Garden of the Gods
Like a random knot of coarse coloured wool, the unexpected is intricately woven into the fabric of wonder.
While we may trip over it, landing is likely to be soft and bouncy.
Sometimes, it is truly the journey and not the destination that is remarkable.
At least, that's what you tell yourself when you are dragging a suitcase along a sidewalk in the desert trying to find an English Tudor castle.
The sun is hot but the air is cool.
The sparse vegetation is intensely beautiful against the rich sand.
In fact, the desert is finer than you'd ever imagined it would be.
But the road is long and you're in the middle of nowhere, and there is very little to indicate you're getting any closer.
Then you climb high enough into the hills to turn a crucial corner and see the first of many red rock formations towering against the blue horizon.
In a geological upheaval millions of years ago, the impressive vertical formations of sandstone and limestone were forced upward in the creation of the Rocky Mountains and Pikes Peak.
Then they were chiseled by the Pleistocene Ice Age.
There is evidence of human habitation since prehistory.
Many Native people passed through and connected here.
For them, it is sacred ground, and spending any amount of time in the area only confirms that belief.
It is divine.
Right in among the great stones is the lush green sanctuary of Glen Eyrie.
Various religious groups use the grounds for conferences, but individuals and families are welcome to stay at the castle or in one of the other lodgings, and the service is 4.
0 hotel quality.
Glen Eyrie was the dream home of General William Jackson Palmer, founder of Colorado Springs.
It was the third of his houses on the property, built in 1904.
He lived there with his wife, who he affectionately referred to as Queen, until her unfortunate illness and untimely death in England.
The early morning glow of the rock formations is best witnessed from the stoop of one of the more economically-priced rooms.
These cabins come in various shapes and sizes, and walking to and from them is reminiscent of being at camp.
Evenings are most enjoyable inside the castle, ideally with a rainstorm to set the mood.
You will be treated to many delights as you follow the carefully planned paths meandering through the emerald green lawns that line the valley.
You may also come across a Bighorn sheep or a wild turkey.
Other small animals make their homes in Glen Eyrie, such as semi-transparent bunnies that present themselves to be your Spirit animal at dawn.
No, really, it is simply that magical.
If the manicured grounds are too pleasant, a rugged ridge behind the property rises up to reveal an excellent hiking trail.
There is a wonderful reward at the end of it, but you need to get started early in the day to avoid being eaten by a Mountain lion when the sun dips beyond the ridge.
The valley is cast into darkness in a manner that can be quite alarming if you're not prepared for it.
While we may trip over it, landing is likely to be soft and bouncy.
Sometimes, it is truly the journey and not the destination that is remarkable.
At least, that's what you tell yourself when you are dragging a suitcase along a sidewalk in the desert trying to find an English Tudor castle.
The sun is hot but the air is cool.
The sparse vegetation is intensely beautiful against the rich sand.
In fact, the desert is finer than you'd ever imagined it would be.
But the road is long and you're in the middle of nowhere, and there is very little to indicate you're getting any closer.
Then you climb high enough into the hills to turn a crucial corner and see the first of many red rock formations towering against the blue horizon.
In a geological upheaval millions of years ago, the impressive vertical formations of sandstone and limestone were forced upward in the creation of the Rocky Mountains and Pikes Peak.
Then they were chiseled by the Pleistocene Ice Age.
There is evidence of human habitation since prehistory.
Many Native people passed through and connected here.
For them, it is sacred ground, and spending any amount of time in the area only confirms that belief.
It is divine.
Right in among the great stones is the lush green sanctuary of Glen Eyrie.
Various religious groups use the grounds for conferences, but individuals and families are welcome to stay at the castle or in one of the other lodgings, and the service is 4.
0 hotel quality.
Glen Eyrie was the dream home of General William Jackson Palmer, founder of Colorado Springs.
It was the third of his houses on the property, built in 1904.
He lived there with his wife, who he affectionately referred to as Queen, until her unfortunate illness and untimely death in England.
The early morning glow of the rock formations is best witnessed from the stoop of one of the more economically-priced rooms.
These cabins come in various shapes and sizes, and walking to and from them is reminiscent of being at camp.
Evenings are most enjoyable inside the castle, ideally with a rainstorm to set the mood.
You will be treated to many delights as you follow the carefully planned paths meandering through the emerald green lawns that line the valley.
You may also come across a Bighorn sheep or a wild turkey.
Other small animals make their homes in Glen Eyrie, such as semi-transparent bunnies that present themselves to be your Spirit animal at dawn.
No, really, it is simply that magical.
If the manicured grounds are too pleasant, a rugged ridge behind the property rises up to reveal an excellent hiking trail.
There is a wonderful reward at the end of it, but you need to get started early in the day to avoid being eaten by a Mountain lion when the sun dips beyond the ridge.
The valley is cast into darkness in a manner that can be quite alarming if you're not prepared for it.
