What a weekend! We stayed a night at the Gaylord Rockies Resort and really didn’t want to leave. It was also the first hotel stay for my little one, and it couldn’t have been any better. From the myriad of family-friendly activities to the numerous dining options — the Gaylord has everything you need for a fun-filled weekend!

Our Room

We stayed in the Junior Suite, which can accommodate 5 people. It had two separate spaces — one with a king bed and couch, and the second with a sitting area and queen murphy bed. This was the perfect setup for us as it allowed for a pack and play (provided by the hotel) in the second space! I was able to put Olivia down for bed yet still stay up and enjoy some TV without having to tiptoe around. We both noticed how comfortable the mattress & pillows were (and I am very particular on that!). The room had some nice touches too like delicious coffee and shampoo/conditioner from their spa. The cherry on top was a charcuterie board from the Old Hickory Steakhouse delivered right to our room!

Arapahoe Springs Water Park

This is not your standard hotel pool! There is an outdoor heated pool, lazy river, water slide, and poolside cabanas. This is where we spent the majority of our time! The cabana rentals provide a nice little private area to take a break from the pool. They even had a TV! The cabana rental included a bucket of 6 canned beverages of your choice, which included canned cocktails, beer, and sparkling waters. There is also a restaurant/bar with an extensive food & beverage selection. Adults can enjoy a variety of drinks including frozen cocktails, so you’ll really feel like you’re on a vacation! Our one night stay granted us access to the water park on the day of checkin and the day of checkout, so we were able to enjoy it for 2 days. The hotel will kindly hold your bags at the front desk while you swim!

Dining Scene

So many options! We counted 5 restaurants, a cocktail bar, and a marketplace for grab-and-go needs. We decided to check out the Mountain Pass Sports Bar for dinner. Upon stepping into the restaurant, the first thing you notice is the 75 -foot flat-panel TV. This is THE perfect spot to catch a game, and the food was really good, too. They had some great shareables like wings and nachos and also some healthy options, like the quinoa salad. The next day we grabbed breakfast and Starbucks coffee to-go from the Marketplace. We were eager to enjoy the pool again, so this quick option was perfect for us! For those looking to have a sit-down breakfast, the Vista Montagne offers an extensive breakfast buffet. The other dining options include: a steakhouse, asian-inspired cuisine, Italian, and the outdoor bar & grill. There really is something for everyone here!

Other Activites

The Gaylord is incredibly family-friendly and has so many activities. Their new Grand Lodge Lawn has lots of fire pits where you can roast s’mores and play lawn games. They have an Escape Room, Scavenger Hunts, Adventure Kid’s Club, and Animal Encounters. They offer plenty for the adults, too, like the Summer Wine Dinner Series, cocktail classes, Summer Dinner Beer Series, and services at the Relâche Spa. We weren’t able to experience all of these in our short stay, so all the more reason to return!

Our first staycation as a family was one we will never forget. The Gaylord has truly created a space that has it all. You really don’t need to step foot off the property for anything! If you aren’t able to make it in this summer, the holiday activities in the winter look absolutely magical. This staycation truly felt like a vacation! You can get all the details on upcoming events here.