A National Natural Landmark since 1971, Garden of the Gods is a public park situated in the city of Colorado Springs. You'll need to drive about an hour and a half to get there, but the mountain views and unique beauty of this location definitely justify the time you'll spend in the car. There are some truly fascinating rock formations to be seen in this area, with lots of good climbing, mountain biking, and hiking routes in the local area too, along with a couple of nearby museums and all the conveniences of Colorado Springs.