tour de Colorado Springs

The John May Museum of Natural History: I personally thought it was very cute (and very quaint). It is a legacy to one man's work, though it does say it's only about half his work. It is a display of lots of bugs. The word bug though doesn't give due credit to this display. It is a wide array of color, shape, and disversity. It is not a very big building, but the outward architechture follows the areas red clay features. I loved going to each display (that are crammed into a smaller than the display room) and looking at each frame, but the rest of my family wasn't overly impressed. It is a kid friendly enviroment, though not really a kid-involved activity, at least not smaller children. I would recommed it for boys 8-10 or people, like myself, who enjoy the more sciencetific or sightseeing portion it offers.

The John May Museum of Space: Well, let's just say I wouldn't pay for this exhibit, but it's included in your price for the Natural History Museum, so you walk across the path to go view it anyway. It's a series of trailers linked together containing several paraphanaila of Star Trek, Star Wars, NASA, etc. It is a cool display, but nothing worth any monetary compensation. The best comparision I could give would be to a hardcore sci-fi boy's bedroom.

The Historic Rock Ledge Ranch: Right next door to Garden of the Gods: - this was definitely the highlight of the day. Admission is relatively cheap. About $20 for a family of 4. We spent a good 5hrs here. Walking the many paths, seeing the many exhibits. There is first the Carriage House (architecture house), probably the least exciting, but has displays showing olde time tools and talking about how architecture in the area developed. (also a note: Immaculate bathrooms - probably the cleanest public bathroom I have seen in quite a while) Then onto the gift shop, which is small and cute. It doesn't offer a wide variety of trinkets or soveniours, but it does have great little candies, very very inexpensive. Continue down to the Rock ledge House. A very original piece of history with a guided tour. People interested by olde time living and accomedations, this is the place to visit. A little further is the blacksmith shop, easily the hit attraction of the park. We got to sit there while the blacksmith showed us how he made a heart shaped wall (mount) hook. It was very interesting and the conversation throughout his demonstration was very educational and enlightening. Then back to the Orchard House, a bigger version with more accomendations than the Rock Ledge House. This house was a very hands on tour, very informative on the living in the past times, and just very neat to look at. Ending the trails at the Homestead Cabin and American Indian interpretive area, both were very neat, very original. Thoughout the whole ranch is the employees who are dressed in original attire to match the era and give very well scripted tours and well educated answers to questions asked.