Manitou Springs, Colorado is a relaxing mountain town unlike any other. Manitou Springs is home to 8 natural springs which all have a slightly different mineral profile and unique taste. Western doctors and Native American healers alike have recommended the curative waters of Manitou Springs to patients for ailments ranging from iron deficiencies to inflamed skin.
Photo by Flickr
Since the earliest days of human habitation, visitors have flocked to Manitou Springs to ingest and soak in the town’s healing waters. The water of Manitou Springs flows through the rocks of nearby Pikes Peak, where it is infused with minerals. Visitors can walk from Shoshone Spring in downtown Manitou Springs, to Iron Spring on the outskirts of town and sample salty and slightly sweet water from each spring along the way. Virtually every spring has a decorative font, such as the seated statue perched atop Stratton Spring.
Garden of the Gods, Manitou Springs, CO
Photo by depositphotos.com
If you’re searching for a good curative soak, Manitou Springs is home to a handful of spas, including the SunWater Spa. The SunWater Spa features pristine waters that flow directly from the 7 Minute Spring. For a moderate fee, visitors can soak in a tub of mineral water, relax in a sauna, or receive a revitalizing facial or body treatment.
After a revitalizing spa treatment, a visit to Colorado’s quirkiest and most controversial waterfall is in order. Rainbow Falls is a picturesque waterfall that spills out from behind a concrete overpass. Rainbow Falls also features a chaotic mural of colorful graffiti. Some nature lovers refer to Rainbow Falls as Graffiti Falls and consider it an abomination, while others celebrate the waterfall’s unique urban flair. The only way to truly form an opinion about one of the most hotly debated waterfalls in the West is to visit it yourself.
Rainbow Falls Outside Manitou Springs, Colorado
Photo by Flickr
Fans of vintage arcades can’t get enough of the Penny Arcade. Located in downtown Manitou Springs, the Penny Arcade features vintage games that date all the way back to the 1930’s. As the name implies, the cheapest game at the Penny Arcade literally costs one cent. Seasoned Skee-Ball players can amass a mountain of tickets and redeem them for some sweet swag from the prize room.
If you’re feeling depleted, a trip to Manitou Springs is a great way to recharge. The healing waters of Manitou Springs will infuse your body with precious minerals, lift your spirit, and promote rest and relaxation as only a mountain town with plentiful curative springs can.