Posted by John Peretz on Mon, Sep 14, 2009 @ 03:44 PM
Alright, so you're looking for a perfect weekend getaway, and Steamboat Springs, Colorado is your destination of choice. Here's our tips to get the best out of your trip.
- Take time to get to Steamboat Springs. The fun is in the journey, so once you start your drive, make sure to take a few stops along the way to Steamboat Springs. Why not stop at the top of Rabbit Ears Pass and take a hike to the top of the famed Rabbit Ears? You'll never go through the pass without thinking about where you've been.
- Stop at Mahogany Ridge Microbrewery and Restaurant if it's between 4-6pm. All of their great micro brews and drinks are half price seven days a week during this time, and appetizer tapas are just a buck apiece. It's a great deal and located at 4th and Lincoln downtown.
- Get a great rate for a condo through Steamboat Resorts, one of the best booking agencies in Steamboat. Their flagship EagleRidge Lodge is located on the mountain and has a great new spa called A Calming Touch. It consistently gets some of the best customer satisfaction rankings in town.
- Book a Couple's Massage at All Season Wellness. Arguably the best massage day spa in Steamboat Springs, this Asian-infused spa consistently provides the best deep tissue, Swedish and Couples's Massage in town. Book online for a special discount.
- Take a stroll (and your camera) to the botanical gardens. Yes, even with all the outdoor splendor, Steamboat has a remarkable and free botanical park, located behind Freshie's restaurant halfway between the mountain and downtown.
- Take a hike or a bike to the Mad Barn. At just 3.6 miles (or longer if you extend the hike), go the historic Mad Creek Barn on this trail about 5 miles out of town on Historic Road 129. The canyon trail is gorgeous every time of year and tends to be a lot less crowded than the popular Spring Creek Trail.
- Take a soak at the Old Town Hot Springs or the Strawberry Park Hot Springs. If you come to Steamboat, you should definitely do one or the other. The Old Town Hot Springs are located in town, while the Strawberry Park Hot Springs are located a little out of town but worth the trip.
- Go to the best restaurant in town, Cafe Diva. A little pricey, but certainly the most romantic place in town for dinner. Terrific, innovative food, and a great wine list. Go ahead, you deserve it.
- Catch a local's breakfast or lunch at Freshie's. Always bustling, and located halfway between the mountain and downtown at 565 S. Lincoln, Freshies is a local's favorite serving generous portions in a funky, ski town environment.
- Consider catching a Saturday night or Sunday morning service at Steamboat Christian Center. Yes, we know you're on vacation, but catch a contemporary and uplifting service at 6 pm on Saturday evening or 10 am on Sunday morning at the Steamboat Christian Center. Very hip, growing church led by Pastor Troy, the church has grown by 1000% over the past four years to over 650 members. Yes, there's a reason why. No donation required.
- Go the Ghost Ranch Saloon and catch some great live music. The newest venture built from the ground up for live music offers affordable covers depending on the act, and has some great bar food to boot. Check out the custom-carved bar and great taxidermy.
- Go the top of the gondy or hike up Emerald Mountain for some great picture taking. If you haven't taken enough pictures already, catch a weekend gondola ride to the famous deck, or hike out of Howelsen Hill to the top of Emerald Mountain for some breathtaking photographs.
Come back soon! We're so sure you're going to have a spectacular weekend any time of the year in Steamboat Springs, that the sooner you get here, the sooner you can start planning your return. Have a great trip and we hope to see you soon!
Posted by John Peretz on Thu, Sep 10, 2009 @ 05:34 PM
The Steamboat Springs area and Northwest Colorado has some of the very best elk hunting in the United States and the World. If you're lucky enough to have your elk tag, you might be wondering what other things to do in Steamboat Springs after you're done hunting. Here's our list from a local's point-of-view:
- Go to The Tap House to watch your favorite football team. The Tap House in downtown Steamboat Springs at 729 Lincoln Ave. has all the satellite programming you could wish for, including NFL ticket, college games and more. It's funky downstairs location makes it a perfect spot to grab some grub and have a brew.
- Get a massage at All Season Wellness. This is Steamboat Springs premier massage facility, offering a variety of affordable deep tissue, Swedish and Thai massage specials. You can even surprise your wife or girlfriend by going for the Mountain Man Makeover before you return home, combining a great massage with a facial and a manicure or pedicure. Or, try A Calming Touch massage therapy. Both All Season Wellness and A Calming Touch have available outcall service to your location for an additional fee. Don't let your location limit you from a great health benefit and experience!
- Soak in the natural Strawberry Park hot springs a little out of town. Ask a local where the all natural hot springs are, and go for a soak with your buddies. It's a one-of-a-kind outdoor experience sure to soothe your aching body.
- Go golfing at Haymaker Golf course, almost a mile and a half above sea level. Amaze your friends with the distance you can drive (and slice) at this altitude. Haymaker is a great public course just a little south of town on Highway 40 headed towards Rabbit Ears Pass.
- Go grab some barbecue at the local's joint, Double Z Barbecue. Located one block off of Lincoln at 1124 Yampa Street, this is where the local's go for the best barbecue in Streamboat. Or, try the Steamboat Smokehouse, where you'll find some great mounts and you can throw peanut shells on the ground.
- Check out the local taxidermy shops in Steamboats. B & L Taxidermy at 1744 Lincoln does great work, as does All Seasons Taxidermy at 2354 Lincoln Ave. Both shops are a little north of town.
- Learn the history of the Yampa Valley at the coolest little historical museum in Northwest Colorado, the Tread of Pioneers museum located at 800 Oak Street, one street off the main drag of Lincoln Ave.
- Go fly fishing on the Yampa River. There are three great fy fishing shops in town, Straightline Sports, Bucking Rainbow and Steamboat Flyfisher. They offer rental equipment and guided trips.
Whatever you do, we hope you enjoy the mountains of Northwest Colorado and the magical city of Steamboat Springs, CO.
Posted by John Peretz on Thu, Aug 27, 2009 @ 09:02 PM
So you've hit the trails hard this weekend and now your body feels it. What's the best massage to help you recover and get your body back to normal? Here's a comparison between two common massages and one that maybe you've never heard of before.
- Swedish Massage: This popular massage style has some real misconceptions, especially as it applies to an athletic body. Highly popular in high-end spas, it has a certain spa mystique because of its sexy name. In a Swedish massage, your massage therapist works the entire body with long, smooth strokes. It helps to stimulate blood circulation and reduce stress. But for those inside the massage industry, it's known as a "fluff and buff", and a rather easy massage to give. It may be better utlized for older individuals, and not for the weekend warrior who might require a deeper massage to alleviate muscle soreness and tightness.
- Deep Tissue Massage: This massage essentially does what it says it will, providing a much deeper massage than its Swedish cousin. For the weekend warrior, this can be a much more effective massage, and it does a better job at releasing toxins and getting to knots and muscles on a deeper level. If you're thinking about a Swedish massage or a Deep Tissue massage, go for the Deep Tissue variety. You may need to breathe through some of the deeper pressure points that cause some initial pain, but your body will thank you later.
- Thai Yoga Massage: Here's the one you probably have never tried before, and for the weekend warrior, it may be your best overall massage. Using the qualities of a deep tissue massage and adding acupressure, the Thai Yoga massage also introduces significant stretching into the massage process. This combination of acupressure and stretching can get the weekend warrior back in shape even quicker than the Deep Tissue Massage. But it is different. Rather than using a traditional massage table, you'll be on a floor mat, and fully clothed using comfortable yoga type garments provided by the spa. The stretching helps to release toxins and and improve flexibility, which is the cornerstone to a faster recovery after athletic exercise. Because Thai massage requires specialized training, many spas do not offer this massage.
Whatever massage you decide on, the benefits are real and can help your recovery in a dramatic way. Just don't think that a Swedish massage will do the job every time. Leave that for the lightweights.
