To continue on with this series I will be exploring more neighborhoods in the Colorado Springs Area. As you may already know, Colorado Springs is a unique city with many interesting places to visit and live. This week I will focus on another one of my favorite neighborhoods: Northgate.
Location
Northgate is located in the northern part of Colorado Springs. For those of you that read the last issue and know about Briargate, Northgate is north of the Briargate area, in fact, it’s named for the closeness to the Northgate of the United States Air Force Academy. The area is in the 80921 zip code. This neighborhood has been developing quickly in the recent years. In Northgate you will find larger, newer homes in close proximity to a wide variety of entertainment, restaurants and shopping. This neighborhood has easy access to the major roadways. You can easily get to Interstate-25, Powers Blvd, and Highway 83.
School District
Northgate is located within the very popular Academy School District 20. Academy School District 20 continues to be one of the most sought-after school districts in Colorado Springs.
Night Life
Northgate is a fast growing area that offers a wide range of entertainment, shopping and restaurants. It’s easy to see why this neighborhood is quickly becoming a top favorite in Colorado Springs. From having two locations for movie theaters to boasting the popular Top Golf, Overdrive Raceway (Indoor Kart Racing), Bass Pro Shop and Boot Barn Hall at Bourbon Brothers (a wonderful venue to see an event or concert) you will not have to look far to find a fun activity to participate in. In fact, even the Scheel’s department store is a place for entertainment as inside you will find a 65 foot ferris wheel and 16,000 gallon saltwater aquarium tank that is definitely worth a visit. Northgate is only about 15-20 minutes from downtown, so if you do have a desire for a night out in downtown, it is very easy to hop on I-25 and be in the middle of Colorado Springs in no time at all. Another positive to living on the north side of Colorado Springs is being that much closer to heading north to Denver. Hop on I-25, head north and you will be in Denver in a short time; however, with all of the fun places to visit in Northgate, you will hardly have the desire to go anywhere else.
Other Recreation
You may already know that another one of my favorite things to do is to find a good hiking trail. If you haven’t seen it yet, check out my other blog article about the best hikes in Colorado Springs. Now, you may have heard about the Santa Fe Trail… but did you know you can access this trail from the Northgate area? It is a unique entrance that can be found as you go through a tunnel underneath I-25. Be careful in the winter months, as there tends to be a good deal of ice and snow in the tunnel. This is another adventure that I highly recommend whether you are in the mood for a hike or bike ride, the Santa Fe Trail is always a good one!
Northgate is also where you can find The Club at Flying Horse. Flying Horse has a legendary private 18-hole golf course. You can also find fabulous dining, athletic club and a spa at Flying Horse. As a guest of the lodge, you have access to these services.
If Flying Horse isn’t the place for you, how about The Great Wolf Lodge? Also located in Northgate, this hotel and indoor water park is surely to be a hit with the kids and a place you will want to return for vacations, or a stay-cation, for many years to come. At the Great Wolf Lodge you are literally steps from more fun activities such as laser tag, bowling and movies at The Summit Interquest.
Did I mention the restaurants in the Northgate area? You may have heard about the Grand Openings of In-N-Out Burger and Whataburger… It’s all true… people were waiting in the drive thru lines for hours and hours as the lines wrapped around the block. There are at least 5 fabulous places to stop for a great hamburger in the Northgate area, plus you can find just about any type of food you’re craving. As I said before, you won’t have to look far to find many fun activities in Northgate.
Conclusion
Northgate is an incredible place to live or visit and growing in popularity everyday. Having lived in Northgate for more than several years myself, I highly recommend this neighborhood in the northern part of Colorado Springs. You will find great people, great food and great entertainment.