Colorful Geological formations - Interpretive Paint mines, Calhan, CO, USA

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For my last #TravelTale in October for #WriteTribeProblogger Challenge, I introduce you to an offbeat location in Colorado which is 35 miles South west of Colorado Springs.

Hoodoos PC: https://www.flickr.com/photos/snowpeak/6214045985

Around 35 miles from Colorado Springs, there is a place called Interpretive Paint mines park in Calhan. This is one of the offbeat locations and not a busy tourist place. 

This place with weird geological formations and sandstone hoodoos made of colorful clay and sand was existing since 9000 years ago. The native Americans used to collect clay from here to paint their faces and horses during wars.

Overall  View

Another view

This park features stone formations including spires and hoodoos which are formed by wind, water, and erosion through several years. The park has 4 miles of trails. The parking area is not very nearer, so you might have to walk some distance to reach the park.

From Parking area

Colors are not much visible here

The natural sandstone formations come in different colors from creamy white to orange to pink to gray and chocolate brown. These formations are very fragile and so this area is a protected site. But, we see that many people are climbing on the formations irrespective of the signs. Gradually, the colors are fading out with time as this is a delicate natural phenomenon.

Sunrise at the Park. PC:https://www.flickr.com/photos/davesoldano/

You can see pink and orange colors

Windmills

We visited this place in the evening on a hot summer day. The colors of the formations look great during sunset. The windmills around are also eye-catching from the spot.

On the way to Calhan

Hurray! With this post, I completed #WriteTribeProBlogger challenge successfully :-)

It was not easy! I had to schedule some of the posts a week ahead, for some of the posts, I had to write in hurry but I enjoyed writing 10 #TravelTales about #Colorado. Hope you liked them too... What do you say?

Read my other #Colorado #TravelTales below:

1. A day with flowers and gardens, Denver, CO, USA

2. Hanging lake and hot springs, Glenwood springs, CO, USA 

3. Golden leaves and Gondola rides, Aspen, CO, USA

4. Rocky mountain national park #day 1


5. Rocky mountain national park #day 2 

6. Limestone caves and cliff dwellings, Colorado springs, CO, USA

7. Unique Statues and Ice Sculptures - Loveland, CO, USA

8. A beautiful Chapel and aircraft exhibits -  Colorado Springs, CO, USA

9.  Dangerous curves and Beautiful Scenery - Pikes peak highway, CO, USA

Until next time,

I am taking part in The Write Tribe Problogger October 2017 Blogging Challenge.

Stay in Colorado Springs:

Breathtaking scenery and dangerous curves - Pikes Peak Highway, Colorado Springs, CO, USA

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I have written about some great places so far in Colorado, but there are many roads here which offer breathtaking scenery on the way.

Look at those curves!

We have been to some such drives - Trail Ridge road in Rocky mountain national park, Independence pass near Aspen etc., There are a few more drives in my wishlist like Million dollar highway near San Juan, Drive to Mt. Evans near Denver. One such a lovely drive was to Pikes peak summit by road. The train ride to the summit is excellent whose details you can read in this post. But, the drive by car is nothing less amazing.

Tollgate entrance

A line of trees

Pikes peak highway is a 19-mile toll road connecting Cascade to Pikes peak summit at an elevation of 14,115 ft above sea level. Along the way, you can visit North slope recreation area, Crystal creek reservoir, Historic Glen cove inn and the Summit house.

one of those turns

Scenery on the way

Admission to the highway as on 2017 is $50 per vehicle from May 1 to Nov 30 and $3 per vehicle between Dec 1 to Apr 30. Visit this site for latest information on toll fee.

View from the summit

The Summit house

The 39-mile round trip takes at least 2 hrs. There are approximately 162 turns and there is no gas station on the way. The temperature changes drastically from the base of the mountain to the summit. So, extra layers of clothing are recommended. We can spot a deer/ elk on the way. The view of curvy roads from the top looked beautiful.

The summit is famous for its delicious doughnuts. I love those doughnuts. The summit also has a gift shop and many areas to view the beautiful scenery with mountains and valley.

Pike peak summit house donuts - from Google images labeled for non-commercial reuse

On our return trip, we experienced a sleet - a rain with a mixture of water and snow pellets. It was wonderful.

Downhill in rain

So, how did you like this virtual drive?

Read my other #Colorado #TravelTales below:

1. A day with flowers and gardens, Denver, CO, USA

2. Hanging lake and hot springs, Glenwood springs, CO, USA 

3. Golden leaves and Gondola rides, Aspen, CO, USA

4. Rocky mountain national park #day 1


5. Rocky mountain national park #day 2 

6. Limestone caves and cliff dwellings, Colorado springs, CO, USA

7. Unique Statues and Ice Sculptures - Loveland, CO, USA

8. A beautiful Chapel and aircraft exhibits -  Colorado Springs, CO, USA

Until next time,

I am taking part in The Write Tribe Problogger October 2017 Blogging Challenge.

A beautiful chapel and Aircraft exhibits - Colorado Springs, CO, USA

Air Force Academy is one of the offbeat locations to visit in Colorado Springs. We can spend 2 to 3 hours at the Air Force Academy.

This is an institution for undergraduate students to earn a Bachelor of Science degree and be commissioned as second lieutenants in the United States Air Force upon successful completion. This also attracts more than a million tourists every year. There is no entry fee to view the exhibits and the Chapel.

The 150 ft Cadet chapel is a major attraction here for its beautiful architecture. This chapel is an all-faiths house of worship, with separate chapels for 4 major religions: Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, and Buddhist. The chapel structure took $3.5 million to build, and it is recognized as CNN's most epic church in America.

The exhibit area contains videos and displays about the Academy's history, a hometown map, significant features of the Academy, a theater, and a gift shop. The theater shows a 15 min video of the Academy's history, campus, and about a day in a cadet's life here. It explains the four pillars of the Cadet training program: Character development, Academic, athletic, and military training. This facility was opened in June 1986.

After visiting the exhibits and the Chapel, we enjoyed walking through a place with the statues of aircraft and Falcon (representing the Air Force Academy).

One more benefit of being in the same city as the Air Force Academy is to see an annual air show conducted from our house itself. Here is a snap from Airshow.

Hope you liked this virtual tour.

Until next time,

 I am taking part in The Write Tribe Problogger October 2017 Blogging Challenge.

Read my other #TravelTales from #Colorado here.
1. A day with flowers and gardens, Denver, CO, USA

2. Hanging lake and hot springs, Glenwood springs, CO, USA 

3. Golden leaves and Gondola rides, Aspen, CO, USA

4. Rocky mountain national park #day 1


5. Rocky mountain national park #day 2 

6. Limestone caves and cliff dwellings, Colorado springs, CO, USA

7. Unique Statues and Ice Sculptures - Loveland, CO, USA

Cave of the Winds and Cliff Dwellings - Colorado springs, CO, USA

Cave of the winds mountain park in Colorado Springs is million years old though discovered only in 1881 by Pickett brothers. Later, electricity is provided inside the cave allowing it to public.

Near entrance

Tours are conducted every half an hour for tourists showing the limestone formations and explaining the cave geology. One most popular and basic tour is 'Discovery tour' for 45 mins. This tour charges $21 for adults and $15 for kids between 5 to 13 yrs. It's free for below 5 years. These caves are one of the oldest attractions in Colorado.

Inside the cave

Stalactites

Stalactites

Stalcite formations are almost like a town structure

The cave features 10,750 feet of surveyed passages mostly which are open to the public. There is a local legend that both Apache and ute Native Americans believed that these caves are home to a great spirit of the wind. Thus, it got the name "The cave of winds". The cave has many beautiful and unique limestone and stalactite formations. The caves also have many adventure rides like bat-a-pult, wind walker challenge, and terror dactyl.

Cliff dwellings

One more attraction near to caves is 'Cliff dwellings'. This place has Anasazi ruins dating back to 1000 years old. This 40 room site was originally located near Mesa verde and Dolores which is shifted to Colorado springs and preserved as a museum. This place has a museum showing the pottery, jewellery and artifacts of ute native Americans. It also has a souvenir shop. Entry is $10 for adults and around $7.5 for kids below 11 yrs( kids under 3 - free).

Cliff dwellings 

Tipi tent model 

Do you like caves and visiting ruins of a civilization? Then, you might love these two places.

Pin it for Later!

Read my other #TravelTales from Colorado here:

1. A day with flowers and gardens, Denver, CO, USA

2. Hanging lake and hot springs, Glenwood springs, CO, USA 

3. Golden leaves and Gondola rides, Aspen, CO, USA

4. Rocky mountain national park #day 1

5. Rocky mountain national park #day 2 

Until next time,

 I am taking part in The Write Tribe Problogger October 2017 Blogging Challenge.

A day with flowers and greenery - Botanical Gardens, Denver, CO

I love nature and greenery but I have never realized my love for gardening until I came to the US. In India, life used to go at a fast pace with work, home, and kids. There were many nurseries near our home but I didn't get time to care for plants. This summer, I experimented with a small home garden with a few flower plants, basil, mint, coriander leaves, and methi. I am successful to some extent and want to try vegetables next year.

Exhibit in the garden

With this interest in mind, we visited Denver botanic gardens in the summer and the experience is more than what I expected.

Colours looked beautiful

Real treat to eyes

Model garden

Beautiful blooms

The botanic gardens is a public park located in Cheesman Park neighborhood in Denver. Entry is around $12.5 for adults and $9 for kids(kids under 2 are free). It has a wide range of gardens on 24 acres with plants from all corners of the world. There are garden models depicting different environments in the world like tropical, rain forest, desert areas.

Bonsai plant

Water fountains

Cactus

Though our legs pained a bit, we enjoyed watching colorful flowers, beautiful ponds with fishes, gardens and water fountains.

So, how do you like this virtual tour? Do remember the botanic gardens when you visit Denver, CO.

Until next time,

 I am taking part in The Write Tribe Problogger October 2017 Blogging Challenge.