Exceptional outdoor experiences and fun attractions await your crew around the Denver, area. Add to that a stay at the recently opened Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center in Aurora, and your family vacation (or staycation) takes a magical twist. With interior design elements developed by the same team that created the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, tons of onsite activities and fantastic restaurants—your Rocky Mountain experience is guaranteed to be dreamy. Read on to find out more.

Photo: courtesy of Gaylord Rockies

STAY
Eight and a half miles from the Denver International Airport, situated on the edge of the Front Range in Aurora, Gaylord Rockies Resort offers families the perfect Denver area escape away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The minute you step through the entrance, you are transported to the nearby wilderness area. It’s a cabin-esque interior has waterfalls, rivers, bridges and it looks like a mini replica of The Rocky Mountains inside. The largest combined resort and convention center in Colorado, Gaylord is massive housing multiple eateries, and a long list of amenities.

While you can expect to experience the luxury of an upscale hotel with rooms that are beautifully appointed with refined, rustic decor—the whole family will feel right at home with common comforts like Wifi, a flat screen TV with access to popular movies and shows, and a 24-hour room service menu. The rooms have stunning views of the surrounding areas. And guaranteed, you won’t be the only guests with little ones in tow. This spot has already become popular with families with young children.

Photo: courtesy of Gaylord Rockies

PLAY

On-Site
The fun starts before you’ve even left the resort for the day. There’s tons of on-site entertainment for families to enjoy. Gaylord features four pools for families to enjoy! There are both indoor and outdoor pools and whirlpools as well as an indoor lap pool. All of the swimming areas have heated water, so everyone can enjoy splashing around. But the water play doesn’t end there. The swimming area also includes a lazy river and water slides! Be forewarned, it may be difficult to get your children to leave the resort to play.

Along with plenty of space to splash and run, Gaylord Rockies has a mini golf course perfect for the youngest of pros! Once you’ve finished hitting ball, you can rally on the tennis courts or rent some bikes and bike nearby (or more distant) trails.

For families with children who are a bit older, the resort has and exciting escape room experience that will get the family working as a team. Their escape room theme changes throughout the year, but one thing stays the same, it takes some teamwork to solve the riddles that help you win the game.

Events & Entertainment
You don’t have to leave the resort to attend awesome events and entertainment. Your kids will love attending Dive-In movies where they view a favorite family flick while floating poolside. There’s also regular splash parties that include swimming, dancing, and various characters from some of your kids’ favorite shows.

Parents aren’t forgotten as live entertainment and music can be found taking place around at the resorts various dining and social areas.

photo: Finn L. via Yelp

Off-Site
Once you tear the family away from the resort, there are plenty of places to go and things to see and do. The Denver Museum of Nature and Science is just 15 miles away. There you can check out the Planetarium or take in a show at the IMAX. Of course, there are tons of incredible exhibits that will thrill your young scientists including Black Holes and Dinosaurs.

The Denver Zoo is just 16 miles away, and is home to animals from around the world. Your family will enjoy close encounters with wildlife, extraordinary exhibits like the Elephant Passage, and awesome attractions like the 4 D Theater, Carousel, and train.

Just 10 miles away, your crew can stretch their legs at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge . The refuge is one of the largest urban wildlife refuges in the nation with more than 15,000 acres of land. There are an abundance of hiking trails and over 330 species of wildlife, some of which you might see.

There is a full listing o nearby activities to explore while you are enjoying your vacation.

photo: via Annette Benedetti

EAT

Italian, Asian-inspired, American cuisine and more can all be found at Gaylord Rockies. Vista Montagne serves breakfast lunch and dinner and your family can enjoy delicious Italian dishes. From polenta to meatballs to fettuccine, this spot has everything you want, all day long.

The Mountain Pass Sports Bar is the place to go for traditional bites like the Double Smashed Cheeseburger, a BLT or pretzel nuggets. They also serve vegetarian delights like the veggie burger–for those who choose to eat meat-free.

Monte Jade  will delight the sushi lovers in the family with their asian-inspired cuisine. We suggest the Mile-High Roll and the Queen City Roll. And there are Dim Sum and noodle dishes for those who aren’t quite ready for Sushi.

If you are craving steak and seafood, then you’ll want to reserve a meal at the Old Hickory Steakhouse, where you’ll find options like filet mignon, bison tenderloin, crab cakes and lobster tail.

Wherever you choose to dine, you’ll be thrilled with the quality of service and food.

The Denver area in Colorado has so much to offer visiting families. And a stay at Gaylord Rockies Resort ensures your whole family has a magical mile-high experience.

—Annette Benedetti

Special thanks to Gaylord Rockies Resort for assistance with accommodations and entertainment. All opinions here expressed are the writer’s own. 

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