We don’t always have a lot of time to play, but that’s ok, sometimes all you need is a day (and a night) to play hard and regain your inner peace, especially when that day trip takes you to Steamboat Springs and ends (or begins) with a stay in our Colorado sanctuaries. Offering a joyful and exciting retreat from real life, your 24 hours in our favorite place may even convince you to come back for a longer stay later, something we don’t mind at all. This guide to planning a day trip Steamboat Springs CO rentals will help you fill in every one of the 1440 minutes, giving you a 24-hour adventure that you will remember forever!
Sunrise Over the Mountains
This first adventure can happen at the end of your stay or at the very beginning, so we will start with the beginning, inviting our guests to check in the night before, rise early, and experience the natural phenomenon that most people won’t experience all that often in their lifetimes. For some people, rising before the sun is the only way to live, but for most of our travelers, sleep is more important. On this morning, however, we urge you to discover the peace and serenity that accompanies a sunrise over the mountains, rolling out of bed and out to the deck of your country retreat—after remembering to bundle up first! Mornings, even in the summer, can be frosty, but in spite of the cold, this is the moment that will become one of your most treasured memories. The dark sky, so inky black you can barely even make out the shadow of the mountains, morphing into dusky gray and then a kaleidoscope of fiery colors that will take your breath away before settling on azure blue and gold—this sunrise sets the stage for a day filled with adventure and wonder.
Breakfast of Champions
After that incredible sunrise, you have two options on what you can do next, but they both end up taking you to the same place. You can climb back in bed for another hour or two, ensuring that you get enough sleep, before officially starting your day of fun in Steamboat with a big breakfast at Creekside Café, 131 11th Street, for option number 1. Or since you are already awake, you can get dressed and head over to Creekside Café for a big breakfast for option number 2. See? Two options, same eventual outcome, including the part where you walk out of Creekside after the meal feeling full and ready to explore more of what Steamboat Springs has to offer! And if you are planning an extra strenuous activity, carb loading with their Wafflelaughagus breakfast (malted waffle topped with sausage gravy and cheddar jack, served with two eggs, breakfast potatoes, and your choice of meat) will make you smile as it gives you the strength you need to complete whatever adventures that are in store for you!
A Fork in the Road
For most adventures in most towns, your adventures will be the same no matter what season you are visiting, but Steamboat Springs is a mountain town, and the difference between cold-weather activities and warm-weather activities is extreme. And so, we have reached a fork in the road on your journey to Steamboat, one road taking you to long days filled with sunshine, warmth and adventures without coats, and the other taking you to short days filled with sunshine but cold temperatures that necessitate bundling up.
The Road Much Warmer
Summer in Steamboat Springs is a joyous time, offering all the sunshine and warmth you may not have expected from a summer in the mountains while still offering that touch of chill that will make you appreciate fireplaces and hot cocoa, even in July. This is when we can really enjoy playing outside, savoring the carefree days and the exciting adventures listed below.
Yampa River Festival, End of May, 1st of June
The Yampa River is the star of the summer show, offering a two-day festival that includes exciting events such as the State of the Yampa address, the Adam Mayo Memorial Fish Creek Kayak Race, and the Main Event, which includes river races, raft rodeos, a Family Fun Zone, and our favorite activity, the Crazy River Dog, in which our fur babies leap into the water and swim to their humans waiting at the D-hole! The fastest pup wins the prize, but all the pooches win the best dog award, at least in our hearts!
Steamboat Pro Rodeo, Friday and Saturday Nights, July and August
The west will be wild again when you attend the Steamboat Pro Rodeo, starting at 7:30 most nights (6:30 on the 4th of July) and offering all you would expect including bronco busting, bull riding, barrel racing, and fun kids’ events that will amaze you if your family hasn’t spent much time on horses in its lifetime. Every evening begins with a delicious barbecue, and if you are visiting on the 4th, will end with a really cool drone show! (Fireworks are forbidden in the summer months.)
Horseback Riding, Fishing, or Hiking
We started with the festivals for your summer day trip in Steamboat Springs, but what if you are visiting when there is no special event? Does that mean you won’t have anything to do? Of course, it doesn’t, and as you choose between horseback riding with Saddleback Ranch (37350 Co Rd 179), with most rides lasting between 1-3 hours, guided fishing trips with Steamboat Fly Fisher (655 Yampa Street Unit C-2), offering trips that are either half- or full-day excursions, or just decide to take an easy hike to Fish Creek Falls, maybe enjoying a picnic as you do, your summer day trip to Steamboat Springs will be one that dreams are made from!
Let’s Take the Cold Road
A day trip to Steamboat Springs in the winter is probably going to involve one very exciting activity. Of course, you are going to ski, and Steamboat Ski Resort is one of the most popular ski destinations in the country, famous for its champagne powder. Offering 23 lifts, 182 trails, and over 3700 acres of skiable terrain, the mountain is where you will spend much of your day, either skiing or snowboarding, as both are allowed here. Its longest run is called Why Not, stretching out over 3 miles, and because your time here is limited (and we hope you come back later for a much longer visit), you will probably not want to leave the mountain, but will want to enjoy lunch at one of the restaurants that sit slopeside. Hazie’s, located at the top of the gondola, is one of our favorite restaurants, and we invite you to check it out for yourself.
When Your Day Goes to the Dogs
Not everyone is into skiing, but pretty much everyone loves dogs, and the thrill seekers in our group can combine a love for adventure and adoration of fur babies with the opportunity to take a dog sled ride at Grizzle-T Dog & Sled Works, located at 1115 Co Rd 205. Offering the chance to “mush” your own dog team, which includes cuddle time and hot cocoa after the tour, the memories you make during this adventure will be soft, furry, and filled with love.
Steamboat Winter Carnival in February
Of course, we celebrate the season with a five-day winter carnival, offering everything from kids on skis to adults on snow shovels being pulled down Main Street! Also offering parent/child relays, snow sculptures, a Friday night soiree, and so many other activities and events, if you didn’t like winter before attending the festival, you’re sure to come out on the other end falling madly in love with the season. Ski Ballet, Nordic Jumping, pancake parties, and the Diamond Hitch Parade are more examples of the fun you will have during your winter day trip to Steamboat Springs during Winter Carnival.
Strawberry Park Hot Springs, 44200 Co Rd 36
Although snow, ice, and below freezing temperatures are the norm during a Steamboat winter, there are a few ways to stay warm, including one very natural one, a visit to Strawberry Park Hot Springs. 4-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive with chains or snow tires are required for this visit, (they do offer a shuttle if your rental car doesn’t come with either) but once you arrive and see the steam rising off the 101- to 106-degree mineral waters, you will forget all about the drive. Strawberry Park has built a little paradise here, utilizing stone and other natural materials that blend into the beautiful backdrop that is a Colorado landscape, and although children are allowed in the daylight hours, after dark it is adults only, offering a more romantic experience that you so richly deserve.
Ice Fishing, Snowmobile Rides, and Snowshoeing with the Family
There really is a lot to do in Steamboat Springs once the mercury drops, and whether you are sitting in a hut on the ice with the business end of your fishing line floating in the water of the hole carved out of the ice (Steamboat Ice Fishing Charters is a good place to start), touring the countryside on a snowmobile with Steamboat Snowmobile Tours, or taking a snowshoeing tour with Steamboat Lake Outpost, your winter dreams are all about to come true!
A Meal to Remember
Before you head back to the place you started your journey earlier this morning, end your time in Steamboat Springs with a meal you will never forget at Café Diva. Located at 1855 Ski Time Square Drive and offering an all-American menu filled with elevated dining options, it doesn’t matter what season you’re visiting; dinner here will be exactly what your special occasion deserves! Offering a strong wine menu and some classic cocktails that are perfect for toasting, the menus change with the season, but they only change for the better.
A Night You Will Never Forget
We sincerely hope that your day trip will include at least one night exploring the luxury and comfort of our Grand Adventure Company vacation retreats. But if a day is all you have, we would like to extend an invitation for you to return another time, when you can stay and enjoy all the wonderful amenities we offer, the peace we provide, and the joy that only comes from staying in the most comfortable and welcoming vacation accommodations. We’ve added a little more detail about what to expect from our spaces below, hoping to entice you to return!
Condos with All the Extras
Choosing a condo rental over a vacation home rental can make you worry that you might be missing out on something. But then you realize that our spaces provide access to all the community amenities (pools, hot tubs, grill areas) as well as the comfortable furnishings, high-end appliances, and stunning views offered inside, and all your fears and worries will be assuaged.
Vacation Homes for Your Larger Traveling Group
More is merrier when you choose our vacation homes for your Colorado rentals, offering private hot tubs, fully equipped kitchens, and more of those views you are soon going to crave. Our homes are designed to make families feel comfortable and at home when they are many, many miles away from their own homes, and will be an integral part of your vacation experience.
Reserve Your Favorite Escape Today
Whether it is for a day, a week, or even a month at a time, our properties will offer respite and serenity to everyone who resides within. Book your favorite property today!
