  | To ride the Manitou and Pikes Peak Railway, you first need to get to a small historic town about seven miles from Colorado Springs. Disembarking in Manitou Springs, a place perched on the edge of a mountain and history, you are thrown into an enchanting, albeit more colourful, rendition of the 19th century. The extra flair is for the tourists’ benefit. There are boutiques of all kinds that showcase primarily local designers and artists, pottery shops featuring Native American craftsmanship, and fun places for kids. All of this is glazed with a sugary mixture of hemp, hippies, and mysticism. Manitou Springs has eleven naturally carbonated springs that have been preserved in fountains throughout the town. The treasure hunt draws you in almost immediately. Once you have found one, you can’t wait to see and taste the next. Expectation hangs in the air, as while you wander through the old streets, the mountain is waiting impassively beside you. The word "Manitou" means "Great Spirit." The land on which the town is built is sacred ground, visited by Ute, Cheyenne, and Arapaho tribes, who wintered there and credited the springs with healing properties. Following the gold rush of the 1850s, European settlers also discovered these qualities and began to promote the area as a health spa. |
The word "Manitou" means "Great Spirit."
COLORADO, USA
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