Travel Tale

It sits in a most unlikely place. It has a most unlikely history. It is more American than most of America, and more European than most of Europe. It is luxurious and beyond, yet charges what would have been bargain rates decades ago. For seventy-five years, The Broadmoor Hotel (just outside of Colorado Springs) has been an unremitting success because it does more of what it is supposed to do and does it better than most.

Born in the wilds of Colorado in 1891 as the development dream of a Prussian count, The Broadmoor has come through the years as a casino, boarding school for girls, hotel and now full-service resort. It has retained its legacy in the grandeur of its Italian Renaissance style (designed by a New York architect), yet has just emerged from a multi-million-dollar renovation that has successfully melded the work of hundreds of early-century American And European artisans with state-of-the-art design and conveniences.

Many (if not most) people seek out a favorite resort because of the sports facilities provided. We were truly impressed by the seemingly endless variety of indoor and outdoor recreational areas placed around the resort's 3,000 acres. Pride of place must be reserved for the THREE 18-hole championship golf courses that nestle amid the most scenic landscape to be found anywhere. The award-winning courses differ in difficulty as they wind their way through beautiful forested areas with the Cheyenne Mountains and Pikes Peak forming a backdrop. The East Course, designed by Donald Ross in 1918 (and later redesigned by Robert Trent Jones), is the most forgiving; duffers with nerves of steel can go up against the challenging South Course (by Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay), with its curving, narrow fairways that put a premium on accuracy and club selection. There is also a putting green and a driving range, a full-service clubhouse, group and individual lessons and a large pro shop.

There are plenty of other sports to keep your bones moving. The Broadmoor has 12 tennis courts, three squash courts, three swimming pools, an indoor ice rink, a fly-fishing school on site, trap and skeet shooting, and riding stables. For hikers and horseback riders, the are more than 20 miles of trails laid out after a long day at the saunas and jacuzzi's, or just catch a flick at the movie theater or shop the many retail stores.

Unlike many self-contained resorts plunked down in areas one would not risk hide nor hair to explore, The Broadmoor is located in one of the planet's truly exciting regions. Close by (and I mean within a few miles) are sports, cultural, and sightseeing activities to enflame the most jaded. Hyper personalities can go white-water rafting, rock climbing, hot air ballooning, and snow skiing. Sightseers can view natural and man-made attractions from the tamest (their own zoo and the most visited state) to the tawdriest (Cripple Creek, a real 1870's gold mining town recently converted to a gambling mecca). In between are the U.S. Olympic Training Center, the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, the Seven Falls and Cheyenne Canyon with an elevator ride through the mountain's core, and Royal Gorge, site of the world's highest suspension bridge. And don't forget Pikes Peak Cog Railway, a panoramic journey to the 14,000-foot summit.

If these sound like great places to take the kids, they are (even Cripple Creek is a western fantasy with its old-time stores and buildings). But The Broadmoor also offers plenty of kids' activities through its "Bee Bunch" program, planned days--arts and crafts, swimming, ice skating, tennis, paddle boating, hiking, trips--tailored for ages 5-8 and 9-12. Including their own meal time, so parents can truly enjoy their freedom (with a clear head--the ratio of kids to chaperones is 5 to 1).

If your passion for white water is confined to crystal goblets (or plastic cups) set amid great food, The Broadmoor has created