Start by calling the Colorado Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau (1-800-888-4748) for its visitor’s guide. Once you arrive, look for Marshall Sprague’s Newport in the Rockies , a lively local history.

If you stay at the Broadmoor, try to get a room in the main building, which is the older part of the hotel. If you prefer to stay downtown, try the Hearthstone Inn. Each room is furnished with antiques, the baked goods served at breakfast are a specialty, and Dot Williams, the proprietor, is an able guide. “Just remember the mountains are always to the west,” she told me my first day in town. That advice and the simple hand-drawn map she gives to guests are just the start you need.