There’s a good reason why Colorado Springs is nicknamed Olympic City USA and it’s not because it hosted one of the Games. No, it is where the U.S . Olympic and Paralympic Committee is headquartered. Joining them are over 50 national sports organizations, a training center, and, newly built as of 2020, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum. Guess which Paralympian we had a chance to chat with. We’ll give you a hint: he won the silver medal in the long jump at the 2000 Paralympic Games.

Colorado Springs’ invitation to success extends to animals as much as it does to humans. The women-owned Colorado Wolf & Wildlife Sanctuary started as a safe haven for unwanted wolf-dogs. Today it focuses on education, conservation, and preservation for wolves, wolf-dogs, and foxes who were domesticated but surrendered for one reason or another. See just how close Samantha gets to one of their newest arrivals!

For Brother Luck, cooking is all about channeling the ghosts of your past and reconnecting with those stories. When it comes to Lucky Dumpling, he combines his heritage (half-Cajun and half-Creole) with his experiences growing up visiting San Francisco’s Chinatown as well as living and working in Hong Kong and Japan. You’ve got to see the Creole-Cantonese dishes he’s created.

If there’s one place not to miss in Colorado Springs, it’s the magnificent Garden of the Gods Park. Its name comes from two surveyors in 1859. When one commented that the area would make for a great location for a beer garden, his partner scoffed and said, “Beer Garden! Why it is a fit place for the gods to assemble. We will call it Garden of the Gods.” One look at this breathtaking place formed over millions of years, and you’ll see why.

Diversity’s on tap at Atrevida Beer Co. Its founder, Jess Fiero, is the first Latina brewery owner and head brewer in Colorado. Her handcrafted beers are inspired by her Latin culture whether it’s conversation starters like E-Legal or sweet treats like the Chocolate Ibarra. Check to see which one of Atrevida’s cervezas Samantha tried. Hint: it’s a sweet one!

Wondering where to stay in Colorado Springs? Nowhere does European elegance as well as The Broadmoor, a spot Samantha has been to twice now. One place you have to check out is the Wall of Fame which showcases the many famous individuals who have checked into this storied hotel. You might just see a certain travel host among the princes, presidents, and celebrities.

Despite what its name suggests, you won’t find any springs in Colorado Springs. Instead, you have to head over to Manitou Springs, a mountain town between the Garden of the Gods Park and Pikes Peak. Belief in the springs’ medicinal properties goes as far back as the Native Americans who once called this area home.

Ever wonder what you could do with your old skis? Well, for Adam Vernon that was giving them a second life and turning them into furniture. Specifically Adirondack chairs. And it’s not just old skis, they can repurpose snowboards, old chairlifts, hockey sticks, and more. You’ve really got to see how they give new life to ski poles.

No visit to Colorado Springs is complete without a visit to Pikes Peak, and why not take The Broadmoor Manitou & Pikes Peak Cog Railway to get there? This railway is one of two remaining cog railways in the country and it’s the highest railroad in the Northern Hemisphere. After three years and $100 million in restoration, the railway has only just reopened to the public.

At 14,115 feet high, Pikes Peak is also nicknamed “America’s Mountain” and is the second most visited mountain in the world. It has been made even more accessible as the brand new visitor center has an exterior ADA walkway that loops around to enjoy the views. Now every one of all abilities can see the same view that inspired Katharine Lee Bates to write a certain iconic song about this beautiful country. 

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