The Irish are not the only ones who get to feel lucky. Spending a springtime vacation in Steamboat Springs will make you feel blessed, and here 10 reasons why.

1. Skiing or boarding on the fresh groomers in the morning and soft snow in the afternoon sun. (Although an impending storm is going to add a fresh layer of powder to the mix next week).

2. Rockin’ out at to a free concert at the base area with Bud Light Rocks the ‘Boat series.

3. Slopeside’s Ice Bar – après ski just got cooler.

4. Soaking in thermal waters at the Strawberry Park Hot Springs – one of 19 mineral springs on the Historic Hot Springs Tour through Colorado.

5. Cross-country skiing in a t-shirt and refueling with a picnic on Rabbit Ears Pass. (Pick up a to go from Backcountry Provisions but be warned, you might need a nap, it’s so good).

6. Gear sales have started in town and on the mountain so there’s plenty of bargains to snag.

7. Snowshoeing and hiking at Fish Creek Falls where the ice is beginning to melt. When it does, you can’t hear yourself think for the roar.

8. Sipping suds at the four local breweries dotted around town.

9. Road biking past miles of rolling ranch lands.

10. Taking an early morning hot air balloon ride as the valley below awakens.

Who knew that something used as a method of survival 6,000 years ago would evolve into a recreational pastime? Snowshoeing’s long and storied past has been eclipsed by technology making it a winter-sport favorite for many.

In December Condos in Steamboat guest Lesley Philip left her native Scotland, and came to Steamboat Springs to spend Christmas with the family. She didn’t ski or snowboard and according to her, she “has never felt part of the winter scene.” All that changed after a day spent tramping around the Steamboat Ski Area on snowshoes.

“It was absolutely wonderful and for the first time, I could join in with the rest of the family and share time on the mountain,” she says. For the remainder of her trip, Lesley spent multiple days clipped into snowshoes crunching over snowy terrain all over Steamboat.

Steamboat Ski Area has created several snowshoe loops that follow well-marked cat tracks and gentle terrain to Four Points and Rendezvous lodges. For those who’d prefer not to navigate the routes alone, there are multiple guided options available. Free tours are offered daily at 1 p.m., leaving from the information center at the base of the mountain. An on-foot lift ticket is requirement. Make a day of it and book a gourmet lunch at Hazie’s Restaurant, which is served prior to the tour. Make a night of it instead, and take the Moonlight Tour with dinner at Hazie’s afterwards.

Explore the nooks and crannies in hillsides and forests all around Steamboat by snowshoeing on designated hiking trails. Popular local favorites include; the Quarry Trail on Emerald Mountain, favored for the unsurpassed views of Mount Werner and the entire Yampa Valley; Uranium Mine Trail which overlooks Fish Creek Falls; and Walton Peak Trail on Rabbit Ears Pass for incredible panoramas of the south valley. Learn about local wildlife on naturalist lead snowshoe tours offered weekly by Yampatika. (www.yampatika.org)

Spend a day at any of the Nordic centers, where trails for snowshoe use are clearly marked. Haymaker Nordic Center and Catamount Ranch and Club both allow dogs during weekdays. Both offer equipment rental and full-service dining. Steamboat Touring Center is the most centrally located of the three and also offers equipment rental and a cafe.

Know Before You Go

• Dress in layers, as you would to go skiing. Avoid cotton, as there is no way for the moisture to escape, which can make you feel cold.
• Wear snow boots, or hiking boots and use gators to keep the snow out.
• Pack plenty of water to stay hydrated.
• Take snacks to keep energy levels up, especially young children.
• Take poles to maintain good balance on steeper terrain.
• Stretch legs and hips prior to snowshoeing as it is a workout and you’ll be thankful you warmed up first.
• Pack a camera – the scenery will be beautiful, wherever your shoes take you.

Things are about to get crazier than normal this winter for Dan and Kim Filler, and they couldn’t be happier about it. For nearly two decades the Fillers have owned and operated Condos in Steamboat, specializing in vacation rentals. Winter season means two things to them: looking after clients, and running back and forth to Howelsen Ice Arena to support their hockey mad son Jake.

This year they have even more reason to be at the rink cheering at a hockey game. The Fillers opted to become a host family for the first-ever junior hockey team to be permanently stationed in Steamboat Springs – The Steamboat Wranglers.

In August Quinny Baker switched coastal California for the Rocky Mountains and moved into the Fillers. It will be his home away from home for the next eight months. The senior in High School is part of a new team that will train players hoping to make college teams.

Up to 25 players hope to be billeted in Steamboat and play for the newest team in the western division. Players have strict guidelines to adhere to, including evening curfews which hold serious consequences if broken.

The Fillers became aware of the new team at Howelsen Ice Arena and volunteered their support. Kim entered the contest to name the team and her quintessential Steamboat term – The Wranglers – won. She will drop the first puck when the team plays their first game, this Friday, September 30th, 2016 at 7pm.

“We are looking forward to meeting and accommodating as many of the traveling families as possible,” Kim says. Eleven-year-old Jake is years away from playing at the same level, but he has set his sights on hockey. Having a big brother figure at home to show him the ropes is a good thing. He was equally thrilled to earn a spot as one of two stick boys.

“Our business is to take care of people coming to Steamboat, but this time we are taking it to the next level. I wanted to pay it forward, knowing one day it could be our son doing the same as Quinny.”

Quinny Baker and his teammates can be sure of one thing this winter, they might be far from home but they’ll be plenty of people cheering them on at Howelsen Ice Arena, especially the Fillers.

Spring in the mountains is a tempestuous affair when it comes to the weather. Powder days have past for another season and summer pursuits are on hold until the snow melts and temperatures rise. Bikers and hikers are out and about but on rainy afternoons the great indoors comes calling.

Catch up on reading, peruse new book titles and unearth local folklore at the Bud Werner Memorial Library. Sit by the window with a freshly brewed coffee from the café and watch the Yampa River rush by. Kids are easily entertained in the children’s section where oversized beanbags and weekly activities lure mini bookworms.

Test your competitive spirit with a game of bowling at the Snow Bowl. Look out for disco bowling hours when the lights will be twirling and the music is pumping. If you are feeling creative unearth any artistic skills and paint a masterpiece at Splatz, located within the Snow Bowl.

Delve into local history and learn about the people and places that made Steamboat Springs what it is today. The Tread of Pioneers Museum on Eighth and Oak streets is a treasure trove of artifacts and information. Keep small visitors occupied on a scavenger hunt and make time to peruse the gift shop.

Who says ice cream can only be eaten in summer? Rain or shine, a trip to Lyons Soda Fountain for a hot fudge sundae always warms the soul. Put a tune on the jukebox and absorb the old-time atmosphere that keeps Lyons bustling all year round.

Shop until you drop on Lincoln Avenue. Family-owned and operated boutique stores offer an array of locally made creations from clothing to coffee. Step inside art galleries along the way including the Steamboat Art Museum which houses exhibitions by nationally re-known painters.

So our last activity is not indoors, but a little drizzle makes no difference when you are soaking in the hot springs. Relax in thermally warmed waters at Strawberry Park Hot Springs or the Old Town Hot Springs. Look for seasonal offers on massages and take relaxation to an elevated level.

Cloudy skies doesn’t mean the fun stops in Steamboat, it’s simply a case of changing the pace.