Out on the north end?”

We unfairly gave CO Springs the shaft, Carol says, and she wrote in to tell us why:

🍦🍽️ The Best Ice Cream And Other Great Food: “If you want old COS, we have the best ice cream in Colorado at Josh & John's. Poor Richard’s is as ‘funky Colorado’ as it gets. There’s a cute main street (something you found attractive in the mountain towns you listed), and local restaurants like Shuga's with its wonderful food, origami cranes, and outdoor seating in the garden.”

🥐🇺🇸 Tons Of Up-And-Coming Attractions: “If you want new COS (the town lots of former Denverites are moving to since you can still buy a house here), we have the best French bakery in Colorado at The French Kitchen (a local, woman-owned business), the Olympic Museum (Paul and lots of other people are excited by it), a new football stadium, two new food halls, and soon, an 8,000-seat outdoor amphitheater.”

⛰️🥾 The Manitou Incline And More For Outdoors Lovers: “You all seemed to think the Manitou Incline is an oddity, but it's so popular that you have to reserve paid parking to use it. We also have Garden of the Gods and other hiking — everything from Pikes Peak to multiple local open spaces all around the city.”

🗣️ What's a day in YOUR neighborhood look like? We’d love to share it in next week’s “Explore Like A Local” segment. Write in to denver@citycast.fm, or leave us a voicemail at 720-500-5418.