Fort Carson is in one of the fastest growing areas of Colorado and is one of the most highly sought-after duty stations. While isn’t as easy on the wallet as, let’s say, Fort Sill, it still has a better cost of living than San Diego, and yet it’s just as easy on the eyes. The sunsets are gorgeous, the night skies are breathtaking, and the weather isn’t too shabby either. While they can still have snowstorms in May, it isn’t the frequency of Fort Drum, and the presence of snow isn’t anywhere near the consistency of Alaska.

Whether you’re a nature lover or city slicker, living large or living paycheck-to-paycheck, there’s something for you in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Let’s start with the necessities:

Food

Fort Carson is located in such a key location in relation to the Springs. You have many options for grocery stores that range anywhere from two to 18 minutes away.

The commissary is pretty central to where most of the action is on post, King Soopers is just outside of gate three, and then you have Walmart, Sprouts, Trader Joes, and Whole Foods.

For those who qualify, there’s a WIC office nearby, as well as emergency food pantries. With all of those grocery stores right around the corner, you have a lot of options.

Don’t forget about your neighborhood USO! They love to party and hang out at Carson, so they’re always finding some excuse to have a BBQ, event, dinner, or cooking class. They do this on top of their regular lunches and dinners. The staff became our family away from family, and they made Carson a home to us. I highly recommend frequenting and/or volunteering at the USO.

If you frequently dine out, then this is the duty station for you. I can’t tell you how many quirky, cozy, fun, new, and elegant establishments there are to visit.

But what is an Army installation without pizza? On and off post you have all of the major companies to choose from, as well as many cool pizzeria joints where you can personalize your pie or try a combo you never knew existed.

Speaking of new, if you ever make it out to the Springs, you have to stop by Amy’s Donuts. Who knew a donut could look like art, be fun and decorative, wildly colorful, and even have toppings such as bacon, cotton candy, and strawberries? Don’t even get me started on their array of fillings and seasonal items. I’ll give you a hint though: Dulce de Leche and Samoas.

Housing

We were fortunate enough to experience two completely different on-post neighborhoods and have good friends who opted for off-post housing.

Our first community was one of the original to be built on Carson. It was sturdy, made of brick, and made us feel pretty cozy during intense weather since it had a large basement. I used that space to choreograph and hold dance rehearsals, but it really is great as an added playroom, man cave, work space, personal gym, or large storage area.

Our second home was in one of their newest housing developments and that made getting to and from school a cinch. My high schooler’s bus stop was down the block one way, and the elementary school was just down the block another way. My youngest attended full-day preschool on post at Head Start and that was about a 10-minute drive to the other side of post. We were fortunate and had a pretty ideal schedule. By the time all of my children were where they needed to be, I’d head to my classes at Pikes Peak Community College.

Our off-post friends and family loved their communities just as much as we loved ours. Some of them had their homes made to their specifications, others bought new or fairly new homes, and we nearly bought a darling home in a nearby neighborhood for a steal of a price.

There’s so much to see and do in the Springs that it doesn’t seem to matter too much where you live, as long you don’t move to Pueblo. What I always recommend to people is that they stay on post or rent an apartment for the first year to get to know their new city before committing to a long-term contract or buying a home. Google is great, friends’ suggestions are very helpful, but there’s nothing like seeing it for yourself.

Clothing

Let’s be real, if you’re lower enlisted like we were while at Carson, with kids, dogs, and on one income, you’ll need to stretch every dollar and utilize every resource.

God’s Pantry is a must see. They give you 30 free clothing items of your choice each month, no questions asked. You just need your military ID and a current utility bill every time you visit. My husband would get compliments on his clothes, but people could not believe where it was that I got some of them. You just have to have patience and a good eye. My fave find from there was his Columbia sweatshirt. I swear whoever donated it must have been mad at her man, because it was in stellar condition.

Then there’s Airmen’s Attic on Peterson Air Force Base. This is for E-5 and below to choose five items each month from their little shop. Between these two places my family was always dressed appropriately for the season, looked good, and I never had to stress over growth spurts.

Be sure to also check out The Mountain Post Thrift Store and Warrior Warehouse. The two are right beside each other, have large household items, appliances, gardening tools, and kitchenware, as well as clothes, shoes, sporting goods, and more. You will need to be an E5 or below to receive the benefits of Warrior Warehouse, but anybody can swing by the Thrift Shop.

 

 

If you’re fortunate enough to get Carson, I’d love to hear from you. Our family was there during a time when we had no choice but to be incredibly resourceful and creative within the means we had. This forced us out of our comfort zones, humbled us, and helped us to be mentors to others. The military may not have decent pay, but your military community has stepped up to help fill that gap.

Carson is one of the best duty stations for lower enlisted, but also one of the most fun and beautiful cities to live in. For more on what life is like in the Springs, stay tuned for Part II. There I’ll give you a starter guide on where to shop, visit, and sightsee.

Remember, it is what you make it.