Manitou

Walking in Manitou Springs

            Manitou Spring is a world of its own. Unlike its much-larger neighbor to its east, this tiny town in the mountain foothills has rejected urbanization. Instead, Manitou Springs is a charming hippie-era haven filled with art gallery gazers, outdoor café lingerers, street musicians, visiting tourist from all over the world and the best arcade any town would be lucky to have. Just spending a few hours aimlessly wandering around the towns’ funky boutiques, surplus of coffee shops and ice cream stops, you cannot help but feel the love that people have for this tiny city.

            The arts are what are at the heart of Manitou Springs. It is not just about the sculptures that line the streets and parks, it is the buildings and the people that make it just as special and scenic. While during the summer months the streets are lined with tourists and locals alike, it has this unwavering feeling that everyone lives here. Seeing both the adults and kids enjoy the blast from the past with games at the Penny Arcade or grabbing salt-water taffy and indulging on funnel cake from Patsy’s gives Manitou Springs it’s heart-warming appeal.

            As I walk through Manitou Springs, I can’t help but be flooded with memories. I did not grow up here but we visited Colorado every summer and we stayed in almost every hotel along Manitou Avenue. I took my first steps at the El Dorado lodge, played countless hours at the arcade and took the Cog Railway up too many times to count. We watched parades go by on the steps, drank the mineral water from the fountains and the old phone booth reminds me of the nostalgia that Manitou Springs is trying to keep alive. Everything in this tiny mountain town seems to have its place and without the sculptures, locals, transients, tourists, shops, and all the watering holes this place would be barren. There is not many places that can make anyone feel like they belong to a community.