I am a Colorado native who had to relearn my love of the outdoors and teach my young kiddos to do the same during our time here in Colorado. Colorado Springs is home to 3 branches of the military: Army, Space Force, and Air Force. There are 3 military installations as well as the United States Air Force Academy nestled in this diverse Southern Colorado city. This city has grown so much since I was a kid living in Denver, and I am sure the folks who have spent their entire lives here could tell you the same but in more detail. Before you PCS or stop through on your PCS move, I want to give some context to the CO outdoorsy lifestyle:
- If the sun is out (which 9/10 times it is!) Coloradans are outside. You bring layers, a hat, plenty of water, maybe some hand warmers, and you hit up your local recreational area.
- Recreational areas in Colorado are very well done. There are some incredible parks, splash pads, walking trails, and nature reserves here. Many of the suburban parks are also accessible for folks who use different equipment for mobility. Yay inclusion!
- There is something for everyone. Whether you are more into the city-slicker, urban scene or want to head out into the wilderness to be left alone, the amount of activities are endless. Coloradans want to enjoy the outdoors around them – and they want you to join in (usually rain or shine)!
One of my only hikes during our time in HI: Lanikai Pillbox Trail
Fun fact: I am not a wilderness person. I want nothing to do with camping in tents and frequently tell my spouse that the reason I would never join the military is due to the amount of field time required. Before our time in Colorado, we were stationed in Oahu, HI. There are also plenty of avid hikers that visit the Hawaiian Islands, but we did’t get to do a lot of it. For one, the kids were really little. Hiking with toddlers is an Olympic sport on its own. Then throw in doing most of the hiking by myself (thank you, command!), and it became something that we didn’t to do too much as a family. Sans the beach, our youngest also really disliked the outdoors at the time (thankfully!). I can’t blame him. It was hot and humid, there were bugs, all his toys were in the air conditioning, and so were his favorite snacks.
When we got to COS, I knew I wanted to share the love of my home state with my family. Almost immediately after PCSing, the kids and I were on our own (shocking, I know!). I had to figure out how to “hike” with my kiddos who were not used to the elevation and sun exposure (Denver is called the Mile High City for a reason), and the constantly changing weather all while self regulating my own outdoor icks at the same time. After two years here, I am happy to report that we are outdoors all the time and even going on our first month long camping trip this summer. Full transparency for those of you shocked that I actually agreed to this: we have a class C camper that we invested in for road trips and the infamous PCS moves to come.
If you find yourself in a similar situation with orders to COS, I want you to know that there is hope to enjoying the outdoors, even if your family isn’t outdoorsy! This isn’t about changing you or your kids if they aren’t fans of camping, but instead deciding what your comfort level is! You can try new adventures when you feel the timing is right. Here are some ways to get out and enjoy the outdoors here in COS:
- Going to your local park counts as getting outside!
I mentioned above that CO does recreational areas really well. We have been to some beautiful parks both on post and off! If you are not a trail person, you don’t have to be to experience some of these beautiful areas with your kids. Getting to a local park to play is a great way to meet others but also get used to being outside a bit more and try out some nature trails. Remember your sunscreen and water, though! - Your comfort level matters.
Not into gravel trails? Check the Google for pictures and detailed reviews of the area. This also helps me decide if the area is somewhere I would consider adventuring with the kids if dad isn’t with us that day. Feeling safe while out with your kids is very important, and forcing yourself out of your comfort zone when you are not ready is something I would never encourage. - Utilize the community pages to find places you would consider visiting.
Yeah, yeah, I know it’s the *spouse pages.* If you are afraid of getting sucked in, you can set those page settings to mute and access them when you want to research a specific park or recreational area. Simply go to the spouse page and type the location in your search bar. From there you can use other’s reviews of the area to make your own determinations on if that rec area is a good choice for your family. - Follow park and recreational area community pages.
I will usually visit these pages regularly on my personal social media accounts to they show up on my algorithm. That way if there are events I want to attend with the kids, I am more likely to see them. I will also send them to my local friends to join us- the more the merrier! - Recreational areas in COS often partner with local libraries.
We love the Pikes Peak Libraries here in COS. They are great at updating their monthly events with plenty of free activities during the summer for kids on summer break who need to get out of the house on those especially hot, dry days. - It’s ok to go home and try another day.
Along with staying in your comfort zone, it’s important to accept that you’re going to have a bad outing or hike. Someone in the group is emotionally unregulated that day, it’s extra hot so everyone is irritated, your toddler fell and skinned their knee, you forgot the snacks, it hailed or the weather got too cold. There is always a good reason to say, “it’s ok, we can try this trail another day.” Before you can push your kiddos to try a couple more challenging hikes, they have to know we as parents won’t push them into a situation they don’t feel comfortable with.
Our family met us in Nederland, CO for spring break. We had inclement weather most of the trip and enjoyed our time indoors instead. This was our only hike – throwing rocks onto the frozen lake!
So while these aren’t fool proof and I probably forgot something, these are ways that you can try getting the kiddos outdoors while enjoying your time here in COS. There really is nothing like hearing, “that park is so fun!” or “I feel so confident after hiking that trail!” and even “thanks for listening to me when I said I was ready to turn around, mom,” when we get back from a family hike. Keep exploring and making memories while you are stationed here!
