Avoid the I-25 stress by exploring the road less traveled

By Jay McKinney

With the exception of speeding motorists, the drive between Denver and Colorado Springs is relatively boring and uneventful when traveling Interstate 25. From the metro sprawl to the open grasslands where Pikes Peak dominates the horizon, most drivers are just counting down the minutes when traveling between the state’s two largest cities.

Yes, I-25 is the quickest route to get there, but a lot can be missed going 75 mph. Sometimes it’s nice to break up the drive and take a longer scenic route, especially for newbies or visitors. There are numerous places worth stopping but here are a few ideas to make an eventful day out of the drive.

Start by exiting the interstate at the Castle Pines North exit 188 and stopping by the Alice and Kate Bakery. The boutique bakery is owned by Gretchen Harrison, whose aunt Alice and grandmother Kate sparked her passion for baking at a young age. Alice and Kate’s delicious recipes for chocolate, caramel and macarons gave Harrison a starting point, but she has put her own twist on the original recipes by prioritizing local ingredients.

After picking up a delicious treat to snack on in the car, drive a few minutes west on Castle Pines Parkway and pull over at Daniels Park. The park’s panoramic views of the Front Range are incredible, and it is also home to one of two bison herds in the Denver area. From some of the park’s scenic lookout areas, one can get a glimpse of the exclusive Sanctuary Golf Course and the nearby Cherokee Ranch Castle just down the road.

Not only is the castle an architectural wonder that hosts weddings and other events, but it has a fascinating history and houses world-class artwork, antiques and rare books. While it is not necessarily open to the public, those who are interested can sign up for one of the guided tours that are held regularly throughout the year.

Depending on how hungry everyone is after chowing down macarons from Alice and Kate Bakery, Bud’s Cafe & Bar in Sedalia should be taken into consideration. The restaurant and bar is famous for its mouthwatering bare-bones cheeseburgers and more importantly, no french fries. There are only four items on the menu (burger, double burger, cheeseburger and double cheeseburger) and each option comes with Lay's potato chips, which has been the standard for more than 75 years.

From here, there are two options for proceeding to Colorado Springs. Drivers can turn south onto Highway 105 from Sedalia or continue on Highway 67 to the Platte River. The Sprucewood Inn is about 20 minutes southwest of Sedalia on Highway 67 in case you missed Bud’s and still need a bite or a beer. Passionate anglers may opt for this longer, yet arguably more scenic route along the Platte River that heads into Woodland Park. There are numerous areas to pull off the road and throw a line into the Gold Medal waters.

Those less interested in fishing can continue south on Highway 105 from Sedalia, which leads to Palmer Lake and Monument. Palmer Lake is home to Evergood Adventure Wines, made from lemons not grapes. While the winery is not open for retail hours, it does offer tour options through Groupon and is another worthy pitstop. From Palmer Lake, it is easy to get back onto I-25 for the short remainder of the drive.