Preston,
Garden of the Gods is in Colorado Springs so you're really not anywhere near that but you are right on the route to the Rocky Mountain National Park which is a great place for driving, picture-taking, etc. We were in Greeley last year for the ARC National (it's just east of where you will be) and we did one day in RMNP. Lots of wildlife; great mountain vistas; gorgeous lake views with tons of wildflowers. You owe it to yourself to try to spend some time there.

Jim