Woodland Park

Every summer my family and I go to Woodland Park several times for camping and fishing. The town itself has grown a lot over the years and is now a busy little place. There are some touristy places here, but mostly it's a community of laid back easy-going folks who enjoy mountain living but have enough shopping and dining options to not need to go any further. There are many restaurants, businesses, grocery stores and gas stations. I love that when WalMart wanted to come to town the town agreed only if the store was built with the surrounding beauty of the mountains incorporated into the building. Although it is the same as any WalMart in the cities, the outside is made of gorgeous logs with a feel of a mountain setting.

There are numerous things to do in and around Woodland Park and it's an outdoor enthusiasts dream. Camping, hiking, fishing, and the likes can all be found just minutes from downtown. For those who wish to stay in the town there is the Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Center which has lots of exhibits on dinosaurs, mammals, reptiles, and marine life. There is also the Ute Pass Historical Society which runs the Pikes Peak Museum and has six historical building that were used by the Indians and first settlers to the area.

Although the population of Woodland Park is just over 7,000, it seems much bigger in some ways. The many shops and restaurants are all inviting and the residents seem very nice. The schools here are rated above average compared to the rest of the state of Colorado.

I would highly recommend Woodland Park to visitors and those searching for a great mountain town to call home. The views are spectacular, the townspeople friendly, the schools good, and the overall atmosphere appealing.