Rainy days in Steamboat Springs turn into easygoing adventures with local cafés, indoor fun, museums, bumper cars on ice, escape rooms, and relaxing moments in your vacation rental. This guide rounds up the best ways to keep the fun going when the skies turn gray.
When planning a vacation to Steamboat Springs, the first thing that comes to mind is spending beautiful days on spectacular mountains with lots of outdoor recreation like hiking, mountain biking, skiing, and snowboarding. However, we never know for sure when clear skies will give way to cloud cover and rain. Still, a rainy day is not always a day lost, at least not in Steamboat Springs.
Even though we all love the town's natural beauty and great outdoors, there's still fun to be had indoors. Curious? Here's a little preview to get you excited:
- Literary Adventures: Relax with a book at the Bud Werner Memorial Library or explore a local bookstore.
- Cozy Cafés: Warm drinks, pastries, friendly spaces, and great spots for watching the rain roll past.
- Tread of Pioneers Museum: Local history, hands-on exhibits, ski memorabilia, and a charming historic setting.
- Local Spas: Massages, facials, hot springs, and calming spaces that turn a rainy day into pure relaxation.
- Bowling at Snowbowl: Twelve lanes, big screens, a full bar, tasty burgers, and space for families and pups.
- Bumper Cars on Ice: Ice skating, spinning bumper cars, and playful challenges at Howelsen Ice Arena.
- Crooked Key Escape Rooms: Themed rooms, fun puzzles, teamwork, and plenty of indoor fun.
- Wildhorse 6 Stadium Cinemas: New releases, comfy seats, movie snacks, and an easy afternoon indoors.
- Local Craft Breweries: Tastings, cozy taprooms, artisanal brews, and a warm local vibe.
- Have Fun in Your Vacation Rental: Games, movies, cooking, and downtime that turns indoors into its own mini getaway.
At Retreatia, we have extensive local expertise in luxury rental properties, ski-in/ski-out options, and downtown lodging. Many of our rentals are pet-friendly, and all are perfect for any time of the year!
We also consider ourselves local experts, and in our destination blog, we cover everything from hidden gems and indoor attractions to wonderful coffee shops around town. You'll find plenty of tips that will help make your stay in Steamboat Springs a memorable one, no matter the season. Pack your bags, bring your curiosity, and get ready to make memories in this unforgettable corner of the American West!
In this blog post, I've got you covered with a list of the best rainy-day activities in and around Steamboat Springs so you can keep the fun going even when it's pouring outside.
Ready? Grab your umbrella, and let's go for a ride!
1. Dive into a literary adventure at a charming library or bookstore.
The best companion for a rainy day? A good book. Maybe it's the soothing sound of rain that enhances our focus, making reading on a rainy day uniquely charming and enjoyable. And why not combine it with some city exploration?
Even if sitting in the heart of downtown, the Bud Werner Memorial Library is one of the best-kept secrets in town. It offers a fantastic and free reading space with views overlooking the Yampa River and comfortable chairs. It's not all about reading; the library also screens movies and puts on special events year-round. There are special activities for kids, including storytimes and hands-on activities.
Where else to find nice books? A nice bookshop! Off the Beaten Path Bookstore, also in Downtown Steamboat Springs, is a local favorite. You can browse their great collection of books, buy a tasty treat from the café, and check out the puzzle games to take back home.
What you'll love
- Quiet reading nooks at the Bud Werner Memorial Library.
- Views of the Yampa River while you relax with a book.
- Free events, movie screenings, and children's activities.
- A welcoming local bookstore filled with great reads.
- Fresh treats and drinks at the bookstore café.
- Puzzles, games, and small gifts for a cozy day in.
2. Delight in the warmth of a cozy cafe with your favorite coffee or tea in hand.
Here's another great companion for a rainy day: a steamy cup of coffee or tea.
With their warm and inviting atmosphere and pleasant aromas, coffee shops are delightful places to visit when it's raining. You can gather with friends, read a good book, catch up on some work, or simply enjoy the slow moment, watching the rain through the window while staying dry and cozy inside.
Wondering about nice coffee shops in Steamboat Springs to enjoy on a rainy day? Here are some ideas:
- Creekside Cafe may be the perfect place for it. With a cozy, bright atmosphere and an abundance of greenery, it offers a perfect setting for a chilly, rainy day.
- Big Iron has a great environment, whether you want to meet with friends or get your study on. Not to mention, the coffees, teas, and pastries are fantastic. Some even say their London Fog is one of the best in the US!
- Lil' House Country Biscuits & Coffee is known for its breakfast and food options that include many options of North Carolina southern-style comfort food, as well as egg platters, breakfast burritos, and sweet pastry treats. If the rain lasts long, no worries, they welcome you to enjoy free coffee refills.
3. Learn about local heritage at the Tread of Pioneers Museum.
The Tread of Pioneers Museum is a cozy escape on a rainy day, set inside a charming 1901 building filled with character. Inside, you'll find stories, objects, and interactive displays that make Steamboat Springs' past easy to connect with. Kids enjoy the hands-on exhibits, and adults tend to get drawn into the ski history, pioneer life, and early town artifacts. An hour is enough to see the highlights, and the gift shop makes a fun final stop before heading back out.
What you'll love
- Engaging exhibits on Native American art, skiing, agriculture, mining, and early settlement.
- Interactive elements and a scavenger hunt for kids.
- Old photographs and ski memorabilia dating back to the early 1900s.
- A restored early kitchen on the upper floor.
- A welcoming historic building that adds to the experience.
- A cute gift shop for souvenirs.
4. Unwind and rejuvenate at a local spa.
This one is more for the grown-ups. Visiting a spa is a fantastic idea to escape from the rain and fits right into anyone's holiday plans, right? After all, you don't go to Steamboat Springs just to explore the outdoors; you also want to relax, don't you?
Here are some spas that are particularly good around Steamboat Springs:
- The Old Town Hot Springs has full packages to help you make the most of your rainy day in a cozy and intimate setting.
- Rocky Mountain Day Spa at The Sheraton, at the base of the ski area, is one of Steamboat's best day spas where you can get pampered with hot stone massages and detoxifying facials, for instance. They offer packages that combine several options.
- Life Essentials Day Spa is one of Steamboat's most awarded day spas, offering an array of services for you to relax in Colorado style.
- Waterside Day Spa, a lovely day spa and salon nestled along the Yampa River with great views. Their Salt Suite is a big hit, with anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial benefits.
- The Grand Spa offers several different massages, body treatments, and facials that will provide the perfect remedy that your body requires.
5. Enjoy bowling at Snowbowl.
Bowling, anyone? The Snowbowl has been a much-loved entertainment venue, drawing locals and visitors alike since 1977. After undergoing a major facelift a few years ago, it became one of the most fun spots in Steamboat Springs to hang out.
It boasts 12 bowling lanes that are sure to provide visitors with a lot of activity and keep them active on a rainy day. They also have huge TVs, a full-service bar, and a great menu. The burgers are incredible!
What you'll love
- Twelve bowling lanes with a fun, upbeat atmosphere.
- Huge TVs and a full-service bar for relaxed hangouts.
- A tasty menu, including standout burgers.
- A dog-friendly outdoor area called the Dog Bowl.
- A special dog menu for four-legged guests.
- Plenty of space for families, friends, and pups to enjoy a rainy afternoon.
6. Experience the thrill of playing bumper cars on ice at Howelsen Ice Arena.
Immerse yourself in a Winter Wonderland Vibe. The Olympic-sized Howelsen Ice Arena is a great place for you to cool off in the summer months and enjoy activities like ice skating and ice hockey at any time of the year, no matter the weather.
This is the only ice facility in Colorado to offer Bumper Cars On Ice, a uniquely thrilling experience for both you and your family. With nine 20-minute bumper car sessions, you can play tag, race each other, and try to see who can spin the fastest. Trust us: Maneuvering bumper cars on ice presents another layer of challenge with the slippery setting.
Heads up: Reservations are recommended because it fills up quickly.
What you'll love
- Ice skating on an Olympic-sized rink.
- Bumper Cars on Ice with nine 20-minute sessions
- A playful challenge as you glide, spin, and race on the slick surface.
- A chance to mix skating and bumper cars for extra fun.
- Clean, well-maintained facilities with friendly staff.
- A solid rainy-day option with reasonable rates.
7. Overcome challenges at Crooked Key Escape Rooms.
Looking for something even more thrilling than bumper cars? Escape rooms are the ultimate thrilling experience to have on a rainy day. At Crooked Key Escape Rooms in Steamboat Springs, you will find four different escape rooms with varying levels of challenge. To give you a sense of how it works: In "Taphophobia," for instance, you are trapped in an Edgar Allan Poe dream, trying to overcome your fear of being buried alive! In "FLASHOVER," you pretend to be a firefighter and have to go through several physical and mental challenges to save cute pets within 60 minutes.
What you'll love
- Immersive themes that pull you into the story.
- Four rooms with different challenge levels.
- Creative puzzles that keep your whole group involved.
- A fun mix of mental and physical tasks.
- The excitement of beating the clock together.
8. Watch a movie at Wildhorse 6 Stadium Cinemas.
Have you seen the latest blockbuster yet? Going to the cinema is not the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Steamboat Springs, but when it's rainy outside, you have the perfect excuse to do so without feeling FOMO for not exploring the outdoors.
Featuring all-new movies and loads of movie snacks, Wildhorse 6 Stadium Cinemas is a great place to spend an afternoon. Despite being a small-town cinema, they do have a good and pretty up-to-date selection of the newest movies, a great sound system, and comfortable seats.
9. Embark on an adventure into the world of local craft breweries.
Another one for the grown-ups on a rainy day: Sample locally crafted beer and learn how it's made. Colorado is the destination for high-quality craft brews, and it only comes behind California in the number of microbreweries. Each brewery has its own unique flair. Some of the local favorites are Storm Peak Brewing and Mountain Tap Brewery. They'll please any beer lover for sure.
The best part? Besides the exquisite beverages, cozy interior, and social opportunities, these establishments are pretty committed to giving back to their communities and keeping Steamboat Springs the wonderful place that it is. Cheers!
10. Have fun in your vacation rental
Some rainy days practically invite you to stay in and make the most of your home base. Pull out the board games, set up a movie marathon, warm up by the fireplace, or whip up something delicious in the kitchen while everyone hangs out nearby. You can turn the living room into a blanket fort, host a family "cook-off," or sip something warm while watching the rain tap against the windows. A cozy day indoors can be just as memorable as any outdoor adventure, and your vacation rental becomes its own little getaway.
Enjoy every moment of your Steamboat Springs escape
While in town, why not stay in style with the great backdrop of the Rocky Mountains in one of the most iconic rental properties and complexes that Steamboat Springs offers?
Retreatia offers luxury properties, ski-in/ski-out options, and downtown lodgings, many of which are pet-friendly. Staying in one of our properties, we guarantee you'll have nothing less than a 5-star experience, something that will definitely enhance your Steamboat Springs vacation.