Nestled into the Rocky Mountains is a luxurious Colorado secret that has been around for decades. The Broadmoor is an experience in itself that you’ll thank yourself for doing, especially with your kids in tow. While the idea of leaving your young kids behind may sound appealing, we’re here to assure you that 5 star resort luxury should be an activity for the entire family! Read on to learn about The (amazing!) Broadmoor.
The Broadmoor is located in gorgeous Colorado Springs, Colorado and is situated directly at the base of the Cheyenne Mountain. Take a deep breath of the cleansing mountain air upon arrival and look around at the European-inspired decor in every single area on the grounds. The pink stucco on the main building provides a gorgeous photo against the green rolling mountains, and snow capped peaks. History is everywhere. The main hotel was built in 1918, and they have done everything possible to maintain that time period with decor and themes, while still having all the modern luxuries you’d expect in a high class resort.
The Broadmoor has been a 5 star rated hotel by Forbes magazine for 54 consecutive years, making it the longest period of any establishment within the United States.
The Broadmoor prides itself on offering unique ways for everyone to enjoy the 300 days of annual sunshine a year in Colorado. From its 20 available restaurants to 56 holes of championship golf, six tennis courts, three pools, retail shops…the list is endless and you’ll never be at a loss for activity during your stay at The Broadmoor.
Grounds:
The Broadmoor is situated on the man-made (creek fed) Cheyenne Lake. The .75 mile walkway around the lake is a fun adventure to begin your experience. During the summertime, the lake is full of peddle-boats, and you can even rent bikes to easily get around the property. You’re greeting with the picturesque scene as soon as you step out the back door of the main lobby. A cute bridge goes over the lake, joining the main building with the Broadmoor South building, equipped with more guest rooms, restaurants and more.
Your children will love seeing the majestic swans swim on the lake, and the Canadian geese walk around the paved pathway around the lake. The path is a wonderful place to walk off some energy before bed, as you’re guided by beautiful lanterns that adorn the walkway, or a perfect location to catch in an early morning jog before breakfast arrives.
The Penrose Heritage Museum on the campus houses an impressive collection of vintage carriages and automobiles, including race cars and cars from the early 20th century. The Broadmoor also has 185,000 sq. feet of meeting space available, perfect for an upcoming convention, wedding, reception or family reunion.
If you’re looking to experience the wilderness of Colorado, why not “rough” it in luxury? The Wilderness Experience has many additional lodging and activities based a short jaunt away from the Broadmoor main, but allows you to hunker back and enjoy the mountains differently. The Ranch at Emerald Valley is a 16 acre location surrounded by the Rocky Mountain forest and has activities ranging from hiking excursions to horseback riding for ages 3+. All inclusive stays allow you to explore during the daytime, and then kick back at night on your private deck, 8,000 feet up into the mountains, or relax in a year round hot tub.
Sitting at 9,200 feet above sea level and on top of the Cheyenne Mountain is Cloud Camp. The highlight of perching yourself in the clouds at Cloud Camp are the 360 degree unobstructed views. Choosing the Wildlife Experience is a great option for the active family looking for daytime fun with gorgeous views and relaxing nights.
The Broadmoor has an extensive retail piazza with 26 retail stores to browse during your downtime. Your kiddos will love the Children’s Shop, where they can test drive some fun toys, while you pick up what you may have forgotten at home. The Christmas House is the ultimate in holiday shopping and is open from September to January. Themed rooms are filled with elegant silver and gold decor with snowmen that instantly puts you in the holiday spirit again.
Every place you look, there are gathering spots encouraging social activities, either around a fire pit, in a courtyard, or on benches along the walkway. Your children will adore simply walking the grounds, smelling the stunning floral arrangements and loudly exclaiming their delight at the swimming ducks, geese and swans.
If you’re a golf fan, The Broadmoor offers three different golf courses, and is home to many different golf championships every year, so you’ll be on the same track as all the pros. There is an onsite pro shop, and golf lessons available for those of you wanting to step up your game. Does the idea of traveling with your clubs make you less than thrilled? You can also rent equipment on site, set up practice times, and play the perfect course for your expertise.
The Spa at The Broadmoor is known for it’s 45 treatment rooms with over 100 services available, from a variety of massages to a full service hair and nail salon. The spa also has an indoor swimming pool, year round heated outdoor lap pool, hot tub and fitness center attached to it.
The pools at The Broadmoor are always a hit with the families. During the summertime, the outdoor, zero entry pool is open, and cabanas are available to rent. During the cooler months, the year round pool inside the Spa is a fun option as well. The decor reminds you of a pool house you’d see in a movie like The Great Gatsby. The pink walls with murals painted on them frame a beautiful glass atrium roof, and the outdoor (heated) lap pool provides a great way to get in some yardage while the kiddos splash around with dad inside. The hot tub overlooks one of the golf courses, and allows you to sit back and enjoy the scenery.
Lodging:
The lodging at The Broadmoor is simply spectacular. If you’re traveling with children, we highly recommend requesting one of the one bedroom suites available throughout the property. There are many locations available, but they all feature a large sitting area, a work desk, five-fixture baths and a walk-in closet. Fireplaces are in most of the rooms at The Broadmoor, and the stunning detailed design comes standard, across the board. Large white beds with huge chandeliers hanging elegantly above greet you, and beg you to take off your shoes and relax for a bit.
Rooms are spacious, and feature a sitting area inside the bedroom, high vaulted ceilings and elegant draping, reminiscent of European classic charm. Your children will adore taking their nightly bath inside the cast iron, clawfoot tub, and you’ll love the spacious glass surround shower, as well as their specialty line of bath care products made specifically for the hotel. (If you’re anything like us, you’ll beeline to the shops to purchase some shampoo and conditioner to take home with you. It’s just that good.)
The sitting area is not only beautiful, it’s also functional. The couch pulls out into a full sized bed, perfect for the children, and the Broadmoor can also supply cribs upon request, making the daytime parlor into the ideal second bedroom at night. The Lakeside Suites make you feel completely at home; like you’re staying in a lakeside townhouse rather than a simply hotel room. A large fireplace, and absolutely stunning front and back patios are the icing on the cake. The bedroom patio overlooks the shopping piazza, and the sitting room patio is simply breathtaking, with it’s lake and mountain views.
Evening turndown service is a welcome nightly ritual, and your children will love the nightly chocolate treats left, along with robes on the bed and a bottle of water on the bedside table. The resort also has wifi available, as well as morning newspaper delivery and an in-room bar stocked with teas and coffee.
Dining and Nightlife:
There are many options available at The Broadmoor for dining, from five-star rated restaurants to a lakeside cafe serving the most delicious green juice smoothies available. Since we assume you’ll be taking your family and you may have small children, The Broadmoor has some perfect dining and activities perfectly geared with families in mind.
While the thought may seem odd to some, one of the best family friendly restaurants is The Golden Bee. The Golden Bee is a 19th Century English pub, famous for it’s pub fare, yards of beer, and live piano music starting at 7:30 each night. The atmosphere is loud, joyful and energetic. You won’t have to worry about your little one causing a scene and acting disruptive at The Golden Bee, and the food is simply to die for. A big bowl of crackers are on your table to begin with (along with a yummy cheese spread) which is great for little kids that react better with something small to “snack” on while they are waiting for their food to arrive.
The kid’s menu has classic staples such as a yummy grilled cheese sandwich, or chicken fingers and fries. The adult menu boasts tons of craft beer options, mixed drinks and pub food. We highly recommend skipping the diet while visiting The Golden Bee, and trying out the Pub Burger along with some local beer brewed right from Colorado. The live music will be fun for all ages, and beware! Sticker bees buzz around and you’ll have quite the collection on your clothing when you emerge.
In the morning, make sure to check out the breakfast buffet in the Lake Terrace. There’s a variety of foods available, and your children will love the omelette station, or the buildable Belgium waffle station. The fresh squeezed juice is delicious (the pineapple one is amazing!) and you can’t miss the chocolate fountain, or the vast array of danishes and other sweets available.
If you’re looking to fill up your evening with a fun activity, look no further than Play. Play is an indoor bowling alley that the entire family will love. Bumper bowling is available for small children, along with a ramp to push the ball down. Spending the time and bowling with the family will end up being a highlight of your trip, we promise. Sip on a drink while you bowl some frames. They also feature adult spiked milkshakes! What’s not to love about a milkshake with some booze in it?!
You can also dine at the restaurant of Play, and enjoy their global cuisine available from sushi rolls to cheeseburgers. The atmosphere is fun for families and children, and the location in the Broadmoor South hall gives you a reason to explore the other side of the lake after dinner and take the long route back to your suite, and walk alongside the lake, or walk through the great halls with hundreds of photographs of prestigious people who have stayed at The Broadmoor in the past, from presidents to comedians.
Childcare is also available, so your children can play while you catch a movie at the onsite theater, or have a fine dining experience with a romantic trip to the whirlpool afterwards.
Have we convinced you to visit The Broadmoor yet?
Taking a vacation with your family is such a fun experience, and one that should be treasured. We promise you that you and your family will remember experiencing The Broadmoor for years to come, and will leave you itching to return again and again. Having family fun is absolutely possible (and super enjoyable!) at this five-star resort, and you will adore the memories made together during your family vacation at The Broadmoor.
A tip from a local: We highly suggest checking out The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo during your trip to The Broadmoor. Shuttles are available throughout the day taking you the short ways up the mountain, and your children will love seeing all the animals, and even feeding the giraffes! Some other awesome family-friendly locations you should definitely check out when you’re in Colorado Springs include a trip through the Garden of the Gods, and going on a tour of the Cave of the Winds.
For more luxury accommodations and destinations, check out WANDER.
Photo Credits: The Memoirs of Megan | The Broadmoor
