MDTrip Report: Colorado Springs, CO

Broadmoor Resort

Looking for an interesting summer vacation destination?  We encourage you to visit Colorado Springs, Colorado.  There are several attractions for all ages located in Colorado Springs, not to mention the breathtaking scenery around every turn. 

If you’re looking for a place to stay in the area, you cannot go wrong staying at The Broadmoor Resort.  The Broadmoor has three 18-hole golf courses with some of the most impressive views of the Rockie Mountains.  Along with the golf courses, there are several other activities for families such as horseback riding, swimming, paddle boats and much more.  After a long day of golf and hiking, The Broadmoor also has a spa to help you relax.

We also encourage you to visit the Garden of the Gods Park, which is a National Natural Landmark.  Here you can take a guided tour, hike or bike ride through some of the best views of Pikes Peak and tall sandstone rock formations.  A tour will teach you about the cultural history and geology of the Colorado Springs area. 

Garden of the Gods

 After viewing Pikes Peak from the Garden of Gods Park, take a short trip over to get an up close view of the peak 14,115 feet above sea level.  In order to reach the summit you can hike, drive or even catch a ride on the Pikes Peak Cog Railway.  If you are an adventurous person consider riding a bike 20 miles down the Pikes Peak Highway with the Challenge Unlimited Tour. 

Need even more of an adrenaline rush?  Located a quick hour away from Colorado Springs is the Echo Canyon River Expeditions where there are several different white water rafting options.  They have choices from a family rafting trip to the high adventurous class V rapids trip. 

Olympic Training Center

So you need a break from all of the high adventure?  Take a tour of the United States Air Force Academy with several aircraft exhibits.  Next on the tour list is the U.S. Olympic Training Center where athletes train for the Olympic Games.  A third great attraction to visit is the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum located downtown, with several exhibits to learn about the local history. 

There is much more than that to see and do in Colorado Springs so feel free to ask us.  You can also find more info by visiting www.visitcos.com/.        

Wanna visit Colorado Springs?  You can reach this lovely city with one connection from MDT.  Frontier Airlines has recently announced nonstop flights between Denver and Colorado Springs - so by booking your flight from MDT to DEN, you can then connect to Colorado Springs on the same airline! 

Innovative Aircraft - Boeing 787

Are you an aviation geek ("avgeek")?  If you are then there's a good chance you're already up-to-speed on the latest and greatest in aircraft innovations with the main airliner manufacturers.  Today we begin a new series which will profile and feature some of the latest and greatest airplanes! 

We're getting started with a look at the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.  

787 Dreamliner - Photo from FlightAware

Responding to overwhelming preferences of airlines around the world, an international team of top aerospace companies led by Boeing at its Everett, Washington facility near Seattle, Boeing Commercial Airplanes' launched a super-efficient airplane, the 787 Dreamliner.  The aircraft was originally slated as the 7E7 when its earliest design stages. The first delivery of the completed 787 to ANA took place on Sept. 25, 2011.

In addition to bringing big-jet ranges to mid-size airplanes, the 787 provides airlines with unmatched fuel efficiency, resulting in exceptional environmental performance. The airplane uses 20 percent less fuel than today's similarly sized airplanes. It will also travel at a similar speed as today's fastest wide bodies.

The 787-8 Dreamliner can carry 210 - 250 passengers on routes of 7,650 to 8,200 miles, while the 787-9 Dreamliner can carry 250 - 290 passengers on routes of 8,000 to 8,500 miles. With this new model of aircraft airlines are anticipated receive more cargo revenue capacity.  

Have you plane spotted a 787 yet?  Better yet, have you flown on one?