Romantic Weekend Escapes Near Denver

If you want to get out of town for a weekend of serious snuggling at a cozy or cosmopolitan resort--complete with majestic mountain scenery, fun outdoor activities and fine dining--check out these picks for weekend getaways within driving distance from the Mile-High City.

Hotel Boulderado, Boulder (www.boulderado.com). This historic downtown hotel just 30 minutes outside of Denver was built in 1909. The architecture and décor harks back to Victorian days, but naturally offers all of today's modern conveniences as well, including wireless Internet access in every room. Steps away from this luxury property is the Pearl Street Mall, with dozens of shops, fine restaurants and streetside entertainment. For the ultimate Italian meal, book a reservation (early!) at Frasca Food and Wine (www.frascafoodandwine.com), the "it" eatery in Boulder these days. It's not a quiet place by any means--expect the bar area to be packed--but the cuisine is out of this world. For outdoor fun in Boulder, hike or snowshoe the Flatiron trails, bike the dozens of paved an unpaved paths, or ski nearby Eldora Mountain Resort.

The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs (www.broadmoor.com). A little more than an hour south of Denver you'll find this gorgeous, five-star mountain retreat. It's huge, with 700 rooms and suites, 15 restaurants and three golf courses on more than 3,000 acres-so if it's intimacy you're craving, this isn't the place. The rooms, however, are elegant and plush, with lovely views of Cheyenne Mountain and the on-property Cheyenne Lake. The recently revamped, European-inspired spa offers a "Luxuriant Couples Massage," among a number of other treatments. Find fine dining in the Summit, which was recently renovated to the tune of $5 million. Excursions from the hotel include ascending Pikes Peak in a cog railway, touring the Garden of the Gods or checking out the ancient cliff dwellings in nearby Manitou.