Colorado in Pictures: Garden of the Gods

After the Cripple Creek, the Airforce Academy, a fun night on the town, church, and a hearty breakfast at "The Omelette Parlor" (yumm-o), Tara, Liz & I hit the tourist circuit again! We decided to wander through Garden of the Gods on Sunday afternoon. Garden of the Gods is an amazing park in Colorado Springs full of red rock formations.

I just love this little historical tidbit about the park:

The name of the park dates back to August 1859 when two surveyors helping to set up nearby Colorado City were exploring the nearby areas. Upon discovering the site, one of the surveyors, M. S. Beach, suggested that it would be a "capital place for a beer garden." His companion, the young Rufus Cable, awestruck by the impressive rock formations, exclaimed, "Beer Garden! Why it is a fit place for the gods to assemble. We will call it the Garden of the Gods." The beer garden never materialized, but the name stuck.

It was wicked windy & pretty darn chilly (& poor Liz didn'g have any socks on), but we managed to suck it up & enjoy ourselves! How could we not? Check out the photos below. The place is 1000 times better than any beer garden I've visited, & that's coming straight for the mouth of a beer-lover.

Remember how I mentioned the wind. Tara's hair is Exhibit A....

Can you spot the "kissing camels"?

I thanked my lucky stars the sun peaked out. The blue sky against the red rocks is lovely...

More kissing rocks...

Liz is lucky to have this in her back yard...

My lovely travel companions...

More far-away views of the park...

So, I still have to share a few photos & tidbits about Manitou Springs & Denver, which may or may not happen before I jet off to the Sunshine State later this week, but we'll just ride it out. Thanks for stopping by!