A TALE OF A TOURIST
A tourist sat by a Manitou spring,
And his legs were stiff and sore,
Still he proudly flourished his Alpine staff
As he counted his exploits o'er.
"I've finished the canon now," he said,
"And I've climbed the Seven Falls.
I've been to the grave of Helen Hunt
Where the lonely blue bird calls.
I've seen the Cave of the Winds
I've explored all the Caverns Grand
I've finished the Garden of the Gods 
And seen all the freaks of sand.
I walked to Pikes Peak last night," he sighed,
"And tomorrow I climb Cheyenne,
I'll spend today at Monument Park,
I've been, but I'll go again,
And then I must go to the Seven Lakes,
And I've got to do Crystal Park,
Next day I'm going to Cripple Creek,
to examine the gold mines dark."
The tourist that sat by the Manitou spring
Was merry and blythe and gay.
But he overexerted himself that week,
And the next they laid him away.
They sent him home in a polished box,
And they wrote on the polished lid,
"This tourist, he meant exceedingly well,
But sadly, he over-did."
The box reached home with its tourist dead,
And they wept and they wept again,
"Till the dead man rose with a fearful shriek,
"I forgot to do North Cheyenne."

By Frances Maule
Originally appeared in The Gazette Telegraph
August 11, 1901

We moved to Colorado Springs in the fall of 1985 and much like the tourist in the adjacent poem, began seeing all there was to see.  Soon family and friends flooded in for visits.  The sights were again explored and the history of each was being shared.  And shared.  And shared. 

Glenda would dress in turn of the century clothing and share the history of the area with school children using the persona of "Julia Anna Archibald Holmes", the first woman to climb Pikes Peak in 1858 - before Colorado Springs even exited! 

In 1997, by now an amateur historian of the area, Glenda started her journey as a Step-On Guide. Over the years, she has worked with multiple bus groups consisting of high school bands or choirs, senior centers, travel clubs, family and military reunions. 

​Over time, the idea of owning and operating our own tour business began to form. Unlike the poem's  tourist who explored the area and over-did, Pikes Peak Region Tours will assist you in customizing your tour appropriately for the age and interest of your group.   

There is so much to see and experience in the Pikes Peak Region, let us help you maximize your experience.

Glenda and Chris Baumann
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