Instead of the red carpet, Steamboat rolls out little red wagons to help families feel at home in this winter wonderland.
Steamboat Resort is smaller than other Colorado mountains, but it still offers incredible skiing for all skill levels. Of the nearly 3,000 skiable acres, 56% of the trails are beginner or intermediate. Here you can fine tune your skiing skills with an Olympian! Former Olympic skier Billy Kidd offers up free tips nearly every afternoon. The resort also offers ski lessons and five kids-only lifts. You can drop off your non-skiers at the Kids Vacation Club. The 3,000-square foot Western-themed kiddie haven is located at the base in Gondola Square and offers daycare for kids as young as 6 months.
KidTripster Tip: Grab a red wagon in Gondola Square to lug around your gear, bags, and even your kids! I pulled my daughter around for a half hour in the wagon. She loved it!
What to do besides skiing?
Steamboat is home to Olympic history in the form of Howelsen Hill, an iconic ski jumping spot. If you want to give it a shot, head over on Wednesday nights, when anyone over 16 years old can jump. Or relax your sore muscles, while watching the kids scale the aquatic climbing wall at Old Town Hot Springs. Steamboat also offers sleigh ride dinners, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, tubing, ice skating, plus miniature golf, dog sledding, and even bumper cars on ice!
KidTripster Tip: Pick up a free local paper for a list of happenings around the area, like live music, story times, and art shows. You’ll also find coupons for local restaurants.
Where to eat?
Gondola Square is your hot spot for restaurants and people watching. Slopeside Grill is a great place for dinner. It’s so loud in there that no one will notice if your young kids scream! It’s your typical bar food menu with lots of kids’ menu options, plus crayons to keep them busy. If you’re looking for a quick lunch spot, head to Geano’s Café, where you can get pizza by the slice. Make some new friends by grabbing an open spot at a picnic table outside. It’s a great spot for people watching, too!
KidTripster Tip: If you have the time, take the free city bus into town. You can easily catch it from the transit center right at Gondola Square. Get off at 7th Street for a locals’ breakfast at The Shack, where kids can enjoy huge Mickey Mouse-shaped pancakes. There’s also a hot dog stand called Hungry Dog, that’s open until 2 a.m. for all your quick bite needs.
Where to stay?
The Steamboat Grand has something for everyone. It is across the street from Gondola Square, where skiers and riders can be on the lifts within minutes. It also has an outdoor heated saltwater pool with two large hot tubs. (One hot tub is for adults only, so read the signs carefully.) This hotel accommodates families of all sizes by offering multi-bedroom condos, each with a fully-equipped kitchen. This is a great feature for families looking to save a little money by cooking their own meals.
Getting there
Steamboat is a little more than three hours from Denver. Take I-70 west, exit Silverthorne, and then continue on I-40 west. Alternatively, you can fly into the small Steamboat Springs Airport.
KidTripster Tip: If you fly into the Steamboat Springs Airport, show your boarding pass at the lift ticket office for a free night skiing pass.
Amy Sward lives in Denver with her husband and her Mickey-Mouse loving, pancake-eating daughter.
This writer received a complimentary stay and some activities for the purpose of this review. However, all opinions expressed are solely her own.
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