Best Frozen Waterfalls Around Colorado

January 27, 2021 By Claire Garlick Leave a Comment

Bridal Veil Falls, near Telluride. At 365 feet, Bridal Veil Falls is the tallest free-falling cascade in Colorado. It’s a very neat sight when it’s completely frozen over. You can see this awe-inspiring waterfall from the end of Telluride’s box canyon. Photo by Ryan Bonneau, provided by Visit Telluride

Can you call it a waterfall if the water isn’t falling? We vote yes, and believe winter to be the coolest — see what we did there? — time to check out these frozen-over cascades. (Waterstill just doesn’t have the same ring to it.) In fact, waterfalls might be at their peak majesty when iced over and draped in newly fallen snow, creating a scene straight out of Arendelle or Narnia or some other idyllic, frosted land that isn’t in a children’s movie.

Hanging Lake may be the first spot you think of for impressive, wintry frozen falling water, but the Grizzly Creek fire burned areas above the trail and the lake, prompting White River National Forest Service officials to close the trail due to safety concerns. No reopening date has been announced.

Luckily, Colorado is full of falls. Here are nine frozen cascades sure to stun and inspire. All you need are warm clothes, common sense — some trails will be icy; some will be difficult to follow — and a spirit for adventure.

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National Plan for Vacation Day 2021

January 20, 2021 By Claire Garlick Leave a Comment

January 26th is 2021’s National Plan For Vacation Day – make plans now to visit Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak region!

Here are just a few ways taking your paid time off helps make you a better employee, person, and economic contributor:

National Plan for Vacation Day, celebrated on the last Tuesday of January, is a day to encourage Americans to plan their time off.

Each year, Americans fail to use 705 million vacation days, and with those days, $255 billion in economic opportunity is lost. That’s why the U.S. Travel Association launched Project: Paid Time Off, an initiative to prove the personal, professional, economic, and social benefits that taking time off can deliver.

Sometimes, planning is the hardest part of actually using your vacation. U.S. Travel has made it easier than ever with their new calendar tool. Plug in your annual days off, book your mountain getaways and family reunions all at once and then export the file to your Outlook Calendar to share with friends and family.

Looking to visit Colorado Springs in 2021? Here are a few things to get excited for:

1. Boutique hotel Kinship Landing, a concept dedicated to bringing travelers and locals together around city and outdoor exploration, is opening in early 2021.

2. Southwest Airlines is coming in for landing March 11 at our hometown airport, bringing even more flight and route options to inbound and outbound travelers.

3. In late spring, The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway reopens with a new track, trains, depot and cog. Advance tickets are now available for this one-of-a-kind journey.

4. The new Pikes Peak Summit Visitor Center is slated to open this summer, featuring interpretive exhibits, a new gift shop and café and, of course, the world-famous summit donuts.

5. Weidner Field and Robson Arena will open later this year, providing unique venues with both indoor and outdoor spaces for hosting events and sports groups.

Article originally published at https://www.visitcos.com/events-calendar/annual/plan-for-vacation-day/.

Manitou Fruitcake Toss this Month

January 13, 2021 By Claire Garlick Leave a Comment

The fruitcakes will fly once again in downtown Manitou Springs!

Join in for some old-fashioned tossing of those maybe not so beloved holiday desserts. There will also be a fruitcake costume competition, libations and a fruitcake bake-off!

Non-perishable food item suggested for donation to go to the local food bank. Cakes are available for rent for $1 per cake.

EVENT INFORMATION

When: January 23, 2021
Time: 1 pm – 3 pm
Where: Manitou Springs Memorial Park
Cost: One non-perishable food item is suggested for attendance. All food items will be donated to a Manitou Springs food bank.

EVENTS FOR ALL AGES

Hand Toss Distance
Accuracy
Speed
Best “Balance”
Robotic, mechanical, 3-man slingshot toss for distance

Prizes for all events will be awarded as well as an overall winner.

TOO GOOD TO TOSS FRUITCAKE BAKE -OFF

Although participants will be tossing the traditional cakes, there will also be a fruitcake bake-off. Local bakers will compete for the title of Fruitcake King or Queen as determined by the community. Winners will be based off who makes the best organic, non-GMO, natural fruitcakes. For more information, email Fruitcaketoss@gmail.com.

HISTORY OF THE MANITOU SPRINGS FRUITCAKE TOSS

This one-of-a-kind event, where enthusiasts traveled from all over to compete for trophies and bragging rights, has been a community highlight for more than 22 years. The great fruitcake toss is the event of the winter season as the hapless dessert is launched into space with a variety of mechanical and pneumatic devices.

Competitions have included the Hand Toss, Kid’s Toss, Launch, Pneumatic Gun or Canon, Team Catch or Accuracy division. The cost of competing is simply a non-perishable food item, to be donated to the Westside Cares food bank.

For more information, visit their website.

Article originally published at https://www.visitcos.com/events-calendar/annual/fruitcake-toss/.