Steamboat Springs, CO

Take the reins Head to Howelsen Hill—just a short walk from downtown—and let the horse do all the work at Sombrero Ranch, where guides trot you through miles of shaded, pine-studded trails overlooking the lush Yampa Valley (1-hour tour $35; 970/879-2306). It’s a water wonderland at downtown’s Old Town Hot Springs (from $15; oldtownhotsprings.org), where eight mineral pools (feeding off the naturally bubbly Heart Spring), two twisty water-tube slides, and an in-pool climbing wall await. For a post-soak refreshment, we love the fresh peach and berry smoothies from Sweet Pea Restaurant (pictured; $; 729 Yampa St.; 970/879-1221).

Stay: Opened in 1948, the Old West–themed Hotel Bristol is complete with saloon and Native American quilts in the bedrooms. From $139; steamboathotelbristol.com