Colorado Springs, CO

Giuseppe’s Old Depot Restaurant is a destination spot in Colorado Springs for great food, drink and atmosphere.

Giuseppe’s is a popular spot in the Springs for family get-togethers, family reunions, wedding rehearsal dinners and just about any occasions that is made better by food.

I recently had just such an occasion thanks to a high school reunion. A group of us got together there and caught up with each other, reminisced about old times and enjoyed the food and drink. I keep saying food. That must be because the food is very good as well as affordable.

Giuseppe’s has a long history and I won’t repeat it here. Suffice it to say that it used to be a busy train station and you can read all about it on their website.

The restaurant was very busy on a Friday night but we received decent service. Considering we had a table of 13 and we all had drinks and entres and we all had separate checks we were all happy with our wait staff.

In addition to great food the wine list was pretty good and priced right. I think the most expensive by-the-glass wine was less than $7 and they had many good choices for around $5. Even the mixed drinks were surprisingly affordable. It’s always nice to get the bill and be pleasantly surprised by the total.

You know, this blog isn’t supposed to be all about food and drink though it seems like that’s what has been filling the pages recently. Thanks for hanging in there as I settle back into the city and bring you items of interest beyond food and drink!

If you’ve not been to Giuseppe’s or even if you haven’t been there in a while it’s always a good place to go. The food is good, the drinks are good and the atmosphere is fun and upbeat.

The Broadmoor is a crown jewel of Colorado Springs. Consistently rated a 5-star hotel it offers luxurious rooms, spas, golf, business facilities and plenty of character and charm.

It is a great place to take a date and you really don’t even have to spend any money. A simple stroll around the grounds can create a romantic mood in the evening. It’s even better during the winter when snow is falling and they have the outdoor fireplace stoked and roaring.

The ladies enjoy the Broadmoor for afternoon tea and the various shops and boutiques inside the lobby. They men will feel at home with the strong, stately marble and columns throughout the facility.

In 2008 the Broadmoor is hosting the US Senior Open where more than 150,000 spectators are expected to attend. In years past the Broadmoor has also hosted the LPGA US Open and offers 3 different courses. If you play there just remember this tip - the ball always goes toward the Will Rogers Shrine!

Don’t miss the fine dining and ambiance at the premier hotel in Colorado Springs - The Broadmoor.

One place that can be easy to overlook in Colorado Springs is the United States Olympic Training Center. It sits at the intersection of Union and Boulder. Many famous athletes the likes of Apolo Ohno have trained there and lived in the Springs area over many years while doing so.

The OTC offers year-round free public tours. There are 12-minute and 45-minute walking tours. The majority of both tours are conducted outdoors which is a tribute to the glorious weather in Colorado Springs which, incidentally, has more sunshine days than the so-called Sunshine state.

You can find additional information on the USOTC tours at the usoc.org website along with plenty of other interesting facts, complete athlete bios, a breakdown of all the summer and winter sports and the Olympian Hall of Fame.

Don’t look now but the Beijing games are right around the corner in 2008! You can also buy any part of the Beijing collection of clothing, apparel and even pins at the US Olympic Shop.