Pura Vida View
Steamboat
Steamboat Springs, Colorado is one of my favorite mountains to ski. The area has grown so much since I went there when I was a kid, and it continues to grow! The town has some great restaurants and shops, there are lots of nice places to stay, and the mountain has something for every level skier. I have had so much fun on girls trips there as well as romantic getaways with my husband. It is the perfect winter escape
Getting to Steamboat is very convenient and easy with a flight into Yampa Valley Regional Airport in Hayden, CO. and a short 30 minute or less drive to Steamboat Springs. We always rent a car because we like to make a couple of stops for essentials along the way and also like to have transportation the day we depart if we have time to explore the area, but you can also arrange for car service or even take an Uber ride because once you get to Steamboat there is amble transportation via resort shuttles, taxi services, or the Steamboat Springs Transit System
There are a variety of lodging options in Steamboat Springs. At the base of the mountain and surrounding area there are hotels and condominiums that are conveniently located for easy ski-in/out. The area also has many private homes, cabins, and budget friendly motels.
I have stayed in three different vacation rentals, all were conveniently located to the base of the mountain. A three bedroom condo at Torian Plum was the first place I rented with a group of girlfriends. It was the perfect location and size for our group, with a large fully stocked kitchen, two bathrooms, and several beds, plus a fireplace, large living area, dining table, and balcony. We loved how we could just walk right out of our condo, pop our skis on and be at the lifts in minutes. It's a bit pricy, but when splitting with several friends it was very affordable.
Over New Years Eve, My husband and I found a great little one room condo adjacent to Wildhorse Gondola, a free gondola that you can ride up to the base of the mountain. The space was a bit smaller than we hoped, and the kitchen was tiny but still usable. We really liked this location, there is a lot of growth and new condos/homes being built around the area, and the Gondola is an easy and quick way to access the mountain.
Most recently I stayed at EagleRidge lodge, a little farther away but still only a 5 minute walk to the Gondola. It was a two bedroom condo with plenty of room for myself and three of my girlfriends, and it had everything we needed.
I used Vacasa Properties to rent the last two locations. They own many of the properties in the area and do a great job managing them.
Wherever you choose to stay you are sure to have an amazing time and be close by to everything you need.
If you are looking for a resort vs a vacation rental, there are several great options in Steamboat! Book your stay!
Ski Rentals
There are several places to rent your ski equipment in and around Steamboat. The first two times we rented from Chrisy Sports. With a few locations it is convenient and cost efficient. However, the second time I rented from them over NYE was not a good experience, and I probably won't use them ever again or recommend them. I try to rarely say something like that and always give the benefit of the doubt when possible. Unfortunately, when you only have a limited time on the mountain, are paying a lot to be there and just want to get on the slopes and maximize your time while also trusting your equipment, it's important to rent from someone that cares about that and provides great service and the best equipment for your ability.
My favorite choice is Black Tie Ski Rentals! They provide some of the best equipment, are competitively priced and best of all they deliver to you so you avoid the long lines and conveyor belt experience you are given at places like Christy Sports.
I loved my skis and boots from Black Tie, and I will look for them wherever I ski next.
Wherever you decide to rent, I recommend you reserve ahead of time, do some research and price comparison and look into their ratings and rental agreements. Here is a link to several ski rental shops
You can easily purchase single-day or multi-day lift tickets online. To avoid the lift ticket line (which can be LONG), it is simple and advisable to purchase tickets ahead of time. Print your confirmation and take it to one of their many walk up kiosks and print your pass. Once printed, put the card in an outside pocket so that it can easily be scanned in line.
IKON passes are great if you ski often check out the link below for a list of ski resorts that take the IKON pass and see if it might make sense for you. My friend saves us some money by using some of her IKON buddy passes.
**You can sometimes find discounted lift tickets at retail locations like REI and Costco.
Restaurants
So many great places to eat!
You will be hungry after you work up an appetite on the slopes and there are many great restaurants on and off the mountain. Some places you will definitely want to try and get a reservation ahead of time because they can get busy, especially at the base of the mountain at the end of the day.
Grocery
We always like to grab groceries on our first day in Steamboat. We almost always cook breakfast before we hit the slopes and also usually cook at least one dinner. My favorite spot to stock up is Safeway, they have everything you need and they are also located across the parking lot from Ski Haus Liquors, another important stop!
There are several other options in and around the area, below are the most conveniently located to the ski area.
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Wildplum Grocer is walking distance from the Gondola and perfect if you are staying right at the base or within walking distance. They also have a pretty decent wine and Liquor selection.
The Outlaw Mountain Coaster
is a blast! You take a slow long ride up the mountain and then you can go at your own speed backdown...I recommend no braking and just fly down as fast as it goes! : )
I think it's a little pricey, but still worth it! It's cold, make sure you dress warm.
Update: Sadly, due to new development at the resort, they closed The Outlaw Mountain Coaster permanently
Other Fun Adventures
There are many other fun winter adventures to experience in Steamboat besides skiing and snowboarding!
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There are many tour companies available to choose from
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Hot Springs
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Ice Skating
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There are two rinks and they are building a new one right at the base of the mountain
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Cross Country Skiing
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Downtown Shopping
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They can now serve alcohol to go!
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