Travel, Travel Guides

Travel Guide: Steamboat Springs

DSC_0229-01.jpeg
View of the valley on the hike to Fish Creek Falls.

Steamboat Springs has grown immensely popular in the last twenty years as a tourist town for the outdoorsy adventurers. The summer it hosts bikers, hikers, and watersports. The winter snows bring the skiers and snowboarders out to play. Steamboat Springs is home to 88 Olympians and counting, so you’re guaranteed winter sports galore.

If you don’t want to read all of my posts about Steamboat Springs, Colorado, (although, you should; I’m a great writer writing about great places) here’s a quick look at all of the places you need to go! I’m linking all my posts, so feel free to click and read on.

DSC_0634_1-01.jpeg
Hanging out on a ski lift outside my grandparents’ condo.

OUTDOORS
Mount Werner
Mount Werner is the mountain in Steamboat. In the summer it is a hub of bikers and hikers. In the winter, strap on your skis or snowboard and head up the mountain. You can ride the gondola up, but I highly suggest embracing your adventurer and hiking up the mountain. It’s beautiful. If you can, the peak is where the best views in town can be seen.
Fish Creek Falls
Fish Creek Falls has become an iconic destination. It’s $5 to park, and then off you go! There are several trails of varying difficulty. There are two different falls. The first is less than half a mile down hill from the parking lot. It is absolutely gorgeous. Between mid-morning and mid-afternoon, it is pretty busy. It clears out after 6:00. If you’re up for a long and sometimes tricky hike uphill, there’s a pretty bridge over the water. Further up, you’ll find the second falls, which are amazing. Few people venture this far. Passed that is Long Lake. It is definitely worth a trip to any of the sites and trails.
Tubing
Due to weather conditions, I wasn’t able to go tubing. The river conditions were not suitable the entire time I was there, unfortunately. There are several shops along the Yampa River in downtown Steamboat. The price is $20 for tube rentals and includes a shuttle ride back to the shop at the end of your trip.
Alpine Slide
I have done this in the past, and it is so much fun! I wasn’t able to do it during my last trip because of construction. It’s closed this summer, but next summer have at it. It’s like a summertime luge on wheels. Not the cheapest activity, but you could spend way more on other things. It starts at $12, but the more rides you buy the better the deal.

DSC_0743.JPG
Hiking up Mount Werner!

SHOPPING
Downtown Steamboat is as close to idyllic as I have ever seen. When people think of Colorado, this is what comes to mind. A cozy downtown filled with lots of little shops of all shapes and sizes nestled into the valley of mountains. No matter where you look, you’ll find mountains as far as the eye can see.
Ruby Jane Boutique
Ruby Jane is a cute store filled with clothes, jewelry, accessories, and more. I bought a purse I have been using constantly. Instagram @rubyjane.valleygirlboutique
Fringe Boutique
The exterior is blue with white trim. I would have gone broke buying everything I loved in this store. I got a few presents for friends, necklaces, and quippy cards. Instagram @fringeboutiquesteamboat
Steamboat Art Company
My go to for cute, funny, and unique art in Steamboat. Instagram @steamboatartco
Off the Beaten Path
This bookstore is adorable. I love that there menu items are named after famous books and iconic characters. They have a great section. I settled in to get some work done a few times on vacation. Instagram @steamboat_books

 

 

FOOD
Bésame
I fell in love with this new restaurant. It is an unexpected flavor bomb in the middle of Americana. Latin food in small town Colorado. It’s pretty amazing! Instagram @besamesteamboat
Lyon’s Corner Drug & Soda Fountain
I have loved this place my whole life. A traditional drug store with a traditional soda fountain. Grab an ice cream and a phosphate. Heaven!
The Shack
It’s an institution in my family. Open in the morning to mid-afternoon, it’s a diner with a lodge flare. Once on the outside patio when I was young, there was a tiny bat napping, and it was the highlight of that trip.
Salt + Lime
Great Mexican food and a fun, modern decor. I love the rooftop seating with views of downtown and mountains. The tacos are amazing, and they have a mocktail menu! Instagram @saltandlimesteamboat

 

 

 

Experiences, Travel

Hiking Mount Werner

I grew up going to Steamboat Springs, Colorado because my grandparents own a condo on the mountain. In the three decades I have been visiting, the town has changed drastically, but Mount Werner has stayed the same. I hear mountains don’t change very quickly.

DSC_0714.JPG
The beginning of the hike!

My family is very outdoorsy. I, myself, have waffled between outdoorsy and hermit. The last time I was in Steamboat with my family, my allergies were at an all time high, and I was suffering from an undiagnosed heart condition. Suffice to say, that trip earned me a non-adventurous-curmudgeon award within the family unit. (Also, during that trip I ended up in the hospital on a completely unrelated thing, so I wasn’t feeling real great.)

This trip was completely different!

DSC_0743.JPG
Half way up!

I am now older and more mature… I also am completely aware of my physical impairments, so hiking is no longer viewed as the soul sucking activity it used to be.

The second full day in Colorado, I convinced my partner-in-crime into a hike up the mountain by way of small lies and a lot of “It will be an adventure!” and “You can do anything! You’re a Marine!”

Here’s some back story: My grandparents’ condo is located on the mountain. You walk out the back door, and voilà there’s the hiking trail. There is a gondola that will take you up the mountain for a small price of $25 per person per day. I’m a big ole cheapo. I like spending money, but I much prefer saving money. Why spend $50, when we can just hike? Exercise and savings! Plus it’s free to ride the gondola down the mountain. From the gondola drop off point, it’s another 1.5 miles to the peak of the mountain. The views are stunning, by the way.

DSC_0721.JPG

We started our hike at 10:30 am with an expected arrival time of 1:30. The last gondola down the mountain is at 4:30. So there would be plenty of time to hike up to the peak and back down. I would convince my P.I.C. of how good of an idea this was on the first leg of our hike. Our four mile hike to the gondola ended up being seven miles because of a wrong turn. We managed to find a bike path that lead us the last half mile. My P.I.C. carried the backpack full of camera equipment, and I hauled a heavy backpack full of water bottles and a book. I’m a book blogger; a book is always necessary.

Altitude really is a kick in the ass.

We made it to the gondola drop off point at 2:00. Two realizations dawned on us: 1. Look at all the people! 2. Dark clouds.

As we made our way up the mountain, we passed several people hiking down the mountain. We saw one biker going up the mountain, but he turned around at the two mile mark. I don’t blame him; he’s a winner in my book. All the people were at the top of the mountain. They were in hiking clothes, but not the sweaty, gross, wheezing blobs of former human beings my P.I.C. and I were. These athletic appearing beings were walking around with cute hair and makeup, taking pictures, and saying things along the lines of “So beautiful!” “What a hike.” and “This is going to look great on Instagram.” A few started on the trail down the mountain (cheaters). Most hopped back on the gondola they so obviously rode up on. LIARS!!! All of them liars. They did not earn those social media posts because they cheated and spent the money to ride the gondola. We were the real hikers! We earned the pictures we were never able to take because……

DSC_0910-01.jpeg
I made it!!!

At 2:00, we still had time to hike to the peak. BUT!!! As the trees started to open up into the clearing, I saw the dark clouds. On top of a mountain, dark clouds are never a good thing for hikers. Storms roll in with frightening rapidity over the mountains. Being caught in a storm on a mountain let alone at the peak is not only scary but down right dangerous. We decided to stop to refill our water bottles and grab a snack. I have been in the unfortunate desperate sprint from peak to gondola because of a storm before. It was not a position I desired to be in again, but I was hopeful the clouds would roll pass.

Mount Werner is a skiing mountain in the winter. In the summer, it is a biking and hiking haven. Where the gondola is housed on top of the mountain, there is a bar and restaurant for those wanting to eat with views. There’s an indoor area and a large patio. It’s not cheap, but it is pretty. As I ordered my french fries, the bartender said, “Do you have anywhere to be in the next several hours?” I replied, “I’m on top of a mountain, so probably not.” “Well, that’s good because they just shut down the gondola without warning due to lightning. You could maybe make it if you ran.” I’m not a runner, so I made myself comfortable waiting for my fries.

I took literally a handful of pictures waiting for my fries and sandwich. Thank goodness I did. Right after our food arrived, I felt a thud on my head. Hello hail! We quickly stuffed all our belongings and the very expensive camera away before running inside. It was official, the gondola would not be starting back up. A bus started its way up the mountain to pick up everyone who didn’t make it onto the gondola.

I have to tell you, almost nothing about that day went as planned. It was definitely an adventure. I really loved seeing the storm come in over the mountain. The sky was dark. There was lightning and thunder and hail and a ton of rain. It was an afternoon I will never forget.