Denver to Garden of the Gods, to Manitou, back to Denver - We had an incredible day with Kristina at Garden of the Gods and Manitou. Kristina drove a very comfy SUV/Truck and drove us to Garden of the Gods from Denver. She was very nice and friendly and made us feel very welcome to the area. She had such a vast knowledge of the area and the history of everything we saw. She could easily be a history professor. She was a perfect guide and companion walking us through the park, happily taking our photo and giving us background and info on everything we saw. After our mini hike, she drove us to Manitou, which is a neat little mountain town. We got sandwiches at a place she recommended, and they did not disappoint. She then drove us back to Denver and we drove through a pretty intense thunder and hail storm. What was really impressive was that she continued to drive so well and act calm, despite the rough conditions. We had a 10/10 experience and would recommend her to anyone looking to see the area. We would def do another tour with her!

Garden of the Gods and Manitou Springs - We thoroughly enjoyed the sites we got to see, but the guided tour made it significantly better. Our tour guide, Christina, made us feel comfortable right from the start. She was pleasant and enjoyable to listen to, and also made us feel comfortable asking questions and making comments. She picked us up right at our hotel in a very comfortable vehicle, and supplied us with water to drink along the way. My wife needed to use a wheelchair, and she was able to accommodate that, even tailoring our stops so that they would be handicapped accessible. As we were driving, she filled us in on some of the history of the Denver area, the locations we were passing, and the sites we were going to be visiting. Her knowledge of the history, geography, geology, etc, was excellent. When we saw things along the way that seemed to be of particular interest to us (such as the Air Force Academy near Colorado Springs), she stopped to let us get out at take pictures. The Garden of the Gods was amazing! We were able to spend as much time as we needed at the visitor's center, and then drove through the park. We also had time to get out and walk or take photos as much as needed. Next we enjoyed visiting the town of Manitou Springs at the foot of Pikes Peak. We had a nice lunch there at the Mate Factor Cafe. Afterwards we walked through the town, and then enjoyed delicious ice cream at the Colorado City Creamery. If you're going to be in the Denver area, I would highly recommend checking out the tours offered by WeVenture Denver to facilitate your site-seeing while there.

Garden of the Gods and Manitou Springs Driving Tour - On Friday, March 31, I was privileged to go with a group of four on a tour of the Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs area with Kristina as our tour guide. The tour took about six hours, and Kristina drove us in a very comfortable SUV. A driving tour is wonderful for cold, windy days like this one was. Kristina drove safely; she kept conversation going with ease as she drove. A driving tour also is wonderful for people like myself who have mobility issues. We took my wheelchair along and used it as needed at stops. It was nice being in a small group because we could ask questions easily. All of these things made the trip pleasant and enjoyable. We began our tour in Denver and went south. Kristina gave us bits of history of the area as we traveled. I appreciate the fact that she began with and included much about Native American history, including the Ute, Arapaho, and Cheyenne Nations. She discussed early Colorado history from the Louisiana Purchase and the men who came to check out the land (Pike, Long, Fremont, James, etc.) through the days when gold was discovered in Denver and at Pikes Peak. She talked about the gold, silver, and coal mining and the railroad that transported people and minerals. At Palmer Lake, Kristina explained why the area is an ideal location for the Olympic Training Center and training for various professionals. Because the air is so thin and the elevation so high, practicing there strengthens competitors’ lungs. We stopped at a pulloff to see the Colorado Air Force Base with Pike’s Peak in the background, and Kristina explained why the location is beneficial. The highlight of the tour was the amazing rock sculptures we saw at Garden of the Gods. Kristina explained the fact that the area used to be under water, and she talked about the fossils that have been found there. She explained the geologic processes that gave rise to the fantastic formations we can see today and the composition of the rocks. She explained the more recent history of the area, who owned the land, how it got its name, and how it came to belong to the city of Colorado Springs. From Garden of the Gods, we traveled to Manitou Springs. There are many small shops and restaurants in this quaint little town at the base of Pikes Peak. Visitors are able to taste water from the hot springs. We enjoyed a delicious and healthy lunch in a relaxing atmosphere at the Mate Factor Cafe. We got soft serve ice cream at the Colorado Custard Company - also delicious, even in the cold weather! Kristina described the rail car that used to carry supplies from the town up to the top of Pikes Peak. When the rail car was no longer used, the rails were removed and the crossties became steps for hikers to use if they choose to attempt climbing the one mile Manitou Incline. If it’s too much, there is a four mile winding path as an alternative.

Perfect for entertaining my visiting parents! - The structure of our tour was perfect for my family, and we loved it! We had wanted to see Garden of the Gods while my parents were visiting from out of state, but my mother has mobility issues and uses a wheelchair, and we weren’t confident that we could put together a good visit to the Garden on our own. When we arranged the tour, we let the guide know about our special needs, so she tailored it to us so that we could see and do as much as possible without much walking. Kristina drove us from Denver to Garden of the Gods and shared history with us of the Garden, the surrounding cities and towns, and the process of exploration of Colorado by pioneers that lead to the naming of Pike’s Peak. It started with some stunning views and great photo ops from the Visitor Center, accompanied by Kristina pointing out some interesting highlights from the information on display there. We then drove through the park, stopping in spots that gave us views of some of the most interesting formations and plants. After the Garden, we drove up to Manitou Springs, where we had lunch and ice cream, and we walked through the town by shops and attractions while we chatted about the highway up Pike’s Peak, the cog railroad, and the incline. (We had to be back early, or we would've tried to visit Pike's Peak, too.) We got some great information about the history of the areas we visited and some helpful recommendations for more places to visit our next time in Manitou and Colorado Springs. Kristina knew all the accessible spots, and we wouldn't have gotten any of the history, many of the great views, or any of the recommendations had we not done the WeVenture tour. I would go on the tour on my own, but it was a perfect way to show the area to my parents. Thanks for the great tour, Kristina!

Amazing Place to Visit - Great way to spend a day in Colorado! Plus you can walk or hike if you choose while at Garden of the Gods. So glad we chose this trip.