My head was in the clouds for four days this summer. No, truly. High above The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs is the best Colorado family vacation I’ve ever taken. It was so Two-Sided Southern in every way. It was the perfect combination of down-home and high brow. First, head up the windy dirt roads of Cheyenne Mountain and past a one-of-a-kind mountainside zoo. Beyond that, sits the luxury resort’s unique Cloud Camp offering. From 9,100 feet up in the air, you can see beautiful 360-degree views of all of Colorado including Pikes Peak.
Cloud Camp’s rare combination of seclusion, luxury and few guest rooms made it popular during the pandemic. There are only seven guest rooms, 11 cabins and one Fire Tower Suite on the property. Its limited staff, no elevators or crowded lobbies were ideal for those looking to travel safely and remotely. It’s why Cloud Camp is the best Colorado family vacations out there.
The main lodge at Cloud Camp was built in the 1920s by Spencer Penrose. He was The Broadmoor’s unconventional original owner. In other words, what Southerner doesn’t love an eccentric historical personality? In the past, it was a Prohibition-era retreat with ultimate privacy. The original structure is long gone (except for a wall or two). It is now a rustic, elegant logwood inn. Up here, away from distractions and other guests, families are surrounded entirely by nature.
My favorite part? The main lodge has an enormous oversize dining table where 32 guests can break bread together. It sits under the authentic artifacts of the area’s Wild West past. For instance, Kevin Costner’s jacket from Dances With Wolves and enormous, entertaining Western paintings adorn the lodge’s walls. All meals come with the stay. So guests eat chef-driven cuisine together all day long. As a result, it’s the ultimate bonding experience with strangers from around America. In addition, each afternoon there are cooking classes for guests who will leave with some new skills.
Moreover, my kid loved hanging with other little ones and meeting interesting people at every turn. We travel a lot together. He spent time trying to befriend the abundant hummingbirds and a bunny that sat on the croquet court each morning. He also watched the staff take down the American flag each night to “America the Beautiful”. The song is by Katherine Lee Bates who wrote it on top of Pike’s Peak in 1893.
Actually, the resort has a relationship with the CogRailway that goes up to the top of Pike’s Peak. The Broadmoor spent $100 million over three years renovating it. There are new trains, new tracks, a new depot, and a can’t miss experience when you’re in Colorado Springs. It was incredible fun to be one of the first to ride it back to the top after its reopening.
Once back from our Pikes Peak adventure, our family toggled between downtime in our cabin or chilling in the wooden hot tub before getting active. Later, it was bonding over archery, hiking, bocce ball, yoga, branding leather, painting and mule-riding.
In conclusion, Cloud Camp’s combination of exclusivity, communing with nature and unusual activities ensures the best Colorado family vacation out there.
