I’ve enjoyed a billion-dollar view from the balcony of my mountain-front guestroom at Garden of the Gods Resort and Club in Colorado Springs. The towering red rock formations of Garden of the Gods Park rise dramatically from the valley, creating an unforgettable backdrop to the stay. Thoughtful in-room touches—like a yoga mat and blocks tucked in a basket, plus a guided yoga class available through the in-room television—make it easy to relax and reconnect.
© Garden of the Gods Resort and Club
A soothing meditation session featuring singing bowls fits the dramatic landscape seen through the windows. The Lavazza coffee station is thoughtfully stocked and, importantly, includes a tea kettle with a selection of premium teas—an amenity many American hotels overlook. Grateful to enjoy a properly brewed cup, I chose the chai and watched the light shift across the peaks.
Garden of the Gods Park is ancient and steeped in legend. A National Natural Landmark, the park’s towering sandstone formations trace their origins to the Pleistocene and to geological upheaval that shaped North America’s mountains. Evidence of indigenous presence appears in petroglyphs; the Ute people long regarded these rocks as spiritually significant. Today the park offers many ways to explore—guided tours, electric bikes, and well-maintained hiking trails. I spent a peaceful afternoon hiking the paths and taking in the scenery.
Dinner on-site at Grand View Restaurant is a flavorful experience: roasted vegetable tapado and crab fried rice made for a satisfying evening meal. I left the patio door slightly open and slept deeply in the cool mountain air. The next morning, breakfast at Grand View included apple-raisin toast, scrambled eggs and a bowl of berries, served beside the restaurant’s glass wall as deer grazed on the lawn.
© Garden of the Gods Resort and Club
Mid-morning I visited Strata Spa, located on the second floor of a separate building that also houses the Strata Med center. The spa feels calm and restorative: the women’s area includes a salt inhalation room lined with pink Himalayan salt bricks and a hot steam chamber, while the coed relaxation lounge offers oversized chairs, upholstered day beds, a gentle water feature and a refreshment bar with snacks, water and teas by Tea Forte. I sipped a raspberry blend while waiting for my therapist.
The spa menu is extensive—Ayurvedic therapies, body treatments, massages, facials, salon services and energy work such as Reiki and Craniosacral therapy. I chose the 75-minute Mystic Inka Ritual, which uses creams and oils made from Andean superfoods. The treatment began with a full-body exfoliation using a blue corn scrub, noted for being gentler than sugar or salt scrubs. After rinsing under warm water, a warm quinoa cream mask was applied to my back and a moisturizing oil from Peruvian Sacha Inchi nourished my limbs, torso and chest. The session included long, restorative massage strokes and a calming scalp massage that left me deeply relaxed.
© Garden of the Gods Resort and Club
The resort as a whole emphasizes comfort and rejuvenation. My guestroom’s large bathroom featured an expansive walk-in shower spanning one wall, a vanity alcove with a drawer and magnifying mirror, double sinks with plenty of counter space, and a separate heated toilet closet. Practical touches included a safe, a spacious closet, a glass-front mini-fridge, soft robes and slippers.
Accommodations range from guestrooms and suites to multi-bedroom cottages and casitas, many with sweeping views of the park. My roomy guestroom had a high sloping ceiling and wide glass doors that opened to a private balcony. Two deep chairs and a corner fireplace made it easy to enjoy the panorama from inside when temperatures grew crisp in the evenings and early mornings.
Overall, Garden of the Gods Resort and Club offers a balanced combination of striking natural scenery, thoughtful amenities, restorative spa services and comfortable accommodations—an ideal spot for a restful mountain escape.