COLORADO SPRINGS, CO

Jaycie’s Bunny Hoppin’ News: GARDEN OF THE GODS!

By: Jaycie Lillie, 7/13/23

We traveled to Colorado Springs to set up camp and visited the Garden of The Gods!

We thought it was a state park, but it was actually a city park! It got the name “Garden of The Gods” because a man said it was a “garden fit for the gods!” Without him, it would’ve been called the beer garden! (Some guy wanted to call it that.) The rules are no alcohol in the park because the owner of the land (who gifted it to the city) was a Quaker. So “Beer Garden” would make no sense.

The rocks were red (sandstone) sprinkled across the landscape like a natural rock garden. (Not a garden planted with flowers and plants.)

There was a balancing rock, but they had to add concrete awhile back to prevent it from falling and blocking the road. Is it still a balanced rock if there is concrete? Hmmm…

We went on a 50/50 Hike and Ride Jeep tour. It was actually a hummer we rode in, though.

There were pinnacles of red rocks shooting out of the ground!

A famous landmark is the “kissing camels.” Although with erosion... it now looks more like a camel kissing a frog's booty.

After our “ride” part of the tour was done, we then went on the hike part of the tour with the guide. It was nice because she could take photos of all 4 of us and we didn’t have to ask strangers to do it.

We could see Pikes Peak, too! Here it is behind us.

The plants were all in bloom.

Even the prickly pear cactus! It was hot weather.

We saw mushrooms, too!

Jett scrambled on some rocks. And did Papa Mike’s famous gymnastics pose. Pretty good!

After the tour guide went back to her vehicle, we hiked back to the visitor center. We finished our Jr Ranger booklets and turned them in. The park ranger announced that garden of the gods had 2 new Jr Rangers over the intercom and the people clapped. We got a patch, sticker, and a rock instead of a badge.

We ate a picnic on the deck and I ate the yummiest pretzel ever!

After that we went to my favorite part, the Trading Post.

Why? Because of SHOPPING! It was a huge store. Daddy, Mama, and Jett went on a short hike to the Siamese Sisters and left me in the Trading Post to shop. I never got bored, there was just so much pretty art to look at. It was fun!

Here’s mama’s photos of the Siamese Sisters. And you can see Pike’s Peak through the window.

That evening I crashed Mama & Daddy’s sushi date.

I ate the edamame and practiced my chopsticks.

I did not eat any of the yucky sushi, although the platter was really pretty looking.

Thanks for reading!

Jett’s Wild Flight: SUMMITING PIKES PEAK & MORE FOSSILS!

By: Jett Lillie, 7/14/23

We drove one hour all the way to the top of Pikes Peak at the elevation 14,115 feet above sea level!

We kept our eyes out for Bigfoot since there have been a lot of sightings reported by visitors!

The road which they called “highway to the clouds” had a lot of curves and switchbacks and no guardrails!

Once we got to the top, we looked at all the wide and panoramic views from the peak! It was a chilly 47 degrees at the summit!

At the Summit House, we ate their famous “high elevation donuts” at the top and walked the whole peak around, looking at the spectacular views!

We shopped at the top and visited the museum learning about how the tectonic plates caused this peak to rise and how they think it was formed. We walked along the trails at the top and saw a marmot.

We could almost see Denver!

And these views are what inspired the writing of the famous song, "America the Beautiful."

We drove down and ate lunch and shopped a bit more. One guy checked our brakes and gave us the “all clear” to head on down the 14,115-foot mountain!!!! 🏔️

We then decided to drive to Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument to earn our 133rd Jr Ranger badge!

We explored all the petrified wood (huge Redwood stumps)...

...the visitor center with all the fossils...

...and then we headed home to rest. It was a long, but fun day! Thanks for reading.