Hotel at a Glance: The Antlers, A Wyndham Hotel

Pikes Peak rises in the distance behind the Antlers Hotel, and the glittering buildings of downtown Colorado Springs surround the 3.5-star hotel on the other side. Select guest rooms have views of the majestic mountain; others look out onto the city. The picturesque location makes it easy to get to nearby mountain attractions and to stroll downtown to antique shops and independently owned boutiques.

• Wet your whistle at the onsite Piccadilly Bar that has 50 types of draft beers, cocktails, and wines.
• Crispy pizza and fresh fish give new meaning to the phrase “pub fare” at the lively Sportivo Primo featuring Duca’s Pizza restaurant and bar. 
• Swim year round in the indoor pool.

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.” Travelers can hike the mountainside or take in the surroundings by car along the 19-mile Pikes Peak Highway. The summit of Pikes Peak is easy to reach 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.

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