I’ve scored the billion-dollar view: From the balcony of my mountain-front guestroom at Garden of the Gods Resort and Club in Colorado Springs, the mammoth rock formations of Garden of the Gods Park soar heavenward, providing a unique and memorable backdrop to my getaway. Nice comfort touches include a yoga mat and blocks in a basket in one corner of the room, and a guided yoga class accessible via the television that’s part of the resort’s in-house content.

© Garden of the Gods Resort and Club
There’s also a soothing meditation class with singing bowls that seems appropriate to the dramatic landscape beyond the windows. The Lavazza coffee station includes one of the things most American hotels neglect entirely: a tea kettle and selection of high-end teas. Grateful I don’t have to sip a cup of tea that carries the disturbing flavor of water forced through a coffeemaker, I chose the chai option and settled in to watch the light change over the peaks.
Ancient and cloaked in legends, Garden of the Gods Park is a National Natural Landmark, marked by geological features dating back to the Pleistocene Ice Age. Oceans once lapped at the feet of erect formations, which resulted from a geological upheaval during a period when mountains were being formed in North America. Later, and as documented in petroglyphs, native Ute tribes revered the rocks, believing them to hold great spiritual significance. Today, a number of touring options are available, including electric bikes, but I opted for an afternoon of hiking along well-tended paths.
Dinner on site in Grand View is a delicious feast of roasted vegetable tapado and a side of crab fried rice. I left the patio door cracked in my room, and slept deeply in the cool night air. Back at Grand View in the morning, breakfast is apple raisin toast, scrambled eggs and a bowl of berries in front of the glass wall in Grand View Restaurant, where entertainment is provided by deer wandering across the grass lawn.

© Garden of the Gods Resort and Club
Mid-morning, my destination is Strata Spa. Located on the second floor of a separate structure that also houses the extensive Strata Med center on the ground floor, this spa complex is a tranquil environment. In the women’s space, there’s a salt inhalation room built with bricks of pink Himalayan salt, as well as a satisfyingly hot steam chamber. A coed relaxation room provides a selection of deep chairs and upholstered day beds; a babbling water feature; and a bar with snacks, water, teas and infusions by Tea Forte. I chose a raspberry blend and settled in until my therapist arrives to escort me to the treatment room.
The wide-ranging spa menu includes Ayurvedic treatments, body therapies, massages, facials, salon services, and energy options including Reiki and Cranial Sacral. I selected the 75-minute Mystic Inka Ritual, which utilizes creams and oils created from Andean superfoods. First, my therapist applied a full-body exfoliating scrub made from blue corn, explaining it’s less abrasive than sugar or salt. After she gently worked it in, I showered off beneath a stream of warm water and prepared for the ritual’s next step: the application of a warm mask made of quinoa cream to my back, and a moisturizing oil derived from nourishing Peruvian Sacha Inchi leaves to my limbs, stomach, shoulders and upper chest. I’m treated to a massage of long, soothing strokes, and a scalp massage that leaves me fully relaxed.

© Garden of the Gods Resort and Club
The entire resort is exactly like that: relaxing and rejuvenating. In the massive bathroom of my guestroom, a vast walk-in shower covered one wall. There was a vanity alcove with a drawer, magnifying mirror and hairdryer. Double sinks had ample counter space, and the toilet closet featured a separate heating unit. Other amenities included a safe, large closet, glass-fronted minifridge, soft robes and slippers.
Luxury accommodations at Garden of the Gods Resort include guestrooms and suites, and multibedroom cottages and casitas. Along with those gorgeous park views, my own spacious guestroom featured a high, sloping ceiling descending to a set of wide glass doors leading out to a private balcony. A pair of deep, comfortable chairs made it easy to enjoy the panoramic landscape from the warmth of indoors, thanks to the large corner fireplace keeping things cozy when the temperatures dipped toward nippy at night and in the early morning.
Read This Next

Introducing
FX Excursions
FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.
#globility
Insta FeedeFlyer Reviews
May 14, 2025Hotel Van Zandt Review
One step onto Austin’s Rainey Street and you’ll feel like you’ve joined the cool kids at the best playground in the city. Just behind the cottage bars, pint-sized skyscrapers soar. One of them, Hotel Van Zandt, the Rainey district's pièce de resistance, beckons with a song-like spirit —apropos because the independently owned property, rife with music motifs, was named after beloved singer-songwriter Townes Van Zandt. Sixteen stories high, the hotel embodies Austin’s lust for music, manifesting with a vinyl corner; trumpet chandeliers; myriad musical references; replica vintage posters in frames; and its own live music venue, which doubles as its acclaimed restaurant, Geraldine’s. Don’t miss the mesmerizing installation of colorful origami-like birds composed from vinyl records that flitter from an old phonograph.
Sponsored Content
Explore Europe with the Best River Cruise Line this November
Experience Europe from a fresh perspective with AmaWaterways, just awarded Best River Cruise Line by Global Traveler for the third consecutive year. Step aboard, unpack once and embark on a cruise through iconic capital cities and awe-inspiring landscapes. AmaWaterways' ships, which accommodate an average of just 156 guests, offer a spacious yet intimate setting. Throughout your journey, you'll enjoy exquisite farm-to-table dining; unparalleled service; and a variety of included excursions, from city tours for gentle walkers to thrilling bike rides along the rivers.
eFlyer News
May 14, 2025National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions Enters European River Cruise Market with 2026 Itineraries
National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions recently announced its inaugural European river cruises, with bookings open for its 2026 sailings on May 20. Travelers can choose from two options, each focusing on different destinations and activities.
eFlyer News
May 14, 2025Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines Launch Daily Service Between Seattle and Tokyo
Alaska Airlines launches a new global connection between the Pacific Northwest and Japan with a Hawaiian Airlines-operated flight. The new service between Seattle (SEA) and Tokyo (NRT) begins Sept. 12.
Sponsored Content
Sail Unique with Explora Journeys
SAIL UNIQUE: A New Chapter in Luxury Ocean Travel Imagine a place where modern European elegance meets the rhythm of the sea — where time slows down, and every detail is crafted to inspire connection and quiet indulgence. This is Explora Journeys, the luxury lifestyle ocean brand from MSC Group created to redefine how we explore the world.
eFlyer News
May 14, 2025Hotel Designed for Adults Only to Open in Puerto Vallarta
Following the brand’s first opening last December, UNICO Hotel Collection expands with its second property in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Slated to open Sept. 1, UNICO 20°105° Hotel Vallarta brings 141 luxury guestrooms to one of Mexico’s most popular destinations.
Viking Launches Exclusive May Sales
eFlyer Deals
May 14, 2025World Cruises: A Growing Trend?
eFlyer Lead
May 14, 2025Slideshow
May 12, 20256 Reasons to Put Salzburg, Austria, on Your Travel List
It’s time to start dreaming of your next trip. Here’s some destination inspiration for you. Take a visual journey through Salzburg, Austria, with us.
Sponsored Content
Seoul: Your Next MICE Destination
Seoul has rapidly become a leading global MICE hub, known for its rich culture, advanced technology and strong economy. As the capital of South Korea, it offers a strategic location in East Asia and a booming cultural influence through K-pop, K-movies, Korean cuisine and K-dramas. With its vibrant atmosphere and business-friendly environment, Seoul is increasingly the top choice for MICE organizers and corporate travelers seeking connection and collaboration.
Hotels
May 11, 2025OMNI Fort Lauderdale Opens This Fall
This fall OMNI Fort Lauderdale Hotel debuts in one of Florida’s most iconic cities. Connected to Broward County Convention Center, this new hotel embraces Florida’s coastal energy across 29 floors and 800 rooms. The hotel’s debut will also make it the largest hotel in Fort Lauderdale in terms of number of guestrooms.
ShareThis