Little chef at the MeatSkool

The leaves are changing, the temperatures have dropped, and the idea of a day indoors is a welcome one. Steamboat may be known for its outdoor playground, but there is plenty to explore behind closed doors. We’ve made a list of our favorite ways to spend a rainy day in the ‘Boat.

1. Tread of Pioneers Museum, 800 Oak Street. Step back in time with a tour inside a Queen Anne-style Victorian home built in 1901. Discover how the Ute Indians and early pioneers came to settle in the Yampa Valley and how Steamboat became Ski Town USA.
2. The Crooked Key on 5^th Put your brain to the test and enter an escape room. Decipher codes and look for clues to unlock your way out.
3. Snow Bowl. Test your accuracy on one of 12 lanes at the ever-popular bowling alley on the west side of Steamboat. The full bar serves BBQ food and is a go-to for locals.
4. Bud Werner Memorial Library. Find a comfy chair or snuggle up on a window seat with a book or a magazine. Public-access computers are available for use and kids have access to a play area, which is perfect for stretching out.
5. Take a class at the Old Town Hot Springs in downtown Steamboat. Guests have the option of everything from kickboxing to Pilates.
6. Steamboat is home to thirteen art galleries including the Steamboat Art Museum. Entry is free to all and visitors to the Standard Art Gallery and Wine Bar on Lincoln Avenue can kick back with a refreshment. Find a list of venues and special events at steamboatcreates.org
7. Take a cooking class at MeatSkool run by Laura the Butcher. Classes for all ages are available and there is an option for private events at The MeatBar.
8. Tickle the taste buds on a beer tasting tour of town. Start with the longest running brewery in the ‘Boat at Mahogany Ridge Brewery, then stop by The Barley, Mountain Tap, Storm Peak and Butcherknife Breweries. Sample local made brews and find your favorite stout or hoppy pale ales.
9. Shop until you drop in downtown Steamboat, where local offerings range from Stetsons and boots at F.M. Light to handmade chocolates by Daniella at the Homesteader. Shoppers will find high street favorites including Lululemon and the North Face, along with a whole host of locally owned boutiques and outfitters.
10. Take in a new release movie at Wildhorse 6 on the mountain or check out a live show at the Chief Theater in downtown Steamboat.

By Brian Bonebrake at the Jace Romick Gallery