Updated: May 1, 2026

Complete Our National Travel and Tourism Week x Small Business Week Checklist

This year, May 3-9 is both National Travel & Tourism Week and Small Business Week in the Pikes Peak Region.

Join us in celebrating the value of our small businesses and the travel and tourism in our community with this fun challenge!

The overlap of these two weeks is a great time to reflect on how our tourism industry plays an instrumental role in supporting our small business community in the Pikes Peak Region. Are you up for the challenge?

Try a new coffeeshop or bakery ✓

Venture outside your kitchen for your morning coffee this week. Swing by Loyal Coffee or for a fresh cup of joe. You can even stop at The Exchange or The French Kitchen and snag a full breakfast while you’re at it!

Loyal Coffee

Visit a local gallery ✓

Taking in local art (and supporting local artists!) is one of the best ways to support our community. Places like The LookUp Gallery or Auric Gallery in Downtown Colorado Springs and Reserve Our Gallery in Woodland Park offer the perfect opportunity to peruse a gallery and maybe even take a piece home! And you won’t want to miss the Michael Garman Museum & Gallery, where you can see tiny worlds and figurines come to life.

The LookUp Gallery

Dine at a locally owned restaurant you’ve never tried ✓

We’re all guilty of revisiting our favorite places over and over. This week, challenge yourself to visit somewhere you’ve never tried before! Dinner date coming up? uva wine bar is an excellent choice. If you're looking for a delicious breakfast or lunch, check out Colonel Mustard's Sandwich Emporium or Bella's Bagels. For fresh twists on cultural cuisine, 503W and Nacho Matrix are sure to please!

If you're craving some variety, food halls like Ivywild School, COATI Uprise and Avenue 19 offer a host of local options! If you’re looking to get the insider scoop on the destination's food scene, there’s no better way than a Rocky Mountain Food Tour.

uva wine bar

Stop by a museum or cultural experience ✓

The Pikes Peak Region is rich with museums and cultural experiences! Whether you head out with the whole family or on a solo adventure, here are our suggestions of some places to visit. Venture west to Green Mountain Falls and experience the wonder that is Skyspace at Green Box Arts. Go even further to Woodland Park to explore the Dinosaur Resource Center. And you won’t want to miss the wonders at the National Museum of WWII Aviation, Ghost Town Museum, May Natural History Museum or Rocky Mountain Motorcycle Museum!

Dinosaur Resource Center

Go to a locally owned and operated attraction/adventure ✓

Whether you’re in town for just a short time or are a long-time resident, there’s always an opportunity to live like a tourist! Colorado Springs is filled with locally-owned and operated attractions and adventures – the real question is where to begin. Have the whole family in tow? Take a trip to Santa’s Workshop and the North Pole or attend an authentic Chuckwagon Dinner and Show at the Flying W Ranch. If you're feeling adventurous, catch a glimpse of wildlife at the Colorado Wolf & Wildlife Center. And if you need a good recharge and reset after adventure, sign up for a class with Dragonfly Paddle Yoga.

a white wolf and a brown wolf standing together

Engage with a local maker or shop ✓

No trip is complete without a few souvenirs to take home – for you or your loved ones! Swing by one of these local spots to handpick goodies and support our local economy at the same time. RM Soap Market crafts handmade skincare products with local ingredients. Westward Found Vintage offers secondhand clothing as well as handmade garments made of up-cycled materials. Add a special touch to your gifts and make them yourself or hand pour candles at Matchbox Candle Co.