August 2017
On our final day in Colorado Springs, drove up to Cheyenne Mountain to visit the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. It's unlike any other zoo in the country because it is on the side of a mountain. All I kept thinking as we walked around is that somewhere deep within the mountain is an entire Air Force Base. (and for the Stargate SG-1 fans out there, I was also wondering about the stargate somewhere underneath us. LOL.) The zoo is also unique because of its massive giraffe herd. We stopped and fed them when we first arrived. We then went to the Olympic Training Center for a tour. That was really interesting. It was awe inspiring to see how the athletes train knowing that famous names you'd recognize, like Michael Phelps, did their training for the Olympics right there. We then left town and drove to Pueblo. We were early so we took a walk around the Pueblo Riverwalk even though we were too late for a boat ride.
The early morning view from our hotel room
An early morning moon
One of many birds on many spruce trees
The Broadmoor is a fancy resort at the foot of Cheyenne Mountain
The Broadmoor is a fancy resort at the foot of Cheyenne Mountain
The Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun sits atop Cheyenne Mountain
The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is America’s only mountain zoo
My mother with the first giraffe we saw. The rest will be real ones.
Up close and personal with a giraffe!
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s giraffe herd is the largest at any zoo.
One of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s many giraffes
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s giraffe herd is the largest at any zoo.
Up close and personal with a giraffe!
Some giraffes are more rude than others
I believe my mother is having a conversation with this giraffe.
My mother feeding a giraffe some romaine.
I got in on the giraffe feeding action too.
My mother made a new giraffe friend
It takes skill (or lettuce) to get a giraffe to pose for a photo.
At least one eye is facing the camera
This is a red river hog
The king of the jungle on his favorite rock
The king of the jungle on his favorite rock
A colobus monkey
This guy is a hyrax
This zebra is smart to stay out of the bright high altitude sun.
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s giraffe herd is the largest at any zoo.
The lions look so peaceful when they’re not eating you
Lions and house cats really are similar.
A rhinoceros peeking out into the sun
Meerkats are oddly photogenic
Meerkats are oddly photogenic
A wandering peahen
A wandering peacock
Those are some scary looking quills on that porcupine
Some wandering peahens
The view from Cheyenne Mountain Zoo goes on for miles and miles
There’s probably a joke to made about elephants in the sun and wrinkles.
This elephant is mid dirt bath
The elephants have to stretch for their treats
The wallabys roam free in the Aussie section of the zoo. It’s very cool!
Walking around in the parakeet room
Walking around in the parakeet room
There are peacocks everywhere
These alligators are huge!
These alligators are huge!
If that kangaroo could reach the doorknob, he’d be out of here.
This is a Matschie's tree kangaroo. You’re welcome for that bit of knowledge.
This isn’t just a turtle. It’s a red eared slider.
I wonder what this leopard is contemplating.
This tiger sleeps anyplace he wishes.
The view from Cheyenne Mountain Zoo goes on for miles and miles
The snaggletooth on this mountain lion cracks me up, as long he’s on the other side of glass and not sinking it into me.
We also saw moose in the wild, but I wouldn’t get this close to them.
This turkey looks like he belongs on a Thanksgiving card.
Who knew porcupines were such climbers
The goats get the most fun habitat.
I’m not sure of the exact species, so we’ll just call this a monkey
The goats will put their head through any opening they can find.
This bird of prey is an American kestral
You get a good view of downtown Colorado Springs from atop Cheyenne Mountain
This gorilla looks very serious.
This gorilla looks very serious.
A local guy, a mountain goat.
Riding the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo chairlift
Looking down on some chickens from the chairlift
The view from Cheyenne Mountain Zoo goes on for miles and miles
Riding the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo chairlift
A local guy, a mountain goat.
It’s the Great Pumpkin!
General William Palmer, originally an east coast guy, founded Colorado Springs
Entering the US Olympic Training Center for a tour
Waiting for our tour of the US Olympic Training Center
They do train here
We’re greeted by a giant Apollo Ohno.
Bobsled is one of my favorite Winter Olympic sports
Walking through the grounds of the US Olympic Training Center
The Olympic Shooting Center
Inside the Olympic Shooting Center
The boxing gym
The wrestling gym
This monument honors the Olympic Truce
It’s awe inspiring to think of all the swimmers who’ve trained here, not the least of which is Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time
This gym is home to the volleyball and basketball teams
The gymnasts train here
The track and field gym is an impressive facility
This Olympic cauldron burns when the games are going on.
This statue is simply entitled Olympic Strength
This statue is simply entitled Olympic Strength
This is the coolest statue on the grounds, in my humble opinion
US Olympic hockey team uniforms
We stopped at a German restaurant for dinner. This is beer cheese soup.
The German restaurant we stopped at for dinner was called Edelweiss.
This statue and fountain is at the Pueblo Riverwalk
This statue and fountain is at the Pueblo Riverwalk
The Pueblo Riverwalk runs through downtown Pueblo
We got to the Pueblo Riverwalk a little late for a boat ride. Maybe tomorrow.
The Pueblo Riverwalk runs through downtown Pueblo
The Pueblo Riverwalk’s mini waterfall
Yes, that’s a rainbow over the Pueblo Riverwalk.
Why yes, I did arrange to have a rainbow pass behind the Colorado state flag just so I could get a good photo.
Random longhorn steer statue at the riverwalk
This statue of an American Indian is called Walks Among Stars
An amazing sunlit cloud over the local Loaf ’N Jug.