Tucked away in the ambling Rocky Mountains is a wellness experiences remedy first utilized by the Ute Native American tribe.
Old Town Hot Springs, in the heart of downtown Steamboat Springs, has eight mineral pools flowing at the perfect temperature of 100 degrees from the centuries-old Heart Spring. Groups can gather here for aquatic fitness—including H2O yoga, water polo and a climbing wall—or venture down 230-ft water slides. More than 50 fitness classes are held throughout the week and they can be followed up with customized massage treatments—reflexology and shiatzu to aromatherapy and neuromuscular. Plans are also in the works to add meeting space, an indoor climbing wall and walking track and expanded fitness options. Here are six more nods to wellness experiences for Colorado meetings.
Rustic Meetings
Positioned high in a mountain valley just outside Steamboat Springs, groups can bask in stone-lined soaking pools and partake in customized massage and Watsu therapy (water shiatzu) in between meeting in rustic cabins, or, perhaps, on a train caboose or covered wagon.
Tubing Like a Local
One must-do experience for those meeting in Steamboat Springs in the summer months who want to soak up the local vibe is inner tubing on the Yampa River. The one- to three-hour trip winds through downtown Steamboat with bars, parks and restaurants as possible stops along the way.
Hitting the Trail
Those who prefer not to get wet can hike or bike along the river on the Yampa River Core Trail; stops here can include the Yampa River Botanic Park and its six-acre sanctuary of 40 gardens, ponds and sculptures, the Howelsen Ice Arena, featuring bumper cars on ice, and numerous art galleries, restaurants and shops.
Hot Air Balloon Rodeo
Groups may also want to check out the annual “Hot Air Balloon Rodeo” festival. The rodeo consists of fun contests like dipping into Bald Eagle Lake, and balloon pilot showmanship and is usually followed by a “Balloon Glow” event on Mt. Werner where attendees can walk among the tethered balloons.
Scenic Gondola Rides
Meetings hotels in Steamboat run the gamut of styles and sizes. Sheraton Steamboat Resort Villas is fresh off a renovation and also offers ATV tours and hot air balloon and scenic gondola rides to Mt. Werner, not to mention 208 villas and ski-in, ski-out access to Steamboat Ski Resort, comprising Mount Werner, Sunshine Peak, Storm Peak, Thunderhead Peak, Pioneer Ridge, and Christie Peak.
Discovering Your Inner Outlaw
Rustic chic comes to life at The Steamboat Grand, part of the Mountain Meeting Alliance, and its luxury penthouses, and 27,000 sf of indoor-outdoor meeting space that offers a room for every occasion. Attendees may find themselves most enthralled, however, with the Outlaw Mountain Coaster, the longest coaster in North America at more than 6,280 ft, or with off-site adventures like wakeboarding, disc golfing, rafting or cruising down Howelsen Hill on the 2,400-ft Howler Alpine Slide.
