Check out this wonderful feature by Fort Collins Magazine, showcasing the Saratoga Resort and Spa!
The FOCO Official Un~Ski Guide
By Julie Dugdale
NoCo’s glorious winter brings weekends on the slopes and epic powder days. And if we’re honest, traffic and crowds. The beeline west every Saturday morning—especially holiday weekends—slows to an excruciating crawl without fail,and don’t get us started on the Sunday evening commute out of the mountains. Luckily we’ve got eight other ways to play on a frosty afternoon—from lazy hot-springs soaks to adrenaline-rush adventures. No waiting in line required.
SOAK IT UP
TRY: The hot springs at Saratoga Resort & Spa in Saratoga, Wyoming
DEETS: Head north over the state line to this Western-style resort for a winter escape to Wyoming’s Platte Valley and Medicine Bow National Forest. You’ll have to book a room and make it a weekend to use the hot springs, but it’s worth it. The springs were thought to have healing powers by the original Native American inhabitants of the area, and even though the nourishing mineral content is high, the sulfur scent is pleasantly faint. Try out the 70-foot main pool for a soothing swim, or lose yourself in a smaller teepee pool, which is a private soaking oasis—yup, in a teepee—you can duck into on a first-come, first-served basis. Tack on a day of snowmobiling for a taste of some of the most pristine winter landscape around. “As far as snowmobiling in Wyoming, it’s what Colorado used to be,” says the resort’s Cindy Loose of the remote landscape. “There are 365 miles of groomed trails, and there are days you can be out there and not see anyone else.”
WHY YOU’LL LOVE IT: What’s not to love when everything you need is under one roof? After a long day on the trails in the Snowy Range, grab a seat at the Snowy Mountain Pub, the resort’s onsite microbrewery, and order the seasonal beer. Continue unwinding with a soak in the springs, and follow it up with a decadent massage at the Healing Waters Spa. If fancy grub is more your speed, make reservations at the Silver Saddle Restaurant for an evening of rustic fine dining.
NEWBIE TIP: If you’re looking for fun on a budget, you can rent cross-country skis ($20), snowshoes ($20), or sleds for ($15) to access the network of trails.
This article originally posted by FtCollinsMag.com.