Mardi Gras Girls Trip to Steamboat Springs
While Louisiana was gearing up for parades and king cake this past February, I traded beads for ski boots. If you're from here you know there is typically a group of us who leave the state for snowy weather and fun on the slopes. We've done the parades before, so I enlisted my friends to come along for the fun! I met up with my girlfriends from Baton Rouge, Chicago and New York City for a Mardi Gras girls' trip to Steamboat Springs, Colorado.
We skied, we ate (a lot), we soaked in hot springs under falling snow, and we laughed the whole way through. Here's how our week unfolded, plus all the spots I'd send you to on your own Steamboat trip.
Day 1: Settling In
The girls checked in to our condo at Trailhead Lodge and got settled. They even had time to pick up their ski rentals that afternoon. Pro tip: grab your rentals the day you arrive so you can hit the slopes first thing the next day. I, of course, had flight delays and rolled in late — but was just in time for our first group dinner.
Cheers to a Mardi Gras in Steamboat Before a delicious dinner at Primrose The most delicious steak and martini
We started the week with dinner at Primrose, where we grabbed seats at the bar so we could watch the chefs work. The food was delicious, the conversations were buzzy and it was the perfect way to kick off our trip. It's always so fun the first night of a trip because we're all so excited and can't wait to catch up with each other. Then it was back to the condo for an early night so we'd be fresh for the slopes tomorrow!
Day 2: Ski School, Bunny Hill Laps and a Village Tour
We all woke up excited and ready for a great first day on the mountain! Kate signed up for a ski lesson, so we all headed down to the village early. While Emily and Jacqueline helped her check in for ski school, I picked up my rentals at Christy Sports. They are always so helpful!
The girls ready for our first day of skiing! Getting boots on in the base village locker room Views from Tomahawk ski run
Once Kate was set, the three of us met up and got a few runs in before lunch. I had to take them on my favorite run- Tomahawk! A must for gorgeous views of Steamboat.
Lunch was at Slopeside Grill at the base — always a classic. We scored a table on the patio for a perfect ski lunch. The sun was shining and vibes were high! Kate slipped out of ski school to join us, and after we finished lunch she decided not to go back to her lessons and ski with us instead. So we took her to the bunny hill for a few runs. It was only her second time on skis, and she was a total trooper! We had a blast meeting her instructor and seeing what she "learned" in her lessons.
After an afternoon of skiing, we wrapped up the ski day with drinks on the patio at T Bar, a Steamboat après staple. When they closed, we moved over to Saddles Bar at the Sheraton for wine and the sunset. This is my favorite après spot in Steamboat: the outdoor seating is fantastic and the views of the slopes are unbeatable. If it's just two of you I love to sit at the firepits, but because there were four of us we got a table under the heaters. Views were still immaculate!
We finished the night with tacos at Los Locos in the base village. We really did a full village tour that afternoon!
Day 3: Mimosas at the Top and Main Street Strolls
On day 3 our group split up into skiers and non-skiers for the morning. Kate took a morning for herself in town with a Pilates class, some exploring Main Street and breakfast at the local gluten-free bakery. Meanwhile, Emily, Jacqueline and I went back to the mountain for more skiing.
We rode the gondola up and started with mimosas at Stoker Bar at the top. A good friend of mine has gotten me hooked on starting the day at Stokers, so of course I had to share this with friends! The bartenders are always friendly, and come to find out, ours that day had lived in New Orleans for many years. I love finding these connections to back home when traveling, because you never know who you'll meet!
After a good stretch of skiing, we stopped at Rendezvous Lodge on the mountain for a pit stop. That afternoon was a little gloomy, but it was still the perfect spot to rest our legs and get a quick chat session in.
Once we were done skiing, we headed back to the condo to freshen up for an afternoon of shopping in town. Steamboat has so many cute shops, and strolling Main Street is one of the best ways to soak up the town and do further exploring.
We had time to kill before our dinner reservation, so we wrapped up our day by first hitting Brass Kitchen and Bar for happy hour and hors d'oeuvres. The apps were DELICIOUS — don't miss the hamachi crudo or the whipped feta & bruschetta appetizers. There is a cocktail that we all got that I think about daily- everything here was so fresh! We didn't plan on stopping here originally, but we were all so glad that we did!
Our dinner reservation was at Aurum, a go-to spot in Steamboat. I highly recommend sitting in the bar area of the restaurant as the vibes are better and the seating is more conducive to chatting with friends. We had a great meal and then finished off the night at Sunpie's Bistro for a night cap. It's a "New Orleans" themed bar that used to be owned by a couple from Louisiana- a place us Louisiana girls had to visit of course!
Day 4: Snowfall at Strawberry Park Hot Springs
We kept the morning lazy with brunch at the condo, then headed to Strawberry Park Hot Springs outside of town for a magical, relaxing afternoon.
It was snowing when we arrived, and sitting in the hot water with snow pouring down was such a dreamy experience. Eventually the snow stopped and the sun came out, which was just as amazing. We even braved the cold plunge — brrr!
Strawberry Park made the whole outing easy. Our ticket included shuttle service, so they picked us up at our condo and brought us back afterward. The facility was clean and well kept, with restrooms and changing areas, and you can even book a massage while you're there. Truly a must do activity if taking a day off the slopes.
We were home by 3, which left time to relax before our celebratory last-night dinner at Mambo's. It was a full Italian feast, and everything was delicious.
Days 5 and 6: Goodbyes and Client Check-Ins
On our last morning, we returned our ski equipment early, and the girls headed home after plenty of hugs and goodbyes.
I stayed one extra day to check in with the Alpinr clients traveling in Steamboat that week and make sure their trips were going wonderfully. The next day, I flew back to Baton Rouge with a full heart and great memories.
My Steamboat Favorites
Must-ski run: Tomahawk
On-mountain: Mimosas at Stoker Bar at the top of the gondola and lunch at Rendezvous Lodge
At the base: Slopeside Grill for lunch and Los Locos for tacos
Après: T Bar's patio or watch the sunset at Saddles Bar at the Sheraton (my favorite!)
Happy hour in town: Brass Kitchen and Bar — order the hamachi crudo, whipped feta and bruschetta
Dinner: Primrose (sit at the bar and watch the chefs), Mambo's for an Italian feast, or Aurum for classic mountain eats with a twist.
Off the slopes: Shopping on Main Street and an afternoon at Strawberry Park Hot Springs (book the shuttle)
Whether you're planning a girls' trip, a family vacation or a group getaway, Steamboat has something for everyone. Ready to plan yours? Reach out to the Alpinr team, and we'll help you build a trip you'll be talking about for years to come.
-Caroline
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