Manitou Springs

For Friday's adventure, we took off to Manitou Springs which is located about an hour south just outside of Colorado Springs. Manitou Springs has several natural mineral springs, which in years past (and I mean many years past) were known their healing qualities. Early Indian tribes, especially the Utes, considered the soda waters sacred but many explorers later detailed the boiling springs. The area was founded in 1871 and was the first and foremost watering place in Colorado until the early 1900's and many sick or invalid people came to drink of the healing waters.

Along with the springs, there is a quaint old town with stores lining the streets. Most of the shops are what you would expect; handcrafted, Indian, or old fashioned items. There was a blown glass shop, a toy store, a clock and knickknack seller, handmade soaps, and souvenir shops.  Also was the world famous Penny Arcade.

Oh the things you can see for a penny.

Yes Jake did put in a penny to look at the Sultan's Harem. You'll have to ask him about it.

I don't know if they open the shops at different times or if they even use them but there were about 5 store spaces filled with video games from all times. Outside were the ride toys. I was amazed by the shear volume of items they had.

Outside the penny arcade, this is about 1/4 of the rides on the walkway.

As part of the tourist attraction are the 9 piped springs; we saw or walked by 5 of them. You are allowed to sample the water. During the summer months they keep sample cups stocked next to each of the springs. I gave Navajo Spring a taste with my fingers. Yep, tastes just like soda water.


Ellie and I standing by Cheyenne Spring.

In one of the shops, they had cups and a pump to bring up some water so we sampled a bit more. Remember these are mineral soda springs so not just your regular soda (carbonated) water. The each spring contains some or all of the following minerals; bicarbonate, calcium, chloride, copper, fluoride, iron, lithium, mangesium, manganese, potassium, silica, sodium, sulfate, and/or zinc. Sounds yummy, huh? Ellie pulled an awesome face on the second sip. (She took a second to make sure the water was really that bad tasting.) The lady at the shop said it is just a taste you have to get used to.

Nearby is Pike's Peak, one of the 14-neers. Near Manitou is a cog railway that you can ride to the summit. There is also an old rail line, rails removed and only the ties remain, that is called the Manitou Incline. It is sometimes considered part of several hiking trails in the area but technically on private property. Depending on how far you want to hike the distance is between 2-4.5 miles with vertical gains between 1100 - 2200 ft.


This is the dirt path on private property to access Manitou Incline.

 

Jake and Ellie at the beginning of the Manitou Incline. Hiking anyone?

Yes, the top of the trail can be seen on the hill in the background on both pictures. The town seems a little confused about whether on not you can/should climb it. One person told us about it and gave basic instructions to get there. When we couldn't find it, another person "didn't tell" *wink wink* where to find the entrance.

After we drove down to Rudy's BBQ. I sometimes have a hard time with BBQ because it is so expensive, between $7-$12 a pound depending on which cut of meat you ordered. Also to cater to more people, they no longer smoke the meats in the BBQ sauce. You add that after. Other than that, the meat was tender and delicious. Ellie really enjoyed the sausage. The sides were plain tasting; corn and potatoes didn't have anything special about them.