Sometimes things just work out for a reason…read more I originally booked my hot air balloon ride with another local company (who kept my friend and I in suspense about whether or not we actually had a reservation because they were waiting to see if more people would book their tour). We found Adventures Out West on Viator and were not only able to book with them right away, but also get an immediate confirmation for our reservation. The only frustrating thing is that when booking through Viator, it requires a minimum of 2 people in order to book the reservation. I'm normally a solo traveler but fortunately I had a friend who wanted to do this excursion as well... But something to keep in mind if you are a solo traveler. You may want to reach out to the company directly to see if you can book as a party of one. The meeting place is about an hour drive from Denver. My friend and I left before dawn and made it to the meeting point by sunrise. Everybody on the team was friendly, energetic and welcoming even at such an ungodly hour. On the ride over to the departure site, they gave us a quick overview of what to expect as well as a safety briefing then we waited for them to unpack and inflate the balloon. After about 45 minutes we were ready to go. I am glad that I did this trip with a friend because it's close quarters in the basket. The basket has several compartments that each hold two people, bus compartments for the fuel tanks and another for the pilot. It's barely enough space in the compartment to turn around, so if you're going by yourself you're going to get to know a stranger VERY well by the end of the ride. The ride itself was absolutely wonderful. It was a calm, breathtaking glide across Colorado Springs. We drifted over the Colorado Springs Airport and got to watch an airplane take off right in front of us. We were about 2,000 ft up, so we were also able to see some of the local wildlife running around as we floated. It was a beautifully peaceful ride. The ground team was supposed to meet us at our landing site but unfortunately they got stuck in a ditch (we could see them from the air). They radioed the pilot of the hot air balloon (T-Dogg) to let him know what was going on and he handled the experience like the consummate professional. Our 40-60 minute ride ended up being almost 2 hours while T-Dogg figured out where to land. He kept us informed of the situation, let us know what his plan was, and never at any time did we feel uncomfortable or unsafe. Ultimately we ended up landing in the driveway of the Pikes Peak outdoor gun club. It was an adventure for everyone involved, as members drove around our massive hot air balloon to enter or exit the venue, snapping pictures and video as they went. The landing was astonishingly gentle. I expected a much more jarring experience but we touched down so softly, then gently bounced a few inches off the ground before coming to a full stop. Another testament to T-Dogg's skill as a pilot. Unfortunately the ground crew was unable to get themselves unstuck, so the staff were able to coordinate ground transportation from another vehicle in their fleet: A modified Jeep that thankfully had space for all of us. We ride by the ditch where the ground team was stuck, picked up all of our items and then headed back to the meeting point where we were welcomed back with some wonderful refreshments including mini muffins and cinnamon rolls, fruit and cheese, as well as a champagne toast, which is an integral part of the hot air balloon experience so you don't want to miss that. This has been a bucket list item for me for a while and I cannot imagine having a better experience than I did with Adventures Out West.

This is a review of the Garden of the Gods Foothills jeep tour. Walked in the Garden of the Gods…read moreVisitor Center and was offered this tour. Since we had the time, we said might as well try it. It was the end of February. Even though it was winter, that day was nice and temperature was not too cold. However, there were parts of the tour where the wind was strong and constantly hitting your face. If you're not wearing sunglasses or anything to protect your eyes, it would be difficult to appreciate the sights, not to mention the wind chill. Glad I brought my gloves. The seats were heated and there's a wool blanket available. The first part of the tour was Garden of the Gods. There were 10 people on this tour. We went around the Garden of the Gods and our tour guide showed us several features and shared interesting facts/stories throughout. We stopped a few times at the Garden of the Gods but you would not stop to go down and have pictures/selfies taken. This was disappointing to me; it would have been better if we did. After this part, only 4 of us remained for the foothills part of the tour. We passed through Cheyenne Canyon and went up to Helen Hunt Falls where we stopped, went down and had some opportunity to take photos and get close to the falls. After this, we went further into the railroad tunnels. The entire tour including the Garden of the Gods one took about 2 hours. Though the view was gorgeous up there, the second part of the tour was underwhelming to me. The Garden of the Gods was beautiful but you could do a tour on your own, take your sweet time, stop, go down, and take your own pictures. Overall, the tour was okay; I do not think it's worth the $100 though.

There are two distinct ways to reach the top of Pikes Peak, which sits 14,115 feet above sea level…read moreaccording to the monument we dutifully took a group photo in front of. You can drive yourself up a winding ribbon of mountain asphalt while wondering if the human coming around the hairpin turn possesses basic driving skills. Or you can board a train and let a red Swiss-built mechanical crawler drag you up the side of a giant rock. We chose the later. We boarded the Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway at the base depot in Manitou Springs as part of an organized tour group. This spared us from the depot parking lot, which appeared to be a complicated test of human patience that you pay a premium to experience. The boarding process is orderly because seats are seemingly assigned by a computer algorithm. I say this, because no human would assign seats in such a manner unless they deeply enjoyed practical jokes. Our half of the train car was packed tightly while leaving the far end three-quarters empty. Spreading the riders out more evenly would seem like an obvious improvement. The seats themselves are molded high-density plastic that any rider of underfunded public transit will instantly recognize, arranged in rows facing one another. This configuration forces passengers to stare directly into each other's eyes while their legs interlock like puzzle pieces. At six-foot-three, I was deeply grateful for an aisle seat. Two of my companions, both under five-foot-six, sat across from one another and found themselves in an arrangement that surrendered all known concepts of personal space. The climb takes about one hour and fifteen minutes along nine miles of track. Our guide provided historical facts, geological context, and a steady stream of terrible dad jokes. They informed us we were on the right track, which was technically accurate. Outside the windows, the aspen trees gave way to evergreen timberline, which eventually dissolved into barren rock, sky, and absolute silence. At the summit, the atmosphere becomes thin and cold. We had just come from a week of intense heat, yet tiny snowflakes were drifting through the air in July. My lungs, accustomed to normal atmospheric pressure, spent the first ten minutes attempting to negotiate a trade agreement with the mountain air. Eventually, my nervous system adjusted. The summit visitor center feels modern, warm, and smells delightfully of their famous high-altitude freshly fried donuts. On the journey back down, the universe provided a magnificent surprise. A rainbow appeared in the canyon directly at eye-level. Every human in our car stopped talking at the exact same moment and simply stared through the glass. No digital camera could properly capture it. Some moments refuse to be translated into pixels. I would choose the Cog Railway over driving up the peak without hesitation. You must simply pack warm layers, prepare for the altitude, and accept that your knees will spend two hours making close friends with a stranger. The mountain is magnificent. The seating configuration is not.

My second time here. Love it…read more Great time riding the rails. Your guide was excellent and gave a lot of info. The railway station was clean and well organized. Pro tips: bring a sweatshirt, sun glasses, and give yourself at least twenty minutes to park. They leave on time and don't care that you're running to catch the train. Our train left someone behind.

Jason was a great guide-very informative, funny and considerate. My husband has a banana allergy…read moreand when we got to the ice cream stop, he made sure that there was no cross- contamination. We enjoyed the food variety and the history of Colorado Springs. I highly recommend this tour.

Beth was our guide and gave us so much unique history about CO Springs and about the places we did…read moreour tastings. Food was all so delicious and portions were just the right amount. Highly recommend!

Was looking for a great adventure and Colorado Xplorer made sure we had experience we would not…read moreforget. Our group had a customized tour. Shayne had great communication making sure that every detail was to perfection. HIGHLY recommended! What a great experience.

From the owner: Colorado XplorerTM small-group adventure tours of the Rocky Mountains blends amazing outdoor…read moreactivity options such as: Hiking Rafting Mountain Biking Horseback-riding ATV Tours Skiing/Snowboarding (winter) (Just to name a few!) With: Sightseeing Small Mountain Town Culture Natural Hot Springs Brewery Tours/Tastings Majestic Mountain Scenery All while traveling in our custom built 4X4 X-Trekker Vehicle (XTV). The small group sizes are more personable and flexible, whether it be on a day tour or week long Xcursion. Our unique XTV is small yet comfortable and allows us to Xplore areas not served by other tour companies that use large buses. On occasion our tour will trek off-the-beaten path, drive along jeep trails, over mountain passes, and through rivers. Who wants to feel like part of the herd on a large tour when you can get a more personalized adventure? The group size is small, a maximum of 10, which makes it more like traveling with a small group of friends. Colorado XplorerTM offers everything from local day tours such as the Pikes Peak Xclimb ride to the summit, to multi-day multi-activity Xcursions, and even custom designed private tours. Join us for the adventure of a lifetime; you will be glad you did!

The Best Date Night and Scenic Train Ride in Colorado--Absolutely Worth Every Penny!…read more If you're visiting Colorado, the Royal Gorge Route Railroad should be at the top of your bucket list. It is, without question, one of the most spectacular ways to experience the Royal Gorge. The towering canyon walls, rushing river below, and breathtaking scenery make you feel completely immersed in one of North America's most incredible natural wonders. From the moment we arrived, the staff made us feel genuinely welcome. Everyone was friendly, professional, and passionate about making our experience memorable. We booked the Vista Dome with dinner, and it exceeded every expectation. The food was delicious, the cocktails were excellent, and the service was attentive without ever feeling rushed. Once dinner was over, we explored the open-air cars, and that alone was worth the trip! We spotted deer along the riverbank, a majestic bald eagle soaring overhead, and even a beaver swimming below. Being outside while the train winds through the gorge is something you simply can't capture in photos--you have to experience it for yourself. I've read reviews mentioning the price, but after experiencing it firsthand, I couldn't disagree more. For a luxury train ride, exceptional service, a wonderful dinner, handcrafted drinks, and access to scenery you can't experience any other way, it is an outstanding value. This is so much more than a train ride--it's an unforgettable adventure and one of the best date nights we've ever had. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion, planning a romantic evening, or simply looking for a truly unique Colorado experience, I can't recommend the Royal Gorge Route Railroad highly enough. We left already talking about our next trip back!

Five‑Star Experience! From the moment we stepped through…read morethe depot doors, the staff was warm and welcoming -- truly a great start to the day. I was disappointed that the gift shop didn't carry 3XL shirts or sweatshirts. Large women and men love souvenirs too, and we're happy to spend money when the options fit! The food was just okay. I ordered the beef nachos -- the portion was huge and definitely shareable -- but they lacked flavor, and I only ate a few bites. Steve said his burger was fine but nothing to write home about. The highlight of our trip was the open‑air car, made even better by our host, Brett. He was incredibly knowledgeable about the canyon, pointed out landmarks, helped us spot bighorn sheep and deer, and took photos for anyone who asked -- always making sure the background was perfect. Thanks to him, we have beautiful memories captured from our ride. Be sure to tip Brett -- he absolutely deserves it!

This off-roading experience out near the Pikes Peak Forest was absolutely amazing! The staff was…read moresuper friendly from start to finish, and our driver, Skylar, was awesome--knowledgeable, fun, and made the whole ride even better. We rode in a six-seater UTV and had some of the best views I've ever seen, including incredible sights of Pikes Peak. Being out there really puts things into perspective. It was sad to see parts of the forest still recovering from a human-caused fire that happened years ago, but it also made the experience more meaningful to witness the resilience of nature firsthand. I had an amazing time--truly one of those experiences you don't forget. I would 100% do this again. Next time, though, I'd probably book it in the summer because it was pretty cold and my feet were frozen . Totally worth it, though! Highly recommend if you're looking for adventure, great views, and a fun crew.

Gideon was so great and very helpful with suggestions on routes for us to take. This was the…read morehighlight of our trip. We enjoyed the self guided UTV trip so much. We really recommend this for anyone looking to adventure out and have a great time. We did the 4 hour self guided tour and it was just the perfect amount of time! Incredible views!

This tour company offers many different tours. We chose it because it seemed like the best choice…read morefor us to visit Pike's Peak. It was around $90 per person for a three and a half hour town. We went in early September. We arrived at the location, which offers street parking. You check in, sign your waivers inside. On the outside, there is a cute yard set up with checkers to play and places to sit and enjoy before the ride. We went in a Jeep Wrangler for the tour with a couple. There were four people and the tour guide, Jerry. Water was provided, and you could drink however many bottles of water you wanted. I kept drinking because I feared altitude sickness. It didn't happen. Jerry stopped at gorgeous sites along the way, and we got out to stretch out legs at several sites, and for picture opportunities. Jerry was a great photographer and offered many times to take our photo and was so good at it! Many memorable photos were captured because of Jerry. He was a great conversationalist, grew up in Manitou Springs all of his life, and provided so many great restaurant recommendations. Definitely ask Jerry about places to eat, because he has great taste. Jerry also was very knowledgeable and I felt completely safe in the Jeep at all times, even with the white knuckled hair pin turns and my fear of heights and dropping off the side of the cliff. At the top of Pike's Peak the tour provides you with a doughnut, which was good. As an added bonus, Jerry took us to one of the natural springs in Manitou to try it out. Book this tour. This is a great company, and ask for Jerry. He is your man and very experienced. Also, it is totally worth the money because I could not imagine driving those turns.

This was such an amazing way to go up to the top of Pikes Peak. Our guide was really awesome and…read moresuper knowledgable about everything. It was so nice to be able to take in all of the views without worrying about falling off of a cliff while driving yourself. I would highly recommend this to anyone, especially if you are new to town or visiting. We may or may not have seen Big Foot and there were donuts. You can't go wrong with donuts.

Millions of years ago, natural forces pushed massive sheets of red rock hundreds of feet straight…read moreup into the air, presumably because standard horizontal dirt seemed boring. Humans eventually discovered these giant stone slabs and named the location Garden of the Gods. The gods themselves left no forwarding address, but they clearly possessed a flair for dramatic architecture. In 1909, the family of a railroad executive named Charles Elliott Perkins deeded four hundred and eighty acres of this land to the City of Colorado Springs. They attached a single mandatory condition: the park must remain forever free to all people of the earth. In a world where people routinely attempt to place turnstiles around ordinary scenery, this legal clause remains a magnificent anomaly. It was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1971. Inside the main park, paved paths such as the Perkins Central Garden Trail allow our fragile bodies to walk among giant monoliths without tripping over tree roots. Famous formations with names like Balanced Rock and the Kissing Camels sit silently against the backdrop of Pikes Peak. You can hike, ride a bicycle, scale the sandstone with ropes, or simply stand on the asphalt staring upward with your mouth slightly open. The entire landscape manages to remain accessible without feeling like a commercial theme park. The rocks are the main attraction, and they do not require artificial lighting, recorded sound effects, or ticket booths to command respect. If you spend a day in Colorado Springs, you will likely spend the rest of your life comparing every other rock formation on Earth to these red stones. Most of them will disappoint you.

I wish I could give this attraction a higher rating, but our experience was negatively impacted by…read moretiming and crowd levels. Due to scheduling constraints, we were unable to visit Garden of the Gods until mid-afternoon. Based on other reviews, this appears to be one of the busiest times to visit, and that was certainly our experience. The roadways and walkways were extremely crowded, with people frequently crossing roads and climbing on the rock formations. Parking was also completely full, making it difficult to stop and explore. As a result, we ended up driving through the park without getting out of our vehicle and were unable to fully enjoy the experience. I would recommend visiting early in the morning or closer to closing time to avoid the crowds. A midsummer Sunday afternoon is likely not the best time to experience this beautiful destination.

We had a fabulous experience staying with Colorado Jeep Tours. We camped up on top overnight…read morethrough Harvest Host, which included tickets to the park for our return hike over the bridge. This made it so easy to be at the office by 8:00am for our jeep tour and zip line. The view from the camp space was the scene from the Colorado license plate! Gorgeous! Zip line was safe and exciting, (although the video was disappointing. ) You get a total "behind the scenes" look at the Royal Gorge park as well as Temple park. Highly recommend!

Great staff! Very organized! Great ride . Drivers are…read morewonderful . It's nice to be driven around and enjoy the views.

Friendly staff and an excellent pilot who is very knowledgeable about the area. He know the history…read moreand geology of what he is taking you to see and everything in between. Well worth the money. it was a first time helicopter ride for my wife and she really enjoyed it! The pilot told us everything that was going to happen before it happened and insured that my wife was very comfortable with the noise and vibrations inherent in a helo ride.

For my birthday, my husband took me on my 1st helicopter ride - awesome bucket list check! We saw…read morePikes Peak, the Cripple Creek mines, Shelf & Phantom Canyon roads, and the Royal Gorge, incl the bridge. The guys at Colorado Vertical were great. Our pilot Eli was so calm (important), and very knowledgeable and passionate about the area history & geology. He knew his aircraft very well, and even took the time to explain a lot about its operation and safety features. It is powered by a Rolls Royce jet turbine! He really made it a fun and interesting guided tour, and it didn't cost that much, considering the incredible experience, the "Wow" factor!