Hotel at a Glance: Antlers Hilton Colorado Springs

Pikes Peak rises in the distance behind the Antlers Hilton, and the glittering buildings of downtown Colorado Springs surround the hotel on the other side. Select guest rooms have views of the majestic mountain; others look out onto the cityscape. The picturesque location makes it easy to get to nearby ski resorts in winter and to stroll downtown to antique shops and independently owned boutiques.

• Bison rib eye and fresh fish give new meaning to the phrase “pub fare” at the lively Judge Baldwin’s restaurant.
• Swim year round in the indoor pool and recharge in the whirlpool tub.
• Sip coffee fireside at Mocha Bean, where you can nibble baked goods that come piping hot out of the oven.

Colorado Springs, Colorado: Cultured College Town Where the Mountains Meet the Plains

Colorado Springs is the second-biggest city in Colorado, but it still has a frontier feel; there are vast plains and towering mountains just east of the city. At more than 14,000 feet, Pikes Peak dominates the landscape. The mountain—once thought to be insurmountable—inspired part of the lyrics to “America the Beautiful.” You can hike the mountainside or take in the surroundings by car along the 19-mile Pikes Peak Highway, which doubles as a racing course for motorcycles and cars during the annual Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.

You can easily reach the summit of Pikes Peak via the Cog Railway, a three-hour train ride that makes a steep climb past boulders, streams, and trees that are roughly 2,000 years old. Along the way, keep an eye out for Colorado’s state animal, the bighorn sheep; they gather in herds in the mountains.

Though a lot of activity here skews toward the outdoors, Colorado Springs has plenty else going for it, particularly in the artistic realm. Downtown you’ll find the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, home to masterpieces by contemporary American painters that include John Singer Sargent and Georgia O’Keeffe. You can also participate in an art walk through local art galleries on the first Friday of each month from April through December.

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