Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ter provides general background on the academy; from here you can walk over to the dra-
matic chapel (1963) or embark on a driving tour of the expansive grounds.
The entrance is via the North Gate, 14 miles north of Colorado Springs on I-25.
OLYMPIC SITE
US Olympic Training Center
( 888-659-8687;
www.teamusa.org
;
1750 E Boulder St; 9am-4:30pm Mon-Sat; )
Fans of
Olympic sports will enjoy a guided spin through one of three official United States
Olympic and Paralympic training centers (the other two are in Lake Placid and Chula
Vista). This is the chief training facility for various sports such as gymnastics, judo, swim-
ming and volleyball. It begins with an inspirational up-to-date highlight reel.
Afterward you'll stroll through the 37-acre campus, glimpse weight rooms and gyms,
and hear legends of athletes past. The tour ends at the US Olympic Hall of Fame in the
lobby. Recent inductees include the spectacular sprinter Michael Johnson, volleyballer
Karch Kiraly and the great marksman Lones Wigger.
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
( 719-633-9925;
www.cmzoo.org
; 4250 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Rd; adult/child May-Aug $17.25/12.25, Sep-Apr
$14.25/10.25; 9am-6pm, last admission 4pm; )
High up on Cheyenne Mountain, the largest
private zoo in the country was launched with holdovers from Penrose's private animal col-
lection. These days it takes conservation more seriously and is proud of its giraffe breed-
ing program. The habitats are decent with instructional elements built in, and there are
some nice play areas for kids.
The Mountaineer Sky Ride (adult/child $5/4), a brief chairlift experience, will give you
a bird's-eye view of the entire zoo.
ZOO
Pioneers Museum
MUSEUM
(
www.cspm.org
;
215 S Tejon St; 10am-5pm Tue-Sat; )
Colorado Springs' municipal mu-
seum is set in the old El Paso County Courthouse, built in 1903. The collection and exhib-
ition of some 60,000 pieces sums up the region's history. Particularly good is the Native
American collection, which features hundreds of items from the Ute, Cheyenne and
Arapaho Nations.
