Spring Break is on the horizon, but current events make traveling far difficult this year. Luckily, Colorado is home to several gorgeous, family-friendly getaways. Whether you want to hang out in the Denver area or head to farther-flung mountain adventures, here are staycation options that will refresh you and your family this spring.
Aspen Meadows Resort
Aspen Meadows Resort is best for families who want to hit the slopes of Aspen/Snowmass over spring break. Parking is included, so that’s excellent news for families driving from around the state. Plus, dogs are allowed, so you can bring your furry friend along. Nearly all guest suites are equipped with their own entrance that is accessible from the outside, without attachment to heavily-tracked corridors or crowded elevators. So if spring skiing but staying away from the crowds is on the agenda, Aspen Meadows is an excellent fit.
Aspen Meadows Resort is uniquely well positioned for guest safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s tucked away in Aspen’s quiet West End neighborhood, 1.5 miles from downtown Aspen. The serene, 40-acre grounds are filled with walking trails and sculpture gardens. Grab complimentary pairs of snowshoes from the resort’s health club for a family outing on the property, or hit up one of the many nearby trails, which promises a quiet and socially distanced outing if skiing isn’t in your comfort zone right now. Sledding on the property and snowman building is also a popular choice for families in the spring.
Indoor dining is currently available at limited capacity (check Pitkin County Guidelines for specifics when you’re traveling), but there’s also a “knock and drop” room service available and private igloos that families can reserve for dining. The heated igloos seat up to six and offer amazing views of the mountains. Kids won’t want to miss the hot chocolate bombs and adults can indulge in bubbles and oysters.
YMCA of the Rockies, Estes Park
Located just minutes from Estes Park and the national park, families seeking hassle-free time away from screens and schedules will find plenty of it here. Offering a wealth of activities to fit every adventurer and weather condition—roller skating, tennis, archery, guided hikes, disc golf, and indoor crafting and arts—families need only to show up and start having fun.
Lodging includes cabins of all sizes—they are all dog-friendly, too—and hotel-style lodge rooms. All dining on the property is currently to-go only, but there are still plenty of options for parents who don’t want to plan or cook meals for the week.
Enjoy more time as a family by breaking out of one of the property’s escape rooms or solving clues on a treasure hunt. You and your kids can also go on a guided exploration walk while you learn basic skills for surviving outdoors in the winter.
The Source Hotel, Denver
This trendy hotel and marketplace incorporated into a former iron foundry in Denver’s RiNo Art District boasts 100 guest rooms offering natural light, modern decor, and open-air views of the Denver skyline. There are even some jaw-dropping views from the toilet seat (yes, you read that right). Families in particular love the “two queen” category that sets beds perpendicularly to break up the room. But what truly sets it apart is the property’s Market Hall featuring 25 independent food and retail vendors, from wood-fire and smoked-foods eatery Smōk to modern, Israeli delicacies at Safta, as well as a rooftop gastropub, beer garden, and pool terrace with panoramic views. (The pool is heated year-round.)
Guests also have easy light rail access to offsite adventures, and the hotel provides transportation to nearby Zeppelin Station, a collection of international food stalls and creative vendors—from urban Colombian fare and Japanese-style poke bowls to Nashville hot chicken and burgers, fries, and shakes—to satisfy every taste bud.
Great Wolf Lodge Colorado Springs
Coloradans never truly know what weather they’re going to get during spring break, which can make planning a challenge. At Great Wolf Lodge Colorado Springs, all the action takes place indoors. There’s plenty to do: swimming, splashing, and sliding in water features from Cub Paw Pool for the littles to the high-speed Wolf Tail for big kids; challenging fears on the Howlers Peak Ropes Course; and reaching new heights on the Rustic Ridge Climbing Wall. There’s even an indoor adventure park and an arcade in addition to numerous on-site dining options.
This spring, families can add on the Spring Breakout package, which includes two specialty Firefly drinks with a souvenir light-up cup, one Great Wolf Lodge bag, two Great Wolf Lodge beach towels, and one spring-themed beach tumbler.
Vista Verde Guest Ranch, Steamboat Springs
This luxury guest ranch located just north of Steamboat Springs is perfect for families seeking to enjoy spring snow and exclusive service away from crowded ski resorts. While cross-country skiing is the crowd favorite at Vista Verde, guests can also enjoy outdoor pursuits like backcountry skiing, snowshoeing, fat biking, tubing, horseback riding, sleigh rides, ice fishing, and snowmobiling. Or try “snowga,” where guests snowshoe out to a rustic cabin in the woods for an all-levels yoga class by the wood burning stove, then snowshoe back. Guests can also head indoors for a weekly wine tasting, beer tasting, leather working, or photography workshop. The property’s horseback riding program is unrivaled and includes either quiet rides on the snow-packed trails or in-depth instruction with a ranch wrangler in the heated indoor arena.
Kids can do most activities with their parents or opt for the kids program (ages six to 13 years) for activities like a snowshoe adventure, tubing party, and even snow and ice experiments. All activities include gear and guiding, and all meals are prepared by talented chefs. After dinner, snuggle up in your luxurious log cabin, complete with a bubbling hot tub out on the deck under the star-filled sky (12 cabins total).
Out-of-the-Box Spots to Stay
- Go Big!
- The Gaylord Rockies Resort and Spa does things on a grand scale, with 1,500 guest rooms, eight restaurants, a real train car in the sprawling Grand Lodge, spectacular views of the Rockies from towering 75-foot-tall atrium windows, and Colorado’s biggest TV screen in the Mountain Pass Sports Bar. That’s not to mention an abundance of activities for families of all ages, including a spa, arcade, and 22,000 square feet of aquatic experiences including indoor and outdoor pools, winding waterways, and slides.
- Be a Jailbird
- Pueblo’s family-operated, boutique hotel, Station on the Riverwalk, repurposed the town’s former police station and jail. Each room is named by cell number, offering a new twist on the term “incarceration.” Families can enjoy plenty of activities around Pueblo, from touring the Rosemount Museum—set in a 19th-century mansion—to exploring the town’s riverwalk and visiting the Pueblo Zoo.
- Off-the-Grid Luxury
- You might think staying in a yurt would be “roughing it.” But not at Tennessee Pass sleep yurts near Leadville, outfitted with log beds draped in linens, as well as wood stoves, a kitchenette with fresh water, cookware, and dishes, and dining table with chairs. Guests can even order catered meals for delivery. Complete with a Nordic center and cookhouse—guests can cross-country ski or snowshoe for a gourmet meal—spend the day exploring the Tennessee Pass wilderness, then retire to a cozy home away from home.
Deals for local activities this spring break:
On the lookout for deals on local attractions? The Denver CityPass includes eight participating attractions to choose from including the Downtown Aquarium and the Denver Zoo, allowing up to 35 percent savings on admission.
