Manitou Springs vs Mesa Verde
If you had to pick, which one would you go to see?
Forum Discussion
This is an easy choice in my book. Visit Mesa Verde. Manitou Springs and the Colorado Springs area are pretty low on my list of places to go in this state. A lot of "tourist traps" IMHO.
There are a variety of ruins at Mesa Verde. Besides the self-guiding tour of Spruce Tree House, there are several other cliff dwellings that one can visit only with a guided tour. Well worth doing one or more of those. There are also a variety of mesa-top ruins just off some of the roads to visit. If you do go to Mesa Verde, also check out the Anasazi Heritage Center near Dolores. Fantastic museum and they can lead you to other, less developed ruins in the area, including Hovenweep NM (the segment just over the border in UT is worth the drive) and Canyons of the Ancients.
There are a variety of ruins at Mesa Verde. Besides the self-guiding tour of Spruce Tree House, there are several other cliff dwellings that one can visit only with a guided tour. Well worth doing one or more of those. There are also a variety of mesa-top ruins just off some of the roads to visit. If you do go to Mesa Verde, also check out the Anasazi Heritage Center near Dolores. Fantastic museum and they can lead you to other, less developed ruins in the area, including Hovenweep NM (the segment just over the border in UT is worth the drive) and Canyons of the Ancients.
