Family fun and relaxation is at the forefront of both the summer and winter in Steamboat. With all of the fun activities and events to check out, it’s always easy to find enjoyable things to do with the people you love. We thought that Jackson Grabill, a member of the marketing team who spends a significant amount of time in the mountains with his family, might have an interesting perspective on yet another unique way to experience Steamboat.

Jackson’s thoughts:

One of my favorite parts about being in Steamboat is spending time outdoors with my family and finding fun and inclusive family activities to do. Nothing makes me happier than watching my parents ski down to the bottom of the Sunshine lift or hanging out with my sister and enjoying a beverage and the views at Sunset Happy Hour.

So, what if I told you that you could turn an entire day into a fun, family friendly activity? Recently, my family and I (mom, dad and younger sister) rented e-cruiser bikes from Steamboat Sports and spent a day exploring Steamboat Resort’s base area, along with downtown Steamboat Springs while immersing ourselves in just a few of the enjoyable activities and ways to experience Steamboat.

1. Starting from the Steamboat Sports at the Sheraton, we checked in and went through the rental process, which couldn’t have gone smoother. After we were each outfitted with our own e-cruiser bikes, we deliberated momentarily over our plans for the rest of the day. It was decided that we would begin at Steamboat Square and move towards the town of Steamboat Springs as the day progressed.
2. To begin, we took a ride around the greater base area, to get different perspectives on our favorite runs and areas of the mountain and enjoy the beautiful weather. Riding up towards the Thunderhead lift afforded us a great vantage point for watching mountain bikers flying down trails and off drops, along with views of lush aspen glades and dancing tall grasses in the breeze. Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife when in this area and the base area in general, as you may luck into seeing foxes, deer, elk, moose and even bears!

3. We then flew back down to the base for drinks and lunch at The Range Food and Drink Hall. Sitting on the patio gave us great views of the base area and lower mountain, and we passed time by playing Bags (Cornhole). I highly recommend trying the pot stickers! Re-energized, we hopped back on our trusty steeds and made our way down into the valley.
4. Connecting with the Yampa River Core Trail is seamless from anywhere on the main drag (Lincoln Ave), and the path runs parallel to the Yampa River for more than 7 miles. The Core Trail is a great means for exercise and enjoying the outdoors, and it’s also the super-highway for runners, walkers, bikers and general recreationalists in the valley. The Core Trail provides easy access to downtown Steamboat Springs and the majority of the bars, restaurants and shops in town.
5. Our first stop of the day was just steps away from the Core Trail, to visit Howelsen Hill, the oldest operating ski area in North America! Checking out the ski jumps and riding down the alpine slide was an awesome side quest for the day, and the views heading up the chairlift looking down into town provided a rarely seen perspective.

6. We hopped back on our bikes and crossed back over the river on the Core Trail, immediately finding ourselves in the heart of downtown. Surrounded by a number of storefronts of restaurants that tickled our fancy, we opted to stop into one of our favorite stores, F.M. Light and Sons. Originally opened as a men’s clothier in 1905, this iconic store now caters to men, women and children, with classic cowboy boots, hats, clothing and a whole lot more. It’s always fun to try on cowboy hats and shoot the pop guns, regardless of how old you are.
7. Following some tomfoolery, we decided it was time to cool off with a refreshing snack. We stopped by Fuzziwigs, the local candy and ice cream store for some cones and my dad’s favorite candy… Bottlecaps!
8. On a bit of a sugar-rush, along with a time crunch to get our bikes back up to the shop by 4pm, we hopped back on the Core Trail and began making our way back to the base of the mountain. Riding past 5th Street, we spent a moment or two checking out the bulls and horses that were in their stables awaiting the Pro Rodeo. One of my favorite things to do in the summer in Steamboat, and a classic Steamboat Springs experience, I highly recommend grabbing a pair of tickets and spending an evening at the rodeo. Upon arriving back at the Steamboat Sports Sheraton store in Steamboat Square, we realized we were a few minutes after our scheduled 4pm drop-off. Luckily, the staff at the store were extremely understanding and forgiving of our misstep, and truly were only concerned for our enjoyment of the day as well as our time in Steamboat. Not only did this make the entire rental process stress-free and easy, but it also allowed for some fun and engaging conversation with the staff as they assisted us. A cheers from us to everyone on the rental and retail teams!

9. With there still being some time before our dinner plans, we headed back to the Range for drinks. I’m not sure anything beats sitting on the upper deck with a cool beverage while overlooking Steamboat Square and the lower slopes of the mountain. Last but not least, we made our way back through Steamboat Square. We had dinner reservation at Hazie’s, a unique dining opportunity at the top of the Gondola. Dinner and drinks with a 9,000ft view is hard to beat!

There are a truly unlimited amount of ways that you can experience Steamboat, and seeing as we wanted to change things up a bit, I think we got a huge bang for our buck. Being able to fit so many fun spots and activities into a day… while linking them all together by E-Bike was a seriously fun new way for us all to spend time together in our favorite place.