Manitou Springs vs Mesa Verde
If you had to pick, which one would you go to see?
Forum Discussion
Comparison of Apples and Oranges, really. Each has it's own appeal.
Mesa Verde NP is steeped in ancient history, and is close to both Durango and Cortez, as well as the 4 Corners area. One can spend several days in Mesa Verde NP and not see everything there is to see. In addition, as others have mentioned, there's Durango and the Silverton-Durango Railroad, there's Canyon of the Ancients National Monument outside Cortez, there's the Million Dollar Highway to Ouray. And that's just the tip of the SW Colorado iceberg.
Manitou Springs is the funky suburb of Colorado Springs. Much to see and do in the immediate area -- Will Rogers Shrine, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Garden of the Gods, Seven Falls, Cog Railway to Pikes Peak, in addition to the drive up Pikes Peak. Then there's Colorado Springs itself, with so much to see and do there: The Air Force Academy and Chapel, the Olympic Training Center, the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame, the Broadmoor Hotel, Cave of the Winds, Balanced Rock, Miramont Castle...just to name a few.
Difference in terrain as well. High Desert in the Mesa Verde area, High Plains and foothills in Manitou Springs. Elevations of 6000-9000 or so in Mesa Verde area, elevations of 6000-14000 in the Pikes Peak region.
Urban versus Remote. Hard to pick between the two. We've spent a lot of time in both, I never get tired of Mesa Verde. Traffic? Unrelenting at times in the Springs area, traffic of a different type in Mesa Verde...and much slower!.
Mesa Verde NP is steeped in ancient history, and is close to both Durango and Cortez, as well as the 4 Corners area. One can spend several days in Mesa Verde NP and not see everything there is to see. In addition, as others have mentioned, there's Durango and the Silverton-Durango Railroad, there's Canyon of the Ancients National Monument outside Cortez, there's the Million Dollar Highway to Ouray. And that's just the tip of the SW Colorado iceberg.
Manitou Springs is the funky suburb of Colorado Springs. Much to see and do in the immediate area -- Will Rogers Shrine, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Garden of the Gods, Seven Falls, Cog Railway to Pikes Peak, in addition to the drive up Pikes Peak. Then there's Colorado Springs itself, with so much to see and do there: The Air Force Academy and Chapel, the Olympic Training Center, the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame, the Broadmoor Hotel, Cave of the Winds, Balanced Rock, Miramont Castle...just to name a few.
Difference in terrain as well. High Desert in the Mesa Verde area, High Plains and foothills in Manitou Springs. Elevations of 6000-9000 or so in Mesa Verde area, elevations of 6000-14000 in the Pikes Peak region.
Urban versus Remote. Hard to pick between the two. We've spent a lot of time in both, I never get tired of Mesa Verde. Traffic? Unrelenting at times in the Springs area, traffic of a different type in Mesa Verde...and much slower!.
