Colorado Springs has quickly become one of my favorite destinations and has been a repeat visit within the last 2 years. From hiking to caves to speak-easies, CO Springs really has it all. My first visit was in 2021, where my 4 college roommates planned a long-weekend getaway. We carefully planned our stay to make the most of all that CO Springs has to offer, and I am so excited to share our itinerary. Read on for all you need to know about a girls trip to Colorado Springs!
Top “must-do” recommendations for Colorado Springs
- Of course, make sure to hit Garden of the Gods. I highly recommend to explore on foot and on horseback. Academy Riding Stables was fantastic!
- Stop for day-time refreshments at Pikes Peak Lemonade
- Drive Pikes Peak (don’t forget the high altitude doughnuts!)
- Book a Discovery Tour at Cave of the Winds
Itinerary Recap
Day 1 – Arrive and Thrive (Wed)
On the first day, my crew all flew in from different cities and ultimately met up at the Denver airport. To make the most of our long-weekend, we rented a car. We drove from Denver to Colorado Springs, where we checked in to our AirBnb. All said and done, we were settled in by 7pm. We were lucky enough to stay a walkable distance to a few local eateries – we dined at The Garden and had a great time!
After a long day of travel and reunions, we turned in by 10pm.
Day 2 – Getting Settled (Th)
The key to a successful trip is to get settled in and have a plan. With our first full day ahead of us, we started off on the right foot by taking a 9am trip to the grocery to stock up on essentials – granola bars, sports drinks, breakfast items, and wine!
By noon, we headed to downtown CO Springs. Lunch at Jose Muldoons gave us energy to tackle the day. We spent 1 – 3pm exploring shops and storefronts. before heading out at 3pm to hit the trails. We made our way to Mount Muscoco where we embarked on our first CO hike! The trails were absolutely stunning!
After an exciting day of exploring, we headed back to our AirBnB to recharge for a few hours. By 7pm, we were heading back out the door for dinner at Bambinos Urban Pizzeria.
Next stop! At 9pm we found our way into our first Speakeasy of the trip – Shame and Regret. Despite the name, bar has a special ambiance and delicious cocktails; it is well worth a visit.
Our first full day in CO was a blast! We were off to bed in preparation for a very full Friday!
Day 3 – Garden of the Gods (Fri)
We started the day in the most fun way, with a 10am horseback ride through Academy Riding Stables. We made sure to fuel up with a nourishing breakfast at the AirBnb, and arrived 30 minutes prior to our riding time so that we could fully enjoy the 1 hr trip. At the stable, we received a full run-down on saddle safety, and had time to enjoy being matched with our horse as well as a pre-ride photo-op. Our time slot was perfect, because we had plenty of time to enjoy the scenery before the full heat of the afternoon set in.
After exploring on horse-back, we headed over to the near-by Garden of the Gods visitors center. Here, we found trail maps and site information and made sure to fill up on snacks and water!
By noon, we were out and about exploring the landscape on foot. We opted for the paved walking path and for a short scenic trail. The formations are spectacular – what an unbelievable day!
By 2pm, we headed into Old Colorado City. There was so much to explore! Firstly, we stopped by Jives Coffee Lounge for some much needed caffeination. We then wandered in and out of quaint shops until ultimately settling down at Jake and Tellys for a delicious Greek dinner from 4 – 6pm. We loved it here!
After dinner, we rested up back at the AirBnb before heading back downtown at 8pm. Our favorite stop was Pikes Peak Brewing, which happened to be hosting a local Octoberfest.
Day 4 – Pikes Peak (Sat)
On Saturday morning, we started our day bright and early. We left the AirBnb at 8am to beat the crowds to Pikes Peak. The drive up Pikes Peak is truly spectacular. We stopped a few times along the way for scenic overlooks photo-ops. The altitude change really does take a toll, but we managed a very short hiking loop near the mountain’s summit.
At the top of the mountain, we enjoyed special high-altitude doughnuts and reflected on the amazing views. The last leg of the drive elevates well above the natural tree line, and the scenery is fantastic as the landscape transforms from a luscious forest to a near-barren, rocky crest.
After an adventurous morning, we headed back into Old Colorado City at noon, where we caught the end of a Saturday morning farmers market and enjoyed soups and sandwiches at lovely local bakery, La Baguette.
To close out the day, we traced our steps back to downtown CO Springs, where we found the BEST lemonade at Pikes Peak Lemonade. While sipping on our flavored beverages, we completed the “art walk”, which is a self-guided stroll through the art installations within the downtown area.
Did you know, there are several speak-easies sprinkled through out downtown CO Springs?
On Saturday evening, we dedicated our time to exploring the speakeasies around town. Our absolute favorites were The Rabbit Hole, Shame and Regret, and Allusion Bar.
Day 4 – Cave of the Winds & Heading Home (Sun)
On our last day, we packed up and checked out of our AirBnb by 10am. From there, we made our way over to Cave of the Winds, where we had reserved a Discovery Tour. The tour was the perfect way to end our trip – the inside cool temperatures and low-light ambiance allowed for one last chance to truly disconnect and enjoy the environment around us.
As the trip came to a close, we piled into the rental car one last time. On our way to the airport, we stopped for a quick lunch at in-n-out. We were then off on our separate ways home, having all agreed that our CO Springs trip was full of so much fun and fantastic memories.
What do you think of my first blog post?