We watched the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center being built. It was huge, gigantic, really, really big. Then it opened and I saw pictures of people enjoying offerings there, especially the lazy river in the summer and holiday programming.
This past weekend, we finally had an opportunity to experience the Gaylord ourselves. From the expansive entry to the wide halls, multiple restaurants, and pool complex, the photos I’d seen didn’t do it justice, and mine won’t either.
Gaylord Rockies is like Colorado-Vegas without gambling. Step inside these massive walls and time stands still for a bit, and that should happen on a vacation, or in our case, a one-night staycation. We live less than an hour away.
We were here for a one-night couples’ getaway that included a birthday too. My friend, Karen, is a Bonvoy Gold Elite member of Marriott, and because Gaylord is a Marriott property, she used points to get a room for free, with her husband, Steve. They love this place and have visited it three times. The party was on!
While this place would be excellent for anyone with children ages little to teen, we were kid-free. After getting the lay of the land, we hit Mountain Pass Sports Bar for drinks. We were upstairs, in recliners with a view of the 75-foot flat panel television. Steve has heard it’s the largest television in Colorado, and I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s true. I think both Ryan and Steve could have stayed here for hours.
We watched a little larger-than-life Olympic speedskating before making the exit to try our hand at ice skating. The ice rink is part of Gaylord’s Winterfest and is coming down on February 27, along with snow tubing.
Turns out that despite the fact that I took ice skating as a PE credit in college, I do not have a career in any sport that involves skating on ice. I probably won’t have a career in any sport, on or off the ice. Although, I am a pretty competent snow tuber. When will that be in the Olympics?
After enjoying a few activities, we found a great area with a chairlift for photos.
After that, it was time for dinner. The Gaylord Rockies has a steakhouse, an Italian restaurant, and Mountain Pass Sports Bar, where we ended up. I would recommend making a reservation at any of the three restaurants or you might have a wait. Ours, however, was supposed to be 45 minutes but was more like 20. By the way, as we waited we did catch some live music at Pinyons, a sort of open-air bar in the vast downstairs area with water features and huge windows looking out at the lawn.
Dinner was an array of hamburgers, tacos, and french dip capped off with lemon drop shots and a slice of fancy birthday cake brought by our server for Steve, the birthday boy.
The food was pricey but not overpriced for the venue and it was delicious. We had great interactions with all of the staff at Gaylord from the front desk to bartenders.
The next morning, we enjoyed a beautiful breakfast buffet at Vista Montagne, an Italian restaurant by night. Buffet food often seems a bit flavorless but all the food items we tried were fresh and yummy. The fruit spread was particularly impressive and Ryan and Steve liked the made-to-order waffles and pancakes.
We had a mountain facing king room. Karen and Steve got an adjoining room for our one-night escapade. By the way, the pillows are so comfy and the king rooms are especially spacious.
While Gaylord Rockies is a good choice of destination with the kiddos, there is plenty of fun at Gaylord for adults and we proved it. From the pool complex to an expansive sports bar, to the Rockies Marketplace where we bought some candy and popcorn for after-dinner snacks, Gaylord is an escape for adults too.
I cannot complete this blog post without writing about the elevators. Yes, elevators. Gaylord Rockies has fast elevators and they aren’t just fast, it’s like being magically transported to your hotel level because it’s almost impossible to feel the elevators move.
Whether you’re looking for fun with the family, a romantic evening with the sweetheart, or some adult time without the kids, Gaylord Rockies serves as a destination for all of it.
Thank you to Gaylord Rockies Resort & Conference Center for hosting Ryan and me during our stay.
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I’d wondered what this was like! I’d heard good things from parents, but now I want to go. It’s so much more fun when you don’t have to worry about getting out and driving to restaurants or activities.
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Honestly, until this trip, I thought it was a kid destination like Great Wolf Lodge. While it would be GREAT with kids because there are lots of activities, it’s pretty darn fun for an adult trip too. For one thing, most of us don’t drink and drive but we can drink and walk just fine and that’s all you have to do here. Haha! And you can get adjoining rooms with friends. It’s pretty terrific.