12 Unique Hotels in Colorado that are Fun for Families
Tired of the same old hotel experience? Craving a unique place to stay full of activities? You can find plenty of unique hotels in Colorado that are fun for families that are anything but cookie-cutter. Forget the standard rooms and get ready to discover hidden gem hotels and the coolest hotels Colorado has to offer.
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I’ll take you to Denver for main-city travel and south to the stunning landscapes and activities around Colorado Springs. But the real hidden gem hotels in Colorado are found off the beaten path, from hot springs to drive-in movies on site in more remote areas.
Prepare to be amazed by everything from architecturally stunning designs to on-site activities that will keep the whole family entertained for days. Whether it’s sleeping in a themed suite, enjoying a hotel with its own water park, or discovering a hidden gem hotel with historic charm, Colorado has a unique stay waiting to make your next family vacation unforgettable. Get ready to explore the coolest hotels Colorado has to offer.
Table of Contents
1. Brown Palace
Denver
The Brown Palace is a charming, historic hotel in the heart of downtown. It’s one of the unique hotels in Colorado due to its shape (it takes the V-shape of the roads it sits between) and its offering of afternoon tea time for visitors.
The palace also takes care of its own rooftop beehives, which produce the honey used in its products and fresh honey jars at the hotel. And when you enjoy the fresh honey, you can also enjoy a fresh glass of water from the hotels own well.
The Brown Palace was originally built in the late 1800’s and named after its original owner, Henry C. Brown.
It truly feels like a palace when you enter, like you’ve been taken back in time. Even the rooms have marble entryways.
2. Beaver Meadows Resort Ranch
Red Feather Lakes
Head north of Denver to Red Feather Lakes where you’ll find Beaver Meadows Resort Ranch. This is great for families that want to avoid city life and get a little more rugged. As it’s located north of Denver, it’s one of Colorado’s hidden gem hotels out of the city and its own getaway.
This ranch offers many family activities on-site, like Disc Golf, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, paint classes, s’mores, and more. If you visit over a Saturday in the summer, you can even participate in a cooking class! This is a legit family-bonding experience.
Families can choose from condos, cabins, or lodge rooms (or camping, if you’d really like).
3. Cliff House Lodge and Hot Tub Cottages
Morrison
Another unique hotel in Colorado is the Cliff House Lodge and Hot Tub Cottages, which are located just a mile away from the famous Red Rocks Park and Amphitheater. Whether you are visiting Denver, heading to a show at Red Rocks, hiking for the day, or just want a unique getaway near Denver, this is the place!
There are 8 rooms at the Cliff House Lodge, and 6 of them have their own private hot tub. The other two have deep, jetted tubs in the room.
The unique part of this lodging, besides the hot tubs, is that each cottage has a unique theme. Enter the world of Camelot with dark, geometric flooring. Relax in the Rose room. Or, families can grab the Dino room which has two plush queen beds.
Pets are welcome here and most rooms have kitchenettes.
As a warning for families, note that cannabis is also welcome among guests-of-age.
4. YMCA of the Rockies
Estes Park
YMCA of the Rockies is not all-inclusive, but it’s incredibly inclusive in regards to on-site activities.
Families on a budget can get a lodge room for pretty cheap, and comfortably sleep 6 in select rooms with double bunk beds. You can also book a cabin, which provides more space, a fully kitchen, and honestly is still a great price.
During the waking hours, you can choose from included activities like the pool, nature walks, bird walks, roller skating, use of the gymnasium (including employee-led game times for guests to play various PE games together), staff-led activities like making bird feeders, knot-tying, making ice cream, and so much more.
For a little extra $, you could do some archery, go to the craft building to tie-dye shirts or paint and decorate pre-built items, or go horseback riding.
If that’s not enough to convince you that this is a great hotel in Colorado for families, then you should also know that Rocky Mountain National Park is just down the road. The property actually runs adjacent to it. (YMCA also leads guided hikes into the park!)
5. Sun Outdoors
Granby
Sun Outdoors is located in Granby, which is basically on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park. This property is a blast for families with all the amenities it offers.
At this super fun hotel in Colorado, you’ll be able to stay in a cabin (or park your RV) on the property.
Once settled, families can enjoy amenities like the swimming pool, hot tubs, pickle ball, bowling alley, arcade, or even grab a paddle board or kayak and spend some time on the lake right there!
All ages will enjoy the playground, playing Bocce Ball, and live music in the evenings.
If you’re there a while or just need a refresh, laundry facilities are available on-site.
This hotel in Colorado has some of the best activities on site!
6. Garden of the Gods Resort
Colorado Springs
There are so many noteworthy things about this place I don’t know where to start. Here’s what many others have rated it:
- Rated on Trip Advisor as the #3 best infinity pool in the world (2024)
- Made the list of CondeNast Traveller’s reader choice awards (2024)
- Made the list on USA Today’s reader’s choice of top 10 hotel spas
There are many other awards, but let’s get to why this is one of the coolest hotels to take the family in Colorado.
To start, the pools outside provide both options and views. Choose from the infinity pool that overlooks Garden of the Gods, or the Three Graces pool area that has both lap lanes and a zero entry area (and a hot tub!) Resort guests also get access to the Rec Center pool down the road, which offers a diving board and splash pad for kids.
As a top-rated wellness resort, you’ll have plenty of fitness opportunities. Take advantage of tennis, pickle ball, the impressive fitness center, and fitness classes.
Even larger families can enjoy the resort in cottages that can sleep up to 8 people comfortable (aka, no pull out sofas, just beds!)
If you want a resort with the best view in town, be sure to book Garden of the Gods Resort and Spa. You’ll have fun and feel refreshed from your visit.
Great Wolf is definitely one of the coolest hotels in Colorado and it’s located in a great area for exploring beyond the hotel.
7. Great Wolf Lodge
Colorado Springs
Great Wold Lodge is a kid’s dream. This super unique hotel in Colorado Springs offers fun for the whole family, and is truly unlike any other hotel.
If you haven’t heard of Great Wolf Lodge before, its main attraction is the massive indoor waterpark.
The waterpark features area for kids and adults of all ages. One area has smaller, gentle slides while another has steeper slides and even trap-door starts to your journey down.
Then of course there are obstacle areas, a wave pool, a recreational swimming area, and a water playground with the popular dump bucket.
And when you’re tired from swimming, you can do mini golf, an indoor ropes course, the arcade, storytime, or one of the many other happenings at the hotel.
There are restaurants right in the hotel for convenience, or get out for plenty of restaurants options right down the road.
8. Frontier Drive-Inn
Center (northwest of Alamosa), about 40 miles west of Great Sand Dunes National Park
Frontier Drive-Inn has kept one of America’s pastimes: the Drive-in Movie. On select weekends, the hotel plays a movie on the big screen outside, giving guests a chance to enjoy this unique and lost experience.
Not all movies are family-movies, but many are to accommodate guests of all ages. Check ahead before you book to make sure you can take advantage of this Inn’s main feature.
Recognized by Outside Magazine, Travel and Leisure, The New York Post, and many other publications, the Frontier Drive-Inn has received accolades for restoring this piece of history into a landmark for the San Luis Valley.
Other than the drive-in experience, one thing that makes Frontier Drive-Inn one of the most unique hotels in Colorado is that each room is different, and not just in decor!
You can choose to stay in a upscale yurt, an apartment-style room, or a Steelmaster shed which combines San Luis Valley farm history with upscale accommodations.
Note, the sheds and yurts sleep 2, so the apartment is the way to go for families.
9. Movie Manor
Monte Vista (west of Alamosa)
There must be something about this area, because the Best Western Movie Manor is another location where guests can enjoy a drive-in movie.
If you want more of a traditional hotel-feel to your visit, then this is the better choice. While traditional, Movie Manor is still a bit of a hidden gem hotel in Colorado as it’s in a location less-frequented.
Movie Manor offers 2 different screens to watch on. The first can be seen from most of the rooms so you can stay cozy and doze off when you’d like. The second screen requires guests to get outside and up closer.
Note, the movies are seasonal from mid-May to mid-September.
10. Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort
Near Buena Vista
Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort is easily one of the coolest hotels in Colorado for many reasons. Its main attraction is the hot springs, which anyone can visit but is included for resort guests. The hot springs have multiple pools and areas to visit, but the best part for families and kids are the 700-foot slides that open up for summer.
The resort has plenty of more activities on site beyond a typical hotel. Enjoy time on the tennis courts or enjoy complimentary mountain bike rentals in summer.
In winter, included in your stay are snowshoe or cross country ski rentals.
Choose from plenty of lodging options, whether it’s a standard lodge room, a cabin, or a suite along the scenic Chalk Creek. Some lodging can sleep up to 10 for your large group!
And while there’s plenty to do nearby, you don’t have to leave if you don’t want to, as there’s a general store and restaurants right on site.
11. The Springs Resort
Pagosa Springs
The Springs Resort is another hot springs resort with plenty of fun for families. Skip the basic hotel pool and improve your experience with posh hot springs and lodging that runs right along the San Juan River.
Located in the heart of Pagosa Springs (which itself is loaded with fun family activities), The Springs Resort is exciting and convenient, whether you’re looking to stay on property or venture out.
At The Springs Resort, you’ll have over 50 pools to choose from for your soak. This includes hot springs pools as well as cold plunge pools. (20 of the pools are open to all ages).
While anyone can buy a day pass to soak, they are limited to about 12 hours of the day. Resort guests are welcome to soak around the clock, giving you opportunities to find a quieter, less crowded moment.
In addition to the springs, your stay also includes yoga and forest bathing hiking.
12. Redstone Inn
Redstone
Redstone Inn made the list of most unique hotels in Colorado because while the rooms are each unique, they also are immaculate in their blueprint and decor. No standard hotel here!
The Inn was originally built in 1902, back when miners were in the area. John Osgood decided to create better living conditions for the men, and the Redstone Inn with 20 rooms was born.
Today, it’s a great getaway for guests to relax at the pool or enjoy this historic hotel and is located about an hour from Aspen.
Families will love the pool in its beautiful setting, sitting right off the Crystal River. Rooms can sleep up to 5, with the Chalet room sleeping up to 6.
I put this at the bottom because it still deserves a mention as a bit of a hidden gem hotel and the pool scenery and historic charm of this place is incredible. But it maybe has less activities on-site for the whole family. Still a great hotel though!
Most Unique Hotels in Colorado for Families: Wrap Up
There are so many unique hotels in Colorado and these happen to be the best ones for families. From themed rooms to exciting on-site activities, you don’t have to add too much more to your vacation with these great family hotels.
Are your kids most excited for the giant water park of Great Wolf, the incredible hot springs (and slides!) of Pagosa, or the endless rollerskating, swimming, and other activities of YMCA? There are so many cool hotels in Colorado for families to stay at that offer so much value and excitement. Which will you stay at next?
