Colorado Springs Area Attractions and Events

The Avenue Hotel Bed and Breakfast is the ideal home base for your next vacation. We sit on the hill on the edge of the downtown district, and out our front door the shopping begins. Restaurants are a short walk. The Penny Arcade is just blocks away with one of the best collections of pinball machines, antique to current video games, coin operated rides and skeeball.

Click for Your Video Adventure

The Avenue Hotel Bed and Breakfast has a fantastic location just off U.S. Highway 24, approximately 5 miles west of downtown Colorado Springs, 2 miles west of Old Colorado City, 10 miles east of Woodland Park, and 65 miles south of Denver. Cripple Creek is an hour drive away with the Florissant Fossil Beds 30 miles to the west, North Pole and the Pikes Peak Highway entrance are 2 miles west, all accessed from U.S. Highway 24. The Miramont Castle, Cave of the Winds, and Garden of the Gods are also nearby attractions. The adjacent Pike National Forest, offering 1,110,482 acres for hiking, camping, fishing, rafting, and wildlife viewing opportunities, is a nature lover's dream! For more information http://www.manitousprings.org. about attraction in the Manitou Springs and Pikes Peak region.

The history of Manitou Springs is forever linked with the springs around which it was founded. The numerous natural soda mineral springs have attracted mankind for centuries. In Colorado Springs, an easy drive just 4 miles east, explore Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Helen Hunt Falls, Seven Falls, Olympic Training Center, Old Colorado City, or Colorado Mining Museum. Visit the US Air Force Academy, Fort Carson, Colorado College, Pikes Peak Community College, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (UCCS), Colorado Christian University, Focus on the Family, World Prayer Center, St. Mary's Catholic Cathedral, and Glen Eyrie.

The Nations of the Ute, Arapaho, Cheyenne, and Kiowa were all frequent visitors to this neutral ground known for the therapeutic effects of drinking and bathing in the mineral water. Western explorers' reports attracted interest in the area with influential doctors of the time writing glowingly of the health benefits of the mineral waters.

Hiking and Biking (there are dozens of trails in the Pikes Peak area) 5 - 30 minutes. We have trail maps and know many of the local trails. Start hiking the area right from our front door. Bike rentals are available at the Manitou Bike Shop just 3 blocks from the inn. We have discount coupons for bike rentals, street or mountain bikes. We have information on the Bike tours down Pikes Peak.

Pikes Peak Cog Railway 1 mile

Pikes Peak Highway 5 miles

Cave of the Winds 1 mile

Ancient Cliff Dwellings 1 mile

Seven Falls 7 miles

Air Force Academy 15 miles

Garden of the Gods 1 mile

Horse back riding and Hiking at Garden of the Gods 1 mile

Colorado Springs College 7 miles

Ghost Town Museum 4 miles

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo 8 miles

River Runners 58 miles

2012 Events Calendar

Historic Speaker Series the 2nd and 4th Sundays each month Manitou Springs Heritage Center 3 pm www.manitouspringsheritagecenter.org 719-685-1454

April Victorian Easter Egg Hunt at Miramont Castle in historic Manitou Springs, reservations 719-685-1011

April Community Easter Egg Hunt at the Fields Park (Beckers Lane & El Paso) 1:00 pm.

May Verne Witham Annual Pancake Breakfast - Kick off the summer season with a pancake breakfast and shopping incentives. Contact 719-685-5089

June 11th Annual Colorado Wine Festival, in Manitou Springs at Memorial Park 11:00 - 6:00

June Huck Finn Days 10am - 2 pm at Schryver Park sponsored by the Manitou Springs Kiwanis Club www.maitoukiwanis.org

June Garden of the Gods 10 Mile Run 34th running of the 10 miler. Triple Crown of Running 7 am. Contact 719-473-2625

July Fireworks Display by MSVFD

July Pikes Peak International Auto Hill Climb 2nd oldest auto race in the USA. Pikes Peak HWY, 5 miles west of Manitou Springs 4 am - 4 pm Contact 719-685-4400 www.ppihc.com.

July Good Ole Summertime Ice Cream Social & Pie Baking. Join in for an old-fashioned ice cream social and pie baking contest by local professional and amateur pastry chefs. Enjoy a slice of pie with ice cream, the music of Little London Winds. Soda Springs Park on the west end of Manitou Springs 5:30 - 8 pm. Gwenn will be entering a pie

July Tuesday nights "Library Lawn Concert" 6 -7:30 Manitou Library Lawn. front row seating on our front porch. Wine and cheese.

July "Barr Trail Mountain Race" Up to Barr Camp and back down. Distance 12 miles. 7am - 12 pm Contact Larry Miller 719-590-7086 www.runpikespeak.com

July Monday nights "Little London Winds" concert Soda Springs Park, Manitou Springs,7:00 PM

August TBD Craft Lager and Small Batch Festival in Memorial Park - 1pm - 6pm Contact Julian Heron 719-694-9767 www.craftlagerfestival.com

August 3 Randy's Birthday celebration

August Tuesday nights "Library Lawn Concert "Manitou Springs Library Lawn. Enjoy wine and cheese on the front porch.

August Saturday of the 3rd weekend : Pikes Peak Ascent Run to the top of Pikes Peak 7 am first wave, 7:30 second wave. Contact 719-473-2625

August Sunday of the 3r weekend: Pikes Peak Marathon Run to the top of 14,115 Pikes Peak and back down. 7 am www.pikepeakmarathon.org 719-473-2625

August Mountain Music Festival Good music, food, crafts & fun. 10 am - 8 pm. Soda Springs Park Manitou Springs Contact 719-685-9655 www.dulcimer.net

August Buddy Walk through historic Manitou Spring, an event to benefit those with Downs Syndrome. 8 am - 1 pm. Contact 719-633-1133 www.csdsa.org

September Labor Day Weekend 38th Annual Commonwheel Co-Op's Labor Day Art & Crafts Festival 10 am - 6 pm. Arts, Crafts, food & entertainment. Memorial Park in Historic Manitou Springs. Contact 719-685-1008 www.commonwheel.com

October the weekend before Halloween Emma's Wake at the Miramont Castle 6 pm - 8 pm Victorian food & beverage Contact the Miramont Castle 719-685-1011 www.miramoncastle.org

October the weekend Emma Crawford Coffin Race & Parade Downtown Historic Manitou Springs 12 pm - 3 pm

October the weekend History Ghost Tours through town Manitou Springs Heritage Center, 517 Manitou Ave, 7 pm. Contact 719-685-1454

November Craft Fair at Community Congregational Church 10 am - 4 pm 719-685-5255

November Salvation Army Community Thanksgiving Dinner in Memorial Hall at City Hall 11 am - 3 pm Contact Andy Wells 719-459-1630

November Hometown Holiday. Kick off the holiday season with free fireworks, hot chocolate and cider while Santa Claus lights the Christmas tree. Christmas Door Buster events and refreshments at participating Manitou Merchants. Beginning of the Monarch Ski Resort Companion Lift Ticket Promotion.

November Victorian Christmas at Miramont Castle 11 am - 4 pm

December Avenue Hotel B&B is participating in the annual Historic Society Christmas Open House. All decorated for the holidays.

December Chasing Santa 5 K Run Details to follow...

December Breakfast with Santa Sponsored by the Manitou Springs Kiwanis Club. Memorial Hall in Manitou Springs City Hall 8 am - 10 am. Contact www.manitoukiwanis.org

December Annual Christmas Parade - Christmas Parade through Historic Downtown Manitou Springs 12 pm - 2 pm

Decmber Santa arrives at the Town Clock in Downtown Historic Manitou Springs 6 pm -7 pm Contact Manitou Springs Fire Department 719-685-1444

December 25 Salvation Army Community Christmas Dinner in Memorial Hall at City Hall 11 am - 3 pm

December 31 New Year's Eve celebration in Historic Manitou Springs. Complimentary wine and appetizers at the Avenue Hotel B&B as we bring in the New Year!

TBA: Glen Eyrie Castle Christmas Madrigal Banquet - A true Colorado Springs tradition! Let Glen Eyrie take you and your loved ones centuries away-spend an evening immersed in the joyous festivities of a Renaissance Castle Christmas! Enjoy a gourmet five-course meal, song, dance, and tales presented by the Lord and Lady of the Castle. Sit back and enjoy being treated like royalty for a night! A joyous and unforgettable way to usher in the season!