Savor the Springs

The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs The 17 spires of Cadet Chapel make the chapel one of the U.S. Air Force Academy’s most distinctive buildings. (719) 333-1110, usafa.af.mil.

Colorado Springs will surprise you. Established as a European-style vacation spot more than a century ago, this low-profile town still attracts savvy travelers who come for the area’s cold mineral springs and natural beauty. To its gorgeous surroundings, add broad, tree-lined avenues, a gentle pace of life, and sprawling resorts and spas in the Rocky Mountain foothills, and you have an ideal winter destination.

For the perfect getaway, discover the Springs’ modern-day offerings—a thriving downtown, distinct cultural outposts and a bounty of galleries and shops—and then check out nearby Manitou Springs, just five miles from downtown Colorado Springs in the foothills below Pikes Peak. At the turn of the century, this historic little mountain town was known as the “Saratoga of the West” for the healing springs that bubbled up there. Lucky for us, the town’s public fountains still flow with naturally carbonated water. Today, Manitou Springs is a haven for artists who are happy to share their town’s eclectic offerings with visitors.

Colorado Springs

Stay

The Broadmoor  With a Five-Diamond, Five-Star status and a 3,000-acre mountainside setting, this stately retreat just minutes from downtown is a destination in itself. Add 700 fine rooms and suites, more than a dozen eateries, including the elegant Penrose Room, and a spectacular spa, and you might never want to leave. 1 Lake Ave., (719) 634-7711, broadmoor.com.

Cheyenne Mountain Resort   Eight residential lodges house 316 finely appointed guest rooms and suites (many with views of Cheyenne Mountain), and guests get access to the Country Club of Colorado. Sip a Colorado microbrew at Will Rogers Lounge before heading out on the town. 3225 Broadmoor Valley Road., (800) 428-8886,
cheyennemountain.com.

Shop

Fill up your shopping bags at cool spots all around town, including the Old Colorado City Historical Shopping District, oldcoloradocityshopping.com, along West Colorado Avenue, where you’ll discover 125 or so trendy shops, boutiques, galleries and sidewalk cafés set in 100-year-old brick buildings. If you didn’t get want you wanted this holiday season, head straight for Terra Verde, 208 N. Tejon St., (719) 444-8621, where you can treat yourself to jewelry, clothes and home accessories. Don’t forget the 24 high-end shops at the broadmoor, including Hayden Hays Art Gallery. For a change of pace, the weekend Colorado Springs Flea Market, (719) 380-8599, csfleamarket.com, features 500 vendors selling their wares in an open-air setting the whole family will enjoy.

Eat

Ritz Grill  Step out to this long-time downtown hot spot and settle into a booth for bistro-style dishes such as pepper-spiced Colorado lamb chops and chile-rubbed Southwestern filets. The bar rocks, especially Wednesday through Saturday nights, when Colorado bands play live music. 15 S. Tejon St., (719) 635-8484, ritzgrill.com.

Penrose Room  Get gussied up for an extraordinary meal by chef Bertrand Bouquin in this ultra-stylish restaurant, which just received a Five-Diamond Award. For a truly special meal, dine at the Chef’s Table in the demonstration kitchen. (Our advice: Call for reservations as soon as you plan your trip.) Wednesday through Saturday, there’s live music and dancing as well. In The Broadmoor, (719) 577-5733, broadmoor.com.

Play

The Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center  Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the FAC houses permanent collection galleries and hosts special exhibits. Impressionist and Modern Masters from the New Orleans Museum of Art runs December 8 through March 9. Stop in the Museum Shop and grab lunch at Café 36. 30 West Dale St., (719) 634-5581, csfineartscenter.org.

Garden of the Gods  Bundle up and set out for an invigorating hike. The three-mile Chambers/Bretag/Palmer Trail circles nearly the entire park, but there are shorter trails as well. Or take a guided tour of this 1350-acre red rock park. Too chilly? You’ll see and learn a lot at the Visitor & Nature Center. 1805 N. 30th St., (719) 634-6366, gardenofgods.com.

Chapel photo courtesy of US Air Force Academy. Broadmoor photo courtesy of the Broadmoor.

The sign says it all at the Chamber of Commerce. Downtown Manitou Springs

Manitou Springs

Stay

Listed on the National Register of Historic places, the Bed and Breakfast at Historic Onaledge, 336 El Paso Blvd., (719) 658-2505, onaledge.com, offers six charming rooms and a decadent breakfast in an Arts & Crafts setting.

For a taste of elegant 1880s Colorado at the foot of Pikes Peak, the historic Cliff House, (719) 685-3000, thecliffhouse.com, offers 55 rooms and suites, plus fine fare at the Cliff House Dining Room.

Eat

For a real treat, try delicious dishes such as butternut squash crépes and peanut-crusted salmon at Adam’s Mountain Café, 934 Manitou Ave., (719) 685-1430, adamsmountain.com. (The vegetarians in your group will love this spot.)

Western hospitality reigns at The Stagecoach Inn, 702 Manitou Ave., (719) 685-9400, stagecoachinn.com, along with hearty American fare, such as buffalo pot roast and chicken fried steak.

Shop

Stop in Ruxton’s Trading Post, 22 Ruxton Ave., (719) 685-9024, ruxtons.com, for cowhides, leather, camping gear and more.

At Cripple Creek Dulcimers, 740 Manitou Ave., (719) 685-9655, dulcimer.net, you will find handcrafted Appalachian dulcimers, as well as American Indian flutes, songbooks and more.

Play

Explore the authentic Manitou Cliff Dwellings, cliffdwellingsmuseum.com, and the labyrinthine Cave of the Winds,
caveofthewinds.com.

If you have the time, make the hour drive to the old Western city of Cripple Creek, visitcripplecreek.com, which was once the epicenter of the “Pikes Peak or Bust” Gold Rush.

photos: Manitou Springs, courtesy of Manitou Springs Chamber of Commerce