Located just outside the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, the new Hotel Polaris is bound to be a magnet for alumni and families or airmen. But you don’t need to know a pilot to enjoy the hotel’s aviation-themed amenities.

Opened in November, the nine-floor, 394-guest-suite lodge and conference center was built with fans of midcentury design and aeronautics in mind. And with a bridge that will connect the hotel to the Academy’s new visitor center (slated to open this December), Hotel Polaris is a launchpad for those eager to explore the 18,500-acre campus. Here, our five favorite ways to soar during your stay.

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1. Glide through high-flying design and art.

Hotel staff sits behind a front desk
The front desk. Photo courtesy of Hotel Polaris
Sculptural hanging art and a painted mural above a stairwell
Art in the stairwell. Photo courtesy of Hotel Polaris
a blue and white boxy hotel with mountains in the distance
The exterior. Photo courtesy of Hotel Polaris

 

From the moment you check in,  you’ll notice a flying theme throughout the entire 317,000-square-foot hotel (including the front desk’s swooping lines that mimic an airplane wing). Atlanta-based architecture and interior design firm BLUR Workshop infused airy spaces with modernist verve and bold colors—primarily blue, red, and gold—relating to the Academy.

Sleek guest rooms include framed black-and-white Academy photos, star charts, and airplane paperweights. In the common areas, you’ll find other aviation-inspired art: an aerial sculpture crafted from aircraft-grade aluminum by Colorado Springs artist Robert Delaney, a towering mosaic depicting planes swirling in combat, and archival photos from the Academy intermingled with flight-related images by photographer (and former F-16 pilot) Christopher Vasquez.

2. Take to the skies in a flight simulator.

a look inside a flight simulator from the back
One of the hotel’s flight simulators. Photo courtesy of Hotel Polaris

The only hotel in the United States to offer flight simulator experiences, Hotel Polaris allows aspiring pilots ages 12 and older to step into the cockpit of a Boeing 737 MAX or learn to maneuver an F-16 Fighting Falcon. Dog fight, anyone? Since the F-16s are networked, two people can work in tandem to complete a joint mission. Aboard the 737 MAX, you can take off or land in any U.S. airport you choose for a fully immersive flying adventure with a 200-degree field of vision. Rates depend on your choice of plane and duration of the lesson, starting at $70 for a 30-minute F-16 experience and up to $450 for a two-hour 737 MAX Dual (pilot and co-pilot) flight session. To sweeten the deal, the hotel’s Play and Stay package, starting at $525, includes a one-hour simulator experience for two people plus bottomless milkshakes while you’re in the sky.

3. Refuel in elevated style.

gold barrel chairs and a constellation feature wall inside a dimly lit cocktail lounge
The Aviator cocktail lounge. Photo courtesy of Hotel Polaris
modern exterior of Pamela's restaurant
The entrance to Pamela’s. Photo courtesy of Hotel Polaris
Rust-colored velvet chairs and banquettes in a restaurant dining room
Inside Pamela’s. Photo courtesy of Hotel Polaris

Don’t expect to find tray tables and cellophane-wrapped microwave meals here. The hotel’s six restaurants and bars include the Aviator, a swanky cocktail lounge that strikes a celestial note with shimmering gold and midnight blue decor, sweeping mountain and Academy views from the ninth floor, and an outdoor terrace for stargazing with a Solar Spritz (Aperol, Joto yuzu sake, Prosecco, club soda) or Aging Aviator (Hendrick’s gin, crème de violette, lemon, and elderflower foam) in hand.

On the hotel’s main floor, Doolies casual eatery offers a retro soda shop vibe and an Americana menu featuring a crowd-pleasing array of hot dogs (including a veg-friendly jumbo braised carrot dog called the Ricky) and a milkshake bar. Upscale Pamela’s offers fine dining in the form of a coastal-inspired, all-day brunch and dinner menu. And the lobby-adjacent Thunderbird Bar serves up mountain views and shared snacks “for the fleet,” plus creative cocktails with Academy-related names including Prop and Wings and Honor Code.

4. Find a happy holding pattern for a family vacation.

A guest suite. Photo courtesy of Hotel Polaris
A dog with a blue bandana sitting at the front desk
Four-legged friends are allowed at Hotel Polaris for $35 a day. Photo courtesy of Hotel Polaris

Polaris’ add-ons and amenities are geared toward the whole family—from pint-size pilots to canine cadets. Kids receive a balsa wood glider kit at check-in, and a crafty letter in each guest room folds into a paper airplane (which can be tested on the hotel’s outdoor launchpad during the summer months). While little ones snuggle with a pilot-attired teddy bear (take it home for $50) during fireside story sessions, adults can unwind with a Kinoko Ki Mushroom Massage (featuring inflammation-reducing mushroom oil) at the on-site Ascend Spa & Wellness center. Dogs can fly high too with a jaunty blue bandana, drinking and food bowls, custom treats, and a chew toy upon arrival. Cool: A portion of the $35 daily pet fee goes to a K-9 veteran nonprofit.

5. Prepare for takeoff.

When wanderlust sets in, the hotel also offers a range of nearby excursions. Learn about the stars at a two-hour nighttime celestial navigation session (starting at $300 per person), which includes a blanket to take home and two drinks at the Aviator bar when you return to the hotel. The upcoming family-friendly falconry program ($207 per person), which will be held at a to-be-determined off-site location, lets you get up close and personal with the original flying marvels: falcons, hawks, and eagles.

Hotel Polaris offers reduced rates for Colorado residents—starting at $169 per night, and through the end of March, including a 20 percent spa and restaurant discount—along with special rates for federal government employees and veterans.