Spring break is almost here, and after the last two years of lockdowns and pandemic-based restrictions, this one looks to be promising. Many places that were closed or had limited activities last year are open for business and ready to educate and entertain. More good news – there are a variety of activities available to fit any budget.

Before diving in, a note: Anyone who has spent more than 10 minutes in the Pikes Peak region knows that our weather can be unpredictable and can change in an instant. March is the pinnacle of this fickleness and making plans for later in the month (during break) means that you must have alternatives in case the weather goes from a sunny 70 degrees to a snow squall. Keep some ideas from this list handy just in case! If the weather does cooperate, there is no shortage of outdoor activities and fun to be found in the Pikes Peak Region.

Free Spring Break Activities

Prefer to just soak up the sunshine in the great outdoors? Create your own adventure in any of the beautiful parks or trails around the region, ranging from the mountains to the plains. Some of the most popular hikes and parks include Bear Creek Regional Park, Fountain Creek Regional Park, Palmer Park, Fox Run Park, Black Forest Regional Park, Red Rocks Open Space and Cheyenne Mountain State Park.

On top of the above locations, there are other hikes that offer special treats in the form of unexpected and beautiful views. One location to visit is Helen Hunt Falls, located in North Cheyenne Canon Park (be aware that their visitor center will not be open, however). If you prefer wide-open spaces, head out east and just south of Calhan to the Paint Mines Interpretive Park, a park with unexpected and stunning geological formations.

Craving even more of a tourist attraction? The Colorado Springs area does not disappoint. Garden of the Gods  is beautiful in every season, whether hiking, rock climbing or taking a guided jeep tour. The nearby Visitor & Nature Center is informative and entertaining, offering a variety of classes for all ages as well as shopping and dining.

The aviation aficionado may wish to visit the Peterson Air & Space Museum, which displays a variety of aircraft and related historical items and includes the first airport passenger terminal built in the area, and old city airport hangar, an air park, and a Medal of Honor tribute park. History fans will enjoy the  Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum, which contains many interesting and educational exhibits regarding local history. They offer guided tours on Fridays as a bonus. Both museums offer free admission.

Is shopping more your thing? Be sure to check out both Manitou Springs and Old Colorado City for a collection of shops and sights you will not see anywhere else. Bring the kids – they will enjoy Manitou Springs’ Penny Arcade. When ready for lunch or dinner, there are plenty of unique restaurants to choose from in either location.

If you are wanting a quieter day after a week of activities, investigate the Pikes Peak Library District spring break programs. There are options for everyone from young kids to teenagers, at a variety of times and locations. Topics range from animals and general science to escape rooms and catapult building.

Paid Spring Break Activities

For animal lovers, the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is running a spring break camp, and even offers scholarships – but they only have a couple of days left open for more campers at the time of this writing. Even if the camp is full, a visit the zoo makes for a fun-filled and educational day.

After being closed for renovations, Seven Falls reopens on March 18, and aside from the 181-foot waterfall there are also two hiking trails as well as zip lines and rope bridges for the daredevils among your family. Tickets to Seven Falls are purchased through the Broadmoor.

Cave of the Winds offers two cave tours, rides, zip lines, rope courses, games and more (for tours, reservations are required). The Manitou Cliff Dwellings Museum includes authentic cliff dwellings to explore and an accompanying Ancestral Puebloan Museum filled with artifacts and dioramas. Another historical favorite is Rockledge Ranch Historic Site, a local living history ranch that showcases local life in different times ranging from 1775-1907 and provides demonstrations and fun interactive events.

Should indoor activities be more your style (or if the weather is fickle), there are still many interesting places to explore, even ones that will still wear the kids out.

There is no shortage of local museums, many of which also offer spring break camps or activities. Most have a focus on science, technology, engineering, art, and math, or STEAM. The Western Museum of Mining & Industry is one of those with a STEAM-based camp, while the museum itself has a host of displays about minerals and the history of mining, as well as a recreation of an actual mine shaft you can walk through. The Space Foundation Discovery Center also offers a camp (this one is space-based and includes robotics, engineering, Mars exploration, and more) and is another fun site to explore. The Discovery Center offers presentations on space topics, various interactive exhibits including a Mars Robotics laboratory, special themed events outside of the camp, and a replica of a portion of the International Space Station.

Finally, the Pikes Peak Children’s Museum makes for a fun destination for those with young children, with three hands-on exhibit spaces (and more to come). They are also offering a STEAM-based spring break camp, with a theme of “Ancient Worlds.”

Other museums in the area are also worth visiting. For those interested in history, both the Ghost Town Museum and

Dinosaur lovers of all ages can make the drive to Woodland Park to check out the Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center. There, guided tours run all day and you can see dinosaur and other fossils found in the region, explore the interactive children’s center, and learn about how the fossils are restored. 

Did the museums not wear the kids out enough? Maybe an afternoon spent at one of the local rock-climbing centers will! Look into City Rock and Gripstone Climbing & Fitness – they are both hosting their own spring break camps. The Springs Climbing Center and Pure Bouldering Gym also offer day passes. If heights bother you, maybe a round at Dart Wars would be more your style – who doesn’t love an all-out Nerf battle with their kids? 

The Maverick Observer is an online free-thinking publication interested in the happenings in our region. We launched in February 2020 to hold our politicians and businesses accountable. We hope to educate, inform, entertain, and infuse you with a sense of community.