Built in 1918, this sprawling resort in pale-pink stucco sports three 18-hole golf courses, a lake, a full-service spa, more than two dozen shops and the state’s only AAA five-diamond restaurant. It sits next to Cheyenne Mountain and offers views of Pike’s Peak, and is within easy driving distance of family-friendly attractions such as , and . Then again, there’s really no reason to leave.
Take it easy: It’s not hard to start at the spa, which lets you use the steam room and sauna, indoor/outdoor pools and other amenities on your treatment day. Just sitting in the Mountain View Room for a few moments will slough off a layer of stress. Wandering around the vast complex has a cocooning feel, as well — the rest of the world can just carry on — and areas around the lake and select patio spaces are dotted with thickly cushioned chaises lounge. Find one and sink in.
Take it up a notch: If you find a brisk walk around Lake Cheyenne — watch for the preening swans — or a few rounds of golf to be too tame, the hotel has a full roster of fitness classes (yoga, Pilates, spinning, step) or will set you up for a guided hike or mountain biking. The tennis courts are top-drawer, and you can canoe or paddleboat the lake, as well.
Where to eat: Where, indeed? Good luck deciding among the nine choices. The Penrose is the famous five-diamond spot (jacket required), and the food and service are undeniably exceptional — this is an experience around which to plan an evening (three-course tasting menu: $78). The best-kept secret here, though, is the more casual Charles Court, traditionally known for its Sunday brunch but with a remarkable menu and service (the housemade ricotta salad and English pea ravioli are standouts; entrees $22-$42). The hotel also recently opened Play, which stays open late, serves “adult” milkshakes and has six lanes of bowling.
What the brochure won’t tell you: Hotels are usually proud of their concierges, but at the Broadmoor, it seems as though every employee is trained as one — they can accurately describe the restaurants’ menus, offer tips on things to do in the area and get you where you need to go, and if they can’t, they’ll stop whatever they’re doing to find someone who can. The double beds are small, so if there are two of you sharing, ask for queen or larger, and if you can snag one, the corner rooms in the South Tower have wrap-around balconies. Also, the room-service menu has some of the best baba ghanouj you’re going to find outside of the Middle East. Who knew?
What it costs: Room rates for a standard room in summer start at $420 a night.
The Broadmoor, 1 Lake Ave., Colorado Springs, 719-634-7711, 855-634-7711,
