When I dream of a vacation in Colorado it is filled with visions of clear skies, powdery snow, and the warmth of hot chocolate on my fingers and tongue. But with 300 days of sunshine a year, day temps in the 80s, night temps in the 60s, and family friendly activities to please every age - including the youngest kids and their older grandparents- Colorado in the summer is the perfect family getaway.
My family stayed for 4 nights at the picturesque Cheyenne Mountain Resort in Colorado Springs and when we weren't exploring the area's wonders, we were taking advantage of the resort's phenomenal recreational amenities.
A little bit about the resort..
The Cheyenne Mountain Resort has just over 300 balconied guest rooms and suites in 8 residential lodges, all with extraordinary mountain backdrop views. We stayed in a room with two queen beds which was amply sized for this sprawling family of four. 
With multiple food options available to us, we ate at least two meals per day on site at the resort. Spoiled as we are in New York City, I wasn’t expecting mouth-watering cuisine so we were indeed surprised to find just that and to hear my father-in-law, the most critical among us, raving about his fluffy pancakes in the Mountain View Restaurant and his perfectly prepared burger at the Will Rogers Lounge. The kids had their fill of the delicious (and free!) breakfast buffet each morning. No doubt their favorite menu item was the S'mores Kit that they took to the firepit on the Mountain Terrace. Sweet memories were made there roasting marshmallows, snuggling with mom and dad and chatting with resort guests.
In addition to free breakfast, affordable dinner options, and the Smores Kit, the Cheyenne Mountain caters to its youngest guests in a multitude of ways:
Kidz Zoo Breakfast: Kids can experience wildlife up close and personal when the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo visits the Mountain View restaurant.
Cheyenne Kidz Camp: For ages 5-12 and for only $60/day, let the kids explore summer adventures while you take some time for yourself. Camp offerings may include baking delectable treats with the Chef, chasing clues on a scavenger hunt or making a mess with artsy projects.
Unlimited recreation options: The resort has a fitness center complete with basketball, squash, tennis (yep- lots of tennis- 18 courts in total), fitness classes, mountain bike rental and more! There is an incredible aquatics center with indoor and outdoor pools, a kiddie pool and splash pad as well as a lake and beach with your choice of kayaking, stand up paddle boarding or riding a water tricycle.
You could spend days at the resort, content to never leave- but leave we did because Colorado Springs is jam-packed with adult and kid-friendly attractions! Our favorite attraction was the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo where Julia and Brendan stood mesmerized by a playful grizzly bear for almost an hour and a sleeping mountain lion with paws as big as my head!
Built into a mountain, the zoo (aptly ranked #5 in America) was stunning and unlike any other we've been to. This is a must-see Colorado Springs attraction!
Highlights of our trip also included a day at the Cave of the Winds where we hiked for a mile through caverns that were formed over 50 million years ago. While the adults were fascinated by the geological formations, the kids followed along canvassing the crevices for a peak at Batman's lair. Finally, Mike and Pop-Pop entertained us at day's end with a thrilling ride on the Terror-Dactyl.
A trip to Colorado Springs wouldn't be complete without a tour of the Garden of the Gods. This natural wonder and National Landmark captivated all of us as we spent the afternoon scrambling up various towering rock formations and taking in the view.
Cheyenne Mountain Resort is central to all of these attractions and more. Spend a day in Manitou Springs wandering this eclectic mountain town and tasting the natural mineral water at one or all of its 11 springs. 
Or take the kids to Santa's Workshop in North Pole, Colorado; this Christmas themed amusement park just may have been the kids' favorite attraction! 
The writer was a guest of The Cheyenne Mountian Resort for a two night visit and received a media rate for two additional nights. Most activities in the Colorado Springs area were complimentary. No other compensation was received.
