Family getaways can take a lot of work. From dialing in the itinerary to packing the right gear for multiple people to finding all the right restaurants to keep everyone happy while exploring a new place. Overwhelmed yet? Thankfully, when you pick a nearly all-inclusive destination with all the right opportunities and amenities, the playing and indulging in quality family time easily outweighs the energy spent planning the getaway. Welcome to Steamboat Springs, Colo.
Destination: Steamboat
Our long weekend was spent skiing at Steamboat Resort and lodging at the Steamboat Grand Hotel. There are seemingly countless reasons to drop everything and go to Steamboat Springs now, but here are a few reasons to really stoke that book-your-trip-now fire:
The Accommodations: Steamboat Grand
The Grand is a short, stroller/Burley Trailer-friendly walk to the Gondola Square and the new Steamboat gondola. Through and through, it’s a great option for families seeking a quiet space with easy access to the resort. It also has a great restaurant, full amenities rooms for a complete DIY experience (full kitchen, separate bedroom and living area and two bathrooms!), kid-friendly heated swimming pools/hot tub, and affordable in-room eating options for those days when you ski just a little too hard.
The Mountain: Steamboat Resort
Well known for their “Champagne powder” and fun tree skiing, Steamboat features 18 lifts offering access to over 160 trails scattered across nearly 3,000 acres of diverse terrain. From casual groomers to steeps and cliffs, this resort has options for every type of skier or rider in your family. Of course, if the size of the mountain seems overwhelming, you can always get a guide. Ours helped us get the lay of the land, find some powder stashes and shared some inside knowledge.
On the apres side, if you’re a foodie or mixologist fan, the restaurants and bars around the mountain are second to none. Whether your have locally sourced ingredients, specialty cocktails or the fanciest of fare on your must-have list, Steamboat has it.
And finally, the children’s offerings are equally diverse. The resort’s Kids Vacation Center is the epicenter for childcare and ski school for kids 12 months through 6 years. Our youngest (14 months), had a stellar time in the daycare center and our toddler (3 year old) raved about his ski school instructor for days. And, if you have downtime with kiddos in the Square, pull the kids in a free-to-use wagon, hang out by the fire pits and enjoy the views!
Can’t Miss: Steamboat Gondola (kids’ favorite!), bloody Mary’s at the Rendezvous Outpost yurt and Thunderhead Lodge, apres at the slope-side T-Bar, special family events in Gondola Square.
The Town: Steamboat Springs
Steamboat Springs is home to delicious eateries (like our long-time favorite Double Z’s), craft breweries and a distillery, fabulous coffee shops, great outdoor companies, family-friendly hot springs and pools and great parks. If you need to change up your scene and escape the resort area, walking around town is a great option. The town also has weekly events like festivals, live music, and community gatherings for visitors to check out!
Can’t Miss: Local beer and fish tacos at Back Door Grill, the Little Red House a.k.a. Big Agnes Factory Store, Old Town Hot Springs.
The Gear: Kits, Kids & Apres
Packing all the things can be tricky. For us, it’s gear and clothing for two adults, two kids and enough food to feed an always-hungry family.
Ski Kit
My go-to for this trip included a combination of Ridge Merino Aspect base layer and Patagonia PowSlayer bib. Warm, waterproof, and perfect off and on the mountain. On the hardware side, my husband and I are tele skiers, so we grabbed our groomer rigs, resort boots and made some fun laps together and with our little ones. ridgemerino.com; patagonia.com
Kids, Hauling & Such
Sometimes, kids need all the stuff: diaper bag, extra layers, snacks and more. Thankfully, the Filson Rolltop Backpack has great capacity, is rugged enough to handle the abuse and spills children throw at it, and it’s comfortable. filson.com
Hydration & Apres
Hydration is critical for the kiddos and adults. We used an assortment of Klean Kanteen bottles from their new TKWide collection. Of course, after you hydrate and especially if you’re an apres-all-day kind of skier, the Insulated TKPro 25oz vessel is a must. Fill with your favorite cocktail, or mine: Tincup Rye hot toddies. kleankanteen.com; tincupwhiskey.com
The gear highlighted and opinions expressed in this piece are the writer’s and are not affiliated with Steamboat Resort.
