While much of the world is wondering if summer is ever going to end come August, in Steamboat Springs we are celebrating the beginning of autumn as the temperatures start to fall. The leaves aren’t changing color yet, but we’re pretty sure that pumpkin spice coffee is already being sold, and if you are visiting and don’t pack a jacket, you will regret it! Fortunately, if you do forget, the fireplaces in our Grand Adventure Company seasonal sanctuaries will warm you quickly, and this guide to experiencing Steamboat Springs in August will help you enjoy everything our town has to offer.
We Pull Out Our Cowboy Hats and Boots
If it is summer the Steamboat Pro Rodeo, 401 Howelsen Parkway, is the main event, but it ends August 23rd, so be sure to plan your visit before then if you want to experience an authentic Western Rodeo. Offering cowboys and cowgirls participating in all your favorite rodeo events, a barbecue before the night’s show begins, and one of our favorite parts of the rodeo, two fun children’s events, the Ram Scramble (ages 5 and under) and the Calf Scramble (ages 6-12). The kids are so cute and so determined to win that we wish EVERYONE could be declared winners!
We Eat All Our Veggies
The Steamboat Springs Farmers Market is our favorite way of buying the vegetables we eat, offering locally sourced produce that just tastes better than the stuff in the grocery stores. Located on Yampa Street between 5th and 8th, and open every Saturday through mid-September, the Farmers Market also offers locally raised buffalo, chicken, beef, seafood, and trout, as well as baked goods, specialty sauces, and a large number of arts and crafts vendors selling merch that will make great souvenirs and even greater Christmas gifts, if you are organized enough to think about starting your holiday shopping that early!
Wetting Our Lines
The cool mornings are the perfect times to climb into a pair of waders, head to the Yampa River, and cast our lines out into the water. Fly fishing is a big time summer activity in Steamboat, and it may be the only reason you skip the trout purchase at the Farmer’s Market. If you haven’t tried to fly fish before your Steamboat August getaway, Steamboat Flyfisher, 655 Yampa Street Unit C-2, offers guided fishing trips and instruction on how to best cast your line.
We Like to Eat (A LOT)
In our humble opinion, the restaurants of Steamboat Springs are some of the finest in the world and we spend a lot of our time off the clock exploring meal options at some of the best. You may worry about being at a disadvantage, not knowing enough about the restaurants in town, but a food tour can help relieve your mind. Steamboat Springs Food Tours, 635 Lincoln Avenue, offers custom tours that are a bit pricier, but their standard Bite of the Boat Tour is reasonably priced and visits 4-5 restaurants to give you a taste of what you can expect from your vacation. Go back at a later time and revisit your favorites or consider it good and decide to conduct your own food tour at restaurants that didn’t make the tour, leaving town with an authentic taste of Steamboat deliciousness.
Exploring Art
Although summer temps rarely rise above 80 degrees, there can be some days that get a little toasty and on those days, we gravitate to indoor activities, such as visiting the Steamboat Art Museum, located at 801 Lincoln Avenue inside a former bank building. Its most current exhibit, “The Art of Printmaking: Process and Passion, comes to a close on August 31, and offers the works of nearly 45 artists from all over the country. Writers are encouraged to enter The Painted Words, the museum’s 8th annual literary competition & writer’s celebration, an event that takes place on August 5th. Also offering a cute little gift shop selling reproductions of the art that has been exhibited there, it’s another great way to pick up souvenirs to bring back home with you.
And We Relax
Fall and all the craziness that accompanies the season is right around the corner, and if we take a few days in August to sit around the house and do nothing, is anyone really going to judge us? Of course not, no more than we would judge you for daring to do the same thing during your stay, and our seasonal sanctuaries offer many enticements to be lazy. Soaking in a hot tub on the back deck, binge watching movies on supersized state of the art televisions or sleeping in late every day of your stay. Our August accommodations are designed to be the best part of your vacation experience, and we encourage you to spend some time exploring all their wonderful amenities!
