I’ve lost track of how many times out-of-state strangers have emailed me and asked for advice on vacationing in Denver. Though I can keep ‘em busy for weeks with local activities, I always draw a blank when they’re looking for hotel recommendations.
So when Omni Hotels contacted me a couple of weeks ago and invited my family to stay at the Omni Interloken Resort in Broomfield to check-out their new Camp Omni program for kids, I jumped at the chance. The timing was perfect to have a final summer getaway and we prefaced our stay with back-to-school shopping at nearby FlatIron Crossing.
The Local Omni Conspiracy
There’s a conspiracy at Omni and the worst part about it is I was left out.
I’ve driven past this four-diamond, 290-room resort a number of times but with its 27-hole golf course overlooking stunning panoramas of the mountains, I figured it was a hotel that catered to the conference-center crowd.
Oh, how wrong I was.
First, there is Camp Omni (stay tuned for details on that). Second, there are oodles of kid-friendly amenities. When we arrived, their two luxurious outdoor pools were bustling with families as kick-back parents ordered poolside service from H2O or skipped off to Mokara Spa.
I was curious where they were from. Though Broomfield is conveniently located a stone’s throw between Denver and Boulder off Highway 36, it’s not exactly an in-demand destination.
The responses shocked me: “I’m from Erie.” ” Louisville.” “Denver.” “Littleton.” I’m sure there were families from out-of-state there but everyone I talked to was local. One very pregnant mom even opted to skip their annual vacation to Vail so they have a staycation close to home.
“It’s great,” she said. “We feel like we’re a million miles away with the kids and yet we can race home and let the dogs out without springing for a dog sitter.”
Now, that is a vacation.
Camp Omni
First things first, Camp Omni isn’t exactly a camp but rather, a fun promotion designed for families. Upon check-in, each child received a welcome backpacking with s’mores-flavored marshmallows, collapsible water bottle and a lanyard kit.
We were also given a well-planned and easy scavenger hunt, which helped the kids discover the hotel as they raced from clue to clue. The kids had a blast and this is what was included:
- 15% discount on deluxe accommodations (minimum two-night stay)
- Complimentary breakfast for kids 12 and under from the buffet or children’s menu
- $10 gift card for kids to use anywhere in the hotel
- Camp newsletter with scavenger hunt that is redeemable for a merit badge and ‘dirt & worms’ dessert upon completion
- Pre-call from camp counselor (concierge)
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| Scavenger Hunt |
Pricing is from $155 per night (based on two kids per room) and the promotion runs until September 16, 2012. Here’s for hoping they’ll plan to do it again in 2013.
Stay tuned tomorrow for the Omni’s fine dining and the appetizer that changed my life.
And no, I’m not exaggerating.
I'm a Canadian-born mom of two, former Denver Post columnist, family travel writer, editor of MileHighMamas.com and 9News contributor. Expert on all things Utah, Denver, family and travel. Lover of laughter and life. Happily married to a man obsessed with growing The Great Pumpkin. 