Looking for a fun day trip, near Colorado Springs?

We spent a half day in Canon City, CO on a rafting trip down the Arkansas River. It was affordable and a lot of fun for our whole family! (Our kids are 14 and 6 years old.)

There are half-day and full-day rafting trips for all levels and all ages.

Canon City is about an hour away from Colorado Springs (S on 115 and W on 50), and if you keep traveling along Hwy 50, you will see TONS of rating companies ready to gear-you-up and take you through the different levels of rapids on the Arkansas River.

Wheeee!

Local Area Rafting Companies:

• Raft Masters
• River Runners
• Royal Gorge Rafting

Posted By: Mariana Wagner – Colorado Springs Real Estate Connection
719.434.7525

Thanks for reading our Colorado Springs Real Estate Blog!
Posted By: Mariana Wagner - Colorado Springs Real Estate Agent - Wagner iTeam
The Wagner iTeam is a power team of Keller Williams Realty,
specializing in Colorado Springs Real Estate and Monument Real Estate
Pictures of Colorado Springs
(719) 434-7525

It’s that time of year! The 2009 Colorado Springs Area Parade of Homes has begun! Now is the time to see some of the area’s most amazingly constructed and decorated homes, brought to you by the Colorado Springs Home Builder Association (CSHBA).

Check out beautiful luxury parade homes in Monument, Briargate, Cordera, Flying Horse, Stetson Hills, Broadmoor, Fountain, and even Cripple Creek!

View 2009 Parade of Homes Map and Directions here!

• Dates: August 7 through August 23
• Times: Monday through Sunday; 11am – 7pm.
• Tickets: $10 Adults ages 18 – 64, $5 Seniors age 65 and older. You can purchase these tickets at any Safeway store or Buy Tickets through the CSHBA site.

Remember … you can register for a $5,000 Furniture Shopping Spree at the La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries, at any Parade Home. You may also enter on teh CSHBA website thru August 23, 2009.  Click here to Register!

The new homes in this year’s Parade look AWESOME, so maybe we will see YOU on the tour!

Thanks for reading our Colorado Springs Real Estate Blog!
Posted By: Mariana Wagner - Colorado Springs Real Estate Agent - Wagner iTeam
The Wagner iTeam is a power team of Keller Williams Realty,
specializing in Colorado Springs Real Estate and Monument Real Estate
Pictures of Colorado Springs
(719) 434-7525

Out of the mouths of babes…

I just received an email from a fellow Keller Williams real estate agent, Tony Greer. He is an agent in the Canon City real estate market. This email was a short story about his daughter and a game of Monopoly…

“My daughter, 8-year-old Jillian, was telling me just yesterday about playing Monopoly with her babysitter, and how they developed a plan to give each other properties when one of them got into financial trouble. I asked her why she would want to just give property to her competitor, and she told me matter of factly, “BECAUSE DAD, if we help each other out when we get in trouble, we get to play together longer!”"

The current economy has got ALL of us re-evaluating what is (and what is NOT) really important in our lives. If we can look outside of or own stresses and reach out a hand to those who have it worse than us, we will ALL get to “play together longer.”

Looking for a way to help?   Check out these organizations:

• CAMP - The goal of the CAMP (Chris A. Matthews Project) is to provide sustainable housing options for individuals with developmental disabilities (DD), with emphasis on individuals with autism and/or behavioral challenges, here in El Paso County. Donate to CAMP
• Mothers Fighting for Others – Mothers Fighting For Others is dedicated to providing orphans and vulnerable children with opportunities their parents would have provided, if they only could; a loving and nurturing environment and a quality education, so they can learn, thrive and achieve their highest potential. Donate to MFFO
• Marian House Soup Kitchen – This soup kitchen (located at Cascade and Bijou – Downtown Colorado Springs) is open 365 days of the year,  and volunteers help prepare and serve donated food to hungry people from all walks of life. They serve hundreds of people every day, and always need volunteers. Volunteer at the Marian House
• CASA - CASA provides a voice in court for children who are victims of abuse, neglect or domestic conflict and promotes community awareness of these issues to insure safe and permanent homes. Volunteer with CASA

Thanks for reading our Colorado Springs Real Estate Blog!
Posted By: Mariana Wagner - Colorado Springs Real Estate Agent - Wagner iTeam
The Wagner iTeam is a power team of Keller Williams Realty,
specializing in Colorado Springs Real Estate and Monument Real Estate
Pictures of Colorado Springs
(719) 434-7525

I will neither confirm nor deny our actions, the other day…

But here are some pictures from our trip to the Manitou Incline. However, before I continue, here are some info on the Manitou Incline:

• The Manitou Incline used to be a railroad track. The rails are no longer there, but most of the ties are still in place.
• The average grade is about 40%, and the steepest grade is 68%!
• The complete hike is 1 mile long and ascends over 2,000 feet in altitude.
• The first 1/4 of the incline is owned by the City of Colorado Springs and the last 1/4 is owned by the Forest Service.
• The middle section is PRIVATE PROPERTY and to cross the signs and continue the hike is TRESPASSING … and  ILLEGAL.
• Regardless of this fact, DROVES of people (athletes and non-athlete’s alike) trek up the Manitou Incline every clear day.

Read More: About the Manitou Springs Incline

For as steep as the incline is, the hike TO the incline (from the parking lot – or where we parked …. further down Ruxton Avenue) is QUITE the workout as well.

Okay … Onto the Pictures:

Thanks for reading our Colorado Springs Real Estate Blog!
Posted By: Mariana Wagner - Colorado Springs Real Estate Agent - Wagner iTeam
The Wagner iTeam is a power team of Keller Williams Realty,
specializing in Colorado Springs Real Estate and Monument Real Estate
Pictures of Colorado Springs
(719) 434-7525

The first day of Daylight savings (yesterday) our family went for a hike in Red Rock Canyon. Our oldest son had been there during Summer camp once, but we had not ever experienced Red Rock Canyon.

WOW.

For as long as we have called Colorado Springs “home” we had never experienced Red Rock Canyon… and it is in our OWN backyard! (I guess  we are all guilty of that sometimes …) There are places for off-leash dogs, bicycle riding and massive amounts of easy, intermediate and advanced hiking trails. We spent over 2 hours on the easy and intermediate trails, taking in the beauty of the Red Rocks and the Blue Sky …

(Views of Pikes Peak and Manitou Springs from Red Rock Canyon)

(Views of Garden of the Gods from Red Rock Canyon)

(Red Rock Canyon)

(Red Rock Canyon)

(Red Rock Canyon)

(Red Rock Canyon Trails)

Next time you have some time to hike around and enjoy living in Colorado Springs … Check out Red Rock Canyon!

Thanks for reading our Colorado Springs Real Estate Blog!
Posted By: Mariana Wagner - Colorado Springs Real Estate Agent - Wagner iTeam
The Wagner iTeam is a power team of Keller Williams Realty,
specializing in Colorado Springs Real Estate and Monument Real Estate
Pictures of Colorado Springs
(719) 434-7525