Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
WORTH A TRIP
CRIPPLE CREEK
Just an hour from Colorado Springs yet worlds away, Cripple Creek hurls you back into the Wild West of lore.
This once lucky lady produced a staggering $413 million in gold by 1952.
The booze still flows and gambling still thrives, but yesteryear's saloons and brothels are now modern casinos.
If you're more interested in the regional history or simply need a break from the slots, check out the
Heritage
Center
(
www.visitcripplecreek.com
; 9283 Hwy 67;
8am-7pm;
), the popular
gold mine tour
(
www.goldminetours.com
;
9388 Hwy 67; adult/child $18/10;
8:45am-6pm mid-May-Oct;
) or the
nar-
row gauge railway
(
http://cripplecreekrailroad.com
;
Bennet Ave; adult/child $13/8;
10am-5pm mid-
May-mid-Oct) to historic Victor.
Cripple Creek is 50 miles southwest of Colorado Springs on scenic Hwy 67, but there are three other beautiful
unpaved roads leading here. If you're headed back to Colorado Springs, check out the old Gold Camp Rd out of
Victor on the way home. It's narrow but provides spectacular views. It takes about 1½ to two hours down to the
Springs; you'll be let out near Cheyenne Mountain. Even more spectacular are Phantom Canyon (
Click here
) and
Shelf Road (
Click here
), both of which lead to Cañon City.
Alternatively, if you don't want to drive, catch the
Ramblin' Express
(
719-590-8687;
www.ramblinexpress.com
;
round-trip tickets $25;
departures 7am-midnight Wed-Sun) from Colorado
Springs' 8th Street Depot.
Eating
Manitou Springs
MIDDLE EASTERN
$
Heart of Jerusalem Cafe
( 719-685-1325;
www.heartofjerusalemcafe.com
; 718 Manitou Ave; mains $7-14; 11am-9pm Mon-Sat, to 8pm
Sun; )
A fabulous Middle Eastern greasy-spoon haunt, and exactly the kind of place
you wouldn't expect to find in Manitou Springs. It does savory shawarma and falafel
sandwiches as well as tasty kebab plates. There's also a delectable veggie plate, with hum-
mus, tabouleh, falafel, dolmas dripping in olive oil and lemon juice and served warm, and
warm pita seasoned with za'atar spice mix.
Pikes Peak Chocolate
& Ice Cream
(
www.pikespeakchocolate.com
; 805 Manitou Ave; 10:30am-7pm; )
The place to refuel in Manitou
Springs, with local Josh and John's ice cream, espresso and smoothies.
ICE CREAM
$
Adam's Mountain Cafe
MODERN AMERICAN
$$
