Holland Park - Colorado Springs, CO Area Guide

Founded as a resort town in 1871 by General William Jackson Palmer, Colorado Springs became the hub for seven railroads bringing tourists and those with tuberculosis in need of a dry climate to restore their health. General Palmer and several wealthy investors provided land and funding for municipal gardens, parks, buildings and non-profit organizations. Colorado Springs annexed the "north end," which now houses neighborhoods,including Holland Park, in 1912. With the positioning of five military entities following World War II, the areas surrounding downtown blossomed with the majority of buildings in Holland Park occurring between 1950 and 1979 as three colleges emerged in the area.

Numerous museums dot the city, such as the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum and the Fine Arts Center. Annual events include the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb and Memorial Park's balloon festival.

When you want the taste of fast food in a healthy package, drop by Drifter's Hamburgers , an eatery determined to rescue the reputation of fast food eating, and from the popularity of this establishment right in the Holland Park neighborhood, it appears to achieve that goal. Cooked-to-order burgers made from locally processed beef free of hormones and antibiotics, then topped with GMO-free buns and loaded with fresh vegetables make eating at Drifter's a guilt-free delight. Sides of crispy shoestring fries and handmade milkshakes add back a bit of guilt but not much. Other menu favorites include grilled cheese or chicken sandwiches, breakfast burritos, and egg, bacon and cheese sandwiches.

When the weather gets cold, plan a night out at the Caspian Cafe where Mediterranean decor and hearty food warm your soul with pleasure. The dishes represent a full range of appetizers and entrées from France, Greece and the Middle East. While you dine on porcini grilled rib eye from Italy, moussaka from Greece, or lamb tagine with apricots and toasted almonds, feast your eyes on entertainment that includes a lovely belly dancer.

La Baguette French Bistro , a restaurant with a chic and trendy Country French decor, serves up authentic European specialties, such as La Frittata Roma, a fragrant baked omelet stuffed with ingredients that include sautéed mushrooms, potatoes, onions and olives, an ideal choice for the vegetarians in your family. Dinner specialties from fondue to escargot in garlic-shallots parsley and ratatouille with couscous entice adult palates, while a children's menu includes PB&Js, a BLT, tortellini with cream, grilled cheese, and French toast served with sliced apples and grapes.

Step outside the neighborhood and enjoy a swinging night of disco dancing at the Mansion or country-western line dancing with live bands at Cowboy's Night Club, where your kids can join you on Sunday afternoon for family fun. More sophisticated entertainment lives at Club Q, an energetic, gender-friendly, zero-attitude bar with a no-holds-barred atmosphere and over-the-top live music from an award-winning DJ. The hip-hop Underground Bar features a rave night mid-week with a family friendly vibe on Sunday.

When you yearn for a stress-relieving, inexpensive night out, check out Loonee's Comedy Corner where the motto is "cheaper than therapy." If the visiting comedians, such as Dustin Diamond of "Saved by the Bell" fame and Steve McGrew, don't make you laugh, perhaps the Tonya Harding Club sandwich or the Miss Piggy, a hot ham and cheese delight, can garner a chuckle or two.

Thanks to forward-thinking city planners, public transportation thrives in this neighborhood. In addition to an extensive bus system, a metro transit system that delivers workers to outlying areas and a complementary paratransit program for those unable to utilize fixed-stop conveyances, a vigorous cab service and Uber offer alternative options for residents. No public parking garages reside in Holland Park; however, the neighborhood features easy access major routes throughout the area that lead to the north-south interstate.

This neighborhood receives a walkability score of 50 with mostly flat terrain; however, a vehicle is recommended for easier travel both inside and outside of Holland Park. With biking encouraged city-wide, signage in the neighborhood alerts drivers with posted speed limits to keep bikers and walkers safe.

Holland Park acts as home to one neighborhood park and one open-space recreation area. Generously proportioned Jackson Park features baseball diamonds, soccer fields and basketball courts, in addition to a swimming pool, tennis courts, a playground, and plenty of picnic space and walking trails. ADA-compliance makes this park user-friendly to those with mobility issues. The park hosts annual concerts to entertain residents.

The Douglas Creek Open Space covers 22.4 acres with public access to a small 3-mile track that leads to other hiking trails, such as the Pikes Peak Greenway Trail that winds north and south through the city for 16 miles. The open space features wildlife habitat in an urban setting, so the antics of ducks, geese, deer, song birds, hawks and falcons entertain you along the way.

The cost of living in Holland Park hovers slightly lower than the city average. Bus transportation costs less than $2 daily, with monthly passes available for regular riders. One-bedroom apartments average $743, a draft beer at the neighborhood pub comes in at around $3, and specialty beers run between $5 to $6.50. Gas prices in Holland Park come in about 1 percent lower than the national average.

If mall shopping appeals to you, the Chapel Hills Mall features Macy's, Dillard's and Sears as anchors, and the theater contains one of America's largest movie screens. However, there exist some neat specialty stores in the area, such as Lady Bug Hill Quilts . This shop brings hours of pleasure into your sewing life with a block of the month club, kits, fabrics, patterns and classes for all skill levels. While your quilting soul vibrates from that experience, visit the Mill Outlet Fabric Store that contains a fabulous array of bridal, quilting and home decoration fabrics from designers such as Moda, Robert Kaufman and Island Batik.

The beautiful Kissing Camels Golf Course dwells close to Holland Park, so if that's your favorite pastime, head over to Pappy's Golf and Hockey Shop for custom-made clubs, repairs, training and instruction, simulators for practice, and indoor golf leagues for year-round fun. Pappy's also fixes hockey sticks from crushed heels to chipped toes and in-blade splits.

When your dog needs special attention or you want a sitter, hop over to the Lucky Dog Resort Center, voted the "#1 Pet Day Care" by the Colorado Springs Independent. This facility proffers multiple boarding options, quality play in large indoor/outdoor areas with human supervision, training, grooming, pet supplies and in-house sitting.

King Soopers, Albertson's and Safeway satisfy your daily grocery needs, and for locally and regionally grown organic food, visit the Briarsgate Farmers Market on North Union.