A little relaxation time
DJ's been feeling stressed as well so she wanted to get away for a weekend. I was able to take yesterday off and we went to Steamboat Springs for a long weekend. It'd been 20 some years since I'd been there and even longer for DJ.
Steamboat has been discovered. It's a lot like any other mountain resort town. There's an old town area which is still quite nice and is thriving from the tourist traffic and a modern resort area. Lots, and lots of people. It's not a quiet mountain getaway, that's for sure. Still, it's a nice place overall, if your into golf, mountain biking, rafting/kayaking, etc. They've got a nice paved trail along the Yampa River.
Monday we drove out to Dinosaur National Monument. It's not exactly in the neighborhood but I didn't know when we'd get as close again. So, we got our National Parks Passports stamped. We saw both the canyon side and the fosil side. Both are fun and I'd highly recommend visiting.
Tuesday we went to Fish Creek Falls. It's a close and very popular area. Quite scenic. Lots of familys with kids playing in the creek below the falls. Going to and from the falls we drove through some of the ritzier residential areas of Steamboat Springs. Nice, very nice. We also drove up the Steamboat Lake State Park for a looksee. The Colorado State Parks sure have benefited from all those Lottery dollars. If only our National Parks and National Forrests had such nice facilities. After dinner we went out to Strawberry Park Hot Springs. The hot water from the springs runs down into pools built in the creek. A mixture of spring water and creek water maintains pools of various temperatures. It's a very rustic setting and clothing is optional after dark. We didn't have flashlights with us so we didn't stay until it got dark. I got the impression from the rules that it's not like a nude beach or nudist colony after dark though. There are no lights, just the customer's flashlights and they are only supposed to be shown on your feet so you can see where you are walking and not in the pools. Not the place to go for some cheap thrills.
We ate only at local restaurants and avoided any chains. The big hit was a local Italian place called Cugino's. DJ had stromboli, which was recommended in a brief write up of the place in the Denver Post travel section a couple of sundays ago. The review was right. I had a calzone which was good as well. The other two local places we dined at were a mexican place called the Rio Grande and the Steamboat Smoke house, a barbeque joint. Of the three, the Steamboat Smokehouse came in last. It wasn't horrible, just OK. The beef brisquit didn't have as smokey a flavor as I like. The one exception to the chain rule was dinner at Beau Jo's. I don't get very many chances to eat at Beau Jo's so I just had to make an exception.
Now I have to get all ready for Clinton. I'm nervous and excited at the same time. Here's hoping for good weather and no airplane problems!
Steamboat has been discovered. It's a lot like any other mountain resort town. There's an old town area which is still quite nice and is thriving from the tourist traffic and a modern resort area. Lots, and lots of people. It's not a quiet mountain getaway, that's for sure. Still, it's a nice place overall, if your into golf, mountain biking, rafting/kayaking, etc. They've got a nice paved trail along the Yampa River.
Monday we drove out to Dinosaur National Monument. It's not exactly in the neighborhood but I didn't know when we'd get as close again. So, we got our National Parks Passports stamped. We saw both the canyon side and the fosil side. Both are fun and I'd highly recommend visiting.
Tuesday we went to Fish Creek Falls. It's a close and very popular area. Quite scenic. Lots of familys with kids playing in the creek below the falls. Going to and from the falls we drove through some of the ritzier residential areas of Steamboat Springs. Nice, very nice. We also drove up the Steamboat Lake State Park for a looksee. The Colorado State Parks sure have benefited from all those Lottery dollars. If only our National Parks and National Forrests had such nice facilities. After dinner we went out to Strawberry Park Hot Springs. The hot water from the springs runs down into pools built in the creek. A mixture of spring water and creek water maintains pools of various temperatures. It's a very rustic setting and clothing is optional after dark. We didn't have flashlights with us so we didn't stay until it got dark. I got the impression from the rules that it's not like a nude beach or nudist colony after dark though. There are no lights, just the customer's flashlights and they are only supposed to be shown on your feet so you can see where you are walking and not in the pools. Not the place to go for some cheap thrills.
We ate only at local restaurants and avoided any chains. The big hit was a local Italian place called Cugino's. DJ had stromboli, which was recommended in a brief write up of the place in the Denver Post travel section a couple of sundays ago. The review was right. I had a calzone which was good as well. The other two local places we dined at were a mexican place called the Rio Grande and the Steamboat Smoke house, a barbeque joint. Of the three, the Steamboat Smokehouse came in last. It wasn't horrible, just OK. The beef brisquit didn't have as smokey a flavor as I like. The one exception to the chain rule was dinner at Beau Jo's. I don't get very many chances to eat at Beau Jo's so I just had to make an exception.
Now I have to get all ready for Clinton. I'm nervous and excited at the same time. Here's hoping for good weather and no airplane problems!