Many people think that ski resort towns are all basically the same. If all you do is ski when you’re in a place like this, that’s likely going to be your opinion, as you haven’t seen or experienced anything else. When I travel, I want to do all the regular things as well, like ski when I’m in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. There’s a reason so many people visit here, and that’s because it’s home to some of the best skiing in the world. When I went to Steamboat Springs for a long weekend, we skied until we dropped every day. I saw a lot of the side of the mountain, a lot of snow in my face and a lot of the view out the window as I slept off a very busy day. I had not seen much of the area, though.
That’s why when my friends left to go their separate ways after the long weekend had finished, I felt unfulfilled even though the skiing had been incredible. I decided to see if I could stay for 24 more hours to get a look at the area. I extended my rental car agreement and successfully changed my flight. All I needed now was a last-minute Steamboat Springs hotel room. That could be easier said than done, or so I thought until I found HotelTonight on my phone. I tapped away for a minute or two and instantly found and booked a Steamboat Springs hotel room that looked perfect. All I needed was a bit of insider knowledge, and I was off for a day of exploring the rest of this gorgeous area.
Downtown Steamboat Springs spans about 10 blocks and is bordered on one side by the Pampa River. Steamboat Springs, at least downtown, sort of reminded me of a scene from the Old West. That was because some of the buildings were such that they could have fit right in on some of the frontier towns that you see in movies and in historical pictures. The place was abuzz with activity, and it seemed as though there were a lot of locals running around, following their routines such as they are in this laid back, relaxing atmosphere.
In most places in other cities that are referred to as Old Town, the area is basically set up for tourists. That’s not the case with Old Town in Steamboat Springs. This is a real neighborhood, and it’s extremely diverse. You’ll see multi-million dollar mansions and then on the next block see modest homes or even condominiums. You’ll also see some mountain creeks that are almost mesmerizing if you stare at them for too long. I stood and wondered how long it would take to catch a trout in Butcherknife Creek or Soda Creek. I was sure you could probably drink and bathe in that water and you’d emerge totally healthy and clean.
If you’re looking for a middle-class neighborhood to settle into in the Steamboat Springs area, Fish Creek Falls is your place. This is a neighborhood that sits on top of a big hill that overlooks the entire valley. I kept wondering what it would be like to sit in some of these yards and watch celebrations such as fireworks and the like. I also noticed that the sun seemed to hit this area just a bit harder and longer than the valley below. Ultimately, it was time to move back into my day, but I could’ve spent a lot more time here enjoying the view.
I moved a bit further away from the main part of town and ran into an area known as The Mountain. It was as if I had stumbled into a second resort town, although this place definitely had a distinctly local feel. I spent some time browsing in the shops here, as I had yet to find any gifts for the important people in my life. After a short shopping trip which proved successful, I was ready for some serious food. I had gotten so wrapped up in my day that I had forgotten to eat lunch, so I was more than ready for some dinner. I asked around a bit and was told that there was a really nice locally owned place nearby. I stopped in and just the smell made me want to order everything. I ordered a big steak and was thrilled when it arrived. I ate like I hadn’t eaten all day, which I basically hadn’t. It was a tremendous meal.
It had been a great day for a lot of different reasons. I had followed up a fantastic weekend with my friends skiing and still managed to find my way into an extra 24 hours here so I could see what the area was all about and what it may feel like to live here. That’s always worth the effort. Thanks to the help of HotelTonight, there really wasn’t that much effort at all involved with finding a hotel room in Steamboat Springs. I logged onto the app, clicked on my phone a few times and before I knew it I was all set. I would come back here someday, I thought as I got back to my room. I would book my Steamboat Springs hotel through HotelTonight.
