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Colorado Springs With an unerring sense of direction, our rental car found the resort seemingly without any input from me. The car doors sprang open and we all eagerly jumped out in anticipation to breathe our own air, walk on our own two feet and look upon a face that was not related to us. Taking a moment to look around, I smiled at my wife because the resort which stood proudly in the afternoon sun was perfect. My bedraggled family seemed not so unlike Dorothy and her troupe as the first gazed upon Emerald City. After developing a sense of familiarity with the resort, we grabbed the opportunity to go off property and drive up Pike's Peak, a mere 14,000 feet above sea level. The views were literally breathtaking. I felt compelled to defend my extremely safe driving habits as my children cited guidebook facts about car races that take place on the Peak and last a mere 15 minutes. Luckily that fascination faded as we climbed higher and higher. Conversation dwindled as we all experienced the effects of oxygen deprivation. Upon reaching the peak of the Peak, we hesitantly left the safety of the rental car and tentatively walked towards the station. Amazingly enough, my children stayed within sight and seemed in no big hurry to elude my wife and me. I had to attribute this sudden familial interest to the awesome reality of 14,000 feet ... and very thin air. We staggered into the station along with the other balance-challenged tourists and gathered around a commanding figure in authentic western garb. Jeff Blough, the station manager, intrigued us with his colorful tales detailing the high points of his 10 years of service.
We took one last lingering look at the awesome views and this oxygen starved chauffer drove cautiously down the peak. The kids were anxious to try at least one of the resort's four pools and my wife and I looked forward to relaxing and breathing deeply of the oxygen-rich air enveloping the resort. The next day, we again ventured away from the resort and chose to visit the Royal Gorge in Canon City, CO. This theme park features the world's highest suspension bridge crossing the Gorge at 1100 feet above the basin. My children quickly discovered the one ride that reminded me of the tragic descent of a broken elevator from the 75th floor. The Skyquest was obviously not my first choice as a means to view the beauty of The Gorge but the rest of my family will highly recommend it to anyone in casual conversation. With the end of our trip fast approaching, we chose to set an exhaustive sight-seeing pace and viewed "The Garden of the Gods", The US Olympic Training Site, Manitou Cliff Dwellings and the Air Force Academy. All of these wonderful places will intrigue and entertain anyone who has the privilege of visiting the beautiful state of Colorado. It was time to depart and we left with warm memories of magnificent beauty, rugged mountains and the kindness of strangers.
Photos courtesy Peaceful Valley Ranch
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JustSayGO Travel Show
Colorado Springs, population 300,000, was our greatly anticipated stop,
having been recently named as one of the top 50 travel destinations
in the USA. My three children were unnaturally quiet and no doubt contemplating
the possibility that the people and places yet to be experienced during
this adventure may not be bigger and better than those of our new favorite
dude ranch, Pleasant Valley, we just left. For their sakes as well
as ours, my wife and I sincerely hoped to be awestruck by what awaited
us at our next stop.
The Cheyenne Mountain Resort beckoned to us like moths to flames. My children had quickly developed severe cases of claustrophobia during the car ride and complained of any and all contact with the other inhabitants of the back seat. At some point during the road trip the mountains started looking the same as those we had just passed and those yet to be seen. 
The Cheyenne Mountain Resort boasted four outdoor
and indoor swimming pools, a lake for boating and sailing, a state-of-the
art physical ed. center and an extremely accommodating staff. After
we had explored our rooms, my wife and children left to explore the
grounds and no doubt the patience limit of the unsuspecting staff.
The friendliness of the staff seemed to inspire the congeniality
of the guests, which in turn encouraged the resort team to strive
for excellence. 
A former forest ranger with numerous
fire fights under his belt, he admitted that he has found peace
at the "top of the world". Jeff spoke well and often of the attributes and beauty of Pike's Peak and painted intriguing pictures with words during his storytelling. Water, water, water seemed to be the drink of the day as Jeff recited almost verbatim the instructions we had been subject to since we deplaned in Denver: drink often. Water challenges the effects of thin air and I found myself guzzling a gallon in just three hours!
Westward
Ho Guide
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