Forget far-flung beach vacations for spring break. In Colorado, March is our snowiest month which means springtime = skiing. And with the kids off from school for a week, it’s the perfect time for an in-state family ski getaway. This year, we chose Steamboat Springs. The Yampa Valley is a four-hour drive from Boulder, putting it far enough away from Winter Park (our weekend go-to family ski spot) to feel like a special occasion, without being too far (are we there yet, are we there yet, are we there yet?) Plus, Steamboat stands out as a true family-friendly ski destination, minus the pretention and cringe-worthy prices often associated with ski resort vacations.
We snagged a killer deal at the Steamboat Grand. March specials start at just $199 a night, dropping to $99 per night in April. Choose from hotel rooms, studios, and condos, all a short walk across the street to the gondola. In Steamboat, kids always ski for free with the purchase of a lift ticket for a parent or grandparent. In fact, the resort pioneered the concept in 1982. For adults, Steamboat offers a special Springalicious pass in April—three days for $119. And in honor of Steamboat’s 50th Anniversary, everyone is eligible to win a VIP trip for next season, including airfare, lift tickets, lodging, ground transportation from the airport to the hotel, and complimentary demo ski rental. Enter here.
With six days at the resort, we had plenty of time to indulge in non-ski activities. We hit the Old Town Hot Springs in downtown Steamboat to try out the waterslides and rock-climbing wall. For a more rustic experience in the springs, we visited Strawberry Park Hot Springs, located in a tranquil natural setting 10 minutes north of town. The kids tested the tubing at Howelsen Hill, but pronounced it “too tame.” In 4th and 6th grade respectively, they have graduated from the thrill of downhilling on an intertube, but are all about the terrain park. Everyone enjoyed our field trip to one of the Yampa Valley’s gorgeous ranches. Del’s Triangle 3 Ranch is located 30 minutes north of Steamboat in the Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area, and is one of Colorado’s oldest licensed outfitters (license #22, to be precise). We donned Stetson’s in the warming yurt before embarking on a jaw-droppingly scenic 1.5-hour horseback ride, traversing snow-covered meadows and Aspen groves set against a backdrop of the Sawtooth Mountain Range. The $80 per person fee includes a shuttle service to and from Steamboat, driven by an honest-to-goodness cowboy who narrates Steamboat’s rich ranching culture en route.
We cooked most of our meals at our condo in the Grand, but splurged for a family sleigh ride dinner on the last night. For $99 a person, we boarded a 20-person sleigh drawn by a team of horses through the rolling hills of the Haymaker Golf Course, and enjoyed the broad vistas of the Yampa Valley and Mount Werner as the sun dropped. We dined at the classic winter clubhouse retreat, complete with floor-to-ceiling windows and a distinctive Colorado menu of prime beef, free-range chicken, and fresh seafood. We particularly enjoyed the desserts—warm apple crisp a la mode and chocolate lava cake with whipped crème and raspberries—served family style. It was a fitting ending to our fabulous Colorado-style spring break.
Elevation Outdoors’ managing editor Jayme Moye is a serial adventurer and an award-winning travel writer. Follow her on Twitter @JaymeMoye
