Steamboat Springs is named for its hot springs, not its ski hill, and a winter trip doesn't need a lift ticket to be a good one. Soak in two of them, get a massage, snowshoe to a frozen waterfall, and spend an afternoon on Lincoln Avenue. Come back to a hot tub of your own.
A bakery breakfast on Lincoln Avenue.
Eat & DrinkWinona's RestaurantSee it in the guide →The historic springs in the middle of town: pools, slides for the kids, a day pass from $29.
ActivityOld Town Hot Springs & GymSee it in the guide →Western wear, galleries and gear shops along the main street. F.M. Light & Sons is still going strong, and Steamboat Hatter will make you a custom hat.
Horse-drawn through the snow, ending with a four-course dinner.
ActivityHorse-Drawn Sleigh Ride to DinnerSee it in the guide →The falls freeze in the coldest months: an easy snowshoe from the lot, minutes from downtown.
Our favorite spa in town, and the most awarded.
ActivityMassage at Euphoria Day SpaSee it in the guide →Craft cocktails and small plates downtown.
Eat & DrinkLaundrySee it in the guide →Newly remodeled, white tablecloths at the top of the gondola, and the easiest place to meet the skiers in your group halfway through their day.
Ten people, 102F. Rest up for tonight.
Mineral pools on Hot Springs Creek, 95 to 104F, snow falling into the forest around you. After dark it's adults only and clothing optional. Reservations required, and bring cash. Take the hot springs shuttle from town rather than driving the road in winter.
Escape Chalet sits in the mountain district at the base of Mount Werner, a flat ten-minute walk from the gondola, with the free Green Line bus stopping 50 feet from the door.
Four ensuite bedrooms, sleeps 10, ten minutes' walk from the gondola. Two dogs stay free when you book direct, and the Pup Package is included.