Every year for a little over a decade, my friends and I have taken a friend trip. The trip has been lovingly dubbed “Friendcation”. It started small with camping, float trips, and lake houses nearby. In recent years, we’ve amped it up a notch by traveling further out of state. Each year, a different member of the group is in charge of planning. Planning for a group of up to 14 at times is not for the weak. This means that the he destination can depend on where we can find an affordable spot for all of us. For 2024? Colorado Springs was the place.
In 2023, we ramped it up with our first big beach trip to Panama City Beach, Florida. In 2024, we decided to go to the mountains instead and headed to Colorado Springs, Colorado. I’d never been to Colorado before, but I am a mountain soul at heart, so I was excited to go. (This year, we went somewhere more unexpected – Broken Bow, Oklahoma)
THE JOURNEY
We had the option to drive or fly to Colorado. Half the group decided to drive, while the rest took to the skies. Chris and I are not keen on any more 13-hour drives, so we opted to fly. While flying can be more expensive, we think it’s worth saving the time and hassle. Unless, of course, it’s a road-trip-style adventure done in small increments (like our trip to Ireland back in 2018).
We flew Southwest with a layover in Denver, then a quick flight from Denver to Colorado Springs Airport. Everything went as expected when flying Southwest. The only issue was that when we arrived in Colorado Springs, my luggage never arrived on the carousel. Luckily, I had just attached my spare Tile to my luggage and could see it made it to Denver; it just missed the second leg.
This was my first time dealing with lost luggage. I was offered two options. It could be delivered to my home, or I could pick it up and receive a $150 Southwest voucher. Of course, I opted to receive the voucher as our Airbnb was not too far from the airport. Even more luck? My luggage would arrive by that evening, so I wouldn’t have to spend the whole trip without my stuff. I picked it up the following morning without any complications.
Bonus? I got to return to Colorado this year with that flight voucher for a solo trip to Denver!
SKIP AHEAD
- Turo
- Pike’s Peak
- Echo Canyon Rafting
- Seven Bridges Trail
- Palmer Trail (Section 16)
- Garden of the Gods
- Ghost Town Museum
- Manitou Cliff Dwellings
- The Michael Garman Museum of Miniatures
GETTIN’ AROUND
Logistics with a large group can be complicated, especially in a place like Colorado Springs, where a car is often a necessity. The group rented a few vehicles for the trip, which was our primary method of getting from place to place.
Trying out Turo
Chris and I decided to rent a Jeep on Turo for our day driving up Pikes Peak. We’d never used Turo before but had heard great things from others. Turo is a peer-to-peer marketplace allowing car owners to rent out their vehicles to others. Basically, Airbnb, but for cars instead of homes.
Overall, it was a positive experience for us! The Jeep came in great condition with a simple pick-up and drop-off process. I was also surprised at how affordable it was. I’d highly recommend looking into Turo if you’re ever in need of a rental vehicle at a better price. The only thing to be mindful of is the amount of mileage the owner allows without fees and the distance of the nearest pickup location.
A PLACE TO REST
For such a big group, we chose a large house on Airbnb. One of the struggles we often run into is finding a house with enough bedrooms, a decent number of bathrooms, and in a good location without costing a fortune. This Airbnb had enough bedrooms for all the couples. Unfortunately, our single friends had to bunk in the communal spaces (an issue that we solved for them this year).
The house had a long table perfect for games in the evening, with a small living room area and patio. It also had two refrigerators, which was a luxury you don’t realize you need with so many people stocking up on food and drinks. While some bigger, more open communal spaces would have been nice, you couldn’t beat the location! We were much closer to everything than I expected to be.
Check out where we stayed here.
WHAT WE DID IN COLORADO SPRINGS
Colorado Springs has a variety of activities that suit everyone in the group, which I think made it a great destination for group travel. There are ample outdoor activities, a local zoo, museums, shops, and landmarks to explore.
Pike’s Peak
Pike’s Peak is the highest summit in the Front Range of the Southern Rockies. There are many ways to experience it, such as driving up Pikes Peak Highway, taking the Cog Railway, or hiking to the peak. We opted for the scenic drive, and the group split into two vehicles to make our way to the top.
My husband and I had rented a Jeep Wrangler from Turo, so he drove us and some friends. We had a blast on the way up, stopping wherever we saw scenery we enjoyed to hop out and explore while enjoying the views. We even had our top down for part of the way, until we reached the higher altitudes where the temperature dropped. If you plan on visiting, bring some sort of outerwear to prepare for the temperature change!
Up we go…
If heights aren’t your thing, driving might not be for you, as you often have a clear view over the edge of the road (especially as the passenger), which can feel nerve-racking. I’m not bothered by heights myself, but I do get nervous about cars in general, so I’m always grateful to have Chris to be my designated skilled driver on our adventures!
At the top, it was unfortunately not a clear day, and there wasn’t much visibility. We grabbed the obligatory Pikes Peak donut and coffee from the cafe. There is also a museum and gift shop at the Peak. I stayed in long enough to grab a souvenir t-shirt, but the heat was cranked up in the gift shop, and the heat/altitude combo made me feel nauseous, so I didn’t stay inside for long. I much preferred the chilly outdoors!
We met up with the rest of our group at the top and snapped a group photo at the Pike’s Peak sign. It was a fun experience, and I’d definitely recommend doing it at least once if you visit Colorado Springs! I wouldn’t mind returning on a clear day to see what the views are like. The Cog Railway looked like another unique way to experience it, especially for families with children, although it did seem a bit more crowded. However, I’m sure they provide you with fun facts along the way, which I always enjoy as a bonus!
White Water Rafting
White water rafting was one of the activities I was most excited to do while we were in Colorado. I’d gone once in Tennessee as a child, but never as a more adventurous adult! We went with Echo Canyon Rafting and drove about an hour out of town to get there. For the adventure, we had the option between two rafting trips: Big Horn Sheep Canyon or the Royal Gorge. We didn’t know what to expect, so we picked Big Horn Sheep, the more tame of the two, with rapids ranging from class II to class IV.
Big Horn Sheep is a combination of rapids and floating that lasts 3 hours for the half-day trip. This is the more family-friendly option. Echo Canyon also offers full-day trips for those interested in a longer day on the water!
Upon arrival, we all donned our wetsuits and geared up. Then we were bused over to the location where we’d start our rafting adventure. Our group was divided into two rafts, and we learned the basic paddling skills we’d need to know throughout. The water levels were lower this time of year, so the rapids were not as difficult as they are at other times.
We are basically rafting pros now.
It ended up being so much fun that I wish we’d done the extreme version in the Royal Gorge. This was advertised as a higher-adrenaline trip with more rapids throughout. Our group works well together, is in good physical health, and follows the guide’s instructions, so I think we would have done well even in the more difficult rapids. I’d love to come back someday and try this one.
Everyone who worked with the rafting company was great and fun to work with. They will meet you where you’re at, so there’s no need to be concerned going into it. I’d highly recommend this experience, especially when traveling with a group!
Hiking in Colorado Springs
Hiking is another activity I’m always excited to do once I leave Missouri, especially when there are mountains and cooler weather around. In Colorado Springs, only one of my friends was my trusty early morning hiking buddy, but we had a great time! During the trip, we were able to visit two trails.
Seven Bridges Trail
When we woke up bright and early to hike the Seven Bridges Trail, a 3.4-mile trail along Cheyenne Creek, it was my favorite kind of day. Cool, moody, and rainy—just the type of mountain weather I was hoping for. My hiking buddy Aaron and I set out with good moods from the parking lot.
Fun fact about the two of us: we are the type who will wander and stare at trees and take endless pictures of the pretty scenery. So much so that we walked about 2 miles in when we realized we were starting to head up the side of a mountain, but we hadn’t seen a single bridge yet. Surely a trail called Seven Bridges Trail would have had a bridge by now at more than the halfway point?
Not all who wander are lost…okay, maybe we were.
Yep, we’d passed the trailhead and had to turn around to find it. We laughed it off and weren’t mad about getting some extra miles in, but I was glad my husband opted to stay in bed that morning instead of joining us. Our chaotic go-with-the-flow hiking energy would have had him in disbelief – although we may not have missed the trailhead in the first place had he tagged along.
Once we righted our wrongs and ended up on the correct trail, it wasn’t long before we saw, you guessed it, a bridge! A symbol that we were indeed in the right place. The trail itself was not difficult, and the bridges came in quick succession as we crossed over the creek. I’m a sucker for streams and creaks, so I enjoyed it immensely. Especially on a rainy day and in a forest setting to boot!
If you are looking for a hike in Colorado Springs, but aren’t an avid hiker, I’d recommend this one. There were some slight inclines, but this felt like a trail for everyone. Just don’t make the mistake we did and pass it up, or you’ll turn it into a 5+ mile hike.
Palmer Trail
Palmer Trail (Section 16) is in Bear Creek Canon Park, and we found it when (intentionally) looking to do a longer hike one morning. The trail is just under 6 miles long, including walks through red rocks, forests, streams, and summit views. My hiking buddy Aaron and I set out early again and were on our way.
The first mile of the trail took us through an exposed section of red rock. It’s typically a popular trail, but we rarely passed any people as we began. We did, however, see some tracks that looked like fresh bear tracks, and grew paranoid about bears and mountain lions accompanying us on the trail. Being from Missouri, we don’t run into much wildlife on our hikes, and bears are few and far between.
Bears? Who Cares
Once we reached close to the 2-mile mark, however, all paranoia washed away as we began the steep incline up the rocky portion of the trail. We’d read that there would be an incline, but we had to stop for several short breaks to catch our breath. This lasted for about a mile, and at that point, we wouldn’t have cared if a bear charged straight for us. When we reached the summit, we were grateful to stop for a rest while taking in the views.
After the initial section of the trail, it felt like we cruised through the remaining 4 miles of the trail. It was a steady decline through the pines on softer ground. When you reached the bottom, you were met with beautiful wildflowers on one side and Bear Creek running down the other. It was an enjoyable stretch, and we hiked those 4 miles in the same amount of time it took us to do the first 2, maybe even less.
Overall, this trail was enjoyable with a splash of challenging thrown in that provided several different types of scenery to check all of your boxes. If you have good knees and aren’t afraid of an incline for some time, give it a go!
Garden of the Gods
The Garden of the Gods is a public park in Colorado Springs and a geological wonder that features massive red sandstone formations fit for the gods. The park offers spectacular panoramic views and can be explored via several hiking trails, by bike, car, horseback, and even jeep, trolley, or Segway tours.
When we visited, we wandered a few of the hiking trails, taking our time to explore and snap pictures of the scenery. None of the trails we did were too strenuous, so this is an activity that you can plan around any skill level in your group. We spent several hours here, and I felt like we barely scratched the surface.
Garden of the Gods is a popular destination, so some areas were more crowded than others. If you want to enjoy the views without the people, I’d suggest arriving very early in the day and visiting the formations first, as that tends to be what most people come to see.
If you love the outdoors, you could easily spend an entire day exploring the different trails. The scenery is absolutely beautiful, and there is such a variety of ecosystems in one area that it can feel like you’re on another planet entirely. I’d love to come back and spend more time here.
Ghost Town Museum
The Ghost Town Museum recreates an Old West mining town from the region, utilizing interactive elements and a collection of 1800s-era items throughout. When you enter, it looks as though you’ve just stepped onto the street of an old mining town, and you can go into the shops and buildings as you walk the loop.
There was a blacksmith, barber shop, saloon, grocery, and more, replicated to look as it would have in the Old West times. Some of the interactive items included a butter churn, panning for gold, and vintage peep show machines in the saloon. We had fun on this little pit stop, and it took us a couple of hours to walk through. It also won’t break the bank at $8.50 a ticket, so it’s perfect if you have a rainy day or are just looking for something to do!
Manitou Cliff Dwellings
Manitou Cliff Dwellings are reconstructed Puebloan homes that were dismantled and moved to Colorado Springs. The dwellings give a rare glimpse into the life of people in the area 800 years ago. On-site, you can explore the dwellings, and there is a small museum featuring authentic artifacts from the era that would have been used by the people who lived in them.
This was one of those activities that I thought I would enjoy more than I did. While I thought it was neat to see, it’s definitely not a place you need to spend much time in. I feel like we spent more of our time in the massive gift shop than we actually did in the dwellings.
The Michael Garman Museum of Miniatures
This was an activity we decided to do on a whim after popping into the gallery/shop. The museum itself is a miniature city built on a 1:6 scale representing the neighborhoods from sculptor Michael Garman’s past. In the city, you’ll find a movie theater, cafe, pizza parlor, holograms, plenty of alleyways to draw the eye, and more.
Before entering, we were each given a unique scavenger hunt of things to find within the miniature city. This activity turned the visit into a fun little stop. I found it a clever way to give guests an incentive to spend more time looking at all the details throughout. Believe me, there were a lot!
If you like art or need a rainy day activity that won’t break the bank, this is a great option. It’s unique, and you’ll have a great time seeing who can find all the items on their list first.
HIGHLIGHT REEL
As a nature lover through and through, my favorite moments were the early morning hikes. My favorite was the rainy morning at Seven Bridges. We woke up to a rainbow and had some of the moody, misty mountain scenery that I love! Garden of the Gods was also incredible to experience and a definite must if you’re a first-timer in the area. Seeing a trend here? W
hite water rafting was an absolute blast, and I still wish we had done the more extreme one to this day. I also loved our adventure up Pikes Peak, stopping at random moments just to goof off as friends – the true joys of friendcation trips.
And as always, spending time with everyone at the end of the day, playing games, or catching up. We don’t do it as often in our busy adult lives, so it’s always nice to have this time each year with everyone.
What’s Your Favorite Thing to Do In Colorado Springs?
Colorado Springs is certainly a place I’d visit again in the future. It’s perfect for outdoor enthusiasts, with plenty of other options for activities sprinkled in for those who may not be as keen to spend all their time on the trails. What’s your favorite activity in Colorado Springs?
