Cheryl Foote
Tucked into Colorado's Yampa Valley, Steamboat Springs is an idyllic international winter destination famous for its champagne powder snow, authentic western heritage, and natural hot springs. Most people travel to Steamboat for its world-class ski resort, which has turned out a record 95 Olympians (and counting) or to visit the nation's oldest operating ski area, Howelsen Hill. Founded in 1914 by a Norweigan immigrant named Carl Howelsen, this ski area is known for its unique ski jumps and long legacy of alpine and Nordic events.