Tribune takes Colorado

Commentary by David Yarger

Tribune Editor

Recently, I had the chance to take a little vacation to Colorado Springs, and let me tell you, it’s a whole different world out there. 

I had heard about the beauty of what the West Coast spot provided to tourists, but seeing it all in person put all imagery into reality. 

Everywhere you drive, there is some 14,000-foot elevation to look at out the window. Regardless of where you’re traveling, there is some type of natural beauty to be seen. 

One attraction I viewed was Pike’s Peak, which has an elevation of over 14,000 feet. We nearly got to the tip-top, but foggy roads from clouds high up in the sky hindered that. Nevertheless, we still were over 14,000 feet off the ground. 

When family and I got out to take pictures, it was a sight I thought I’d only see from the seat on my airplane. Standing 14,000 feet in the air, I saw a cloud line that really was a sight that was breathtaking – I was above the clouds and felt on top of the world. 

Even though, the temperature may have dropped 20 degrees from where we started, it was still something to see. And, of course, me being me, I had to take a picture posing in my Buffalo Bills jersey. 

Another sight I got to see was the Royal Gorge. A lot of people know the greatness of the Niagara Gorge, but if you have a chance to get out to Colorado, go to the Royal Gorge. 

My family and I took a gondola across the gorge and being able to see over top of what was at the bottom was awesome. Below, there was water flowing from the Arkansas River, with a railroad riding right along side of it. And on the way back, there was a walking bridge to see even more of the venue. Other than some inclement weather, the attraction just gave more outstanding views. 

One of my favorite sights was at the Garden of the Gods. There are some gorgeous natural formations in the world, and I will say the Garden of the Gods ranks near the top. The red rock formations were tall and astounding. On one structure I was able to climb up to its top. When I looked out, I could see for miles. 

Obviously, me being me, once again, I brought my camera and took pictures. I’ve – no lie – looked at the photos I took from the trip several times over. Each and every time I can’t get over the surreal feeling of how I felt when I looked out and saw this natural beauty. 

I will admit, I did feel like a tourist down at Niagara Falls for most of the trip, but that made me recognize something. I think sometimes we really take those waterfalls that are in our own backyard for granted. Yeah, sometimes it’s like, “Oh, the falls, I’ve seen it a million times.” But after that trip, I think I learned to appreciate what you have, because I already miss the times and sights I’ve saw in Colorado. 

After seeing everything from Pike’s Peak to Garden of the Gods in Colorado, it gave me a newfound appreciation for the natural beauties in life and to not take what you have for granted.

I will also say, if you have a chance to head west to see the mountainous views of Colorado, do it.