I first visited this small park back in 1957, when I was on my first vacation with my parents. I was seven years old at the time, and still remember the amphitheater. There were the steep inclined walkways to get to the top of the amphitheater, and once there, I had never seen such a thing—a theater situated outside, among vibrant red rocks, with a view of Denver out on the plains. Amazing! And what really stuck with me was that there were preparations under way for a play. Actors were actually on the stage far below, rehearsing for the musical "South Pacific." Even I, at that young age, had heard of that movie. To a young kid who had lived a sheltered life, that was just the coolest thing. I didn't realize at that time that there was more to the park than the amphitheater.

Visitor Center and Amphitheater

10:13 a.m.
We stopped at the Red Rocks Park Visitor Center and Amphitheater. It was a cold 56 degrees, but clear, and there were spots of snow and ice here and there in the shadows.

We came out near the top of the Amphitheater, with excellent views of the entire complex and the city out in the distance to the east. There were a good number of tourists mixed with locals doing their exercise routines, using the steep steps and seats to work their muscles and lungs. We ventured down the steps ourselves, looking to stretch our legs after the previous day's long drive. We explored around the stage area, then worked our way back up to the top. Then we took a quick look inside of the Visitor Center. There are public restrooms available there, and a cafe (that looked to be a bit on the expensive side).

Geology Exhibit

10:55 a.m.
After the amphitheater we drove over to the geology exhibit area where there is a nice overlook of the Park and the surrounding area. There appears to be quite a few trails through the park, which is in the foothills of the Rockies. There are some steep climbs, but the rewards would be excellent views of the surrounding country.

We then drove down through the park and out to I-8 toward the east, where we caught I-25 south toward Colorado Springs, our final destination for the day.