As you continue your family summertime planning, make sure you add the Gaylord Rockies Resort to your list. This experience is a true summer escape like nothing else in the greater Denver area.
Disclosure: In return for our honest review my family and I were guests at Gaylord Rockies Resort for two days of fun. All opinions are our own.
Summer At Gaylord Rockies Resort
When I heard that the Gaylord Rockies opened its doors for some summertime fun on June 25th I was so excited. This summer has been a struggle – the normal summer activities have been closed and missed. The thought of a day in the pool was so exciting not to mention a little time away from the house in style. Gaylord Rockies celebrates summer with a variety of family events and exciting outdoor activities at the indoor pool and waterpark complex called Arapahoe Springs.
Gaylord Rockies Resort – General Information
This was our second time visiting the Gaylord Rockies but the first time having the opportunity to stay on property overnight. We attended the Gaylord Rockies ICE! in November last year and it was so much fun. Just like that first experience from the minute we drove up to the resort we knew we were in for a treat! The building is gorgeous and it seems like there are endless photo opportunities through out the building. The kids were getting sick of my asking them to take pictures but I couldn’t help it!
The Gaylord of the Rockies Resort and Convention Center is located off of E-470 and Pena Boulevard in Denver. Just southwest of the Denver Airport. A great location for those looking for a great place to stay for some great summertime fun for the family. In true Colorado fashion there is an amazing mountain view of the Rocky Mountains and the Front Range and the interior decor brings a perfect rustic charm to the hotel. Honestly, my photos do not do this space justice. It is breathtaking!
A Look Around The Property
The evening we checked into our room we decided to take a little walk around the property. We did not have a pool time scheduled for our check in day so this gave us plenty to check everything out. As I have stated before, the lobby of the Gaylord Rockies Resort is pretty much breathtaking. The first time we saw this space it was decorated for Christmas but even without all of the holiday decor this space is spectacular.
To keep the kids moving and interested in checking out the hotel property I picked up a Scavenger Hunt booklet. This was a free activity book that had puzzles, facts and stories about Colorado. Each puzzle helped you find the next clues through out the property. It was a great activity for them, but I also saw plenty of adults doing it as well.
The last day we were there, we heard about a new Virtual Reality Scavenger Hunt using a free app called Wildlife Rescue. Search for endangered animals throughout the spacious garden atriums, and see them brought to life right before your eyes through the magic of augmented reality! Now this one was a HIT!! It was so fun to see Jude and Teagan get so excited over a giant Elephant appearing right in front of them!!
Mask Up: COVID-19 Pandemic Precautions
Clearly, travel this summer looks really different but from the moment we stepped into the Gaylord Rockies Resort I felt like the staff and most of the other guests were keeping everyone’s health and safety in mind. As you prepare for your visit, keep in mind that masks are required in all public areas. You do not need the masks while in the water but masks are required on the pool deck.
In accordance with Marriott’s “Commitment to Clean” practices, the resort will provide enhanced cleaning technology, hospital-grade disinfectants, attendants dedicated to sanitizing frequently throughout the day, new social distancing protocols, and new cleaning processes designed to keep guests safe while they enjoy the resort’s amenities.
Aquatic area attendants are dedicated to regular cycles of guest touch point sanitization. There is expanded distance between chaise lounge chairs to maintain social distance and cloth chair cushions have been removed. Partitions have been installed at towel desk/kiosks. Chaise lounge chairs, cabanas, and lazy river tubes are sanitized after each use.
Like I said, it was clear that the staff was taking extra precautions to keep themselves and the guests safe and healthy. This includes an hour break at the pool to completely clean the chairs, tables and pool deck area. Fantastic! Safe summer fun is here!
Glimpse Into A Mountain View Double Queen Room
No matter what type of room you stay at Gaylord Rockies Resort, you are in for a treat! I am weird, I love staying at hotels. I usually sleep better and it is fun to have a new space to check out. We stayed in a Mountain View Double Queen Room, it was spacious and gave us plenty of room to spread out and relax after a day at the pool.
For families it is important to know that we did not have a bathtub, just a shower. Jude and Teagan are old enough now that a shower is fine but I do know that for those with younger kids that can be an issue…especially when there is swimming involved. This room had a mini refrigerator which was great for our snacks and drinks and a huge double sink area that was separate from the toilet and shower. LOVE THAT!
And the view….oh the view! I am so in love with Colorado views. Perfection!!
Summertime Activities – Gaylord Rockies
While the pool was certainly one of our favorite parts about visiting Gaylord Rockies Resort it is important to note that there are so many great summer activities available at the Gaylord Rockies right now. Gaylord Rockies celebrates summer with a variety of family events and exciting outdoor activities at our indoor pool and waterpark complex – Arapahoe Springs. Make it a summer vacation to remember at Gaylord Rockies Resort!
When we checked in, we got a schedule of the great events and activities available for our stay…so much to do!
Wild Animal Encounters – HawkQuest
Lawn Games – Giant Jenga, Cornhole and more.
Lawn Movies
Arapahoe Springs Pool & Lazy River
Arts & Craft Corner
Outdoor Activities – tennis, mini golf, basketball, biking and disc golf
Virtual Wildlife Rescue
Colorado Explorer Scavenger Hunt
Literally no reason to hear that phrase that every parent hate…. “I’m Bored!”
Outdoor Pool Features – Gaylord Rockies
Okay, I have to be honest, I may have been more excited about our pool day than the kids and that is saying a lot because the kids were almost uncontrollably excited! I don’t know why but the idea of not being in an outdoor pool, beach or resort for over a year makes me itch!! I wanted that nice escape in the sunshine and cool pool and that is exactly what Gaylord Rockies delivered!!
If you followed my IG stories you saw how beautiful the outdoor pool is. It was a nice sized pool, with zero entry and a slide. It was the perfect size for me to be able to keep an eye on the kids too. The temperature of the water was pretty perfect too.
Some 2020 Facts About The Pool:
This summer Arapahoe Springs looks different from last summer as the Gaylord Resorts are required to follow state and local guidelines for social distancing and pool occupancy limits. They have limited capacity in the pool areas and guests will be required to make reservations. Pool time varies based on availability. Please note, pool reservations are not available more than 10 days prior to your scheduled arrival. Arapahoe Springs Pool & Lazy River are exclusive amenities for registered hotel guests.
Lovin’ The Cabana Life
For our hosted stay we had the opportunity to experience the Cabana life…I don’t think my kids will ever enjoy a pool day without one now. HA! There are multiple cabanas available through along the pool deck and lazy river. Cabanas seat up to 6 guests in a covered, relaxing environment out of the Colorado sun. Cabanas feature a comfortable sofa, television, mini fridge, and an outlet perfect for charging mobile devices. Cabanas provide prime access to the outdoor pool and lazy river and are a perfect setting for a day at Arapahoe Springs.
Cabanas offer guests VIP food and beverage service and include:
Two (2) cans of hard seltzer and two (2) cans of local beer.
Four (4) bottles of water, one (1) bottle of Pepsi, and one (1) bottle of Diet Pepsi.
A plate of cool fresh-cut fruit.
This was the perfect option for us. During the hour pool break we were able to stay in our cabana while they cleaned the pool deck and the kids took a nap. PERFECT!! I loved that I could leave our items in the cabana and know our stuff was safe. It was also nice for us to have a break from the sun when needed. Just another addition to making this resort feel like a true escape!
Now, don’t get me wrong our amazing trip to Snow Mountain Ranch a few weekends ago was great but we were exhausted and worn out from all of the outdoor fun we had there. This family escape was different. We all felt pampered and like we were on a resort away from home and this crazy life we are living.
On our full day at the resort we spent nearly 12 hours at the pool. We soaked up the time and had a blast. Due to the pandemic restrictions the limited guests really made this time enjoyable. I never felt like it was crowded or that there were too many people in one space. While I know this time is difficult for the hotel and travel industries it does make for a little extra fun for those that are choosing to venture to spaces like this safely.
Food and Drinks – Gaylord Rockies
Due to the pandemic a few of the normal food and drink options are closed but even so, there are plenty of options to keep your family full and happy! We ate all but one of our meals at the pool using Arapahoe Springs Bar & Grill. The kids loved that it was delivered right to us! Oh that resort feeling…even a 10 year old and 7 year old need that pampering every once in a while!
The food was pretty good and the fruity frozen drinks were perfect for a 93 degree day at the pool!!
Dining options at the resort include the following:
Mountain Pass – serving breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Indulge in a selection of savory burgers, sliders, fresh salads, draft beer and a full bar. Indoor and outdoor patio seating is available.
Arapahoe Springs Bar & Grill – serving lunch and dinner daily. Located next to the pool, our outdoor bar and grill offers an assortment of frozen drinks and cocktails, as well as a delectable menu that includes burgers, wraps, salads and sweet treats.
Rockies Marketplace – open daily. The Marketplace offers a wide array of quick snacks, refreshing beverages and grab-and-go meals. We make it easy to pop in and out for coffee, breakfast pastries and chef-crafted entrees.
Pinyons – open daily. Enjoy a refreshing libation in the open airy space of the Grand Lodge.
Indoor Pool – Gaylord Rockies
While we stayed in the outdoor pool for the most part we did venture into the indoor space to enjoy the two HUGE water slides, fun fountains and break from the sunshine. Poor Jude got a little sunburned so the last day we were on property he wanted to stay inside more than anything…I can relate, goodness knows I have been there!
The indoor space was fantastic too. For the most part the lines to the slides were manageable and the was always enough to keep the kids entertained in the fountains.
Make it a summer vacation to remember at Gaylord Rockies Resort!
To see more about our experience make sure you check out my HIGHLIGHT on Instagram. So many fun photos and videos that you can check out.
