Hot Air Balloon Ride

Start the day with an early-morning balloon ride over the wintery Yampa Valley. Pegasus Balloons and Wild West Balloons offer rides every day, weather permitting. Dress warmly as temperatures can be chilly. www.wildwestballooning.com / 970-879-7219

Soak or Swim

Swim laps in the outdoor naturally heated pool at the Old Town Hot Springs downtown. Warm up afterwards in any of the four thermal pools or scale the climbing wall. Childcare, changing facilities and towel rental are available. www.oldtownhotsprings.com / 970-879-1828

Head seven miles north of downtown Steamboat to the picturesque Strawberry Park Hot Springs. Clothing is optional after dark and no one under 18 is permitted after sunset. Accessing the springs requires four-wheel-drive and fines are heavy for cars that undertake the road and become stuck. Opt for a shuttle with Sweet Pea Tours or Hot Springs Adventures. 

www.strawberryparkhotsprings.com / 970-879-0342

Ice Skate

Swap snow for ice and glide around the Olympic-sized rink at Howelsen Ice Arena. Novice skaters can steady themselves by holding frames to maintain balance, and tots can ride in sleds. Kids love the bumper cars on ice and budding hockey stars can practice skills at Stick & Puck. www.steamboatsprings.net / 970-879-0341

Tennis

Grab a racquet and play a game at the Tennis Center of Steamboat Springs. Six indoor cushioned hard courts are available for hire inside the local-dubbed “tennis bubble.” Shorten the running distance and play a game of pickleball. Reservations are requested. Equipment is available for rent. www.10s.com / 970-879-8400

Learning

Read or be read to at the Bud Werner Memorial Library downtown across the Yampa River from the iconic Howelsen Hill. The library is a hub of activity for all ages with weekly talks, book signings, children’s events, film showings and workshops.

www.steamboatlibrary.org/events / 970-879-0240

View works by nationally acclaimed artists at Steamboat Art Museum. Housed in the historic First National Bank building, the museum, dubbed SAM, is hosting its 10th Anniversary Exhibit through Sunday, April 16. View works by artists including John Fawcett, Len Chmiel, Jean Perry and Quang Ho. Museum hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Admission is free. www.steamboatartmuseum.com / 970-870-1755

Catch a new-release movie at the Wildhorse 6 Stadium Cinemas in Wildhorse Plaza on the mountain. Or watch a classic or foreign film at the Chief Theater, Steamboat’s first movie theater, which is now a cultural center for live performances, concerts and films. 

www.metrotheaters.com / 970-870-8222

www.chieftheater.com / 970-871-4791

Shop for locally made gifts, Western wear and cold-weather apparel in historic downtown Steamboat. Find one-of-a-kind furnishings at a range of interior and consignment furniture shops throughout town. Chat with a local ambassador on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Look for weekly happenings at www.mainstreetsteamboat.com.

Relax With a Massage or Take a Class

Pick up ski-fitness tips or join a class at the Old Town Hot Springs. Relax with a yoga session at the Yoga Center of Steamboat or indulge in a Watsu massage at the Strawberry Park Hot Springs. For a full listing of Beauty and Wellness options see VG 72.

Brush up on local history at the Tread of Pioneers Museum on Eighth and Oak streets. Experience life as an early settler by visiting the authentic 1908 Queen-Anne-style home. Hear tales from the wagon trail in the current feature exhibit, Journeys West. See how the area has evolved through its diverse history of mining, ranching and skiing. Kids can try the scavenger hunt and buy old-time games at the museum’s gift shop. Join the curator twice per month on a behind-the-scenes tour to view thousands of preserved items not on display. Open Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Private group tours are available by appointment.www.treadofpioneers.org / 970-879-2214