I took my Niece to try Paddle Yoga. She was nervous and also did not want to fall in. The…read moreowner, Christine, gave her encouragement and alternative poses for a beginner. My Niece did not fall in and had a wonderful experience. She was very proud she tried something new. Christine also, gave more advanced poses to students up for a challenge! It was a beautiful morning and a wonderful time!

I was shocked at how rude the yoga instructor is on the paddle board at Quail Lake! Just being…read morecurious and watching what I thought would be fun she was yelling at people to not stop and keep moving. Not a zen personality at all.

I wanted some vibes like Garden of the gods but did not want the crowds so I checked out Red Rock…read moreCanyon Open Space! I was really impressed with this open space. Parking was easy, they had plenty of spots while I was visiting. They've got something for everyone! Hiking trails, bike park/paths, rock climbing (permit needed), an off leash dog park. I specifically went for the hiking trails. They were great for my 4 year old. When I go with him I try to look for trails under 3 miles. My only complaint is I wish they had real bathrooms by the parking lot. The porta potty was pretty gross. P.s. you can see garden of the gods from this park! They are pretty close to each other!

Colorado is the healthiest state in the US (this is fact, you can look this up on the CDC website)…read moreand I can see why. With such amazing hiking available, that is free to residents and visitors, all over the state, it encourages you to get outside and enjoy what mother nature has to offer. Red Rock Canyon Open Space has a series of canyons and ridges sculpted by erosion of the area's uplifted rock strata. The ridges and canyons offer beautiful views that are photo worthy for those wanting to post to their social media (or hey, just keeping these photo keepsakes in your own camera roll is also fine too). Red Rock Canyon Open Space is dog friendly, with some off leash areas (where noted), and 11 trails that you can hike. The trails are anywhere from 1.7 miles to 5.4 miles, with a lot of pretty easy trails for those that are not as active but still want to partake in the journey. You can also see views of Garden of the Gods, which is nearby. Red Rock Canyon Open Space is not nearly as busy as Garden of the Gods (but highly recommend a visit there too, which is also dog friendly). From May 1 and Oct. 31, you can enter Red Rock Canyon Open Space between 5 a.m. and 10 p.m.; during the rest of the year, the park closes at 9 p.m. There is free parking available and also one porta potty at the beginning of the trail (but I did not use it) and also trash cans (I did not see trash cans anywhere else in this open space). My husband and I visited Red Rock Canyon Open Space with our little girl dog. We came on a Sunday afternoon, a little after 1 pm. It was an overcast day, which was nice. But it was rather busy but not crowded. We were able to find a parking spot without any trouble. We only did 2 light trails but enjoyed the views. The trails we had were pretty easy for the most part. We also did see a handful of dogs during our visit. Please note that there is hardly any shade so make sure you plan accordingly (hat to shade your face, plenty of water, etc).

Mind numbing Loops around Palmer Lake for 24 Hours? You betcha! I mean I signed up for this. Might…read moreas well rock it! I signed up because I thought it would be interesting and fun. I've been a big city and small town marathoner for over 13 years now, and have dipped my toe in the ultramarathon world in recent years, trying a hand in going beyond the 50 km mark, without avail. I arrived here fresh and ready to tackle 24 hours of Palmer Lake here in Palmer Lake, Colorado on the last Saturday morning of September 2023 around 7:15am. It is a low-key race that features 24 hours of loops around the lake. The course itself is very runnable dirt path that's about less than a mile long. The course is generally flat. There was no expo for this race, but there was packet pick up the day before, which was held out outdoors type store in Monument, Colorado. We picked up our packet and we were in and out within a minute. Literally a minute. No line. We just had to tell them our name and they looked us up in on a list and we received our packets instantly. The formula was simple, do as many laps around the lake as you can within the allotted time of 24 hours. The race would keep track of you by an electronic chip that is worn on your ankle. We would count our labs by running over a timing mat that would be read electronically. There was two large television screens that were on site before and after the timing station that provided live results. It'll show us how much we've done so far, which helps for our mental sanity. For the most part though, this race does help the Lake Palmer community by its donation to keep the park nice, clean, and neat. There is one main aid station that holds the food and other aid that runners may need throughout the event - day and overnight. At 2am, who doesn't need to have ramen while running? The overall experience here at the 2023 24 Hours of Palmer Lake was educational, fun, and inspiring, while being exhilarating and exhausting at the same time. A few of the runners at the top of the field manage to wrangle their 100 mile goal. Others who have their own mileage goals came to play. I managed to capture 50km for my 2nd round marathon/ultra 50 states here in Colorado & the race was my 120th marathon/ultra lifetime. Truth be told that I wanted more than 50km, but had to take a break because I was falling asleep on the course after 9pm. The temperature dropped after 10pm and was windy. I didn't realize that the real feel temps dropped to 41 F, rather than 55 F that was reported overnight that weekend. I decided to seek shelter at the main aid station for majority of the overnight hours, but managed to get up and out to for a few more laps before ending it at 50km. It was nice to see familiar faces and meet new friends. My only regret that I didn't push myself when I was tired but the body knows what it needs. During the day was nice and peachy, but as the sun sets, it gets interesting especially with the usage of the head lamp. After the race, we turned in our timing ankle bracelets to the timing guy and proceeded to watch the award ceremony. It was short and congratulated the winners before we had to pack up and head out of the area. It was one of those races where you want to be there and running is a great way to escape the ordinary and be extraordinarily. At least for a day. If you're ever wondering what it's like to be an ultra runner or participate in your first race, consider the 24 Hours of Palmer Lake if you are in the area or will travel to the area. 24 Hours of Palmer Lake is staged annually at the Palmer Lake Regional Park in Palmer Lake, Colorado. Registrations are tendered online at ultrasignup website, so they accept major credit cards there. Best thing to do is register early enough and not wait to the last minute. Or waiting to book travel. There is one main aid station on the loop, which has basically everything you would need during the course of race day and into the overnight hours of the event. The race staff is awesome and friendly. As far as parking goes, there are two parking areas, but the southern parking lot is the closest one to the race course. The other one you need to cross over an active railroad crossing. And yes, the active railroad crossing is active 24/7, so you would hear the trains coming at all hours of the day and night. Much like air travel. For the most part though, the event is great for anyone who wants to try their hand at ultra distances. Or need extra time tackling their first half or full marathon. And if you are trying to do your 50 states half marathon or marathon for Colorado, this one is awesome too. 5.0 stars for the overall experience. Support local! A+

Another nice drive down to the lake. Windy and gusty which made it cooler than expected. Families…read moreenjoying lake side activities - paddle boarding, fishing, volleyball, pickleball and disc golf. Unfortunately there was an asshat today who was rude about us blocking his way. No excuse me I'm throwing in your direction but a head nods and then a 'you could move or I can throw it right at you.' Ok dude, we can't read your signals so use your words. May the wind take his disc and place it in the middle of the lake.

Palmer Lake is yet another marvelous Colorado locale. It offers what any overstimulated city brain…read moreneeds: quiet, crisp Colorado air and an abundance of trails. Wandering the paths past the esteemed Estemere is postcard perfect. Back at the lake, you stop mid-stride just to take in the reflection of the mountains on the water. It's a typical Colorado landscape - but in some places it would be the best thing in 1,000 miles! Sometimes the best antidote to city life is a simple trail and a beautiful lake.

The team at Liquid Descent was great!! We had a group of 36 and from the booking over the phone,…read moreemail communication, and actual trip, everything went perfectly! Our group had a great time. Next trip, I will book with Liquid Descent!! 10 for 10 recommend.

Angie was an amazing guide. Very knowledgeable and personable. Made everyone feel at ease to enjoy…read morethe day on the river. Recommend anyone wanting to raft near Denver to choose Liquid Descent and request Angie for their guide.

This campground truly is one of the cleanest and well-maintained campgrounds I have ever been to…read more The bathrooms were cleaned once or twice a day(didn't smell!) and the sites were very well maintained. We loved that there was a short little walk to Manitou Lake from the sites(sites in the 40 loop area) and it was absolutely gorgeous. Summers in Colorado come with afternoon rain so be prepared! Bring plenty of tarps and arrive early so you're not setting up in the rain. Tree coverage is pretty good at the sites here but I will say the nearby Spring Meadow campground is a bit denser in terms of trees and provides more shade and protection from the elements(slightly smaller sites though!). The campground is located next to a farm which was quite the surprise. You could hear the cows in the middle of the night so you might want to bring earplugs if you're a light sleeper. My niece loved the cows and overall, it was definitely a great place for kids. Plus, Woodland Park is less than 15 minutes away which was nice if you happen to forget anything. Would definitely come back for the bathrooms alone. Huge shout out to the camp hosts for maintaining the grounds so well. 4 stars only because we had to battle with a lot of ant hills on our sites and the cows kept me up the first night (all things that come with being outdoors) Some sites that I wrote down were 15, 19, the one across from 24. The 40 loop sites are big but high traffic because of the trail to the lake. We stayed at site 24 and it was large enough for three pop up tents, one 15 person tent, one 4 person tent, one 6 person tent, AND a badminton net.

Colorado Campground is a very FAMILY FRIENDLY place to camp. Despite its generic name (don't Google…read more"Colorado Campground" and expect to get specific results), this place is one of the better campsites I've seen. It's within a 1.5 hour drive of Denver, too! High Points: The Short Drive. Like I said, this is a family friendly place, and you don't want to stuff your wee bairn into a car for four hours just to get out of the city and See All The Nature. Kids and long car trips do not mix. The Trees! Beetle kill hasn't hit this part of the state yet, and most of the sites here are graced with at least partial shade. Lodgepole Pines (I think) cover the entire campground. It's awesome. The Little Fishing Lake. A short trail walk off site will land you on the shores of Manitou Lake. Apparently it's stocked with trout. If you didn't bring live bait, you can drive about 7 miles back down the hill to the Loaf n' Jug in Woodland Park. "D'ya want 18 babies or 12 Night Crawlers?" Bike Trails. You can ride a smooth paved one all the way back down to Woodland Park and beyond, if you so choose. There are also several singletracks leading out of the campsite as well. Not-Really-Low, But Things-You-Should-Know Points: Generators Are Allowed. Some of those suckers are noisy, too. It's kind of hard to Enjoy All The Nature when somebody's stupid genny is running full tilt a mere couple yards away. Annoying. No Cooking Grates on the Fire Pits. There's a metal fire ring at every site, but instead of the usual grate you can flip over the top, there's a big metal slab. So, if you're planning to grill right over your campfire, you'd do well to bring one from home. Yes, you can fry on it... like a skillet (and we were able to even boil a big pot of water on that slab), but if you're wanting open-air, open-fire grilling, you're out of luck. Kids, Kids, and more Kids. We brought the shawties, so this was just fine by us! But if you're looking to rage an all-night kegger, you might want to pick another campground. I'm all for raging all-night keggers when the time is right, but this isn't the place for it. I'd say at least 80% of the campsites here were occupied by families with small children. No Swimming. The aforementioned little lake is for fishing and non-motorized boating only. No body contact allowed... And Remember When I Said That Lake Was Stocked With Trout..?? We didn't catch any. Neither did anybody else (we asked). HOWEVER, if you like crawdads, you can catch yourself a bountiful meal. We pulled a crawfish on every catch. Bring your own Old Bay Seasoning. That about covers it! $20/night will get you a nice little break amid All The Nature. OH, one more thing. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO RESERVE A CAMPSITE HERE ON RESERVEAMERICA.COM. If you go there, it will tell you that you that this is a walkup-only campground--- no reservations allowed. This isn't true. The Camp Host explained to us that ReserveAmerica sucks, and we should never use it, as all the National Park campgrounds have 80% reservable sites, with the remaining 20% left for first-come-first-serve walkups. Lesson learned. Go to Recreation.gov instead.

The train ride and views at the top were unmatched but the food/drinks sold at the top were…read moreseverely overpriced and very low quality. We went first thing in the morning and the food was hard and cold.

Pikes Peak, known as "America's Mountain," is a must-visit destination with breathtaking views from…read moreover 14,000 feet above sea level. The summit overlooks the Rocky Mountains, Colorado Springs, and the surrounding plains, making it one of Colorado's most memorable attractions. Getting to the top is easy by scenic highway, Cog Railway, guided tour, or hiking trail, making it accessible for both adventurers and casual visitors. The summit offers stunning vistas, a visitor center, and educational exhibits about the mountain's history and environment. Be prepared for rapidly changing weather and temperatures that can be much colder than in Colorado Springs. Crowds and altitude can be drawbacks, and timed-entry reservations required during peak season but do not guarantee a parking spot at the summit. Tips: Visit in the morning for the best views and fewest crowds. Bring your own food, as the summit café is expensive and the famous donuts are overrated. Plan to spend about an hour at the top enjoying the scenery and exhibits.

Decent park, spots can be a bit tight (31' travel trailer). Lots of polen from the trees. Big…read moreconstruction on the main road made traffic bad. Close to the city to explore. Most patrons were nice, but there was the occasional rude trashy visitor. There are other options in the area, this one had last minute vacancy. Electricity was iffy at times.

Clean and beautiful. Nice showers. A lot of trees, big sights. Friendly host. Level parking. One…read moreof the nicest campgrounds we have stayed in.