This Colorado city is home to natural hot springs. Early settlers mistook sounds made by the hot springs for a steamboat, and this mistake led to the city’s name of Steamboat Springs. It became an incorporated town in 1900 and welcomed a railroad in 1909. The town grew on the ranching and mining industries, bringing people from the east to what is now a vacation destination. At one point, skiing was the only form of transportation during the snowy Rocky Mountain winters but this soon changed. Skiing became a winter pastime, so much so that the city hosts an annual Winter Carnival. The festival includes ski racing, dog sledding, ski jumping and a parade down the city’s main street. One of the more famous homes on these Steamboat Spring streets is the Crawford House, a nationally registered historic place and the primary residence of Steamboat Springs founder James Harvey Crawford.
If you’ve out-skied yourself, head to the Yampa River to enjoy more outdoor recreation like fishing, rafting, tubing and kayaking. If you prefer watersports over skiing, plan your trip around the Yampa River Festival which includes a kayak rodeo, a downriver race, and the Crazy River Dog Contest. Span the spectrum of summer activities with endless mountain bike trails, championship golf courses, hiking and backpacking, kayaking, horseback riding, fly fishing and more. Hotels in Steamboat Springs are the affordable way to enjoy the variety of outdoor activities in this city also known as Ski Town, U.S.A. Book with Choice Hotels in Steamboat Springs to enjoy a city surrounded by wilderness and fun. Book online now!