Many tourists come to Denver, the capital of Colorado (USA) to look for ski resorts, but we go back to Colorado Springs, about a 2-hour drive away, just to see the snow fall...
Stone Park of the Gods
While softly singing “It’s snowing outside, I’ll take you to Colorado Springs this afternoon,” I drove my lover to explore “Garden of the Gods,” a beautiful rock park located on the outskirts of the city and recognized as a National Natural Landmark in 1971.
This natural rock garden is a popular tourist attraction along with Colorado Springs' main attractions like the Cave of the Winds and the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, where you can see giraffes and antelopes. Rocks from millions of years ago still stand tall, and even fossilized dinosaur specimens are on display in the museum, adding to the mystical appeal.
Area larger than 5,500 m2This is free and open to visitors all year round. The rocks are like giant mushrooms emerging from the ground, creating a unique and beautiful landscape. We told the jeep driver about the scenic Ha Long Bay in Vietnam, famous for its thousands of large and small islands, and saying that this place is “Ha Long on land” is not too much of an exaggeration!
The tour guide also happily informed us that this place is also known as the “Beer Garden of the Gods” with many Colorado specialty beers thanks to the cool water source taken from the Rocky Mountains.
The train through the canyon
After the “Garden of the Gods”, we headed straight to Cañon City, whose name has a unique tilde above the “n”, to board the Royal Gorge Route train. It is known that this railway line serves about 125,000 passengers each year and leaves many good impressions on visitors from all over the world when they come here.
Started operating in the 1950s, departing from Santa Fe station, this historic 2-hour train is now used very effectively. Although the ticket price is not cheap, each train still has an average of 300-400 passengers and it is not uncommon for trips to have up to 800 passengers. Of course, when winter comes, the feeling of warming up in the train and looking out to see the snow falling is very poetic.
We decided to have a Colorado specialty, the bison burger, for lunch. The beef was tender and tasted very different from the kind I usually eat at fast food restaurants. The passengers sitting next to us were served famous local drinks such as Coors beer, Budweiser, The Winery wine... thanks to the conveniently located bar in the train car.
“This train is named after the Royal Gorge,” explains Mr. Rich, General Manager of the Royal Gorge Tourist Train. “Everyone who comes here must try to cross the Royal Gorge suspension bridge and experience the train ride through these steep canyons.”
That made us curious so after finishing the train ride, that suspension bridge became our next destination. Royal Gorge was the highest suspension bridge in the United States from its construction in 1929 until 2003.
Walking along this bridge when it was snowing was a once in a lifetime experience. Your body was freezing and your head was burning from the bright sunlight, because the altitude here made us closer to the sun.
We traveled by cable car called Gondola. This is a "peaceful" way to enjoy the beautiful scenery, it only takes about 5 minutes to go to the other side of the mountain. Below are young pine trees... bathing in the snow, some mountain goats looking for food in the winter or the tourist bus lying down waiting for the departure time.
On the way back, I joined the other hikers to touch the cables that were too big for my imagination, to hold my breath and look down through the holes in the bridge planks to the bottom of the canyon or to taste the snow that was still on the side. From up high, the feeling of being small and precariously perched in the middle of nature was truly amazing!
Snowy Paradise on Pikes Peak
Back in the city center, we checked into the historic Antlers Wyndham Hotel on S. Cascade Street. The first hotel was built in 1883 by the Antlers, burned down in 1898, and reopened in 1967. The second Antlers Hotel was completed in 1901, demolished in 1964 to make way for the current hotel. From the VIP room window overlooking the city, the Pikes Peak range seemed to “taunt” us to conquer tomorrow...
At 4,300 m (14,110 ft) above sea level, Pikes Peak is known as "America's Mountain". It is the main peak of the Rocky Mountains, the second highest in North America, and the second most visited in the world.
The Grayline bus slowly follows the winding road, which will make you excited right from the foot of the mountain. Of course, the higher you go, the heavier the snow will fall, so conquering the peak of Pikes Peak in winter will be a tough challenge that not everyone can do. However, when standing on the top of Pikes Peak, the whole snowy paradise will be in your sight. A sweet donut - a "specialty" made at the top of the mountain - will help you regain your energy as well as have beautiful pictures with snow.
If you’re feeling adventurous, you can hike to the top via the spectacular Barr Trail. The gravel trail is over 12 miles long, at an elevation of over 8,000 feet. You’ll have to find your way through forests, meadows, creeks and rocky slopes. But be warned, it’s not an easy trek and can take anywhere from 6 to 10 hours to reach the finish line. In addition, the waterfalls at Seven Falls or Hellen Hunts, when they start to be covered in ice and snow, are also interesting check-in locations for visitors from hot countries.
MORE INFORMATION
Visa:You should plan your trip to the US early, applying for a visa 6 months to a year before your departure date. To successfully apply for a US visa, you need to carefully prepare your documents, fill out the electronic application form, pay the visa application fee, schedule an interview appointment, and then wait for the appointment date to be interviewed at the US Embassy or Consulate.
Trip:From Vietnam, you need to take an international flight to Denver airport, followed by a domestic flight to Colorado Springs.
Transportation:Trains and buses are very convenient public transportation options in Colorado Springs.
Weather:The snow season in Colorado Springs starts from December to April of the following year. Not every year has heavy snowfall, but in the evening, the temperature definitely drops below 0.oC.
Accommodation:Colorado Springs has a wide range of hotels to choose from at all price points. If you’re a history buff, you can stay at The Antlers for just $152 a night, or experience the five-star The Broadmoor—which has hosted heads of state, celebrities, and professional sports stars—for around $420 a night.
Cuisine:Colorado Springs is a culinary paradise with famous dishes such as Rocky Mountain oysters, lobster, Colorado-style pizza, lamb chops, Palisade peaches, bison meat... This city also has many Vietnamese and Chinese restaurants for Vietnamese tourists who have difficulty adapting to strange dishes.
Note:The Colorado Springs City Visitor Center (515 S. Cascade Avenue/ Phone: 719.685.7639) is the address you should take note of if you want to find out more information for your trip here.
