Location: Manitou Springs
Top Things to do in Manitou Springs
What to do and see in Manitou Springs, Colorado (CO): The Best Things to do Good for Kids
The city of Manitou Springs is a home rule municipality located in El Paso County, Colorado, United States. The town was founded for its scenic setting and natural mineral springs. The downtown area continues to be of interest to travelers, particularly in the summer, as the downtown area consists of many one-story, adjoining, small shops, restaurants, and pubs, as well as a creekside city park with a children's playground made from unusual materials. Among other services, shops cater to tourist interests such as clothing, candy, souvenirs, and outdoor recreation. The main road through the center of town was one of the direct paths to the base of Pikes Peak. Barr Trail, which winds its way up Pikes Peak, is accessible from town. The subdivision Crystal Hills was added to the municipality in the 1960s.
Restaurants in Manitou Springs
1. Cave of the Winds Mountain Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,949 reviews
Discovered in 1881, Cave of the Winds has been a premier Colorado attraction for more than a century. Explore amazing caverns, experience total cave darkness, and marvel at the beauty of formations hundreds of thousands of years old. Then step outside and walk on the wind on the Wind Walker Challenge Course, fly like a bat on the Bat-a-Pult, and dive into Williams Canyon on the one of a kind aerial dive ride, the TERROR-Dactyl. Lots of family fun, amazing views and memories to last a lifetime!
Reviewed By jmosesee - Cahuita, Costa Rica
We had a great time. Matt and Wesley were kind and patient as our guides on the Via Ferrata Tour, Carissa was funny and authoritative as our guide for the Lantern Tour, and the Wind Walker playground is also amazing.
2. Arcade Amusements, Inc
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 708 reviews
Family fun for ages 8 to 88!! Arcade Amusements is one city block of games, antique to current, located in beautiful downtown Manitou Springs. Skee-ball, pinball, derby and more! Come down and play with history today!
Reviewed By amyhC3125OE
A great place for everyone of all ages to enjoy even at my age now I still enjoy seeing these places and visiting these places sp much to do and so many games for all ages I had a great time
3. Ruxton's Trading Post
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 33 reviews
We are located in a historic building which is built over Ruxton Creek. Ruxton Creek begins on the slopes of Pikes Peak and travels down into Manitou Springs. Our address is 22 Ruxton Avenue which is just one half block off of Manitou Avenue (Main St) and on the way to the Cog Railway Station. The Cog Railway ascends about 7,000 vertical feet to the top of Pikes Peak. Our store is a mixture of antique and new Colorado and western goods and artifacts. Native American and western art, cowboy hats, cowhide and sheepskin rugs and many unusual things that you may not have seen before. We have hundreds of vintage license plates from 1914 on. Some items that we keep in stock are antique skis, snow shoes, gas and oil signs, Indian pottery, Navajo rugs and vintage Indian silver jewelry.
4. Garden of the Gods Trading Post
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 255 reviews
Reviewed By 855cherylj - Silver Cliff, United States
Large store with lots of great souvenirs to choose from. Nice sweatshirt/tee shirt selection. Fair prices.
5. Manitou Springs Visitors Bureau
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 88 reviews
Providing information, maps and directions for activities in the Manitou Springs and Pikes Peak Region.
Reviewed By amathteacher - Irving, United States
The gentleman with whom we spoke about activities we wanted to do in the area was very helpful and informative, detailing information on a map of the area and Manitou Springs. He explained about the springs for which the town is named and gave us cups for tasting the water (naturally carbonated with lots of other minerals). There were a couple of other workers in the building as well helping other people who walked in. Outside were some Adirondack-type chairs made of skis which were unusual. Glad we stopped in.
6. Manitou Cliff Dwellings
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 1,905 reviews
May admission hours 9:00am to 5:00pm, weather permitting. Park closes at 5:30PM. We are following state and health department guidelines, in an effort to combat COVID, in order to operate. This includes social distancing, hand sanitation stations and frequent high touch surface disinfecting for your safety. Face masks are required indoors by way of state mandate.
Reviewed By traveling_smiles - Longmont, United States
The gift shop is a bit much and with covid-19 requiring people follow the same path we were forced to see all three floors of it. I would have much preferred our visit without that. The first part of the museum is before the shopping but a second bit is snuck in along the gift shop route so people aren't even sure when to pay or that there is more gift shop coming up. My review is based on being able to enter the dwellings and even though they aren't in their original location the experience of being inside them gives history a real feel. We also appreciated the contrast of being in these dwellings compared to the tipi outside.
7. Iron Springs Chateau Melodrama Dinner Theater
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 111 reviews
DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC THE IRON SPRINGS CHATEAU WILL NOT OPEN FOR THE SUMMER SEASON 2020. WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THIS FALL! A fun filled night of musical comedy! Boo the Villain and Cheer the Hero! Come join us for an evening that begins with our three course meal and the Melodrama immediately following (audience participation is strongly encouraged). After the melodrama, a foot-stomping sing-along and vaudeville style olio full of song, dance and comedy continues the fun throughout the evening!
Reviewed By Scenic70291
Fabulous evening with a group of ten friends. We had a nice dinner with choices of Chicken, Pot Roast and Salmon; Pot Roast was the favorite! But the evening is all about the show which involves abundant audience participation and is uproariously funny. This was a very pleasant and enjoyable evening.
8. Downtown Manitou Springs
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 502 reviews
Reviewed By amygV1127RB - Amarillo, United States
We loved downtown Manitou! Such a cute and vibrant place. Lots of shops, dining, entertainment, and views! Wish we could have spent more time here.
