Dive Into The Best Winter Resorts For Non-Skiers

Figuring out what to do in your free time can be pretty challenging, but it depends on what you are looking to do.

Being that it is the winter season it’d be great to find some winter activities to do.

This time of year, it can seem like everyone skis.

The “Best Ski Resorts” lists have hit newsfeeds, and weather reports focus on the ample snowfall (or lack thereof) at local hills.

But there are only around 15 million skiers in the United States* – that’s just about 5 percent of the population.

And even in Colorado, a mecca for skiing and world-class resorts, only 9 percent of residents actually hit the slopes.

So where do you go if you don’t ski but still want to curl up by a fire, experience the wintry outdoors, and sidestep the premium rates/crowded high season of most ski resort lodging?

If you find yourself preferring après-ski to actual skiing, it may be time to explore a Colorado resort that isn’t all about the downhill.

The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs experiences its off-season in winter.

Nightly rates at the Forbes Five Star resort start at $259/night in winter/early spring (a massive savings compared to their starting rates of $555+ in summer).

With 784 guest rooms, suites, cottages, and brownstones, there’s usually plenty of inventory during the winter, making it perfect for a last-minute getaway.

Keep in mind that there will be plenty to do, so the odds of you getting bored just won’t exist.

Here’s what makes The Broadmoor the best winter resort for non-skiers.

Winter Outdoor Adventures

• Fat Bikes keep guests riding throughout the winter at the resort using locally-made Borealis fat bikes. These high-end bikes are designed to handle the winter snow of Colorado Springs’ terrain. Guided tours or rentals are available.
• Falconry is considered the sport of kings, and The Broadmoor’s team of master falconers gets guests up close to the birds of prey, all year-long. NEW FOR WINTER 2022: one can even participate in a falconry hunt and experience Harris Hawks in pursuit of live game, including pheasants, rabbits or squirrel. Hunts are offered by reservation only through March.
• Fly Fishing in winter is a great option to opt outside, from quick one-hour casting lessons to full-day trips with The Broadmoor’s professional guides.
• Hiking with The Broadmoor Outfitters is another way to get the heart pumping, and guided hikes can be customized to fit interest and fitness levels.
• Rock Climbing can be arranged in the winter months, if Mother Nature agrees of course. The Broadmoor’s guides work with everyone from newbies to seasoned climbers.
• Develop your Wild West skills with a chance to try your hands at archery, tomahawks, and pellet guns during a two-hour group experience that’s perfect for families who enjoy some friendly competition.  
• Ziplining at The Broadmoor’s Seven Falls continues in winter, offering stunning views of the secluded South Cheyenne Canyon, often dusted in snow.

Spa + Relaxation

• The Spa at The Broadmoor is known internationally for its innovative services and integrated approach to health and relaxation. In winter, guests love the Oxygen Infusion: a cutting-edge treatment that delivers oxygen under hyperbaric pressure to infuse an active serum to the deeper layers of the skin. And the spa’s large indoor pool is open for guests to enjoy year-round, no matter the weather.
• Take in a Movie at the resort’s own theater, including popcorn. It’s free and open to guests with showings each evening and matinees on the weekend (often featuring films that are still in regular theaters).
• Tucked away just off the main lobby, The Broadmoor’s Portales Library is perhaps the coziest place on the property, with an intimate setting and warm/glowing fireplace. It’s the perfect spot to sit and read one of the library’s classics, best sellers, or children’s books.

Indoor Activities

• Spend a fun-filled evening at Play, a Broadmoor restaurant with six bowling lanes plus a host of games including shuffleboard, a pool table, foosball, Xbox, PlayStation, and Wii to keep everyone entertained all evening long.
• Tennis and pickleball are very popular at The Broadmoor, even in winter. Two of the resort’s hard courts are covered by an illuminated, heated bubble during the winter months, and lessons can be arranged.
• A bit indoor AND outdoor… you can travel to the top of Pikes Peak on the heated rail cars of The Broadmoor Manitou & Pikes Peak Cog Railway. Winter rides are typically offered Friday through Monday.

Food… Glorious Food

• NEW FOR 2022: During winter weekends, The Broadmoor now offers hands-on cooking classes. In February, it’s all about Italy. Guests will learn the pizza and pasta classics of Ristorante del Lago, with Broadmoor chefs sharing their techniques and tips for the best pizza dough, classic pizza toppings & how to bake a pizza at home. Guests will also learn how to make ravioli, hand cut pappardelle, a classic beef Bolognese, plus a decadent tiramisu. In March, it’s a focus on classic tapas, with instruction on the finer points of making tortilla Española, Croquetas de Jamon, Gambas al Ajillo, Patatas Bravas, Marinated Olives, and Pan con Tomate, plus desserts like Crema Catalana and Chocolate con Churros.
• The Broadmoor has 17 restaurants, cafes, and lounges that range from fine dining to casual patisseries. The selection means you don’t have to drive on winter roads to seek out sustenance. A winter favorite is the Golden Bee, The Broadmoor’s 19th century British Pub. The pub was actually transferred to The Broadmoor panel by panel, directly from the United Kingdom. Order the Fish & chips, a beer (the Red Leg Brewing Company’s Prospector’s Pick Kolsch is brewed specifically for the resort) and end with the famous Sticky Toffee Pudding. It’s winter, after all.