I’m a huge Zac Brown Band fan. And I love Jimmy Buffett. This is such a fantastic song, I just had to share. Even though it is about the beach, it reminded me how much I love living in Colorado Springs. Here are some great things to do this summer, if Colorado Springs is YOUR paradise!

America the Beautiful Park- Downtown
Tons of green grass, playground and a wonderful water fountain/structure.

Garden of the Gods – Westside
Breath-taking architecture from Mother Nature, walking/biking paths and rock climbing opportunities.

Manitou Springs (just west of Colorado Springs)
Walk through the historic neighborhoods with streets lined with character-filled homes, spend time in the historic arcade (play the horse races – my favorite) and visit the many natural mineral springs all over the city.

Fox Run Park – North Colorado Springs/Black Forest
Playgrounds, grassy fields, treed trails for horse riding, walking or biking, 2 ponds and a gazebo – Perfect place for a family get together or a picnic!

Uncle Wilbur Fountain | Acacia Park – Downtown
We love to grab a sub from Subway and walk across the street to play in Uncle Wilburs fountain. Watch the excitement here!

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo – Southwest
Nested in the side of Cheyenne Mountain, you will love all the happy animals. Feed the giraffes!

Traditional Irish Sessions
Almost every Sunday, from 3-6pm
Jack Quinn’s Irish Pub
21 S. Tejon – Downtown Colorado Springs

The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Dinner Show
Saturday, September 11 6:15p to 9:30p
Embassy Suites
7290 Commerce Center Dr., Colorado Springs, CO 45066
(719) 599-9100

Stockers Cruise Nights and Car Show
Saturday, September 18 1:00p to 5:00p
Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center
1805 N. 30th St.,Colorado Springs, CO 80904
(719) 219-0108

Colorado Springs Fall Home Show
Saturday, September 18 10:00a to 8:00p
Phil Long Expo Center
1515 Auto Mall Loop, Colorado Springs, CO 80920
(888) 753-9762

For more information on things to do in Colorado Springs this Fall, please visit ColoradoSprings.com

For more information on buying or selling a home in Colorado Springs, please contact the Wagner iTeam at Keller Williams Hope Realty 719.434.8346 or email team@wagneriteam.com .

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

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!

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.”

Click here to view the embedded video.

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