Into the Mystic: O Beautiful for Spacious Skies

Currently In: Woodland Park, CO
Left for South Fork, CO today. Will be in Southern Colorado til the end of August!

Our campground in Woodland Park is really lovely. Lots of trees and well laid out. We are in the back with a number of seasonal residents. You can tell by the campsites. The people are great, but they like outdoor decorations.

Isn't this one cute? Where's Barbie?

I know I said I wasn't taking any more pictures of deer, but this mama and babies have been walking through the campground every morning.

Garden of the Gods is an extraordinary city park of red rocks. The park was donated by Charles Perkins' children so the public could enjoy it. Therefore, there is no admission charge.

The views of Pike's Peak from the Visitor Center are really special. It was the view from Pike's Peak that prompted Katharine Lee Bates to write "America the Beautiful".

Although it was 97 degrees outside we walked around the main garden. It's hard to describe how cool this natural phenomenon really is.

Gateway Rocks

Three Graces

Sentinel Rock

Cathedral Spires

Kissing Camels

Tower of Babel

To get to the next rock, Siamese Twins, we had to hike. Yes, hike in the hot sun!

But it was so worth it!

I took a photo of Pike's Peak through the opening in the rock.

Before we left Garden of the Gods, we did drive by Balanced Rock. Nature can be crazy!

Next we took a drive through Manitou Springs. Honestly, I was so tired from hiking in the heat and the sidewalks were very crowded, so we didn't get out of the car. I did take a couple of pics of some buildings I thought were unique. Below is the Barker House which is a historic hotel. Naturally, I liked the Victorian architecture.

Miramont Castle was built in 1896 by a French priest. It is made of Manitou greenstone which was quarried in the area from 1890 until 1940. It was a hospital, and then an apartment building until it was restored to it's original state. I stepped inside and walked around in the air conditioning!

Old Colorado City was right down the street, so we did head over there to check it out. It was the first Capital of Colorado when it was just a territory. Legistlators met in the building below only one time and then the capital was moved to Denver.

Old Colorado City was a Wild West town once gold was discovered nearby. It had saloons and brothels where nearly Colorado Springs was more sophisticated. There are no castles or beautiful historic hotels here; the houses in the neighborhood are not as well kept as other towns in the area. Still, they are proud of their history and it is a fun town. There are remnants of the gold rush all over town.