Blog, Relocation

Colorado Springs – Stay in Style, Sleep in History

 The Broadmoor. This expansive resort is known as one of the most elegant places to stay in all of Colorado. It’s also one of the region’s most storied historical attractions. Spencer Penrose, a gold and copper miner from Philadelphia, bought the property in 1916 and expanded it to include a Donald Ross designed golf course and Italian Renaissance style buildings. Renovated and expanded many times over the years, the resort is set on 400 acres encompassing Cheyenne Lake and featuring stunning views of Cheyenne Mountain.

Penrose was instrumental in promoting the Pikes Peak region as a destination. Along with his resort, he built the Pikes Peak Road leading to the summit, established the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, and bought the Pike’s Peak Cog Railway.

First-class recreation meets first-class lodging at The Broadmoor, which just hosted golf’s 2008 U.S. Senior Open. Three courses offer 54 holes of play; the tennis club is nationally ranked. Travelers feel at home in any of the 700 elegant rooms and suites, the infinity swimming pool on the lake’s north end, world-class spa, and 18 restaurants. 1 Lake Avenue; Tel: 866-837-9520; broadmoor.com  

photography /the Broadmoor

 

The Cliff House at Pikes Peak. History abounds here. The Cliff House has been open to guests longer than Colorado has been a state. Formerly a stop along one of the most famous stagecoach runs in the West, the inn originally accommodated overflow guests in tents beside its then 20-room structure.

Now grown to 50 rooms, the property retains a Victorian charm, presiding over the mountain village of Manitou Springs. The inn’s wide front porch beckons guests to dine or just kick back a bit. Inside, find regal amenities such as two-person spa tubs, towel warmers, and gas fireplaces.
Good reason to celebrate: an anniversary discount in dollars equal to the number of  years a couple has been married. 306 Cañon Avenue, Manitou Springs; Tel: 719-685-3000; thecliffhouse.com

 

 

Cheyenne Mountain Resort. A variety of dining options, function space, and full access to the Country Club of Colorado make this resort an excellent choice for a corporation or family. Windsurf, sail, or fish on the 35-acre lake or tee-off at a golf course designed by Pete Dye. photography /the Cliff house at pikes peak

Each room features a balcony with a view of breathtaking Cheyenne Mountain. 3225 Broadmoor Valley Road; Tel: 719538-4000; cheyennemountain.com

Holden House. A bottomless cookie jar. A 200-year old tea set from South Whales. An 1898 oak parlor stove. An authentic Van Briggle tile fireplace. These areamong the many treats offered by Holden House, which bills itself as the only bedand-breakfast to win the Historic
Preservation Alliance Award of Excellence for preservation and restoration. Built in 1902, the property features eight guest suites in the restored Victorian, an adjacent 1898 home, and the carriage house. Don’t miss breakfast favorite German puff pancakes with spiced apples
or the beautiful view from the Victorian cottage garden. Guests are a quick walk from the shops and restaurants of Old Colorado City. 1102 West Pikes Peak Avenue; Tel: 719-471-3980; holdenhouse.com

—Christopher Collier and Brianna Pellicane

Dine Fine or Family Style

Choose Upscale experiences at The Broadmoor and The Cliff House or new, fresh takes on local ingredients at favorites in town.

Let’s start at the top. The Broadmoor boasts the state’s only AAA Five-Diamond experience, the Penrose Room. Impeccable service and views of Cheyenne Mountain complement your foie gras, dessert soufflé, or fine European wines. The resort also offers the slightly less formal Charles Court, with its focus on Colorado ingredients, and Summit, an American brasserie.

Upscale dining also is the order of the day at The Cliff House at Pikes Peak in Manitou Springs. Here, surf and turf is a buffalo filet with lobster ravioli. Start with the seafood cakes appetizer and choose from more than 700 wines to accompany your meal.

Also in Manitou, check out the Craftwood Inn, which has for years specialized in “wild” game dishes, including elk, antelope, bison, quail, and pheasant (most farm-raised for quality control).

Walter’s Bistro and Plate World Cuisine in downtown Colorado Springs have the same owner but very different menus. Walter’s is upscale; Plate made City magazine’s top 101 American restaurants last year. Plate offers mini-menus representing various cuisines. If you want a fine steak but your spouse is craving French or Pacific Rim food, this is your stop.

Eric Viedt, recently voted the city’s top chef, runs the kitchen at The Margarita at PineCreek. It sounds like a Mexican restaurant but offers much more. The Margarita’s menu changes daily, depending on what looks freshest to the chef. Find typically a beef entrée, a seafood entrée, and a third dish featuring poultry or wild game. Vegetarians are always accommodated, and almost everything is organic.

For trendy diners, The Blue Star is a must. Its menu reflects the latest ingredients and techniques. Daily specials feature duck, veal, and ahi tuna. Few restaurants serve such elegant vegetables as those that accompany your lamb chops or grilled fish at Marigold Café & Bakery—save room for the crusty French bread and lush desserts.

 The city’s favorite new restaurant is Nosh, located in the Fine Arts Center Modern Museum. Nosh has embraced the tapas craze with a wide assortment of selections. The Famous is the place to go for steaks, and Phantom Canyon brews some fine beers with pub food to match. If your tastes run more to rustic, sit family style and pass the fried chicken at Juniper Valley Ranch. Or dive into a plate-size burger at Conway’s Red Top, which has been featured in numerous guidebooks.
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Source: hemispheresmagazine.com