Gaylord Rockies-Spring It On!
Spring Break at Gaylord Rockies was the staycation we never knew we needed!
After months of cold and snow my family was in desperate need of a getaway. This year the schedule didn’t allow for us to travel out of Colorado for Spring Break so we opted for a small getaway in the state. It was the perfect way to spend a few nights.
*My family was hosted at this resort for two nights. This review however includes opinions, images, and recommendations that are my own. You can read more about Pine Daisy House sponsored content here.
Gaylord Rockies in Colorado
We enjoyed two nights at Gaylord Rockies in Aurora Colorado. It’s a sprawling resort with epic views of the mountains and plenty of fun activities for the whole family. With just over 1500 guest rooms, 500,000 sq ft of meeting space, five restaurants, fitness center, spa, water park, and seasonally curated family activities this resort and convention centerhas so much to love. Not to mention it’s ideally located in the Denver area mere minutes from the airport (with no airport noise at all!)
My family spent our stay enjoying the Spring It On activities as well as the Arapahoe Springs Water Park. Let me share our experience with you!
Spring It On!
There were seven spring-centric activities to choose from during our stay. We weren’t able to squeeze all of them in but we were able to enjoy several of them. With two teens in our family we viewed each activity as an opportunity to spend time together and also share the experience with you. Below I’ve outlined length of time, if there is a cost, and our opinion on the ideal age for the activity.
Paint Me a Fairytale– 20 min live stage show, small cost (includes interactive activity book)
This springtime interactive show was sweet, playful, lively, and full of laughs. My 13 year old daughter and I really enjoyed it, while my 17 year old son was sampling a workout at the fitness center. We giggled our way through the entire show and smiled nearly the whole time. While, in my opinion, this particular performance is ideal for children, my teen and I had a great time too.
Springtime Cookie Decorating– 30-45 min seasonal cookie decorating session, small cost
Each individual received a cookie kit full of all the necessary decorating items to include a giant cookie, icing, and sprinkles. This activity is perfect for all ages!
Campfire & S’mores– 30 min +, small cost
This experience is the most self-explanatory of the bunch. We snuck in a sunset session of s’more roasting to enjoy the resort view and sweet treat. Of course, s’mores and a fire pit are perfect for the whole family!
Spring-A-long Scavenger Hunt– 30+ min, small cost (includes interactive activity book)
All throughout our stay we enjoyed spying sweet springtime clues throughout the resort. My teens had fun finding them on their own without the help of the activity book. We loved checking at the end of our stay to see if we had found everything there was to hunt for. This activity with the book is wonderfully suited for families and kiddos aged 4-tweens, but my teens enjoyed it too! There is even a prize at the end! This activity is a great way to keep your kiddos busy and entertained while waiting for a table at one of the restaurants or before the next event on your itinerary.
Live Animal Encounters– Ongoing throughout the day, complimentary
All throughout the Grand Lodge we were able to stop and learn about several live animals. In partnership with Nature’s Educators, guests are able to learn during interactive table chats with professionals. All ages from business guests, to multi-generational families enjoyed this experience.
The Waterpark
The Arapahoe Springs Waterpark was by far a favorite for our family. Between the heated pools, waterslides, seasonally open heated lazy river, and the hot tubs we had a blast. The sun was out for us on our second day to provide mid 60 temps and coupled with the heated water it was all just delightful. A perfect addition to an already beautiful stay.
Lodging and Food
For our family, we stayed in the Deluxe Suite which was perfect for our big kids. It was a two room suite with a King bed, ensuite bathroom, sofa bed, roll-away bed upon request, dining area, and kitchenette. It was great to have separate sleeping spaces for my kiddos without having to reserve a second room.
We dined-in at two of the on-site restaurants, ordered food to our room, had a buffet breakfast and ordered food from the bar and grill while at the water park.
The variety of restaurants featured at Gaylord Rockies provides something for everyone. The website and app include downloadable menus, and hours for each of them as well. Nearly everything was able to be billed to our room/reservation, so that at the end of our stay everything could paid for at once. It was easy to find a place to eat that fit our budget every time.
Know Before You Go
I learned a few things during our first stay at a resort of this caliber. Here are some of my tips if you are considering a stay at Gaylord Rockies.
- Wear/pack walking shoes. The resort is huge, I walked over 10,000 steps on our first day since we walked around so much to learn where everything was located.
- Have cash (small bills) on hand. I’d recommend having plenty of cash on hand for tips. Being that Gaylord Rockies provides an inclusive resort experience we had several items dropped off to our room, help from the bell hop, and various servers of course at the different restaurants.
- Every single staff member we interacted with from the gift shop, all the way to a grounds keeper were so kind, helpful, and cheerful, making for a happy stay from the moment we arrived in the parking lot until we left.
- Some restaurants may have a wait. The restaurants operate like any other you have been to with a host at the door to seat guests. Some of them had a wait, some did not. Know the hours and know which ones may allow you to reserve a table in advance.
- Remember it’s a convention center too, so it’s likely you will see business professionals in the halls and restaurants. There is an adults only hot tub and a classy cocktail bar in the Grand Lodge, to provide amenities for adult clientele too.
Come With Us!
I took my Instagram audience along for the trip too. Take a peek at two reels I created from our time at Gaylord Rockies.
Also enjoy this tour:
Overall my family had a wonderful experience at Gaylord Rockies. We’d absolutely stay at the resort again and look back on our stay as the perfect balance between activity and relaxation. Just right for our Spring Break Staycation.
I hope you enjoyed this little sweet peek at our Spring Break staycation.
With hope for you and your intentional life & home,
