When your family is in need of a little R&R and your schedule doesn’t allow for a long trip away, a staycation is the perfect solution. As a Coloradan, it is commonplace to escape to a mountain town or secluded camping spot. But sometimes what you really need is a relaxing resort. Throw in some waterslides, lazy river, and poolside cabana, along with five restaurants, and a world-class spa, and suddenly you’re vacationing. Gaylord Rockies truly has it all. And since it is only 90 minutes away from the Springs, it is the perfect destination for a family staycation.
Here are 5 reasons why your next family staycation should be at Gaylord Rockies
1. There are numerous activities for the family to enjoy together
Gaylord Rockies recently hosted my family of eight for a weekend stay. My husband and I have four teens, one tween and a toddler. There are a lot of us and most of the kids are at the age where they prefer to hide out in their rooms. Because of this, it can be a challenge to carve out quality time together as a family. Gaylord Rockies helped with that.
From the second we walked into the resort, our family was attached at the hip.
We did so much together in the 24 hours that we were there, which made my mama heart truly happy. We arrived on a Friday evening and immediately headed to the outdoor patio to enjoy a campfire and s’mores. This was the first time during our stay that I turned to my husband and mentioned that the resort didn’t feel crowded at all. It was a sentiment that I would repeat about a dozen more times throughout the weekend. After we devoured our s’mores, we checked out the various lawn games. The teens played cornhole while the toddler explored the giant checkers mat. The patio area was vast, with plenty of seating and open space to run around.
We then decided to familiarize ourselves with the resort by participating in The Shiny Stash Scavenger Hunt. We received our treasure hunt booklets at the ticketing desk and searched for the 10 treasure chests hidden around the property.
Right now, as part of their Summer of More event, Gaylord Rockies has numerous pirate themed activities for the entire family to enjoy. Little ones can attend the academy and become an honorary pirate or princess. Families can venture out to the art studio and paint a pirate ship or princess castle. Adults can visit the Captain’s Quarters to earn their pirate name and partake in the world-famous Captain’s brew. There is also an escape room and buccaneer bash. Along with the pirate themed fun, there are family movies in the theater, animal encounters in partnership with Nature’s Educators and an augmented reality wildlife game.
Other activities include disc golf, miniature golf, tennis, pickleball, and basketball.
2. The pool area is incredible
Indoor Pool
The resort features an indoor pool area with two water slides, splash pads, lap pool and indoor whirlpool. The indoor pool area has ample seating and a walk up bar and grill for food and drinks. The indoor pool opens at 8 AM daily and closes at 9 PM.
Outdoor Pool
The outdoor pool area is enormous and includes a water slide and heated lazy river. It is important to note that as large as the resort is, the pool area never felt overly crowded and there were many lounge chairs available.
Cabana Rentals
Since we planned on spending the entire day at the pool with a toddler, I chose to rent a cabana for the day. I wanted to be sure there was a shaded spot for my little one to nap in the afternoon. The cabana rental was THE BEST decision I made. I loved that we had a reserved area to keep all of our belongings. There was also plenty of room to set up the pack ‘n play.
The cabanas come with a couch, lounge chairs, mini fridge, television and a bucket of drinks. Cabana guests also enjoy food and beverage service from Arapahoe Springs Bar & Grill.
3. There are food selections to please every palate
Gaylord Rockies features several restaurants, a marketplace with grab-and-go offerings and in-room dining.
Breakfast
Breakfast is our family’s favorite meal of the day, so we were delighted to head to Vista Montagne to check out their breakfast buffet and full breakfast menu. We loved the buffet selections, including chef-prepared omelettes, french toast, bacon, pastries, fruit and yogurt, potatoes and avocado toast. There is special pricing for kids, and little ones under 3 eat free. Breakfast is served from 7-11 AM. Vista Montagne then opens back up in the evening and offers seasonally-inspired Italian cuisine.
If you are looking for a bit of a slower pace in the morning, you can order in-room dining. If you need something quick and easy, The Rockies Marketplace has breakfast sandwiches and other to-go options.
Lunch
Since we spent the day at the pool, we ordered lunch from our Cabana. Arapahoe Springs Bar & Grill is located poolside and offers appetizers, burgers, wraps, salads, and desserts. Their Kid menu is reasonably priced and includes grilled cheese, burgers, chicken bites and quesadilla. Arapahoe Springs also offers wine, beer, poolside cocktails, and virgin daiquiris.
Dinner
Along with Vista Montagne, The Old Hickory Steakhouse is another upscale dinner option offering high quality steak, seafood, pork, chicken and lamb. On weekend evenings, Monte Jade offers Asian-inspired dishes for take out. You can also head to The Mountain Pass Sports Bar, which is open for lunch and dinner. While they have your typical sports bar options of burgers (meat & veggie), sandwiches and wings, etc., they also serve chicken fried chicken, impossible meatballs and salmon entrees which each come with a side of cheddar mashed potatoes and asparagus.
4. The resort property is stunning.
The moment you arrive at Gaylord Rockies, you know you are somewhere special. Just look at this atrium.
I especially loved the artwork that decorated the halls and rooms. So much so, that I tracked down the artist. Check out the incredible pieces here. Speaking of the rooms, they are wonderful. Our family stayed in a King Suite that connected to a Double Queen room. The beds were very comfortable and we appreciated the free wi-fi and internet TV.
The many details sprinkled throughout Gaylord Rockies did not go unnoticed, especially as they related to the current Pirate and Princess theme.
But the Grand Lodge was the true showstopper. Modeled after the great Colorado outdoors, the Gaylord Rockies Grand Loge features boulders, babbling streams and even a waterfall. Nestled in the Grand Lodge is a gorgeous caboose that I was delighted to learn was purchased from the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway.
5. You will leave feeling refreshed
Maybe it was the peaceful atmosphere. Or perhaps it was the fact that despite the resort boasting 1500 guest rooms, it never felt crowded. All I know is that I came home from our weekend away feeling completely refreshed.
I loved that there were so many spaces at Gaylord Rockies to sit back and truly relax, even with kids in tow. The lovely fireplace in the Grand Lodge was one of my favorite spots. I also appreciated the Adirondack chairs that adorned the Pinyon Patio. They were perfect for taking in the gorgeous Colorado sunset.
To add even more relaxation to your stay, you can head to the Relâche Spa & Salon for a massage or treatment. And if you want to get a workout in, the Relâche Fitness Center is equipped with Peleton bikes, cardio equipment, free weights, and even fitness classes.
I can’t wait to return to Gaylord Rockies. The hubby and I are even considering it for an upcoming romantic getaway. We will definitely return with the entire family as well. We may even have to make it an annual tradition.
