Your Colorado Springs concierge
Find the best of Colorado Springs, from our doorstep to yours.
Welcome to your home away from home. ExploreCOS gathers the trails, restaurants, and local gems we'd recommend to a friend — no tourist traps, just the good stuff.
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Browse by category
Pick a vibe — we'll handle the rest.
Hiking & Trails
Summit views, foothills, and quiet forest paths.
9 spots
Restaurants & Food
From green chile to farm-to-table tasting menus.
11 spots
Attractions
Iconic Colorado Springs experiences worth the drive.
6 spots
Shopping
Locally made goods, boutiques, and bookshops.
8 spots
Nightlife
Taprooms, live music, and late-night hangouts.
8 spots
Family Activities
Kid-approved adventures for every age.
9 spots
Parks
Wide open spaces and red-rock playgrounds.
8 spots
Museums
Art, history, and the stories of the Rockies.
8 spots
Day Trips
Mountain towns and scenic drives within easy reach.
7 spots
Guest favorites
Places our guests come back for.
🍽️ Restaurants & Food Lloyd's Pick Cowboy Star
$$$5198 N Nevada Ave
⭐ Lloyd's pick — a polished chop-house in University Village with an excellent Happy Hour that regulars plan their week around. Dry-aged steaks, a proper butcher shop next door, and some of the best craft cocktails on the north side of town.
🍽️ Restaurants & Food Lloyd's Pick Shuga's
$$702 S Cascade Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80903
⭐ Lloyd's pick — a bohemian downtown spot known for the Brazilian coconut shrimp soup, an excellent brunch, and a patio strung with lights that every local has at least one good story about.
👨👩👧 Family Activities America the Beautiful Park
Free126 Cimino Dr, Colorado Springs, CO 80903
The downtown park with the iconic Julie Penrose Fountain — a ring of sculpted arches that doubles as Colorado Springs' best summer splash pad, plus a playground, big lawn, and paved trails along Monument Creek.
🥾 Hiking & Trails Barr Trail (Pikes Peak)
Free13 Hydro St, Manitou Springs, CO 80829
The legendary 13-mile, 7,500-vertical-foot trail to the summit of Pikes Peak — the full hike is a serious mountaineering day, but the lower miles are a great moderate Manitou hike on their own.
🍽️ Restaurants & Food Carlos' Bistro
$$$1025 S 21st St, Colorado Springs, CO 80904
A small, chef-owned Italian and French-influenced bistro on the west side that locals save for anniversaries and big birthdays — hand-rolled pastas, a deep wine list, and service that remembers you the next time.
👨👩👧 Family Activities Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
$$$4250 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Rd, Colorado Springs, CO 80906
America's only mountainside zoo, built into the slopes above the city. The giraffe herd is the largest in the country — and yes, you can hand-feed them.