Garden of the Gods as a local

Growing up in Colorado Springs, I had visited Garden of the Gods many, many times. As a preschooler I hiked all over the park, often in areas that are now protected and off the beaten trails. Signs all over the park now warn visitors to stay on actual trails to protect the fragile vegetation. A more recent visit with my visiting cousin just brought back to me how great a troll through the park can be.

Yucca plants are almost more prevalent than the red rocks that many people associate with the park. Wildlife such as lizards, snakes, birds and even Rocky Mountain goats can be viewed in the park. A night hike might allow a chance to see bats out and about hunting down their dinner.

The orange-red sandstone formations rise high above the foliage and cast a wondrous shadow across the park. Most trails host casual hikers and bikers as well as long distance training runners. Thanks to a generous amount of rainfall this summer, the park has been especially green which really makes the sandstone stand out.

Where to start? Upon entering the park, a great place to begin is at the Visitor's Center which has some maps and also is the starting point for guided tours. I went on the bus tour of the park for the first time in July with my cousin and will admit that I actually learned a few things. We learned a little about the geology and life-zones of the park (Garden of the Gods actually straddles two life-zones because of the high altitude, which is fairly unusual) and also about the history of the area. The 480-acre Garden of the Gods was originally owned by the head of the Burlington Railroad, Charles Perkins, and was donated to the city of Colorado Springs by his children upon his death in 1909.

The bus tour is a quick 20-minute trip and certainly doesn't tell you every thing you might want to know (though our driver encouraged any questions we might have), but it's a nice way to view the park and only costs $5 for adults and $2.50 for kids. Free nature hikes are also available from 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily, each tour lasting about 30 minutes.

While visitors can view many of the main rock formations on a slow drive through the park, I would definitely suggest at least walking around a little bit to get the full experience. On a clear day, Pikes Peak can be seen imposing in the background to the west and looking east, Colorado Springs sprawls out farther than you can see with your bare eyes. Each new day brings a fresh view of the park.

Beware that while rock climbing is permitted in certain areas, visitors have to register with the park before climbing and "rock scrambling" is not allowed.

And watch out for that Balanced Rock and those Kissing Camels. The rest of the rocks aren't bad to look at either.