**CONTEST CLOSED. CONGRATULATIONS TO WINNER KATE MARTINEZ!**
I’m a longtime fan of Colorado Springs and since my husband’s best friend lives there, we look for any excuse to have a getaway weekend.
Plus, as a bonus he usually treats us to dinner. (This time we indulged at Tucanos Brazlian Grill, one of the hottest newest restaurants in town.)
My love for Colorado Springs makes me extra excited about our Mother’s Day Grand Prize giveaway: The Cheyenne Mountain Resort Family Getaway Package. This two-night stay includes:
Normally this package includes 25 percent off adult admission to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo but we’re throwing in a family four-pack of passes to this epic zoo. Some additional details of the prizes:
Cheyenne Mountain Resort
I’m convinced if you had a view from space, you’d be able to see this verdant 217-acre, 316-room property with extraordinary mountain views of the Pikes Peak Region. Though renowned as a conference center, Cheyenne Mountain Resort is also trying to appeal to families, as is evidenced by their killer line-up of activities that run Memorial Day through Labor Day. I did a mid-week tour of the property and though it touts itself as a four-season resort, I got a preview of what makes it so great for families in the summertime.
Cheyenne Mountain Resort recently underwent $20 million in renovations and even more are in the works, resulting in beautiful and comfortable amenities without being too over-the-top–a great combination for families with children. Go here for the full event calendar.
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Whenever I mentioned to my friends I was going to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo for the first time, the response was universal: “I love that zoo!” Maybe it was the stunning views from its 6,800-foot perch. Or the 146 picturesque acres set against the mountainside that makes you swear you’re in the wild. And it certainly has a lot to do with over 800 animals of every variety and the unique ways the zoo lets its visitors interact with them.
My children loved the African Rift Valley exhibit where we were able to hand-feed the giraffes (the largest herd of any zoo) for $2. Another memorable activity was witnessing Orangutans Art (yes, you heard correctly). Every Friday at 3 p.m., our primate pals are slipped a canvas and palette of paint under the door and show off their inner Picasso. The zoo even sells their paintings to benefit wild orangutan conservation.
Note: Lucky the African Elephant also does signature trunk prints. Be sure to check her out when the zoo opens Encounter Africa, a brand new exhibit, in the fall.
Other notable activities that make Cheyenne Mountain Zoo ranked as one of the top in the country: The Loft’s in-depth family programs where you can get up close and personal with a variety of smaller animals, the carousel, magical train, wild-west pony rides, a walk-through aviary where birds will eat right from your hand and the Grizzly Grill’s turkey bacon club on fresh jalapeno bread.
And yes, the sandwich was just that good it had to be included in my list of favorites.
Be warned, though: Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is, indeed, set on a mountainside so uphill walking is involved. An option is to take the Sky Ride (a chairlift that takes you up the mountain for a nominal fee) that runs daily May 1-Labor Day.
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo costs: Adults $17.25; Children (ages 3-11) $12.25; Seniors (ages 65+) $15.25; All Children 2 and under: FREE; special discounts for military. Be sure to go to Animal Happenings to find out the extensive schedule of feeding shows and up-close experiences.
Contest
Mile High Mamas is thrilled to give away a two-night family getaway to Cheyenne Mountain Resort and a four-pack of passes to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. Please go here to enter. Contest deadline is May 13, 2012. Please note: Black-out dates for Cheyenne Mountain Resort: May 24 – 28, June 30 – July 9, August 31 – September 4, 2012.
Author: Amber Johnson
Amber is the founder and editor of Mile High Mamas, travel writer and former columnist for The Denver Post. She is a passionate community builder and loves the outdoors. She has two awesome teens and is happily married to a man obsessed with growing The Great Pumpkin.
