G3YYM0 Cadets recite the Oath of Allegiance. June 26, 2009 - The 1,376 members of the Class of 2013 recites the Oath of Allegiance in front of the cadet chapel, family and friends during their first formation at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado

Stocktrek Images, Inc./Alamy

US Air Force Academy

Colorado Springs

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A visit to this campus, one of the highest-profile military academies in the country, offers a limited but nonetheless fascinating look into the lives of an elite group of cadets. The visitor center provides general background on the academy; from here you can walk over to the dramatic chapel (1963) or embark on a driving tour of the expansive grounds.

The entrance is via the North Gate, 14 miles north of Colorado Springs on I-25. During football season, it's worthwhile checking out a game. Cadets do pushups for every point scored!

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • The famous giant red sandstone formations at Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado

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    This gorgeous vein of red sandstone (about 290 million years old) appears elsewhere along Colorado's Front Range, but the exquisitely thin cathedral…

  • Pikes Peak and Garden of Gods in winter

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  • Cave of the Winds

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  • COLORADO SPRINGS, CO- 9 APR 2021- View of the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, an animal park located at the foot of Pikes Peak mountain in Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States.

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  • Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

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  • Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Center

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Nearby Colorado Springs attractions

1. Pulpit Rock Park

5.69 MILES

This attractive open space is connected to the Austin Bluffs Open Space and features a 4.4-mile loop trail that is suitable for adults and kids of good…

2. Austin Bluffs Open Space

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This beautiful reserve overlooking Colorado Springs and the Rockies beyond is strewn with distinctive rock formations dating to the Eocene period. Walking…

3. Garden of the Gods

7.79 MILES

This gorgeous vein of red sandstone (about 290 million years old) appears elsewhere along Colorado's Front Range, but the exquisitely thin cathedral…

4. Rock Ledge Ranch

7.89 MILES

This living history museum near the Garden of the Gods park entrance is worth a visit for those interested in the lives of Native Americans and 19th…

5. Cave of the Winds

8.9 MILES

Set on the rim of a craggy canyon is this developed cavern concessionaire. You’ll forgive the cheesy entry and elevator music because here are the…

6. Manitou Cliff Dwellings

9.33 MILES

This set of Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings was carved into the red-rock hills just east of Manitou Springs off Hwy 24. You’ll see the adobe facades…

7. Mineral Springs

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Manitou got its name from the numerous mineral springs that bubble up from limestone aquifers along Manitou Ave. In some cases, it's believed that the…

8. Red Rock Canyon Open Space

9.86 MILES

A former quarry and part of the sandstone vein that runs through the Garden of the Gods, this 787-acre park was nearly developed into a golf course and…