Finding Your Bliss in Dreamboat VG

Finding Your Bliss in Dreamboat

Stroll among strings of Christmas lights in downtown Steamboat Springs to shop and dine.

While Steamboat Springs is renowned for its skiing, a visit to the Yampa Valley will also have you returning home rested and recharged. There’s a relaxing activity for everyone, from soaking in soothing hot springs to partaking in literature, art, history, shopping and dining.

Relaxation in Steamboat is incomplete without a visit to its historic mineral springs, enjoyed by Yampa Valley residents dating as far back as the Ute Indians. At the Old Town Hot Springs downtown, soak ski-weary legs in the hot pools, scale the outdoor climbing wall or enjoy the water slide. If you’re looking for even greater relaxation, indulge in their saunas and massages.

Take a shuttle north to find the picturesque Strawberry Park Hot Springs: stone pools surrounded by ice-covered aspens and snow-capped firs. The springs require reservations, so book a spot online before sinking into the 104-degree waters.

If you’re looking to escape the frigid outdoors, warm up at Off the Beaten Path Bookstore with a novel and one of their lattes, or curled up in a reading nook at Bud Werner Memorial Library.

For those wanting to dive into Steamboat Springs’ deep Western and Olympic history, look no further than the Tread of Pioneers Museum. Check out the Olympian Tribute Display to understand how Steamboat has produced more winter Olympians than any other U.S. town, or walk through The Pleasant Collection of American Indian Art to learn about the people who first called the Yampa Valley home. A Victorian house replica and the Pioneer Kids Bedroom Hands-On Discovery Exhibit offer educational engagement kids will love.

Visitors of the creative type can explore Steamboat’s vibrant art scene. Downtown art galleries display beautiful works celebrating this town’s Western heritage and the natural beauty of Steamboat Springs. The First Friday ArtWalk, held the first Friday of each month, presents an opportunity for a first look at new collections while enjoying mouthwatering food and wine.

Steamboat Art Museum is hosting its most notable exhibition to date this winter, when it brings together the works of 30 of the nation’s top contemporary Western artists, from T.C. Cannon to Fritz Scholder.

Steamboat Springs boasts 130 restaurants, guaranteeing everyone finds something to fill them up, whether it’s mountainside or in the heart of downtown. Dinner options range from fine dining for a date night to a family outing. Kids can draw on the tablecloth at Mambo or shape pizza dough at Mazzola’s. Brunch is the best way to start the day, from the famous cinnamon rolls at Winona’s to Johnny B. Good’s authentic 1950s-style diner. For a final cheers to a fantastic vacation, check out Steamboat’s breweries for unique on-tap beers.

With Steamboat’s countless high-energy activities, it can be hard to catch a break, especially when trying to cram everything the town offers into a week-long vacation. Play hard, but make time to relax harder, and return home fully recharged.