This is an article with 10 reasons why you should vacation in Colorado Springs. There are actually many more reasons but I will save them for another hub. My family and I spent four very happy years living in Colorado Springs while my husband attended Bible College so we could enter the ministry. Coming from hot Texas, we were pleasantly surprised with the mild climate and very little humidity and heat. It was great, not to mention green and beautiful! We had the most gorgeous view of snow-capped Pikes Peak from our living room window. I enjoyed that view everyday.

So my number one reason for you to take your next vacation in Colorado Springs is Pikes Peak. Seeing it is great, but driving up it is even better. Get a good car with excellent brakes (so you don't have problems on the way back down) and take your time driving up the scenic Pikes Peak Highway. It is a toll road, but worth every penny. There are places to pull over, get out, take photos and sightsee along the way. Do take advantage of them. Once you get to the Summit, plan to visit for a while. There are restrooms and a nice place to eat, nothing fancy, but good food and a coffee bar. There is even flavored oxygen for you if you want! Remember that when you get to the Summit, you are 14,110 feet above sea level. If you have breathing problems, check with your doctor as this may not be the place for you!

Be sure that you take jackets for everyone. I promise you that it is chilly up on the mountain, some days it is downright cold and windy. We went up in May and in October and both times, it was cold. Of course, that makes sense because most of the year, there is snow on Pikes Peak as shown in the photo above that I took from our yard in the summer.

If you do not want to drive up Pikes Peak, there is another way. Take the Cog Train up Pikes Peak. You can sit back and relax the whole way up and just take in the incredible scenery. I highly recommend it.

Next on the agenda is Garden of the Gods. You just have to see this! Incredible rock formations are set up in a beautiful area not far from Pikes Peak. When you see them, you wonder how on earth they got there. Don't miss it.

Visit Seven Falls in the late afternoon so you can stay until dark. The waterfalls here are spectacular in the daytime. When darkness falls, the lights come on and they are incredible to look at all lit up.

Take a walk across the Royal Gorge Bridge. At 1,053 feet in the air, this is a breathtaking experience. The bridge is cool and the natural rock there with the mountains as a backdrop are fabulous. (My words don't compare to all that you will take in when you visit Colorado Springs on your vacation.)

Number five on my list of reasons to visit Colorado Springs on your vacation is Cave Of The Winds. If you have never before visited a cave, you deserve to see the beauty. It is a constant 52 degrees inside so bring a light jacket and good walking shoes.

The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is a beautiful place to see some great animals. If you enjoy giraffes, they have one of the best giraffe exhibits in the country. You can actually feed the giraffes here. Way cool! I was fascinated by them. So were my very young children.

The Manitou Cliff Dwellings are homes that native Americans built in cliffs over 700 years ago. They are fascinating to see.

If you have children, they will love visiting the North Pole and seeing reindeer and the big guy himself, Santa Claus! This is a cool park on the base of Pikes Peak with Christmas ornament shopping year-round. There are rides for the whole family and magic shows throughout the day. I had a blast each time we went.

If you love dinosaurs, make sure that you visit Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center. I am passionate about dinosaurs and this is a wonderful place to learn about them. You will spend hours there. Don't rush out of this place. Take your time and enjoy every moment.

Number ten on my list of reasons why you should vacation in Colorado Springs is The Air Force Academy. I know, it is not a natural wonder but this is a beautiful campus. The chapel is a fascinating building architecturally. You have probably seen photos of its spires reaching toward the heavens, 150 feet up. There is a museum where you can learn about the Academy and the Air Force. Colorado Springs is a military town and this is one of the top tourist destinations in Colorado.

Have a wonderful visit to Colorado Springs!