Fast Facts

American Express -- To report a lost card, call tel. 800/528-4800; to report lost traveler's checks, call tel. 800/221-7282.

Area Code -- The telephone area code is 719.

Babysitters -- Front desks at major hotels often can make arrangements.

Business Hours -- Most banks are open Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm, and some have Saturday hours. Major stores are open Monday through Saturday from 9 or 10am until 5 or 6pm (sometimes until 9pm Fri), and often Sunday from noon until 5pm. Stores that cater to tourists are usually open longer in the summer, with shorter hours in winter.

Dentists -- For referrals for dentists who accept emergency patients, contact the Colorado Springs Dental Society (tel. 719/598-5161).

Doctors -- For referrals and other health information, call HealthLink (tel. 719/444-2273).

Drugstores -- Walgreens, 920 N. Circle Dr. (tel. 719/473-9090), has a 24-hour prescription service.

Emergencies -- For police, fire, or medical emergencies, dial tel. 911. To reach Poison Control, call tel. 800/332-3073.

Eyeglasses -- You can get 1-hour replacement of lost or broken glasses at Pearle Vision in the Citadel Mall (tel. 719/597-0757) and LensCrafters in Erindale Centre on North Academy Boulevard (tel. 719/548-8650).

Hospitals -- Memorial Hospital, 1400 E. Boulder St. (tel. 719/365-5000), offers full medical services, including 24-hour emergency treatment, as does Penrose-St. Francis Hospital, 2215 N. Cascade Ave. (tel. 719/776-5000).

Newspapers & Magazines -- The Gazette (www.gazette.com), published daily in Colorado Springs, is the city's most widely read newspaper. The Denver Post is also available at newsstands throughout the city. The glossy Springs magazine and the politically oriented Independent are other free local periodicals. USA Today and the Wall Street Journal can be purchased on the street and at major hotels.

Photographic Needs -- There are dozens of photofinishing outlets throughout the city, including Walgreens and Shewmaker's Camera Shop, in the Woodmen Valley Shopping Center, 6902 N. Academy Blvd. (tel. 719/598-6412). For camera and video supplies and repairs as well as photofinishing, go to the downtown location of Shewmaker's, 30 N. Tejon St. (tel. 719/636-1696).

Post Office -- The main post office is downtown at 201 E. Pikes Peak Ave. Contact the U.S. Postal Service (tel. 800/275-8777; www.usps.com) for hours and locations of other post offices.

Safety -- Although Colorado Springs is generally a safe city, it is not crime-free. Try to be aware of your surroundings at all times, and ask at your hotel or the visitor center about the safety of neighborhoods you plan to explore, especially after dark.

Taxes -- Total taxes on retail sales in Colorado Springs amount to about 6.4%; room taxes total about 9%. Rates in Manitou Springs are a bit higher.

Useful Telephone Numbers -- For weather and road conditions, including road construction, throughout the state, call tel. 303/639-1111 or visit www.cotrip.org.