Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
fought the good fight, it's now a fabulous local park, where you can hike, mountain bike
and rock climb, without all the tourist hoopla.
If you want to link up with a longer hike, the Section 16 trail leads out of the southwest-
ern corner of the park on a nice 6-mile loop. Rock climbers have access to over 80 bolted
climbing routes, but they must register at the Garden of the Gods Visitor Center first. The
main access is off Hwy 24 west of Old Colorado City at 31st St.
Old Colorado Historical Society
(
www.occhs.org
;
1 S 24th St; 11am-4pm Tue-Sat)
Located in a former Baptist church, this
tiny museum and bookstore introduces visitors to the history of Old Colorado City. It's a
good way to add context to a wander past today's boutiques and restaurants.
MUSEUM
Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center
MUSEUM
(FAC; 719-634-5583;
www.csfineartscenter.org
;
30 W Dale St; adult/student $10/8.50; 10am-5pm Tue-Sun;
)
Fully renovated in 2007, this expansive museum and 400-seat theater originally
opened in 1936. The museum's collection is surprisingly sophisticated, with some terrific
Latin American art and photography, and great rotating exhibits that draw from the 23,000
pieces in its permanent collection.
Other pieces you can expect to see here include Mexican clay figures, Native American
basketry and quilts, wood-cut prints from social justice artist Leopoldo Mendez, and ter-
rific abstract work from local artists such as Vance Kirkland and Floyd Tunson. The
biggest and most famous work is Richard Diebenkorn's
Urbana No 4
, an abstract that's
exhibited around the world.
The sculpture garden and vast lawn out back are great for lounging and occasional con-
certs, and the Bemis School of Art is attached to the museum.
US Air Force Academy
( 719-333-2025;
www.usafa.af.mil
;
I-25 exit 156B; visitor center 9am-5pm; )
One of the
highest-profile military academies in the country, a visit to this campus offers a limited
but nonetheless fascinating look into the lives of an elite group of cadets. The visitor cen-
MILITARY ACADEMY
