Glenwood Springs is a gold-medal winter getaway, and not just for two weeks during the 2026 Winter Olympics Games, but all winter long!
Every couple of years, the world convenes to cheer elite athletes chasing gold medals. While all eyes are on Cortina and Milan, Italy, for the Winter Olympic Games, Glenwood Springs, quietly tucked in the central Colorado Rockies, delivers world-class scenery from the river valleys to the snow-capped peaks and top-tier experiences from hot springs soaking to round-the-globe dining.
Vacation Like A World-Class Athlete
Athletes are obsessed with refining their technique or shaving precious time off their records, and for good reason. The difference between triumphant success and uninspiring mediocrity often lies in the details. The same is true of a great vacation, especially when you’re up against the clock.
Unlike our European counterparts, who receive upwards of four weeks of vacation, most Americans have only a couple of weeks of paid time off, with the average trip just five to seven days. With so few days, maximizing precious vacation time can easily become an Olympic-level endeavor.
When a minute counts, Glenwood Springs is a winning choice every time.
Three Winning Short Programs, Glenwood Springs Style
Land on solid footing every time by getting your Glenwood Springs vacation off to an Olympic-style start. Don’t wait, dive in. Glenwood’s geothermal attractions take center stage, especially in winter.
The water at Glenwood Hot Springs Pool is your personal arena for ultimate relaxation, with no one to judge your choices. Play like a kid in the Grand Pool, relax in the heat of the Therapy Pool, experience the thrill of contrast therapy in the Yampah Mineral pools, it’s all available.
Another podium-worthy finisher in the hot springs category is Iron Mountain Hot Springs. Thirty-plus smaller pools and a riverside venue set it apart from the Colorado hot springs pack. The resort’s Premier Access 21+ option scores high marks among visitors who want a splash-free, spa-like soaking and sauna experience. While Select Access, featuring the resort’s original legacy pools, is a laid-back crowd-pleaser for families.
The Yampah Spa and Vapor Caves is another local contender that always finishes strong. The Glenwood Springs hot spot never fails to dazzle, with underground caves filled with mineral-rich steam and above-ground spa services that run the gamut from hair and nails to therapeutic sports massage to indulgent body treatments.
Alpine Events at Iron Mountain
Propel your Glenwood Springs vacation to new heights at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park! It wouldn’t be the Olympics without adrenaline-pumping events that make a viewer’s jaw drop. Whether it’s cheering on Team USA’s ladies’ hockey or holding your breath as graceful figure skaters land impressive aerials on the international stage of ice.
While most of us will leave those daring feats of athleticism to the pros, channeling your inner daredevil will make you feel alive, and there’s no better place to do that than at America’s only mountaintop theme park.
Want to feel the exhilaration of racing down the mountain like a bobsledder? Let the throttle out and hold on tight aboard the Alpine Coaster. The ride plummets down Iron Mountain, but you’re in charge of the speed. Bonus, unlike Olympic competitors, sleds are securely affixed to the track, with no chance of slippery mishaps on this fast-paced ride. So, let ‘er rip!
An Unexpected Winter Winner
There’s always that Olympic sport that mesmerizes and stumps us. In the summer Olympics, it was competitive air pistol shooting; in the winter Olympics, it’s curling. How can throwing stones and sweeping the ice with brooms be an Olympic-level sport? And yet, it captivates us as we watch competitors lunge and glide effortlessly across the ice while coaxing 42-pound granite stones along an invisible path.
Like those sports, fly fishing is a beloved pastime in Glenwood Springs, fascinating to watch and engage in. This sport welcomes newcomers, but like curling, it requires discipline, patience, and precision to truly excel. That shouldn’t deter anyone from casting a line into trout-filled waters. With fewer anglers on the river and hungry fish competing for food, winter is a perfect time to give fly fishing a try.
Fly fishing is also a true gold medal sport. Many parts of the Roaring Fork River and other nearby waterways are designated “Gold Medal” waters, meaning they are teeming with trout, many trophy sized. If fishing is on your Glenwood Springs vacation itinerary, be sure to check with local fly shops for guided float trips, the best shore fishing destinations, and tried-and-true fly selection advice.
Small Town, Global Flavors
From Carbonara to Aperol Spritzes, Italy is a food-lover’s paradise, but for variety, it has nothing on Glenwood Springs restaurants. Enjoy all your favorite Italian specialties locally, from Osso Bucco to Limoncello, as well as cuisine from around the world.
No kidding! Team USA comes in with steak, wild game, American bar food standards, and gold-medal-winning (yes, really) craft beer.
More exotic flavors that hail from around the globe and include Asian favorites like Pho, sushi, Indian, Thai, Chinese, Himalayan, and Nepalese. Take the heat up a notch with fare from Mexico and Central America, famous for mouth-watering combinations with south-of-the-border flare. For something more continental, look for elegant European pastries, perfectly brewed coffee, and plates of home-cooked comfort food with nods to cuisine from Bohemian to Teutonic traditions.
In honor of our Italian counterparts, though, we’ll just leave it at Buon Appetito!
Glenwood Springs is the Ultimate Vacation Host City
When vacation days are limited, as they tend to be for Americans, choosing a destination that delivers this much variety in a single location isn’t simply a case of smart planning; it’s a feat worthy of Olympic praise! Learn more and make your Glenwood Springs vacation plans today!
