Colorado Springs to Golden, via a Scenic Rocky Mountains Route

Before you hit the road today, make sure you have plenty of water and some warm layers you could pull on, if necessary. Colorado's Front Range is famously known for experiencing "four season in a day" any time of year.

Bequeathed to the City of Colorado Springs by the family of railroad mogul Charles Elliot Perkins in 1909, who originally purchased land here in 1879, Garden of the Gods consistently ranks among the best public parks in the US, and indeed, its striking red rock formations are something to behold.
To best explore the park in around an hour, take one of the easier nature hikes. If time allows, check out the 15-minute immersive video experience in the Geo-Trekker Theater in the Visitor and Nature Center — or the center's excellent gift shop.
Visitor & Nature Center Opening Hours: Daily: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm (Winter Months) Daily: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm (Summer Months)

A bit of historic lore about this stretch of Hwy 24: Long before automobiles, covered wagons, and Spanish and American explorers crossed over the 9,165 feet summit, Ute Pass was the route for herds of buffalo, crossing between the high alpine basins to the Great Plains beyond Colorado Springs.
The back-and-forth migration of some millions of buffalo over an untold period of time carved the route, which was also used by Colorado's Ute Indians — who no doubt appreciated the well-trodden footpath. All the way until South Park basin, you are indeed following in the footsteps of "where the buffalo roam."

Colorado's mountain towns are full of surprises; you never know what gems you'll find. Iron Tree Restaurant & Funky Town Brewery in postage-stamp-size Florissant is one such discovery. Owned and operated by two Culinary Institute of America grads, Iron Tree serves "Linner" (lunch and dinner all day) Wednesday through Saturday, and all-day brunch on Sundays.
From top to bottom, the menu is American comfort food with some chef-y twists — from-scratch flatbreads, creative burgers and sandwiches with hand-cut fries. If you're intrigued by Funk Town's brews, ask staff for a recommended pairing.
Opening Hours: Wednesday – Saturday: 11:00 am – 7:00 pm Sunday: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm

Welcome to the alpine frontier town of Fairplay, one of the only real semblances of civilization in the vast South Park basin — 1,000 square miles of grasslands, surrounded by mountain peaks on all sides. There also just so happens to be an EV Charging Station at Fairplay Town Hall, located right on Main Street.
Type: CCS 2 Stations, 2 Plugs Power: 62 kW

While the EV charges, take a stroll down Main Street towards The Salt Licking Goat Clothing Company, a souvenir shop with a lot of South Park merch — and if you're wondering, yes, there is a connection. The TV show creators borrowed quite a bit of inspiration from Fairplay's setting to create the show's suburbia cartoon world.
If you've ever had a laugh watching the show, you have to take advantage of the cutout photo op out front. It really doesn't matter if you don't have a Stan, Kyle, Kenny, and Cartman exactly. Improvise and get the photo anyway! Fairplay is both within the real South Park Basin and as close to the fictional South Park (the 'burb) as it gets.

Get back to the charging station and get on your way!

Whether you're in the mood for a hot or cold beverage, a warm cup of housemade green chili or mac n' cheese, an order of tacos or something larger to share, The Shaggy Sheep is the ideal place to turn off the road for a minute and enjoy the fresh mountain air.
A roadside restaurant and travelers' pit stop with a whole lot of charm, The Shaggy Sheep offers its lunch menu and small bites around this time of day. Hours vary seasonally, but reliably The Shaggy Sheep is open Thursday through Sunday; May through October, the property's Airstream Snack Shack sets up in the yard and serves up scoops of locally-made ice cream, coffee and espresso beverages, as well as beer, wine, and cider.

You could easily spend a half day at Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre, hiking some of the park's trails and learning about the venue's storied history — everyone from The Beatles to The Grateful Dead, John Denver to Radiohead, has performed at the incredible natural amphitheater, which has nearly perfect acoustics.
A short walk from the Top Circle parking lot, the Visitor Center highlights a who's who of who's played at Red Rocks in the Red Rocks Hall of Fame. After touring the exhibit, hike into the amphitheater itself for a totally different POV — from the stage, looking up.
A few notes about visiting: On concert days, the amphitheater closes in the afternoon for sound checks. November through February, the Visitor's Center closes early, at 4 pm The Trading Post, which you passed on the way in, stays open until 5 pm daily, year-round — and overall, the park itself closes one hour after sunset, which can be as early as 4:30 pm (so 5:30 pm) and as late as 8:30 pm (so 9:30 pm).
Visitor Center Hours: March – October 7:00 am – 7:00 pm daily November – February: 8:00 am – 4:00 pm daily

On the way to Golden, you'll need to detour for a moment to get the EV recharged in advance of tomorrow's journey. The good news is that this Electrify America Charging Station just so happens to be attached to a popular shopping-and-entertainment district, which has plenty of distractions while the vehicle charges.
Take a stroll through the retailers—which include Nike and J.Crew Factory Stores, as well as a Target, an H&M, and a proper western wear store—or for more family-friendly distractions, check out Slick City Denver West. Just don't spoil your appetite as there's Himalayan food for dinner.
Type: CCS 6 Stations, 11 Plugs Power: 50-350 kW

A slice of Himalayan culture and cuisine in the foothills of the Rockies? Of course, that makes perfect sense. The vision of Nepalese immigrants Lhakpa and Phurba Dickey Sherpa, colorful Sherpa House Restaurant and Culture Center is a feast for all the senses.
You may need to queue in the courtyard draped in fluttering prayer flags for a taste of homestyle Sherpa cuisine — momos and samosas; hearty Sherpa stew and warm naan; curries, vindaloos, and chowmein with either yack or lamb — but it's decidedly worth it. One room in the house is modeled after Lhakpa's childhood home, while another is dedicated to the Sherpa mountaineering culture and summiting Mount Everest. There's also a small gift shop on site with traditional Nepalese goods.

Located on the edge of Golden's very charming and walkable downtown district, The Golden Hotel couldn't be more perfectly located for an overnight stay. If you're up for a bit of an adventure after checking in, head for the bars and restaurants on Washington Avenue—Golden's main drag—to sample a pint of Coors Banquet Beer, which is famously brewed with spring water from the Rockies at facilities here in Golden. Just don't stay out too late as tomorrow's an early start, in order to charge the EV before a full day's drive.
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