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Lucas had never been to Steamboat Springs and I had nothing but wonderful memories of the area from when I traveled there for tennis tournaments and family vacations. It had been a while since I had been back to Steamboat (atleast 10 years) and so it was a very exciting weekend. Steamboat is still as wonderful as I remembered it!
We arrived into town earlier than expected and headed to Fish Creek Falls for a leisurely hike before checking into our hotel. Fish Creek Falls is a great hike because you can do as little or as much as your little legs desire. Having been in the car for 3.5 hours, Lucas and I decided to walk up to the second waterfall along the trail. The first waterfall is about a 1/4 mile walk in order to view the beautiful waterfall cascading through the mountain pines (this is a little touristy here...I recommend braving the altitude and hiking farther along the trail to the second falls to escape the tourist trap).
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| First Fall along Fish Creek Trail |
The second waterfall is about 2.5 miles one way and is roughly 1.5 hours from the trailhead. The website describes the hike as moderate to difficult, but any serious hiker would put it more in the moderate range. The nice thing about hiking to the second waterfall is that the trail is not very crowded. We spent 15-20 minutes at the second waterfall before seeing any other hikers. Sit down, relax and enjoy the sound of the rushing water...or clamber over some rocks to get up close and personal with the fall while mist covers your face.
For those wishing for a longer hike, you can continue another 2.5 miles to Long Lake for a 5 mile one way trip, although a local told us it is actually 7 miles one way to the lake. Either way, be prepared for a long day of walking! This website gives you basic information about hikes in the area and can be useful if you decide to check it out someday!
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| The Second Waterfall |
After hiking we checked in to our quaint hotel, the Inn at Steamboat, which is located near the ski area, the Steamboat Grand, and other condos. The Inn is a boutique hotel with a true mountain feel, unlike some of the larger resorts in the area. It is also in a great location to walk to the nearby ski area or to catch one of the free buses into downtown.
We decided to catch the free bus into downtown to walk around and grab some dinner. The Cantina is a Mexican restaurant in downtown Steamboat that had been recommended to us and had received great reviews online. It is apparently the best Mexican in Steamboat, which does not say much for other Mexican restaurants in the area. I may be to harsh because of my deep love for guacamole, tortilla chips, margaritas and a good plate of Mexican food. The Cantina just was not up to par. The guac tasted like prepackaged avocado and although the buffalo something or other I got wasn't bad...it certainly didn't live up to expectations. Headed to steamboat? Try one of the many other local restaurants that may be able to offer a more satisfying meal.
For instance, a stop at Mahogany Ridge Brewery could be a good choice for dinner, or even just drinks. The happy hour menu looked promising, 1/2 off drinks and a $1 tapas menu. We, naturally, only sampled the beer. Definitely worth the stop, and for $1 per sample I definitely recommend trying a little bit of each beer they brew. With the sample, you even get a taste of their craft rootbeer which is AMAZING (and that is saying a lot coming from someone that doesn't care much for rootbeer). I have never had Tommy Knockers rootbeer, but my guess is this would give it a run for it's money.
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| Beer Sampler at Mahogany Ridge Brewery |
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| Take a break from calorie counting for the day...it's worth it. |
Winona's is A MUST DO, whenever you visit Steamboat. The restaurant is small, but service is quick and it is definitely worth the wait. The food was amazing and I wish I had a larger appetite so I could try more on the menu! We only had breakfast, but based on what was coming out of the kitchen I would imagine the lunch options are just as amazing.
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| Rainy Day at Steamboat Ski Area |
Given the rain, we didn't feel like doing much hiking and instead warmed up in the hot tub back at the hotel. The evening brought sunshine, thank goodness, and a beautiful wedding at Catamount Ranch. I am not terribly familiar with Catamount Ranch offerings, but the grounds are beautiful (particularly for a wedding) and it looked as though they offered other activities for visitors such as canoeing, paddle boarding, taking a boat out on the lake, etc.
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| The Lake at Catamount Ranch |
On our final day in Steamboat we explored the path along the Yampa River and walked around downtown. I could have easily spent a few more days in town, hiking the trails in the ski area, visiting the local hot springs, checking out live music taking place on the river or just walking around downtown. Steamboat is a wonderful getaway for a family vacation or a romantic weekend even if you aren't visiting in the winter to "scar the gnar" (aka go skiing). From farmer's markets, to tubing on the river, to watching people catch some air on the ski jump...the town has a lot to offer and is definitely worth checking out!
Bon Voyage!
