Who: The Broadmoor
What: This grand Mediterranean-style villa is spread out over 3,000 acres in central Colorado. Built in 1918, this Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star resort is no rustic mountain lodge; since its inception, it has always been a place where guests could relax, play and dine in luxury. Guest rooms are housed in several different buildings and feature both traditional touches (merino wool throws, rich patterned fabrics) and modern amenities (remote room controls, deep soaking tubs). The Penrose Room (Colorado’s only Five-Star restaurant) and the Five-Star spa add panache to the resort, which draws couples, families and business travelers who want an active escape without sacrificing sophistication and comfort.
When: The Broadmoor has held the Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star rating for more than 50 years, the longest continuous time of all our rated hotels. While summer is the resort’s busiest season (kids love the Bee Bunch Camp), spring and fall are simply lovely. The hotel also does the holiday season right with thousands of lights adorning almost every space, more than a dozen Christmas trees around the property and also a few blockbuster family-friendly events. Plus, Colorado Springs is famous for its 300 days of sunshine a year, making it a true year-round destination.
Where: Located at the eastern edge of the Colorado Rockies in Colorado Springs, The Broadmoor is surrounded by natural beauty, rugged terrain and more outdoor activities than you can typically pack into one trip, including hiking and Jeep tours to the top of Pikes Peak, fly fishing, rock climbing and whitewater rafting.
Why: Sure, the accommodations are top-notch and the service is nothing less than stellar, but the multitude of activities here are the real draw. The Broadmoor has three golf courses and a golf club; a tennis club with six courts and seasonal tournaments; three main pools; paddle boating on the resort’s private lake; a slew of unique shops; fitness, culinary and art classes; and no fewer than five onsite restaurants.
Photo Courtesy of The Broadmoor
