Steamboat Springs Family Vacations

Steamboat Springs is a modern-day ski resort town with a definite Old West feel. Cattle ranchers and farmers settled there in the 1800's, and some residents continue to make their living off of area farmland today. You'll see Western-style storefronts in the historic downtown, where locals have encouraged preservation of 19th-century buildings. The town got its name from fur trappers, who found a mineral spring that made a "chug, chug" noise like a steamboat. Soothing, natural hot springs continue to attract visitors; kids love the city pool that's fed by a thermal spring and stays warm all year round.

The main draw in the winter months is Steamboat Ski Area. There, 165 trails on nearly 3,000 acres challenge the most adept skiers, but it's also known for its top-notch children's ski school. In 2009, SKI magazine readers named it the best ski resort in the U.S. West for family programs; it's always in the top 10. For 2009/2010, the resort unveiled an expanded Kids' Vacation Center, more snowmaking, a new Ski School ticket office and a new fleet of gear rentals. Not a skiing family? Other fun winter outdoor activities in Steamboat Springs include snowmobiling, tubing, ice-skating and snowshoeing.

Steamboat Springs is located in Colorado's Yampa Valley, about 160 miles northwest of Denver, along U.S. 40.