Seeing Garden of the Gods in the Mazda CX-9

Come explore the Garden of the Gods through our photos and take the scenic route in a Mazda CX-9. 

Seeing Garden of the Gods

A few weekends ago, a girlfriend and I jetted to Colorado on a 48-hour girlfriend getaway.

Garden of the Gods is a National Natural Landmark located in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

I’ve heard and drooled over gorgeous photos from this public park, so I couldn’t wait to check out our getaway.

Garden of the Gods has a Visitor and Nature Center, which also offers views of the park.

You can find information about the park, as well as explore the 30 educational exhibits.

You can learn more about Garden of the Gods, in a short movie, as well as a plethora of Natural history.

They also offer narrated bus tours, additional educational programs, and special events.

Many have wondered, including myself, how did those red rocks get there?

The Garden of the Gods’ red rock formations were created during a geological upheaval along a natural fault line millions of years ago.

Many Native Americans who camped on this land felt a spiritual connection.

If you’re a fan of hiking, this is a great place to go hiking and even a little rock climbing.

There are also options for horseback riding and road and mountain biking.

This park attracts over two million visitors per year, with many annual events in the summer, like the Pro Cycling Challenge Prologue and races.

If you’re looking for beautiful scenic views, a place to have quiet time, and to be one with nature, the Garden of the Gods offers such a place.

During our girlfriend getaway, we explored Garden of the Gods and other parts of Colorado in the 2018 Mazda CX-9 Grand Touring.

I’ve driven the 2016 and 2017 models in the past few years, and I was impressed with some of the upgrades in the newest model.

First, the grill got a sleek upgrade. Another notable upgrade in the 2018 model is the Smart City Brake Support.

Every CX-9 will offer some autonomous support, including features like blind-spot monitoring and a rear cross-traffic alert system.  

The interior designs appear to be in line with what’s in the 2017 model.

However, the 2018 model offers a signature trim, which gives this sleek ride another reason to slay the competition.

The signature trim elevates the CX-9 into a premium competitive set, complements its already outstanding driving dynamics.

And of course, the CX-9 comes with the third-row seating.

For a family of 5, it is important for us to have as much room as possible. And even with the third-row seating, we still had room to put in all of our shopping bags, luggage, and items we picked up during our quick getaway.

We traveled from Denver to Colorado Springs, crossed to Estes Park, and returned to Denver. We were able to maintain an average of 28 mpg and still had 1/3 of a tank left when we arrived back at the airport.

This SUV drives smoothly on the highway, and I love the dashboard features (Active Driving Display).

This allows me to stay in control of the vehicle by knowing my speed and other important factors, all while never taking my eyes off the road. 

We drove this beautiful SUV up, into the mountains, and through the snow.

Wondering how it handled those steep mountains?

Disclosure: Thank you, Mazda, for loaning out this FAB ride for our getaway and giving me a chance to review the 2018 Mazda CX-9. All opinions and photos (unless noted) are my own. Learn more information about the CX-9 by going visiting their website.

You can read about my thoughts on the 2017 Mazda CX-9 here, and the 2016 Mazda CX-9 here.

Be sure to pin this to your travel board. These scenic views are one you have to witness in person!