Amy

My husband and I are planning a trip to Colorado Springs in November. Several of the posts I've read about the city make it sound as if it were a sprawling ugly maze of suburbia covered in smog. I would love as many impressions of the city I can get. What do you think of it? Is it really that bad?

travellyn

No, it's not that bad. I think the reason it sounds bad on this forum is that there are such beautiful places around CS; it seems a waste to stay in the city when the other options are so much better. It IS pretty spread out, and a lot of people there tend to be military and/or ultraconservative.

Tom

Amy,

There are many beautiful sights to see and things to do in Colorado Springs and the surrounding areas. Yes, it is spread out and, yes, it is ultra-conservative (as well as ultra religious) but it is stiil a beautiful area.

xx

Yup!

Tim

The ultras (religious and conservative) make life miserable there. I hated it, but spent four years of my life there while at the Air Force Academy. (No, not all military folks are conservative!!)

It IS beautiful countryside, even though CS itself is just okay.

coskier

Hi Amy. Why are you going to Colorado Springs? If its to see some of Colorado's beauty as travellyn said there are many options that would be better. If you must go the only place IMHO worthwhile is the Broadmoor.

Co Spgs is rather pretty but the groups such as Focus on the Family, EXTREME right wing, have really taken over the tone and flavor of the town.

gb

You're right. No, Colorado Springs isn't northern New Jersey. (Sorry NJ). You could spend a busy, rather quiet weekend there visiting some the sites. But, as other posters said, you can base yourself out of a more interesting location, and day trip to Colorado Springs. Smog shouldn't be much of an issue unless there's a really cold pattern keeping the smog close to the ground.

x

It's a nice looking city. But it is a city, so you'll see what you'd see in any other city. However, Pikes Peak as a backdrop makes for some nice scenery.

And, I don't care that it is ultra-conservative and ultra-religious, since I'm only a visitor. I wouldn't live there.

Lenleigh

I have to agree that I hate living in Colorado Springs and have lived in other parts of Colorado that I much more prefer. It is a city but a very small city. The downtown area is pretty small but the rest of the city has really spread out. I would just say that Colorado Springs is a day trip, there are much more interesting and beautiful places to stay in.

Al

I visited Colorado Springs at my job, quite a few times in 1987, before I retired. I thought it was a great place. It was beautiful, clean and easy to get around. I went there again this year, visiting my grandson at the AF Academy. The town has gone to hell. Academy Boulevard is nothing but one big mall, and traffic is horrendous. They've overbuilt the place, and it looks like a mess.

Jennifer

Amy,
My husband and I went to Colorado Springs this past July. It was on a business trip. Normally for vacations my husband and I go to an island. We live at the beach and enjoy visiting others. We weren't too excited when the location for the conference was Colorado Springs but we were surprised how much we enjoyed it. We stayed at the Broadmoor which is an amazing resort. The Golden Bee was a really fun Ragtime bar to pay a visit to. Pikes Peak is something to experience. I wasn't impressed with the city itself but the points of interest I was. Others at our Conference went on rafting trips, spa, and golfed. Colorado Springs was very spread out and had the typical Targets and chain foods.

x

*L* An old friend moved there. A year or so ago, I got an e-mail asking about some wierd right wing evangelical group here. Seems their child's art teacher's young adult daughter is here now evangelizing through the auspices of the local branch of this wierd right wing evangelical group. The mother was really worried about her coming here and wanted some information.

I did a little research. Came to the conclusion that the part to be REALLY concerned about was where she found out about the wierd right-ring evangelical group to begin with. That turned out to be in their own church in Colorado Springs. I told my friend that we stopped sacrificing virgins years ago.

Amy

Thank you for all of the postings so far. We are visiting Co. Springs for a business trip...so we dont really have a choice in destinations. Out of curiosity, I noticed that many of you noted the conservative majority in the city as one of its major drawbacks. In what way did this effect your experience there? How does the mere presence of conservative christians diminish the quality of life in this place? Also, can anyone give me another city Co. Springs is comparable to in character, size, feel etc? Thanks

coskier

I am beginning to suspect that there may be more to Amy’s post than travel questions.

It is not so much the "mere presence of conservative christians diminish the quality of life in this place?" as it is that they try to dictate everyone morals. Know that my values may differ greatly from yours or theirs. I do not appreciate it being jammed down my throat or the intolerant and yes hate filled views of some of the better known groups.

If you are here to promote a religion or other special interest groups Amy please there are other forums for that.

Amy

Coskier,
You are correct in your asumption that my questions are double edged. My husbands firm is sending us to Colorado Springs for conferences and possible relocation negotiations. Having never been there, I am curious both about what to see and do on our visit, and about what Co. Springs is like in general...so that I might disertain what it might be like live there beyond what I can gather in our short stay there. I was a little stunned that you implied I was trying to push some sort of political agenda. That was out of left field and the farthest thing from my thinking. I completely agree with you that this type of forum is the least appropriate place for such discussion. You are mistaken sir, my motive is driven purely by my curiosity

Tom

Amy,

We go to Colorado Springs several times a year and during our brief visits (usually a couple of days) the politics and religious beliefs of the communities generally go unnoticed... generally. That said, however, I must tell you that I have also visited there only to find THOUSANDS of people lining the streets and roads displaying right-to-life and anti-abortion signage.

I don't know what your politics or religious beliefs are (nor do I care) but I think what people here are saying is that "The Springs" has a bit of a reputation. Many local and national ammendments and agendas are "born" out of Colorado Springs and IMHO many of them incite people to hate.

I still enjoy Colorado Springs and I still visit people there who have no problem living their own lives in their own way. There is a presence, though and if you end up living there, you will be more than aware of it.

coskier

Then my apologies Amy. Tom you put it perfectly!

Amy if your politics are very conservative then you may well like living in the Springs. If not I suspect you will find it somewhat frustrating.

As to your other question I would compare Co Spgs to a slightly bigger Wichita, KS albiet with better views and higher housing prices.

Oh btw I am a she not a he. Not that it matters normally but I think of Co Spgs as not very women friendly.

Hope they are putting you at the Broadmoor, it is wonderful.

Larry

Of course 'people' say it's a terrible place. Don't want any more people moving here. I lived here in the late 1960s and just moved back in May of this year. WE love it. Yes, no place is perfect but some of these responses make you wonder who these folks are and what's their agenda.

Lenleigh

Larry, I can assure you that I have no "agenda" in disuading people from living in Colorado Springs. Personally I cannot stand the town and I want to move back to Denver which is far more populated. Colorado Springs is not even close to slowing down in terms of growth anyways.

I completly agree with coSkier with the "down your throat" comment. A local warehouse church here was recently featured on the news for wielding fake guns outside near a busy street during "missionary terrorist training". If that gives you any idea of some of the kooks here. I especially enjoy watching the Focus on The Family CEO give a "morality speech" every morning during a commercial break for The Today Show. I don't care what you want to do with your free time but don't try to invade mine.

kima

Amy in doing your research into Colorado Springs you might want to search on the group "Focus on the Family" The largest right wing organization in Colorado based in Colorado Springs. As it was said if your politics are similar you will like the Springs if not well....

FOF is anti-choice, anti-gay, and against sex education curricula that are not strictly abstinence-only.
FOF also focuses on religion in public schools, encouraging Christian teachers to establish prayer groups in schools.

FOF supports student-led prayer in public schools, although it points out that it doesn’t support teacher-led prayer for fear that a teacher would encourage Christian students “to pray to Allah, Buddha or the goddess Sophia against the wishes of the parents and/or students.” (“Religion in Public Schools,” February 1998.)

FOF also supports private school vouchers, tax credits for religious schools, rejects education efforts that address multiculturalism and recommends that Christian parents to withdraw from the Parents and Teachers Association (PTA) on the grounds that it has a liberal social agenda. FOF supports faith-based social services and “charitable choice.”

FOF works against hate crime legislation, and supports “reparative therapy” for homosexuality,
For those ex-gays who cannot change, FOF considers sexual celibacy another option.