As we barrel into the holiday season, the first of the big three is urgently knocking at our doors, and for those who would prefer not to answer, spending Thanksgiving in Steamboat Springs, CO may be the perfect way to run away. Offering everything you love about the holiday, including good food, Black Friday shopping, and a Christmas-like appeal, ski season is scheduled to open on November 23, allowing visitors to also spend their days schussing down the slopes. And because snow is cold, days are short, and warmth is needed to fully enjoy the holiday, our Grand Adventure Company holiday hideaways are designed to give travelers a warm welcome to the Centennial state! This guide to why Steamboat Springs is the perfect Thanksgiving destination will give you a sneak peek into an idyllic vacation you will never forget.
A Preemptive Burn of Calories
While most places, including Steamboat Springs, offer some kind of turkey trot, meant to be help celebrants avoid the consequences of gluttony, the opening of the ski season allows for that same preemptive burn of calories—it’s just a lot more fun! Your ski-in/ski-out sanctuaries will allow you to step out the door and be on the slopes within minutes, and because the resort is open on Thanksgiving Day, you can start out your holiday doing something you really enjoy. On this day that celebrates thankfulness, a voyage or two down the hill can ensure that you have another item to add to your list of things you are thankful for.
Grateful Not to Be Cooking
Cooking on Thanksgiving can be a mixed blessing. On one hand, you get to enjoy all the foods you know and love from holidays past, and meal prep can be a creative enterprise, but on the other hand, there is all that work, all that expense, and not everyone will appreciate your efforts. (Those tiniest travelers of ours can really be tough to please!) The restaurants we have listed below, however, should be open for business on Thanksgiving in Steamboat Springs, CO, with many offering traditional feasts that will fill your bellies while feeding your soul—and all you have to do is sit there and enjoy!
Yampa Valley Kitchen, 207 9th Street
Every year is different, and Yampa Valley Kitchen is known for its brunch and lunch menus more than its dinner ones, but we can promise that every bite will be your favorite when you visit this sweet kitchen for your Thanksgiving meal needs.
Laundry Kitchen & Cocktail, 127 11th Street
For those looking for an upscale dining experience, you need look no further than Laundry Kitchen & Cocktails. Located in the historic building that once served as Steamboat Springs Laundry (isn’t that convenient?), this unique restaurant is known for its small plates and for Oyster Thursdays and its oyster oriented extras. There is no word whether or not they will be offering their oyster menu on Thanksgiving, but whatever is being served is sure to be your favorite!
Aurum Food & Wine, 811 Yampa Street
Aurum is another impactful restaurant that has offered a special meal on Thanksgiving, and if you have ever enjoyed its all-American menu under regular circumstances, we can promise that on Thanksgiving they pull out all the stops!
Black Friday Shopping in Steamboat Springs
Although Black Friday isn’t as aggressive as it has been in past years—more stores are staying closed on Thanksgiving to allow their employees to stay home with family—there are still some really good sales to be had, and because Thanksgiving falls so late in November this year (November 28th, can you believe it?), the shopping time between the two holidays is greatly shortened, making it more important than ever. The good news is that all of the shops of Steamboat Springs will be open and probably offering extended hours on the Friday after Thanksgiving. And the even better news? Shops like Ohana (located at 843 Lincoln Avenue), Wanderlust Boutique (635 Lincoln Avenue), and Moose Mountain Trading Company (824 Lincoln Avenue) will offer gifts you just can’t purchase anywhere else, helping you earn the title of gift giver extraordinaire this year.
Celebrating at Home with Grand Adventure Company
The moments that become the most treasured of memories are often the smaller ones that at first glance appear to have little impact on our travels. Maybe this year it will be the moment when you choose to cook at home in our fully equipped kitchens and your teen asks, “How do you make that stuffing taste so good, and can you teach me?” Or quite possibly it could be the time you spend cuddling on leather sofas watching the Thanksgiving Parade with your kids, perhaps with a fire crackling merrily in the brick fireplace. Whatever memory becomes your favorite, enjoying your Thanksgiving at home with Grand Adventure Company promises to make this turkey day one you will never forget. Reserve your favorite vacation rental in Steamboat Springs today!