13 April 2013 – Cañon City & Royal Gorge
Today we headed off to the Royal Gorge which is a canyon of the Arkansas River located west of Cañon City. On the way we stopped in Cañon City to have a look around. Once again there are lots of neat historic, well preserved building here, so it is really interesting walking around checking out the architecture and…of course, the shops…I found a great cowboy hat here!
Canon City
Canon City – The western shop where I bought my cowboy hat
My new hat – Canon City
The Royal Gorge Bridge & Park is about a 1 1/2 hour drive southwest from Manitou Springs where we are staying. One of the main features here is the suspension bridge across the gorge which at 956 feet over the Arkansas River is the highest in the USA. There is also an aerial tramway across the gorge and a funicular railway which will take you down to the bottom.
Walking across the bridge
Does it need to be said?
Looking down from the bridge
White Bison at Royal Gorge
Bruce rode the tramway across and back, there was no way I was getting on that thing. Afterwards we walked across the bridge…cars are not permitted. (The bridge is not part of a highway route). Then we took the funicular railway down to the bottom of the canyon. They also have a small game park on the opposite side of the gorge with a rare white bison.
The Aerial Tramway
Funicular Railway
Looking up from the bottom
The Royal Gorge Rail Road and the Arkansas River at the bottom of the gorge
14 April, 2013 – Cheyenne Mountain Zoo & Will Rogers Shrine
Today is Sunday, and we took in Cheyenne Mountain Zoo on a clear, sunny and COLD day.
What an amazing place that is. Most time for me … zoos are a hit or miss. This one is a definite hit. It’s huge and the enclosures are large and roomy … some are even in the woods and you can almost feel the animals are in the wild (except for the bars and glass!). They’re expanding a lot of their exhibits as well so by May it will be even better.
Feeding the giraffes at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
I love this one!
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo – Will Rogers Shrine on the hill in the distance
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun
Not much for crowds so we enjoyed feeding the giraffes, watching the gorillas and meerkats etc. We had a fairly good lunch there, then drove up the tiny winding road to the Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun. WAAYYYY up the hillside they’ve built a marvelous tower with a chapel, winding staircase and many photos and interesting stuff about Will Rogers. The view from the top is breathtaking! I swear you can see clear to Kansas!
Amazing views from Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun
Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun
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