In Colorado, be prepared for any kind of weather at any time. The only consistency is that it can change suddenly.
Some of my favorite places after living in Fremont County (south of Colorado Springs and west of Pueblo) for over ten years:
Bishop's Castle -- all I can say is Google it and work it in somehow if for no other reason than to see true Old World craftsmanship. It's been a work in progress for decades now.
Seven Falls -- a true tourist trap but always a fun experience, especially at night.
Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, especially the chapel.
Estes Park is spectacular (look up -- and take note of -- Thompson Canyon's flash flood, a regular occurrence in mountainous areas (which I missed as a kid by three days whewwwwww)), as is South Park and everything in the Ridgeway area if you want the most incredible scenery on Earth.
The Royal Gorge, 1053 feet deep, has the highest suspension bridge in the country (or maybe the world? - I don't remember). I'd suggest Buckskin Joe a few miles earlier along the same road too ... but some millenial bought the property, moved nearly the entire old west movie set town to Arizona or some **** (The Cowboys, Duchess & The Dirtwater Fox, White Buffalo, etc. etc. etc. were all filmed there) and turned it into a lot for miniature homes or something. "Progress.":elmer:
Since you're getting into rocks, you can find fossils anywhere if you know what to look for: Morrison Formation, a light tan colored layer sometimes dozens and hundreds of feet thick you can spot along the trip from the highway.
Florissant is a cool town too, and even has formal fossil beds. What few others knew when I lived there was you can also find them in that entire area everywhere the road cuts through the substrate! Just pull over where it's safe, walk back and start looking.
Manitou Springs is a fun tourist trap with lots of little shops. I still have a 1" long pool table made of blown glass from my first trip there as a kid.
Wow, your post sure brought back some memories!!! Regardless, you could spend your entire vacation in western Colorado and still miss out on a ton of cool stuff. The best part about living there -- if you enjoy the outdoors -- is the ability to get in the car, drive ten or fifteen minutes and be away from EVERYTHING and everyone on a new adventure every time without spending a dime other than gas. I know I've stepped in places there where no other human has ever walked, and that's what I call FREEDOM.
Have fun and be safe! I know I'll think of thirty more as soon as I hit Post Reply ...:rofl:
