THE PIONEER | HOME GUIDEBOOK

The Pioneer | Home Guide 925 Westmoor Place Colorado Springs, CO 80904

Welcome!

Thank you so much for choosing The Pioneer at the Garden of the Gods!

We want your time here to be as enjoyable as possible. Our Home Guide will orient you with the home’s amenities and the surrounding area.

We are always available to make your stay perfect, just let us know what you need!

Enjoy!

- Estee & Rob

To get you excited about your visit, here are a few links to great area videos and sites:

VIDEOS: VISIT COLORADO SPRINGS SITE – VIDEO COLLECTION ON YOUTUBE GARDEN OF THE GODS RED ROCKS OPEN SPACE

SITES: VISIT COLORADO SPRINGS EVENTS CALENDAR BEST OF COLORADO SPRINGS - RESTAURANTS TRAIL MAPS | GARDEN OF THE GODS WEATHER

CHECK-IN / CHECK-OUT Due to the popularity of our home, we adhere to our check-in and check-out times. We often have another guest arriving the same day you are leaving. Feel free to reach out to us if you would like to check in early or late, and we will see if that may be possible, even if you just want to drop off luggage.

Given there are only a few hours between guests, our cleaning service will arrive at 10 a.m. to begin cleaning.

CHECK IN:

4:00 p.m. – Midnight

CHECK OUT:

10:00 a.m.

CHECK OUT PROCEDURE To check out we ask our guests to: • • • • •

Strip pillow cases and sheets from beds that were used and leave them in the bedroom Please take your towels to the laundry room Start the dishwasher Take out trash.

That’s it! Have a safe trip home!

If you anticipate an issue with check in or check out, please call us and let us know, and we will try to work something out.

GETTING IN Access to the home is via the front door which has an electronic lock. No keys are provided; you just need the code.

The four-digit code was provided to the person who made the reservation and can be found in the rental platform messaging. If you have trouble, please call us and we will get you in!!

To unlock the door: Using the keypad, enter your four-digit user code. You will hear the deadbolt retract, and you should be in good shape.

To lock the door: press the lock button, and the deadbolt will extend.

House Rules The house rules are pretty simple, and are enforced. If we learn that rules were broken, we will escalate with the appropriate parties, including the hosting platform.

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No drugs, of any kind including marijuana and all other recreational drugs. You will be asked to leave immediately.

No pets. Service animals will be considered.

No smoking on the premises, inside or out. No tobacco, no marijuana.

No parties of any kind, and no large gatherings unless permission has been requested.

Quiet down after 10pm in consideration of our neighbors.

Damage to the property of any kind results in escalation to the hosting platform, and reimbursement for the damage.

A General Introduction: Comfort & Safety ALTITUDE: You are staying at 6,220 feet. In high desert semi-arid climates, the air is very dry! Combined with the altitude, you get dehydrated very quickly. When dehydrated you will feel more winded and feel a little ‘off’, and you may experience a headache. You will notice that many locals carry around a water bottle all the time. You cannot drink too much water here. Coffee, alcohol (beers may have a higher alcohol content here than where you live), and carbonated drinks have a greater diuretic effect here than at lower altitudes, so be careful. We suggest drinking lots of water, and maybe taking an aspirin if your medical condition allows it. This will help thin the blood a little as you acclimate, and can lessen the discomfort. Drinking water before sleep is a great idea too. If you have allergies or sinus sensitivity, try a saline spray which works well to keep you comfortable.

The sun is harsher at altitude as well (we have 240+ sunny days a year) so cover up when you are out and about and wear sunscreen as only a few minutes can burn you; it’s amazing. If you go up on Pike’s Peak, make sure you have some sunscreen.

You or your group may feel ambitious and want to do something very physical, like climbing the Incline in Manitou Springs or something like that. Knowing your limits will keep you out of trouble. El Paso County Search and Rescue pulls people down from tough places every day around here, and it is expensive. That said, we do crazy stuff all the time and have a ton of fun doing it! When our adventures get out of hand, my kids say it was a Stupid Dad Adventure. Ha! PERSONAL TEMPERATURE CONTROL: Because the air is so dry, a simple cloud covering the sun for a few minutes can make you cold, even in the summer. We always suggest carrying a light jacket, sweater, or sweatshirt along with you on your adventures. Colorado weather can change very, very quickly and you want to be prepared and comfortable. Evenings are chilly, so bring something cozy, and keep it with you in the car if you are running around town or in a backpack if you are out on the trails.

ANIMALS: Our home sits right on the fringe of hundreds of thousands of acres of wilderness. The proximity is great because it brings nature to our front door, literally. The Garden of the Gods, three blocks away, is home to all sorts of neat animals including bears, coyotes, rattlesnakes, cougars, deer, big horn sheep, and bobcats. We have seen most of these from our front porch! Please, please use common sense if you encounter an animal. They will leave you alone if you leave them alone.

There is a very good chance that you will see mule deer out and about while driving around, or in the yard or the park during your visit. Keep an eye out for them, sometimes the ‘teenagers’ will lock up and spar a bit. Where there is one deer there are several, so be careful driving around day or night. Don’t chase or spook them; some carry automatic weapons and will use them!

If you go for a hike in the Garden there are a couple of things to look out for. Beware of buzzing bushes. There is likely a rattlesnake in there. Hundreds if not thousands of hikers go through the Garden each week and it is safe for hiking and

incredibly beautiful; just be aware you are in the wild, and keep an eye on your little ones. Usually if you stay on the trail and stay aware of what is around you, you can see what is ahead and stay out of trouble.

At home, make sure the trash cans are closed all the way in the alley, as raccoons and other critters like bears, enjoy snacks after watching the Late Show. After dark, there may be something walking around on four legs…

The Interwebs Wi-Fi Network: Pioneer Wi-Fi Password: 925Guest

Televisions & Gaming System The home has three Samsung Smart TVs and an Xbox in the Game Room. Audio option instructions are provided in the Living Room, and in the Game Room to connect to whole house sound or surround systems.

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Netflix is provided as a courtesy, or you can login to your streaming platform of choice.

Please remember to log out at the end of your visit.

WHOLE HOUSE AUDIO | INSTRUCTIONS FOR STREAMING

• •

• • •

Open the cabinet above the fridge (it was the best place to put the receiver, ha!)

Using the remote control mounted on the inside of the cabinet door, turn on the receiver o Make sure ‘TV/CD’ is the selected source o Receiver volume should be set at most to 50, to prevent speaker damage On your personal device turn on Bluetooth and select ‘Logitech BT Adapter’ o This connects your device to the house audio system On your device open your favorite streaming service (Pandora, Spotify, etc.)

Use your device’s volume control to increase/decrease volume. Enjoy!! o

Secret Pro Tip: The Living Room TV has Bluetooth. Go to TV settings and select Bluetooth speakers as output and connect to ‘Logitech BT Adapter’ for whole house tv sound. Shazaam!

GAME ROOM AUDIO | SURROUNDISH SOUND

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Gaming and shows with big sound are fun, so this room has its own system!

Turn on TV and the receiver (and/or Xbox) using remotes Select ‘GAME/TV’ source using the larger remote o Receiver will display ‘dock’, which is confusing, but whatever When using the receiver/surround sound, volume is controlled with larger remote o The TV’s volume should not be turned up too high when using surround sound (ceiling speakers), as a weird echo thing happens due to acoustics or latency or something…not sure. o Note: if you want to enjoy a show/game and someone is sleeping in the bunk room or master bedroom, it is probably best not to have the big sound turned on as the sound travels

Heating/Cooling Colorado Springs enjoys a very temperate climate. We have lived in our home for years, and have turned the air conditioner on once, for two hours. Most of the time we open the windows and doors and enjoy the breezes (there are very few bugs), but that might not be your deal.

You will find the Nest thermostat near the stairs by the kitchen. To keep the home comfortable at night, 66-68 degrees is about the highest you will want to set it but feel free to set it at whatever makes you most comfortable. Not sure how to guide you on air conditioning, but again, make yourself comfortable.

The mini-split system in the Game Room/Bunk Room area always runs, so you don’t need to adjust temperature.

Note: Extra blankets can be found in the storage cubbies under the seat cushions in the Game Room couches.

Kids & Other Fun Stuff The home is well-equipped for kids of all ages!

For infants and toddlers, we have pack and play and sheets, portable high chair, a single umbrella stroller and a baby monitor. We also have lots of toys and books for little ones.

Westmoor Park across the street and has more than 6+ acres to run around. There is a great playground with all the fun stuff for little kids, and we have a basketball, soccer ball, football, frisbee, pickleball stuff, tennis rackets and balls for your enjoyment. The park has a tennis/pickleball court, basketball court, baseball diamond, and playground...and lots of green grass for running around!!

We also provide family games and puzzles in the Game Room.

We offer a picnic basket and blanket for your adventures, and we have a Yeti cooler for you to use (just ask us and we will bring it all over).

Bathroom Stuff TOWELS: One towel set per person is provided. There are hooks so you can hang your towel up to dry.

PAPER PRODUCTS: A fresh roll of toilet paper and several extra rolls are provided in each bathroom.

SOAP/SHAMPOO: Some sort of exotic coconut-lavender-arugula-frou-frou hand soap is provided by the sinks in the bathrooms. Organic sulfite-free shampoo, conditioner, and body wash are provided in all the showers.

Master Bathroom Steam Shower* The Master shower has a steam feature. Use the steam feature at your own risk.

While there are many benefits associated with a steam shower, people using them should do so with caution and be aware of the risks. Due to the heat, there is a risk of dehydrating the body. It is also important to drink plenty of water beforehand. The heat and humidity can cause blood pressure changes which may be unsafe during pregnancy. While most healthy adults can safely enjoy a steam shower, it is best to limit sessions to 10-15 minutes.

It is simple to operate. Press the Start/Stop button to turn it on, and adjust the temperature using the up or down arrows.

In about 3-5 mintues, the steam will begin filling up the shower area. We suggest that you start around 90-95 degrees to

best understand how that feels and then increase or decrease the steam temperature from there, not going higher than 100-105.

The steam comes out from a low vent in the middle of the back wall of the shower, and can be very hot, so be very careful to not get too close to the steam as it comes out of the vent.

Kitchen We love to cook, and we also love to design and outfit kitchens. We set up all of our properties with the best kitchen equipment, ensuring our guests have all they need to host a Thanksgiving dinner, ha! If you find anything missing, we will get it to you very quickly.

You will find that this kitchen is well-appointed and easy to use. We have two dishwashers, gas range and double oven, microwave, Keurig and drip coffee makers, Ninja blender, and toaster. And a fridge, ha!

Pots and pans are All-Clad, so if you think about it, please use wooden or plastic utensils to prevent damaging the nonstick surfaces.

RANGE/OVEN OPERATION

This thing has a ton of features and options. For the most part, it is straight forward, with gas burners, etc.

Here is the manual.

DISHWASHER OPERATION

Running the dishwasher is simple, just follow the directions to the right for loading detergent, and then turn it on by pressing the On button. Now press Start. It will run on the Auto cycle, and you are done!

For the nerd in you, here is the manual, ha!

Coffee & Tea We provide both a drip machine and Keurig, as well as an electric tea kettle to keep water warm for tea. We also provide a variety of Stash brand teas, Lavazza coffee, and there are usually a few K cups floating around as well.

Laundry We have a front-loading washer and dryer for you to use, and we provide plenty of detergent and dryer sheets so you can play hard and not worry about having clean clothes!

Grill & Fire Pit The Weber grill is fueled by natural gas. To turn it on, you need to turn gas on from the house, see the little cut off with yellow knob behind the grill. Once you have turned that on turn a knob on the grill and press the button on the left side of the control panel to ignite. This will light a burner, and you can turn on others as needed.

REMEMBER TO TURN OFF GAS SUPPLY TO THE GRILL WHEN FINSHED COOKING.

The fire pit is on the south side of the home, and is power by wood! Lighter can be found to the right of the range in the drawer and if you need kindling or anything, let us know. We should have some kindling over there near the firepit.

Cleaning Supplies & Equipment Sometimes messes happen. We provide cleaning products under the kitchen sink, as well as ample rolls of paper towels.

In the laundry room you will find the vacuum, and a Swiffer and dust buster (which you can use as a dust pan) ideally plugged in and charged for you. In the laundry room you will also find an iron and ironing board.

For washing dishes, we provide Dawn dish soap, dishwasher pellets, a fresh sponge, and a dish scrubber thing.

If the above-mentioned list cannot get it clean, give us a call and we will bring over whatever is needed, hopefully, ha!

Sustenance!!

GROCERIES: We shop at the King Soopers up on Centennial (7 mins). Additionally, Whole Foods is about 15 minutes across

town, and a Trader Joe’s is ~10 minutes away.

We do provide some basics for cooking, like spices and oils and what not, and foil and saran wrap.

GROCERY DELIVERY: Safeway, King Soopers, and Whole Foods all provide delivery service and if you schedule delivery

between 11am and 3pm the day of your arrival, we can stock the fridge and pantry for you so that everything is ready for your arrival.

RESTAURANTS: Check out the following list with links for ~25 restaurant suggestions. These are some of our favorites. If you

are hunting something special, send us a message and we would love to help guide you to whatever you are looking for.

RESTAURANT

TYPE

NOTES

GOLDEN BEE

AMERICAN BAR FOOD

GREAT PUB AT THE BROADMOOR TO HANG OUT AND DRINK TALL BEERS AND LISTEN TO LIVE PIANO

ODYSSEY GASTROPUB

AMERICAN BAR FOOD

THE BRUSSEL SPROUTS THEY SERVE HERE FALL DIRECTLY FROM HEAVEN.

WILD GOOSE MEETING HOUSE

AMERICAN BAR FOOD

DRINKS AND SANDWICHES, COOL COLLEGE VIBE

BIRD DOG BBQ

BBQ

SOLID OKLAHOMA BBQ. OUR LOCAL FAVORITE HOLE IN THE WALL BBQ JOINT. NOT GREAT ATMOSPHERE, BUT GREAT BBQ.

FRONT RANGE BBQ

BBQ

REALLY FUN ATMOSPHERE, GREAT OUTDOOR SEATING. GREAT BBQ, FANTASTIC RED BEANS AND RICE...7 MINUTES AWAY, OLD COLORADO CITY

BRISTOL BREWING

BREWERY

VERY COOL BAR, IN AN OLD CONVERTED SCHOOL. TRY A BEE HIVE....AWARD WINNING BEERS.

COLORADO MOUNTAIN BREWERY

BREWERY

GREAT ALL AROUND. GREAT FOOD, GREAT BEERS. FUN PLACE IN THE OLD TRAIN STATION ENGINE ROUNDHOUSE. (ROB’S TOP 5)

FOSSIL BREWING

BREWERY

GOOD BEER, COOL LOCAL VIBE, HOLE IN THE WALL. SMALL LITTLE PLACE, WITH ROTATING FOOD TRUCKS

RED LEG

BREWERY

GOOD BEER, COOL LOCAL VIBE, MAY BE THE COOLEST HANGOUT SPOT IN THE SPRINGS, LOTS OF FOOD TRUCK EXPERIENCES. 5 MINUTES FROM THE HOUSE.

BROADMOOR LAKESIDE TERRACE

BRUNCH MAGIC

AMAZING IN EVERY WAY. CALL WAY AHEAD TO MAKE RESERVATIONS. A MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE AT ONE OF AMERICA'S BEST HOTELS.

SKIRTED HEIFER

BURGERS

VERY POPULAR BURGER SPOT DOWNTOWN. WANT A HIPSTER BURGER? THIS IS THE PLACE

COAL MINE DRAGON

CHINESE

AWESOME CHINESE TAKEOUT. OUR GO-TO CHINESE PLACE. ALWAYS GREAT.

GOOD NEIGHBORS MEETING HOUSE

COFFEE

GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD COFFEE SHOP OVER IN THE OLD PART OF THE SPRINGS, FUN PLACE TO KILL AN HOUR

MOUNTAIN SHADOWS RESTAURANT

DINER

DINERS, DRIVE INS, AND DIVES VISITED, FOR GOOD REASON. GREAT BREAKFAST AND BURGERS, COOL VIBE. ENORMOUS CINNAMON ROLLS.

MONSE'S

EL SALDADORAN

AUTHENTIC AND WONDERFUL. 7 MINUTES AWAY, TUCKED INTO OLD COLORADO CITY.

LA BAGUETTE

FRENCH

GREEEAAAAAT FRENCH ONION SOUP. AWESOME FOR A COLD DAY. NICE FRENCHY STYLE SALADS (PRO TIP: NICOISE SALAD, HOLD THE GREEN BEANS, ADD MORE POTATO)

WIMBERGERS

GERMAN BAKERY

GO OVER THERE TUESDAY - SATURDAY FOR PASTRIES AND BREAD TO GO. FRESHLY MADE EVERY DAY. AMAZING. NOT, I REPEAT, NOT GLUTEN FREE IN ANY WAY...

JACK QUINN'S

IRISH BAR FOOD SOLID FISH AND CHIPS. SOLID. GET THIS. REALLY GOOD.

FUJIYAMA

JAPANESE/SUSHI

WE USUALLY MAKE OUR OWN SUSHI, BUT WHEN WE ARE LAZY, THIS IS THE PLACE. DOWNTOWN

CRYSTAL PARK CANTINA

MEXICAN

SUPER AWESOME NEIGHBORHOOD MEXICAN PLACE, GREAT GREAT FOOD. GO HERE (ROB'S FAV MEXICAN, HANDS DOWN, OTHER THAN MACOS TACOS TRUCK...) (ROB’S TOP 5)

JOSE MULDOONS

MEXICAN

TACO TUESDAYS!! JUST ABOVE AVERAGE TEX-MEX PLACE, SOLID FOOD. DOWNTOWN

PIZZERIA RUSTICA

PIZZA ITALIAN

GREAT DATE NIGHT PLACE. CLOSE BY, QUIET, GREAT LOCAL PRODUCER FLAVORS AND NICE WINE

POOR RICHARDS

PIZZA ITALIAN

SOLID PIZZA DOWNTOWN, AND IT HAS A CHILDRENS PLAY AREA IN THE BACK,

SLICE420

PIZZA ITALIAN

VERY STRONG. 5 MINS FROM HOUSE. OLD COLORADO CITY, HOLE IN THE WALL, REALLY INTERESTING HOUSE PIZZAS AND GREAT BUILD YOUR OWN OPTIONS.

ADAMS MOUNTAIN CAFE SLOW FOOD

MOSTLY VEGAN AND A LITTLE FROU FROU, BUT REALLY GOOD. WANT AN ORGANIC, FARM-TO-TABLE COLORADO MEAL? HERE YOU GO!

COWBOY STAR

STEAK HOUSE

FUN STEAKHOUSE, GREAT SELECTIONS. TRULY WONDERFUL CHIMICHURRI. (ROB’S TOP 5)

503W

STREET FLAVOR CONTEMPORARY ASIAN AND AMERICAN FOOD AND DRINKS.

THE RABBIT HOLE

SWANKY

WEIRD AND QUIRKY BELOW-THE-STREET VIBE. INTERESTING PLACE FOR LATE NIGHTS. DOWNTOWN

MACOS TACOS

TACO TRUCK HEAVEN

5 MINS FROM HOUSE. INCREDIBLE CARNE ASADA TACOS...SQUEEZE OF LIME AND DUST IT WITH SALT. CRAZY GOOD. CARNE BURRITO IS ENORMOUS, BEWARE!!

WILD GINGER THAI

THAI 3 MINUTES FROM THE HOUSE, BEST THAI EVER...

AWESOMENESS

THE WAREHOUSE

WESTERN MOUNTAIN

ELEVATED BUT COZY, THIS IS THE PLACE FOR ELK, BISON, OR SIMPLY A WONDERFUL STEAK OR LOBSTER. REALLY GREAT DATE NIGHT PLACE. (ROB’S TOP 5)

Looking for something else? Let us know, we can come up with all sorts of suggestions!

Owners Estee & Rob 214.493.1011 / 719.321.1721 Call or Text

Emergency Contacts Emergency Fire / Police: 911 Non-Emergency:

719.444.7000

Poison Control: 800.332.3073 IF YOU HAVE AN EMERGENCY, PLEASE CALL 911

Urgent Care Should something happen that requires medical care, there are several urgent care facilities close by.

Here is a link to a map showing many of them that are within 10 minutes.

If you made it this far, you get a cookie! If you still have questions, let us know! Hope you have a safe trip!

-Estee & Rob