As Johnny Cash crooned in 1962: “There are those who are taking vacations to the mountains the lakes and the sea / Where they rest from their cares and their troubles / What a wonderful time that must be.”
Romanticizing the restorative power of escape, his sentiment still holds true for families traveling today. Whether it’s trading routines for riverside hikes, pre-school for ski school, or iPads for starry night skies, Colorado has long stood as the go-to destination for sightseers and thrill-seekers of all ages looking for much more than just a day at the beach.
Hotels across the Centennial State continue to step it up for the stroller set, creating high country havens where kids can be kids, and parents can actually relax. Think ski-in/ski-out lodges that double as summer adventure hubs, an urban oasis with a rooftop pool, and a remote resort celebrating environmental education.
So, pack the snacks, load up the car, and hit the open road toward any one of these hotels – sure to make “are we there yet?” fade away upon arrival.
Style: Urban Luxury
Atmosphere: Polished
Perfect For: City Explorers
Signature service meets a singular Denver stay at this 45-story, high-rise retreat in the heart of downtown. As always at a Four Seasons, the amenities for kids go above and beyond, offering in-room teepees, milk and cookies, “Teens Night In” kits, child-sized robes, baby toiletries, and a Nintendo Wii game library. Traveling with an infant in tow? Cribs, high chairs, and bottle warmers are just a call away. Centrally located, with walkable access to the likes of the Denver Art Museum, Union Station, Elitch Gardens, Ball Arena, and Coors Field, there’s no better respite to return to after a day discovering Colorado’s capital city. Plus, to help tire the youngsters out even more, there’s a third-floor rooftop pool, a spacious outdoor deck, and a terrace bar crafting cocktails for the parents. Beyond the family-friendly frills, adults can unwind with treatments in the full-service spa, take a breather in the fitness center, or book a babysitter through the concierge to enjoy a date night downstairs at EDGE Restaurant & Bar, which, as the sole dining option on-property, is also open for breakfast, lunch, and room service.
Style: Mountain Modern
Atmosphere: Slopeside Sophisticated
Perfect for: A Home Away From Home
Situated slope-side at the base of one of North America’s most family-friendly ski resorts, Viceroy Snowmass is an all-season sanctuary that nails the balance between mountain luxury and kid-approved fun. The property’s residential-style accommodations make longer stays less stressful (up to two bedrooms in size), with each of the all-suite 173 rooms equipped with kitchenettes and ample space to spread out. In the winter, ski-in/ski-out access makes getting the kiddos up and out on the mountain just a little bit easier, with an on-site ski concierge to help coordinate rentals, lift tickets, and lessons – or choose another excursion from sleigh rides, snowshoeing, and sledding to tubing, snowmobiling, and ice skating. Come summer, it’s all about horseback riding, fly-fishing, rafting, hot air balloon rides, and the weekly Snowmass Rodeo. But the biggest draw is just a gondola ride away to the top of Snowmass Mountain, where the newly developed Lost Forest is an outdoor adventure dreamland come true (a zipline, ropes course, alpine coaster, hiking trails, fishing pond, disc golf, paintball, and climbing wall). For tween and teen thrill-seekers, there’s also direct access to the lift-served Snowmass Bike Park – the first Gold-Level Ride Center in Colorado featuring 25 miles of singletrack and downhill trails. Grown-ups can regroup at the Jean Michel-Gathy-designed spa, attempt to read in a poolside cabana while the kids cannonball into the year-round heated pool, and dine at Toro by Richard Sandoval, which anchors the bustling lobby scene. Whether you’re plotting ski school or a summer adventure to remember, this Viceroy location makes a family vacation in Snowmass the most seamless.
Style: Rustic Elegance
Atmosphere: Lively Lodge
Perfect for: Private Mountain Paradise
Tucked into a practically private, postcard-perfect stretch of Beaver Creek, The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch is a master class in Rocky Mountain hospitality, where making family memories is the focus. While its soaring stone-and-timber lodge channels alpine grandeur, the pint-sized perks make it a hit for multigenerational getaways. The long-running “Ritz Kids” program turns the resort into a mini adventure camp for guests (ages 5 to 12), with programming built around nature, wellness, and creativity including scavenger hunts, craft sessions, and supervised outdoor activities — all helmed by pros in a state-licensed facility so parents can sneak off for a spa treatment, harder hike, or ski day with zero guilt. In the room, children can camp out in cozy indoor tents, complete with plush bedding and stuffed animals— the cutest surprise that makes bedtime a highlight. Add in four restaurants, a massive pool complex, a Grand Lawn for old-school games, and s’mores-ready fire pits, and you might never want to even leave campus. Oh, and we almost forgot to mention to keep your eyes peeled for Bachelor, the hotel’s resident Saint Bernard, who’s on duty to collect pets, give out kisses, and join guests on the free daily guided nature hikes out back.
Book The Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch with The MICHELIN Guide →
Style: Southwestern
Atmosphere: Remote Retreat
Perfect for: Group Getaways
For families willing to veer off the beaten I-70 path, Gateway Canyons Resort is the kind of hidden gem that turns the classic Colorado vacation on its head. Tucked into the towering red rock canyons near the Utah border, this secluded destination puts an emphasis on hands-on discovery set against jaw-dropping surroundings. You can even spin it to the kids that the landscape looks like Jurassic Park (minus the actual dinosaurs, obviously). Here, kids can explore fossil beds, embark on geology hikes, or gawk at vintage cars in the on-site auto museum while parents soak in some stillness at the spa or sip wine with a desert backdrop that rivals any national park. Activities are tailored to curious minds and active bodies —horseback rides, UTV tours, and stargazing nights are all part of the program. The Southwestern-styled accommodations range from regular rooms in the poolside Kiva Lodge, fireplace suites in the Kayenta (housed in the original adobe structures on the property), to ultra-luxury casitas. The dining options overall are more casual in their coffee bar, poolside cantina, and Southwestern grill, with an upstairs gaming loft to shoot pool, play shuffleboard pre- or post-dinner. While it’s not your typical ski lodge or city escape, that’s the point. Gateway Canyons Resort gives families space to unplug, roam, and reconnect in a setting that feels downright otherworldly.
Book Gateway Canyons Resort with The MICHELIN Guide →
Style: Western Chic
Atmosphere: Happening Hangout
Perfect for: A Base Village Basecamp
This high-altitude haven doubles as a luxe launchpad for family adventures big and small during all four stunning seasons. The hotel’s adventure concierge is on-call to arrange excursions including scenic flights over red rock country, bouldering, paddle boarding, and fly-fishing. But you don’t have to venture far if the kids are sick of the car, as its prime Mountain Village location serves as a fun zone for them to roam and play safely through the pedestrian-only core. Spacious suites and residences offer plenty of room for large families with Auberge Resorts Collection-style attention to detail and ease (teepees in-room are available here, too!). Both hotel restaurants, Black Iron Kitchen & Bar and the Timber Room, bring together locals and guests alike for gourmet gastropub fare and lively après scenes inside and out on the fire-pit clad patio. Don’t miss the traditional alphorn ceremony every afternoon, performed by the general manager himself, with his beloved Saint Bernard, Cheyenne, by his side. Big bonus points: From May through October, all meals are complimentary for children 12 and under.
Hero image: Gateway Canyon Ranch
