No, this isn’t a riddle. Chances are you’ll find them in Steamboat Springs, an authentic western town in Colorado, where the Director of Skiing, 1964 Olympic medallist, Billy Kidd, hits the slopes wearing a Stetson and every January is joined by 100 of the best rodeo cowboys who compete in an annual downhill race….on skis. Yee Haw!
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A snowy cattle drive in Colorado
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People come to Steamboat not just for the skiing: it attracts tourists all year round with its huge range of activities, plentiful accommodation and a vibrant town near the ski resort itself. It has a local airport 25 miles away; Yampa Valley connects with many other US cities which makes the town easily accessible. One of North America’s top family resorts, Steamboat-Ski Town U.S.A.® is known for its friendliness but also its Olympic tradition. In its 102 year history the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club has produced 88 Olympic athletes and provided a training programme to nearly 22,000 young people in the community.
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| The slopes of Steamboat on a ‘busy’ day |
Arriving at Steamboat, the atmosphere was buzzing as it was the Winter Carnival weekend. The ski area is large: 6 peaks, 165 trails over 3000 skiable acres, lots of room to spread out and never a feeling of it being too busy. There is a huge choice of accommodation; hotels and condos hug the mountainside whilst numerous minibuses shuttle skiers in and out of town.
We stayed at the Steamboat Grand which though technically isn’t a ski-in ski-out hotel, is very nearly one, with just a single road to cross. The hotel provides its own excellent ski rental service plus the facility for storing your skis at the base of the mountain to save lugging them back and forth. The large, beautifully furnished rooms and apartments cater for every family combination with the outdoor pool and hot tubs a big bonus.
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| A warm welcome at the Steamboat Grand |
What about the skiing? Steamboat’s snowsports school is exceptionally good: GPS tracking for children, a good number of easy runs and a mixture of group and private lessons with experienced instructors. Having learned the basics at Winter Park, we had a day honing our skills on the famous Champagne Powder® with the help of our patient and informative instructor, Adam. I loved the names of the runs: western-style Stampede, Tomahawk, Giggle Gulch and Chuckwagon plus the amusing randomness of See Me, Why Not and So What. Our favourite had to be Burgess Creek: an area of the mountain just for us, with our own chair lift too. They must have known we were coming.
Skiers and non-skiers alike can make the most of an impressive gondola which transports visitors high up to Thunderhead Lodge from where you can reach more of the mountain on skis or just have a delicious meal before coming down again. We took a break from our lesson to take the gondola up for lunch at Hazie’s, a smart waiter-service restaurant with the most breathtaking views of the mountains. As I clomped in with my awkward ski-boot gait, looking dishevelled with the all too familiar helmet hair, I vowed next time I would come without skis and eat there in style.
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| View from Hazie’s restaurant, Steamboat |
Thankfully I looked a little better on our evening jaunt up to the very top of the mountain for an Italian feast. Guests are booked at set intervals to ride the gondola before hitching a ride in the warm cabin of a huge snowcat which makes light work of the steep incline. At Four Points Lodge we were greeted with a welcome glass of wine and treated to a sensational meal: antipasti, Tuscan bean soup, ravioli then a choice of mains including lamb shanks, veal and the biggest steak that just about fitted a dinner plate. Tiramisu, cocktails, liqueurs and coffee; this was fine dining indeed at nearly 3000m elevation.
And here’s me thinking I might be sitting round a campfire, in my chaps, eating beans…
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| All aboard the snowcat for a mile high dinner |
In my next post I will tell you more about the Winter Carnival activities and why a dip in the hot springs at Strawberry Park is the perfect way to ease tired limbs.
Other posts about our trip to Colorado:
Flying high to Denver
Learning to ski at Winter Park
Where to eat in Winter Park
There’s more to Steamboat than skiing
This trip was organised for us by the resorts of Winter Park and Steamboat Springs. Accommodation, ski rental, lessons and lift passes were complimentary as were my flights and some meals. Dougie paid for his own flights.
You both are making the best of this 'empty nest syndrome' and all power to you. You take holidays I can only dream about, Trish and what fantastic places you go to. Poor Dougie though, having to pay for his own flights!lol Life's a beach, eh? x
Yes, since Rory has toddled off, opportunities seem to be coming our way so we are grabbing them with both hands while it lasts.
Yes, haha – he had to open his wallet for the flight payment – poor lad ;-)))
Wow – lot of cows.
Yup, sure was!
I'd no idea about the cowboys – especially in the winter. #1 was just out there for a ski holiday with his friends – I'll have to ask him if he saw any. After having lived in Arizona and Texas for 11 years, I'm quite used to cowboy hats and steers, but the snow really makes the whole scene remarkable!
We were told that Steamboat is a very popular skiing destination for Texans. A very different vibe to Winter Park which attracted residents from the city of Denver.
We were astonished to see the cattle drive as up to that point the highway had been virtually empty.
How exotic, and such variety on your trip. Could you eat all that steak or did you have to ask for a doggie bag? 🙂
We were dining with two PR girls from the resort. One of them tackled the steak and did indeed need a goody bag. I paced myself and had salmon but Dougie indulged in the lamb shank.
The meals, like in Winter Park, were excellent. The gondola/snowcat ride was also available for another mountain-top restaurant where a superb Scandinavian meal was served. If we had stayed longer, I'd have been up that mountain like a shot!
oops *doggie bag* – though it probably was a goody bag with the amount of steak!
Much better than beans, if you ask me! ;o)
I quite like the look of the Steamboat Grand too… xx
Definitely better than beans!
The hotel was wonderful: just our cup of tea x
What a terrific post – I so enjoyed reading it. This sounds like some trip!
Thanks Sarah. What a trip it was – exhilarating, nerve-wracking at times but the most exciting holiday we've had in ages. Would go back in a heartbeat.
As you know, we love skiing, and this looks like a great resort to visit. Funny what you say about the run names, in Whistler there was 'Banana Peel' and 'Ego Bowl' which amused me! The dinner at 4 points sounds amazing. #mondayescapes
Ha! I bet there were a few egos showing off in Ego Bowl!
We were very impressed with the meal at Four Points – quite incredible cuisine in such an unusual location. I wish we had stayed longer as I'd have tried the Scandinavian meal at another restaurant.
I've stayed at Steamboat in the summer! My husband has also skied there and that's what gave us the idea. It's amazing in summer – all the hot springs particularly. I blogged about it too (in this post here).
http://www.nappyvalleygirl.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/in-wild-west.html
Oh isn't that brilliant! Have had a read of your post: I said at the time to Dougie that I would love to return in the summer and this has convinced me.
We also loved Strawberry Park – that's next up on the blog.
That meal sounds truly wonderful! I love the sound of Steamboat, what a fabulous name! Will have to try and make it there one day…
I love the name too. I kept thinking it sounded like a Disney resort, probably because the first Mickey Mouse animation was called Steamboat Willie! My mind works in mysterious ways.
What a wonderful trip with skiing and Gondola rides. The arrangements at the resort seem to be top notch.
A brilliant resort for skiers but I imagine just as much fun for non-skiers as they also have access to the mountain.
Steamboat looks stunning. It's huge – I bet you could spend months there and still not get bored. I love the idea of a ski in ski out hotel! And the gondola looks brilliant. I think I would really love to go on that especially with a great lunch at the end. Thanks for linking up with #MondayEscapes
I think you're right – so much to do.
The food was exceptional, Ting, and fantastic methods of getting to it!