Winter Wishes Do Come True in the Royal Gorge Region: A Three Day Itinerary

This winter, hit up some big attractions and then discover a few hidden gems in Colorado’s Royal Gorge Region. 

Day 1

Activity 1: Antiquing in Florence
Florence is Colorado’s “Antique Capital” with dozens of antique shops lining the city’s historic Main Street. These antique shops are also part of the Frontier Pathways Arts and Antiques Tour, where you’ll find a full directory of shops. https://royalgorgeregion.com/browse-colorados-antique-capital/

Lunch: Ito Japanese Steakhouse Sushi & Thai Restaurant
Ito is focused on being a friendly, comfortable, and relaxed place for people to meet, share stories, and enjoy good quality food. Please come and hang out for a while. Full bar available including beer, wine, and cocktails.

Activity 2: Colorado Jeep Tours
Colorado Jeep Tours offers high quality, scenic, and informative off-road jeep tours based from Cañon City. Their interpretive tours of the Royal Gorge, Red Canyon, and the historic gold mining district of Cripple Creek and Victor offer a variety of information including western history, geology, paleontology, and more while traveling some of the most beautiful trails in south/central Colorado. 

Dinner: Nirvana Culinary Paradise
At Nirvana culinary paradise, our goal is to create, serve, and enjoy fine North Indian food for the amazing people of Canon City. We cater to the dietary restrictions of all our customers, so we have a wide range of vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free options. We love fresh and natural food, the food is non-GMO and we do not add any artificial ingredients or color. Every morning before opening the kitchen, we stock our shelves with market-fresh ingredients, so that the food we serve you is as fresh and flavorful as it can be. All our herbs and spices come directly from India. We pride ourselves in serving the most authentic Indian cuisine and sharing a little piece of our heritage with you by the Royal Gorge. We welcome you to our restaurant and wish you a hearty appetite. 

Activity 3: Royal Gorge Route Railroad
Take a twilight departure on the Royal Gorge Route Railroad Holiday Train. The Holiday Train travels all the way through the Royal Gorge for a round trip journey. Railcars are decorated beautifully to celebrate the season, and the vibe is relaxed for guests of all ages.

Overnight Lodging:  Parkview Inn Motel
Parkview Inn Motel is located across from the Royal Gorge Route Railroad. It is in walking distance of many local attractions. 

Breakfast: Happy Endings Caboose Cafe
If you’re looking for a delicious breakfast, lunch, or tasty treat, the Happy Ending Caboose will stoke the coals and get your engine running for your day’s adventures. Past it up with your favorite adult refreshment any time of day.

Day 2

Activity 1: Royal Gorge Bridge and Park
Home to America’s highest suspension bridge and zipline, The Royal Gorge Bridge and Park offers 360° of adrenaline-packed rides and breathtaking views of Colorado’s natural wonders. Enjoy the embodiment of awe-inspiring landscapes in southern Colorado. Take your family on an unforgettable vacation filled with one-of-a-kind, endless adventure you won’t find anywhere else.

Lunch: Cafe 1230
Ever eaten pizza 1,230 feet above a roaring river and extraordinary gorge? Have a slice at Café 1230 located in the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park and one of the most scenic restaurants in Colorado. Dig into a bacon cheeseburger, chicken tenders, veggie burger, signature salad, or the pork green chili nachos. Wash it down with a selection of cocktails and brews from Bristol Brewery. You can cozy up by the fireplace or sit out on the open patio. Either way, your hunger will be satisfied. 

Activity 2: Afternoon Tea at the Royal Gorge Mansion
Every Afternoon Tea experience at the Royal Gorge Mansion includes your choice of traditional and seasonal loose teas, freshly brewed, alongside English treats, finger sandwiches, clotted cream, and jam. In the grand tradition of English tea service, sandwiches are two-bite size and presented with a variety on the plate, along with a selection of made-from-scratch baked goods. 

Dinner: Bunk House Burgers
Bunk House Burgers is setting a new standard for unbelievably delicious burgers in Canon City. We start with all-natural, grass-fed beef sourced from our very own family-owned ranch that’s been thriving for four generations. The result is a burger that’s juicy, tender, and unforgettable. You’ll choose from three different buns, unique and classic sauces, and all the fixins to create a masterpiece of a burger. Pair that with sides like our made-to-order potato chips, plank fries, or onion strings, and you’ve got yourself one legendary meal. Plus, our Real Sugar Sodas are sweetened using natural cane sugar; no high-fructose corn syrup. All along the way, you’ll be served by some of the friendliest folks in the area who’ll make sure you have a fun time. 

Activity 3: Bowling at Canon City Lanes
Canon City Lanes offers bowling for all ages, arcade games, meals and snacks, and a fully stocked bar. There are bowling leagues for your enjoyment and open bowling all days of the week even during league play. There is cosmic bowling Friday and Saturday nights. Canon City Lanes’ emphasis is to provide a family environment including birthday parties and group events, so visit us for your next bowling outing.

Day 2 – Overnight Lodging: Best Western Canon City

Day 3

Breakfast: Cañon City Mugs
Get your coffee, tea, smoothie, frappe, espresso at Cañon City Mugs where we roast our own coffee and use the best ingredients available. A full breakfast menu is also available. 

Activity 1: Fremont Center for the Arts
The Fremont Center for the Arts is the hub of the Royal Gorge Region’s art and theater scene. It offers multi-purpose venue spaces for a variety of groups, musicians, and artists. Classes for every age are taught, workshop space is available for artists, and monthly rotating exhibits showcase a wide range of themes and mediums.

Lunch: The Owl Cigar Store
When you think there couldn’t be any more reasons to love Fremont County, Cañon City offers yet another one. Unique to this Royal Gorge City is the Owl Cigar Store, which isn’t a cigar store at all, but an American diner. The name, however, does reflect the diner’s origins. Opened in 1903, the diner sold cigars, tobacco, and pipes, as well as fishing and sports equipment, ammunition, and hunting and fishing licenses. It wasn’t until 1929 that it started selling hamburgers and 1933, with the end of prohibition, that it started selling beer. Though the Owl Cigar Store fully converted into the diner it is today in only the mid-1990s, it remains a touchstone in the community with some customers claiming their grandparents frequented the store at its inception. 

Activity 2: Winery at Holy Cross Abbey
Since July 2002, The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey has been attracting visitors from all over the world. Located on the pastoral and serene grounds of The Holy Cross Abbey and nestled against the spectacular backdrop of the Wet Mountains, the winery is a shining example of what draws visitors to Cañon City and Fremont County. The winery’s tasting room is open daily and was voted “Best Front Range Tasting Room” by Colorado Vine.

Dinner: DiRito’s Italian Restaurant
DiRito’s Italian Restaurant proudly offers their daily homemade bread, signature roasted garlic, homemade meatballs, and sausage, as well as numerous other homemade Italian specialty dishes. Don’t forget to check the daily specials available and homemade soup of the day.

Activity: Whitewater Bar & Grill
Wrap up your three days in the Royal Gorge Region with a relaxing evening at Whitewater Bar & Grill. This local favorite serves up draft beers and craft cocktails riverside. 

Overnight Lodging: Rocky Top River Ranch
Discover western Fremont County and beautiful Howard, Colorado at Rocky Top River Ranch. RV sites, hotel rooms, cabins and RV rentals are available.