We went a couple years ago and stayed in Cascade. It's higher elevation so get a little cooler but only about 20 min outside Colorado Springs. Colorado Springs gets pretty warm in the summer so just be prepped that it's not like going to a ski town in the summer where the highs are low to mid 80s. We were 95-ish in the afternoon. We went to Cheyenne Mountain zoo which the kids really enjoyed. My wife and her kid (was 17 at the time) did the manitou incline which is pretty intense apparently. Took the Cog rail up Pikes Peak which was neat, but downside is you only have maybe 30-40 min at the top before you have to get back on the train down. Red Rocks open area across from Garden of the Gods is cool, is basically the same thing, and way less crowded. We actually got a photographer and had family pictures taken there which was neat. Probably our favorite thing we did was the Gold Camp Road drive. It's not very long but some really beautiful views and places you can stop and hike around. It ends at (I think) St Mary's Falls which has some cool trails and a fun waterfall. Would highly recommend.