Steamboat SPRINGS is one of those places that you could spend a month there and not stay long enough. FOR OUR 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY, ME AND MY HUSBAND DECIDED TO CELEBRATE SOMEWHERE A LITTLE DIFFERENT AND SOMWHERE COLD. I HAD ASKED YOU, THE PEOPLE, OVER ON THE GRAM YOUR FAVORITE CITIES IN COLORADO AND STEAMBOAT SPRINGS WAS A TOP RECOMMENDATION.
WE WANTED TO GO ON OUR ACTUAL ANNIVERSARY DATE AND KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE VERY COLD… AT LEAST TO US 🙂 SINCE I DID HAVE SEVERAL REQUESTS FOR A RECAP OF OUR TRIP, I’ve put together a few suggestions as a guide to Steamboat Springs in case it’s your first time and you need some ideas for visiting in the winter.
WHERE WE STAYED
STEAMBOAT GRAND
The Steamboat Grand Hotel was the perfect lodging option for a Steamboat Springs weekend getaway. Tucked at the bottom of the mountain, THE RESORT PROVIDES lifts up the mountain as well as Gondola Square sit right behind the hotel for easy walking access. It was perfect access to the Gondola night life and restaurants which is also right across the street. Our room had a great view overlooking the mountains with a fireplace for use! I wasn’t a huge fan of the actual restaurants in the hotel itself but we explored the city so much WE WEREN’T AT THE HOTEL ENOUGH TO WORRY ABOUT ALL OF THAT. If you’re looking for a moderately priced hotel, this is a good one.
This was the view from our balcony… I still miss it every morning. I would sit and watch the early morning skiiers coming down the slopes while sipping my coffee. Some mornings were pretty comical watching the newbie skiiers trying to just stay up on their skies 🙂
Transportation:
If you fly into Hayden AIRPORT, you can grab a shuttle directly from the airport to Steamboat with Go Alpine or the Storm Mountain Express. You can also rent a car at the airport through Hertz. OR, YOU CAN FLY INTO DENVER, RENT A CAR AND DRIVE 2-3 HOURS TO STEAMBOAT.
Once in Steamboat transportation is easy around town via the Steamboat Springs Transit System. And, depending on where you stay you may also have FREE shuttle service with door to door transportation around town. We did DID UBER FOR MOST PLACES BUT EACH ACTIVITY WE DID ALSO INCLUDED A SHUTTLE SERVICE.
THINGS TO DO
SKIING – THE GONDOLA
STEAMBOAT IS KNOWN FOR THEIR “POWDERED” SNOW ON THE SLOPES. I HAD PLANNED FOR US TO SKI ON SUNDAY BUT MY HUBBY ACTUALLY GOT ALTITUDE SICKNESS FROM THE FULL DAY WE HAD ON SATURDAY. WE DIDNT ACTUALLY GET OUT ON THE SLOPES AND SKI BUT I DID HEAR FROM EVERYONE THERE THAT IT WAS ONE OF THEIR FAVORITE PLACES TO SKI.
Gondola Square is at the base of the mountain and is an amazing spot filled with restaurants, shops, bars, and more. Whether you’re looking for a beer at happy hour, a delicious dining option, or some new ski gear, it’s all here. View included.
SNOWMOBILING
With all the incredible terrain Steamboat has to offer you might as well take part in just as many ways as there are to see it. Snowmobiling is a fantastically fun way to take in the views and see the backcountry. There are plenty of trails and free flat area for you to play around in. WE WENT WITH STEAMBOAT SNOWMOBILE TOURS AND ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT.
DOWNTOWN STEAMBOAT SPRINGS
Downtown Steamboat is the heart of this quaint Colorado town. With 40 shops, 35+ restaurants, art galleries & museums there is plenty to do and see on Main Street. We went downtown one day with the sole purpose of buying souvenirs. We found a few specialty ski shops that looked interesting, but we had places to be that afternoon and had to eat and find our souvenirs. There are also different festivals and events throughout the year AND WE ARE PLANNING TO GO BACK WHILE THESE ARE GOING ON.
Strawberry Park Hot Springs
Strawberry Park Hot Springs is just one of the many things do in Steamboat Springs besides skiing. These natural Colorado hot springs sit way up a remote valley about eight miles from downtown Steamboat Springs. The naturally hot water bubbles out of the ground near boiling and is cooled by the mountain spring waters. THERE ARE ABOUT 5-6 DIFFERENT POOLS THAT RANGE FROM FREEZING COLD ALL THE WAY UP 104 DEGREES. I PERSONALLY COULDN’T HANDLE THE HOTTEST SPRING SO I STAYED IN THE 80 DEGREE SPRING MOST OF THE TIME. IT IS AN AWESOME EXPERIENCE BUT BRING LOTS OF TOWELS, ROBES AND SANDALS TO WALK AROUND WHEN YOU GET OUT.
EATING/DRINKING
SALT & LIME
THIS WAS HANDS DOWN OUR FAVORITE RESTAURANT OF THE WHOLE CITY…. AND FOR GOOD REASON. THEY ARE RATED ONE OF THE BEST ACCORDING TO EVERY ONE OF YOU 🙂 WE WENT BACK EVERY SINGLE DAY BECAUSE OF THE UNIQUENESS OF THE STREET TACOS. ALSO, Order the cauliflower hash!! I’m actually trying to figure our how to recreate this dish now because it was so phenomenal. My fish tacoS wERE also outstanding!
TRUFFLE PIG
For a more upscale dining experience you can go to the Truffle Pig for dinner. We went for Happy Hour one day and they have awesome deals on drinks. It’s also a good atmosphere and they have a cute patio overlooking the slopes with a fireplace.
MAHOGONY RIDGE BREWERY
Looking for something a little more classy? Head down to Main Street/ Downtown Steamboat and check out Mahogany Ridge. This brewery offers everything from hand-packed Angus burgers to tuna ceviche and it’s ALL amazing. They are also known for their award-winning house-brewed beers and distinctive wines.
The atmosphere is inviting and intimate at the same time and the staff couldn’t be more friendly and helpful.
For us, it’s difficult to imagine a more perfect GETAWAY. AMAZING NIGHT LIFE, SUCH A CUTE town, an incredible ski mountain, amazing snow conditions, and a fantastic hot springs. A Steamboat skiing adventure is the perfect wintry escape.
SHOP OUR COLD WEATHER OUTFITS
