Located just outside Denver near the airport, Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center is designed to be more than just a place to stay, and it turned out to be a solid choice for our trip this summer. From the moment we arrived, it was clear that the resort functions as a self-contained destination. It had dining, shopping, a water park, and lodging all built into one expansive property. It's convenient when you don't want to spend half your trip driving around.

The central atrium is impressive in scale. When you first walk in, the size of it definitely registers. But they've designed it well enough that it doesn't feel cold or overwhelming. It genuinely feels like an indoor thoroughfare connecting different parts of the resort. We covered a lot of ground just moving between activities.

There are restaurants spread throughout the property, mostly downstairs, which worked well for us. Enough variety that meals didn't feel repetitive, and options ranging from casual to more substantial depending on what the day called for. The number of selections kept the crowds distributed, so we never felt like we were fighting for a table.

The retail spaces were standard resort fare. A convenience store with fresh food and sundries, and a higher-end souvenir shop, which featured clothing and gifts. The convenience store also has coffee, so it's the perfect stop when the line at Starbucks within the convention center gets long.

The rooms offered a noticeable contrast to the public areas. Clean, modern, functional. Ours had a distant mountain view, which was a nice touch. After spending time in the busier parts of the resort, it was good to have a comfortable space to decompress.

The water park was the main draw for the boys. It featured an outdoor lazy river, and both indoor and outdoor slides and pool areas. We opted to book a 1/2-day cabana outside as a base for our pool day. The pools were well-designed and large enough to handle crowds without feeling packed. What I appreciated is how seamlessly it connects to the rest of the resort. They have mini-events scheduled throughout the day to keep kids entertained. We all got to participate in a "duck race" where everyone writes their name on a rubber duck and drops them at the beginning of the lazy river, and then cheers them on as they meander to the end.