Downtown Colorado Springs welcomes the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF), their friends and family for the 33rd annual IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial on September 21, 2019. We honor all firefighters and appreciate the sacrifices each of you make to keep our communities safe. We hope you and your families enjoy your stay in our city!
Dining and shopping
Downtown is home to more locally-owned shops and restaurants than any other part of the city. From gifts and apparel to Colorado craft beer and spirits – there’s a little something for everyone to enjoy.
Click for a directory of Downtown shops and dining options, or pick up a printed map from any Downtown area hotel.
IAFF discounts
Our Downtown businesses want to welcome you to our city center! Many spots Downtown are offering specials for IAFF guests, here are a few. (Offers can not be combined with any other discount.)
PikeRide Bike Share: 4-day membership/$20. Use code IAFF19. Must download the Drop Mobility app to get started & enter promo code. Membership is good for unlimited rides of up to 80 min/day. $.15/min after
Rooster’s House of Ramen (323 N. Tejon): Each year, Rooster’s collects donations from customers that want to buy a firefighter a drink. In addition, customers are invited to write a message of appreciation. In 2018, over 150 drinks were donated! The restaurant also extends a special offer to all first responders during IAFF weekend.
Rocky Mountain Food Tours: #1 TripAdvisor rated for Food & Drink. Explore the culinary diversity our city has to offer with a delicious Downtown Food Tour.
- 10% off the Original Downtown Food Tour (use code IAFF2019OCSFT)
- 15% off the Signature Cocktail Tour. (Use code IAFF2019SSCT)
- Limited space avbl. Advanced ticket purchase required. First come, first served. (Original Tour departs from The Antlers Hotel. Signature Cocktail Tour departs from The Mining Exchange Hotel.)
1350 Distilling (520 E. Pikes Peak) This brand new Downtown distillery is offering 13.50% off merchandise and bottles.
LUCKY DUMPLING (26 S. Wahsatch) One FREE order of dumplings with every large bowl/plate. Limit 5.
The Perk Downtown (14 S. Tejon) 20% off coffee and tea, $1 off beer and wine, $2 off cocktails
Brass Brewing (318 E. Colorado Ave.) Buy 2, get one FREE pints
Pikes Peak Lemonade (224 N. Tejon): Buy two, get one FREE fresh, organic lemonade
BINGO BURGER (132 N. Tejon) Buy one Legendary Burger & get a FREE Colorado draft beer or shake
Springs Orleans at The Mining Exchange Hotel (123 E. Pikes Peak Ave.) 20% total bill
Coquette’s Bistro (616 S. Tejon) Buy two entrees, get an appetizer free
Poor Richard’s Downtown (324 1/2 N. Tejon.) 20% off in the restaurant Saturday, September 21st.
Terra Verde (208 N. Tejon) 10% off any one item Sept. 19-22.
Itineraries
To help you explore our city center, we have created itineraries featuring a plethora of locally-owned shops, restaurants, galleries, craft brewers and coffee shops. If you’re staying Downtown, you’re only steps away…and if you drive to the city center there’s plenty of inexpensive parking at one of three city-managed garages.
PikeRide Adventure
Explore our city center by bike with PikeRide, our city’s bike-share program. Get to shops and dining Downtown, or try the ten-mile Legacy Loop trail system that circles the city center. See details above for special IAFF rate.
Family Day out (Half-day)
(NOTE: due to previously scheduled events and ongoing renovations at CityRock, be sure to call ahead to check for facility information.)
Start at the movie-theater-converted-to-climbing gym, CityROCK. Take your tike to traverse the “Climbarium,” an aquatic-themed area where little ones can slide, climb and zip-line through an “underwater” odyssey just for kids 6 and under. For the rest of the family, there are a variety of climbing walls and even indoor spelunking – 225 feet of cave formations complete with electronic sensors triggered by touch. Make it a game of Mom vs. Dad or parents vs. kids in a quest to escape the cave activating the least number of sensors. Time: 1-2 hours
From there, take a five-minute walk to Bingo Burger for burgers and fries cooked to order paired with creamy milkshakes and malts. They even make boozy shakes and serve icy cold Colorado craft beers for mom and dad. Take your lunch to go and have a picnic at Acacia Park across the street. Check out free giant Connect 4, chess, Jenga or bocce from the Acacia Park Hub (Saturday/Sunday) or try your hand at shuffleboard. Time: 1-2 hours
For the guys
Men, treat yourself to a fresh cut complete with hot towel and shampoo at To the Nines Barber Lounge and you’ll never want another do-it-yourself clipper cut again. Then, pop in next door to Cycle Gear for motorcycle parts, clothing and accessories. Next, head up the block to FH Beerworks for a pint. One block over, catch a game and a bite to eat (and maybe another pint) at The Bench, a brand new sports bar. Time: 2-3 hours
Spoil yourself
Sometimes a little bit of pampering does wonders for the soul, so head out and make a day of it. Start out your morning with a fresh croissant and latte at La Baguette. Next, head up the street to the MX Spa, located in the cozy basement of the Mining Exchange Hotel, for a deep tissue massage. Afterward, head back down Pikes Peak Avenue to the MX Market for a lunch of build-your-own-panini, gourmet salads, and soup. Then, head to Beauty Bar for a manicure and pedicure, accompanied by wine or a seasonal cocktail. Finish the day with chocolates from Cacao Chemistry. Time: 3+ hours
Fitness fanatics
Start your day by fueling up the way many Olympians-in-training do, at Ola Juice Bar. Have an açaí bowl or Thai Avocado Medjool – a powerful blend of avocado, cashews, dates, lemongrass, vanilla, coconut milk, coconut water & raw agave. Grab a PikeRide bike and head west to Monument Valley Park and the Pikes Peak Greenway Trail where you can run, bike or walk on miles of trails (both gravel and paved). If you’re looking for an indoor workout, try a class at Cycology Studio. Your first ride is always free and includes free shoe and locker rental. To wind down, try REST Float Solutions for 90 minutes of uninterrupted, zero gravity relaxation and float therapy. Time: 3-4 hours
Something for the ’tweens
Start with pancakes at Over Easy then head up the street to Podiatryst for playful shoes, bags and accessories. Next, grab a Taiwanese Boba Tea (bubble tea) at the Coffee and Tea Zone, then cross to The Candy Bar for a sweet-tooth fix, and My Colorado Store for a Centennial State T-shirt or ballcap. Pop up one more block for a burger at the Skirted Heifer or around the corner to . Time: 3-4 hours
Fashionistas and shopaholics
Before you get started, head to Pikes Peak Lemonade Company (224 N. Tejon) because shopping is always better with a refreshing beverage in hand. The only lemonade taphouse in the world, Pikes Peak Lemonade offers organic, natural cane sugar lemonade in a variety of flavors including Colorado-grown lavender, hibiscus, and even jalapeno (try a sample, it’s delicious).
Find trendy yet affordable apparel and accessories at the various boutiques along Tejon Street, from Boulder at the north to Kiowa on the south. Colorado Co-op, Halo boutique, Terra Verde, and Tailored West are just a few of the fashion boutiques along this three-block stretch. Have some extra time? Stop in the galleries, gift and specialty shops, too. Time: 3+ hours
The funky bunch
Stroll down Bijou Street for the two most eclectic blocks Downtown. Explore comic books and characters at Escape Velocity Comics, upscale thrift and consignment at Redoux, local art at Art 111 and award-winning artisan stationery at Ladyfingers Letterpress. Grab a crafted-for-this-altitude cuppa at the tiny house Story Coffee Co. at Acacia Park (named most beautiful coffee shop in Colorado by Architectural Digest) and ask about “The Game” which allows visitors to win fun Story Coffee schwag. Time: 1.5-2 hours
history buffs
Learn about our community’s roots at the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum (free!). From there, walk north on Tejon for two blocks, which takes you past a handful of public art sculptures. Turn east on Pikes Peak for Josh & John’s ice cream (and a little more public art). Continue east to Nevada, and admire the historic Mining Exchange building (now Mining Exchange Hotel) then head back south to the garage. If you happen to be Downtown on the first Saturday of the month, we offer guided walking tours that feature a new theme each month. Learn more here. Time: 2-3 hours
More “plug & play” itineraries from The Colorado Springs Conventions and Visitors Bureau can be found here.