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

Where can you explore Steamboat Springs in depth with a guarantee you will barely see another living soul? The sky, of course!

For those who still feel trepidation about being around others, an above ground experience is probably the perfect way to sightsee. You can also be assured your adrenaline will be pumping for all the right reasons.

Helicopter Ride

Cover the greatest amount of territory in one-hour, with a helicopter ride over much of Routt County. Zephyr Helicopter Company takes up to five passengers (weight dependent on total group), over the historic downtown of Steamboat and up Fish Creek Canyon. The flight spans the Never Summers, the Gore Range and up to North Routt. Private charters are also available. www.zephyrhelicopter.com

Hot Air Balloon Ride

Wrap up warmly in the early hours of the morning and watch the sleepy valley below awaken for a new day. Wild West Balloon Adventures offers daily 45-minute tours over Steamboat and the surrounding area. Celebrate your 3,000 feet escapade with a continental breakfast and champagne. www.wildwestballooning.com

See the sky filled with a kaleidoscope of color at the annual Hot Air Balloon Rodeo on July 10 & 11, 2021. This summer staple event is a feast for the eyes each morning, with an additional Balloon Glow on Saturday evening.

Ziplining

Get your heart racing as you cruise above the treetops at speeds of up to 40 miles per hour, on a six-segment zip line course. Each two to three-hour tour includes an ATV ride along the original U.S. 40, complete with snippets of local history from the guide. Steamboat Zipline Adventures is located on Rabbit Ears Pass, ensuring spectacular views of downtown and the Flat Tops Mountain Range. www.steamboatziplineadventures.com

Here’s Five of our Favorites

Are you coming to town and don’t feel like hauling extra luggage back and forward with Christmas gifts? We have the perfect solution – buy a memory.

Foodie Fanatic

MEATSKOOL Cooking Class. 

Ideal for someone who loves to be in the kitchen, and even better for those who would rather avoid the slopes at all costs. MEATSKOOL, run by Laura the Butcher is offering at home classes for food lovers.  Options include: The Art of Charcuterie Boards, Artisanal Sausage Making, Chicken Ballotine or Fried Chicken and Biscuits. Classes include a glass of fizz and plenty of chance to savor the flavors. www.meatskool.com

Family Fun

Dog Sled

Learn to drive your own dog sled across snow-covered pastures or sit back and let someone else do the mushing. Owned and operated by Iditarod musher, Kris Hoffman and his wife Sara, Grizzle-T Dog and Sled Works provide adventures suited to all ages. Sleds can take two people, (or three if you are with children under 80lbs), and a team of Alaskan Huskies will pull you along, beneath the breathtaking backdrop of the snow covered Flat Tops. www.steamboatdogsledding.com

Adrenaline Seeker

Snowmobiling

Pump up adrenaline levels by cruising through the backcountry on Rabbit Ears Pass at speed. Zip over meadows, wind through forest trails and climb to spectacular viewpoints without meeting a soul. Complementary shuttle and equipment provided. www.steamboatsnowmobile.com

Solitude for Skiers

Snowcat Skiing

Experience Steamboat’s legendary powder without the crowds. Spend a day leaving your own lines in untouched snow with Steamboat Powdercats. Climb back uphill in a comfortable heated snowcat with skilled backcountry guides who help you navigate the day’s terrain. Skiing is suited to strong intermediate and advanced levels. www.steamboatpowdercats.com

Taste of the Wild West

Horseback Ride and Sleigh Ride Dinner

Hop on the shuttle to Saddleback Ranch, a family owned and operated 100-year-old ranch located west of town. Step into a horse drawn sleigh and wrap up beneath a wool blanket for a 30-minute sleigh ride beneath the starry sky.  Savor a home-cooked meal at the Double Dollar Lodge, where cowboys will teach you a thing or two about roping. If time permits, you’ll be working off your meal with a Do-Si-Do and a little line dancing. Alternatively, arrive earlier to squeeze in a horseback ride and make it the ultimate taste of the west. www.saddlebackranch.net