Steamboat Springs: A Winter Travel Guide
Every year my husband likes to go on a snowboarding trip. Coming from a non-athletic family, I had never been to Colorado, nor had I ever tried skiing or snowboarding. Our first trip out west together was in March of 2021. We had been engaged for one month and I was excited for a new adventure.
Steamboat Springs is an authentic mountain town. It was originally a ranching and mining town in the early 1900s and that culture is still evident today. Originally, skiing was the only way to get around during the harsh Rocky Mountain winters. Today, Steamboat Springs is known as Ski Town, USA because of it’s Champagne Powder. Don’t worry if you don’t ski or snowboard. Other winter activities include cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, tubing, horseback riding, sleigh riding, dog sledding, ice fishing, ice skating and hot air ballooning. There is also a quaint downtown to explore with shops, galleries, museums and restaurants and don’t miss the Steamboat Brew Trail, which is made up of three local breweries serving some of the best beers in Colorado and one distillery offering up small-batch whiskey, vodka, gin, and moonshine.
How We Got There:
We were lucky to find a nonstop on JetBlue from Fort Lauderdale to Hayden, which is only a 20 minute drive to Steamboat. The alternative is to fly into Denver and drive 4 hours to Steamboat.
Where We Stayed:
There are lots of accommodations in Steamboat for every budget. There are many ski-in-ski-out options or you can stay downtown, which is 3 miles from the base of the mountain. We stayed in the cutest ski-in-ski-out Airbnb in the Ptarmigan House. It was a studio condo, with a king sized bed, fully stocked kitchen, gas fireplace and balcony. There was also a parking garage and shared laundry downstairs. When staying somewhere for more than 4 nights I like to have laundry facilities and a kitchen, because I can’t eat out 3 times a day for a week. It’s nice to be able to cook a few of your own meals.
Things to do in Steamboat:
The obvious reason to go to Steamboat in the winter is for skiing or snowboarding. This was Ryan’s third time to Steamboat. He loves it for its ease of getting around on and off the mountain and the quality of the runs. I bought all the gear, booked my Ikon Pass and a ski lesson. Let’s just say, halfway through my first lesson, I already knew it wasn’t for me. I’m more of a have a glass of wine by the fire, go get a massage, check out the shops in town kind of girl, but I was proud of myself for giving it a try.
We still had a amazing trip even though we weren’t shredding down the mountain together like we planned. Steamboat is absolutely beautiful and there is a lot to do whether you ski or snowboard or not.
One of our favorite spots for Après Ski was at Saddles Lounge at The Sheraton Steamboat Resort, overlooking the mountain. We would sit outside by the fire pit and enjoy a drink while people watching.
Steamboat Springs has two natural springs. Old Town Hot Springs is right on the main street in town and has 8 hot spring fed pools. They also have waterslides, a gym and massages. We wanted a more natural experience and went to Strawberry Park Hot Springs. From Nov 1st to May 1st, 4-wheel drive is required to get there, or you can take a shuttle from town.
Downtown Steamboat Springs has a lot to offer. There are lots of quaint shops, galleries and delicious restaurants to check out. We had an amazing breakfast at Creekside Cafe & Grill.
We went to Laundry multiple times during our stay in Steamboat because it was so good. It’s a great spot for drinks, appetizers and dinner.
Steamboat has a very old country western town vibe and there is so much to do there, you won’t be bored whether you ski or snowboard or not. I definitely recommend planning a vacation to Steamboat in the future.
Looking for another ski or snowboard vacation idea? Check out my travel guide to Stowe, Vermont: 10 Things To Do In Stowe, VT In Winter
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