What to Do After Garden of the Gods Without Drinking
Finished visiting Garden of the Gods? Keep the Colorado Springs day going with food, kava, downtown walks, games, tea, and alcohol-free evening ideas.
After Garden of the Gods, you can keep the Colorado Springs day going without defaulting to a brewery. Get food, rehydrate, visit an alcohol-free kava lounge, walk downtown, play a game, catch an event, or simply sit somewhere comfortable while the sunset photos make their way into the group chat.
The right next stop depends on whether your group is energized, hungry, sun-tired, visiting from out of town, or ready to trade scenery for a chair.
Here is how to make the second half of the day as good as the first.
First, do the boring smart things
Garden of the Gods is beautiful enough to make people forget they have bodies.
Before adding another activity:
- Drink water
- Eat if the group skipped a meal
- Check how everyone feels after altitude, sun, wind, or exercise
- Change out of wet or dusty layers if needed
- Confirm current park rules and hours through official sources
- Do not leave valuables visible in a vehicle
Visitors coming from lower elevations may feel Colorado's altitude more than locals expect. Slow down when someone needs to slow down.
Try kava for an alcohol-free Colorado experience
Kava is a traditional South Pacific root beverage associated with a relaxed, social experience without alcohol. It is not a Colorado invention, but a kava lounge fits the way many people want to end an active day here: calm, clear-headed, conversational, and without turning tomorrow morning into a consequence.
Kava Works has two open Colorado Springs locations:
Use current directions from wherever you exit the park; route times vary. Choose North if the rest of the plan is on the north side. Choose Downtown if dinner, walking, a show, or a central Colorado Springs evening is next.
Guests must be 18 or older to order kava, and valid ID is required.
What should a visitor order?
Tell the kavatender what kind of drink you normally enjoy and whether you want the traditional experience.
- Traditional kava is earthy and closest to the classic preparation.
- Kava soda is brighter and often more approachable for a first visit.
- Nitro Tea is smooth and easy to sip.
- Kombucha is a fizzy alcohol-free option for someone not ready to try kava.
Check the current menu for availability. Never combine kava with alcohol, and read Is Kava Safe? if you have questions about medications, liver health, pregnancy, breastfeeding, or other reasons kava may not be appropriate.
Get food and let the group reset
Do not make hungry hikers choose a complicated restaurant while standing in a parking lot.
Pick a general lane before the trip:
- Casual counter-service food
- A downtown dinner
- Takeout and a relaxed indoor stop
- Dessert first because the group has chosen chaos
If some people want food and others only want a drink, choose an area where both are practical. Downtown can be helpful for a walkable second half. North Academy can be easier when the group is already headed north.
Turn the evening into a downtown loop
For visitors, downtown adds a different view of Colorado Springs after the red rocks.
Park using current signage and official parking information, get dinner, walk around the central blocks, and finish at Kava Works Downtown. Check weather and event schedules before assuming the group will want a long walk.
Use the Downtown alcohol-free guide for a fuller itinerary.
Choose a game or event when nobody wants another hike
After an outdoor day, a seated activity can be perfect.
Bring a simple card game, join a current event, find live music, or build a casual trivia challenge from the day's photos and facts. Check the Kava Works events calendar for current programming.
Avoid promising a specific recurring event without confirming the actual date and lounge.
Four complete post-park plans
The visitor sampler
Garden of the Gods, a casual meal, Kava Works Downtown, and a short downtown walk if everyone still has energy.
The north-side reset
Leave the park, eat near North Academy, then settle into Kava Works North for tea, kava, or a game.
The early night
Visit the park, get food, stop during daily 6-to-7 p.m. happy hour, and go home or back to the hotel early. A clear morning is part of the Colorado experience too.
The event night
Use the park as the first half of the day, then choose a confirmed evening event and make the lounge the meeting point before or after.
FAQ
Is there an alcohol-free bar in Colorado Springs?
Kava Works North and Downtown are alcohol-free community lounges serving kava, teas, kava sodas, kombucha, and lounge favorites.
Is kava good after hiking?
Kava is not a hydration product or recovery treatment. Drink water, eat, and listen to your body first. If kava is appropriate for you, enjoy it as a social beverage rather than a medical solution.
Which Kava Works is closest to Garden of the Gods?
The best route depends on your exit, traffic, construction, and next destination. Use current maps for North at 6820 N Academy Blvd. and Downtown at 111 E Pikes Peak Ave.
Can visitors who are new to kava come in?
Yes. Read Kava for Beginners or tell the bar team it is your first visit.
Let the day come down gently
Garden of the Gods does not need to be followed by a louder, blurrier version of Colorado Springs.
Drink water. Eat something. Find a comfortable room. Try a local alcohol-free night. Talk about the view while you can still remember every part of it.