Things to Do in Fort Carson

For more than two decades, Sports Climbing Center has provided a spacious and well-appointed destination for new climbers and seasoned ascenders alike. After outfitting visitors with shoes, harnesses, and Spider-Man costumes, staffers lead lessons and spot climbers as they navigate the footholds and handholds of facility's brightly colored walls or the newly added bouldering wall. The center also hosts a variety of competitions and leads outdoor excursions for students to put their learned skills to work on rock faces and unsuspecting statues.

At the Colorado Academy of Music and Dance, experienced instructors cultivate students' passion for the performing arts. Kids aged 2–4 hone their coordination, balance, and rhythm skills in group dance classes such as the Pre-Dance/Acrobatics program, and adults burn calories in high-energy hip-hop sessions. Students of any age can build their endurance and flexibility with high-energy Brazilian capoeira—a mix of martial arts, dance, and acrobatics—sessions that also include instruction on speaking basic Portuguese and playing Afro-Brazilian instruments. The facility's sprung floors with professional marley surfaces help prevent injury and protect joins by absorbing dancers' impact.

The academy's university-trained music teachers conduct private lessons for youngsters seeking to learn the guitar, study singing, or play the mandolin at a local battle of the medieval bands. Parents can sit in on the lesson or access complimentary wireless Internet as they relax in the spacious waiting area.

Valley Hi Golf Course’s 18 fairways have been flourishing with rye grass and deciduous trees since 1954, when golfers first began cursing the course’s tricky water hazards and bunker-guarded greens with old-timey swear words such as "leaping argyle!" The 1st hole boasts the course’s longest fairway, whereas the 7th hole stops short to become the shortest par five – the best hope for a birdie. The putting green at the 18th hole keeps golfers on their cleated toes until the very end by demanding, like medieval kings, to be approached from the left and on one’s knees. Those hoping to hone their game can take lessons with a staff headed by PGA golf pro Mike Northern, whose more than 30 years in the game have netted him a full trophy case. Before hitting the greens in the morning, golfers drop by the Caddie Shack Restaurant and Bar to fill their bellies with omelets, and those finishing up a later round can bite into sandwiches or burgers.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par-72 course
• Length of 6,806 yards from the farthest tees
• Course rating of 71.1 from the farthest tees
• Slope rating of 116 from the farthest tees
• Four tee options
• See the course layout

Today, Challenge Unlimited captains biking and hiking tours all over the globe, from the vineyards of Tuscany to the Incan towns of Peru. More than two decades ago, however, the business was simply known in Colorado for its signature Pikes Peak by Bike tour. During this 20-mile excursion, guides and up to 35 followers descend 20 miles from a summit of 14,110 feet, infiltrating five zones with distinct climates, plant life, animals, and altitude-based baking methods. Riders often encounter eagles, deer, elk, and even the occasional mountain lion or black bear along the way. Guides can also escort Colorado's athletes across the Gold Camp Road—a 17-mile railroad bed once rattling with railcars filled with gold—and through breathtaking Aspen groves. Pit stops are made over the course of three nights and four days at the Victorian Hotel and a nearby dude ranch. Beyond domestic borders, international trips explore Nepal's Annapurna Foothill on foot and the bustling pubs and haunts of Ireland by bike or skateboards strapped to sprinting leprechauns.

A laid-back, beachy vibe flows through BooDad's Beach House Grill; oftentimes, there's even sand on the floor from an outdoor beach with hammocks and a volleyball court. In the kitchen, cooks prepare Cajun-inspired dishes such as bacon-wrapped buffalo shrimp and New Orleans–style muffuletta sandwiches with Genoa salami, ham, and chopped olive salad. Diners can wash it all back with beers or mixed drinks served in glasses or 64-ounce fishbowls.

Eschewing traditional race rules and methods, Dirty Dashers must overcome a slew of mud-slicked obstacles, including mucky climbing hills, crawling pipes, slip 'n' slides, and bear hugs from Pigpen. Organizers encourage runners to sign up with friends to foster a fun-loving environment, and along the way, racers fuel up at optional beer- or root-beer-chugging stations. Further demonstrating its commitment to outdoor high jinks, each event's registration fees, donations, water-balloon sales, and shoe donations benefit local charities, such as NM[X]—an arts and athletics youth organization—and the Seattle-based Redeeming Soles charity, which dispenses gently used footwear to those in need.