This week, Good Life Review and Glamour Cow are exchanging travel articles. Join us as we tour some new locations from a different perspective. Visit Glamour Cow to read articles by three of your favorite GLR authors. Meanwhile, we hope you enjoy this article by Michelle Romano!
Thanks to a new membership with RCI, my family and I made a pact to embark on one big “girls-only” trip at least every other year. First in the series: a week of skiing, eating and relaxing in Steamboat Springs in northwestern Colorado.
Day One: “Road to Nowhere”
I hate connecting flights. As if direct isn’t stressful enough—think lost luggage and late arrivals—a connection can induce a headache worse than the eardrum-pinching sensation felt during the plane’s descent. If your first flight is delayed, which is an oh-so common occurrence at the NY airports, you may miss your second flight and be stranded thousands of miles from your destination. So, when flying to Steamboat, while it may have sounded convenient to have landed at Hayden, which is a half hour’s drive from ski paradise, we ditched the connection and flew straight into Denver, four hours south.
The trip was one of the week’s highlights. First off, we ate at Man v. Food location, Jack N Grill, in Denver. (For all you Adam Richmond fans, this place featured the “infant-sized” breakfast burrito.) The Mexican was delicious, and the portions were enormous…and cheap.
On the way up, we drove past ranches, mountains, cattle, small towns…basically everything that screams “out west.” Being an east coast girl, seeing a different side of the country was very cool. Of course, we did the drive in style, renting a flatbed Ford F150 from Budget outside Denver Airport. (FYI: For love of God, make sure your rental has 4-wheel drive. The roads are usually snowy/icy and the last thing you want on your ski vaycay is a spin-out on a windy mountain road.)
Day Two: Ski
Aspen’s too flashy. Vail’s too big. Steamboat fits just right. The mountain spans a couple of peaks in northwestern part of the state and takes up a couple of the mountains’ faces. A few chairlift buddies confirmed Steamboat has more narrow and windy tree runs than many other places in Colorado, making for a healthy mix of smaller New-England style trails and wide, flat big-mountain runs.
Day Three: X-Country/ Hot Springs
Instead of rushing to the mountain day three, we decided to take it easy around town. For breakfast, we had a religious experience at The Creek Side Cafe. Two words: Huevos Rancheros. Never in my life had I ever ingested anything so absolutely delicious. It was the perfect combination of spicy, creamy and hearty. For those of you who aren’t fans of Mexican for breakfast, try the granola. It’s homemade and comes mixed with vanilla yogurt and tons of fresh fruit.
My breakfast prepped me for two grueling (but enjoyable, as I can be quite the masochist) hours of cross country skiing at Lake Catamount, which is about a 15-minute drive from the town of Steamboat. The trails, which criss-crossed the drained lake, were groomed with indented tracks for beginner Nordic skiers. Most of the trails were relatively flat, but there were some good up-and-downs as well. The property itself was gorgeous, too. The trails form a web over a snowy valley, so there are great views of the encircling, towering mountains.
After some time in my Rossingols, we hit nearby Strawberry Park for their relaxing hot springs. Upon arrival, images of the 2000 movie The Beach starring Leonardo DiCaprio immediately flashed in my mom’s mind, as the place has the feel of a secluded paradise. Rock pools were built over the springs that sit in a small valley surrounded by snowy mountains and pine trees. Log cabins contain massage parlors and restrooms, and there are teepees where bathers can disrobe (also, after dark, clothing is optional).
Day Four: Ski Some More
We were feeling separation anxiety from the mountain after our day on (relatively) flat ground and in steaming hot springs. So, we spent another six hours strapped in our ski and snowboard bindings. Ride the gondola to the mountain’s midpoint for lunch. It may be a little pricier than going to town, but the panoramic views are gorgeous. Bonus: For those who aren’t skiing or riding, the price of the gondola ticket is subtracted from your food and drink total.
Day Five: Hitting the Town and Dog Sledding
With the end of our vacation creeping up, we used day five for scouring town for souvenirs. The main drag is very cute with tons of restaurants, bars and shops. Most of the service industry seemed to be manned by winter sport enthusiasts who migrated from around the country for the area’s champagne powder. Therefore, everyone was extremely friendly…much different than my native New York.
If I had one regret, it would be that we didn’t try dog sledding. Grizzle-T Dog & Sled Works, as well as Red Runner Dog Sled Tours, offer sled-drawn tours of the scenic Yampa Valley. You can relax under heaps of blankets while an experienced guide directs the Siberian and Alaskan huskies, or you can take the reigns yourself.
For dinner tonight, Steamboat Smokehouse. Peanut shells coat the floor, the beer is served in goblets and scent of smoky barbecue overpowers you from the second you walk in.
Day Six: Last Time on the Trails
For our last day in pristine western powder, we fought fatigue and made sure to have gotten our last runs in. (Tip: The mountain is huge, so bring a map to make sure you’ve explored every last nook.) After a soak in our hotel’s Jacuzzi, we had our last supper at the 8th Street Steakhouse in town. The restaurant has a modern, western feel with clean, wooden paneling and antler chandeliers. Unlike most steakhouses, 8th Street gets you working. There is an enormous common grill on the first floor where patrons cook their steaks after having selected them from the meat counter in the back.
Day Seven: Back home
Leave early. About 150 miles separates you from Denver Airport and, depending on the weather, the drive takes at the VERY least three and a half hours. For our 11:30 a.m. flight, we were in the car at 5 a.m. Be sure to say goodbye to the Rockies during takeoff.
