The secret to a great family vacation is managing everyone's time wisely. And when you are visiting Steamboat, there will be moments you want to head out without the littles, whether that is a night on the town or a ski date with someone you like.
Below are the options visiting families use most, with current hours and contact details. A word up front: book early. Steamboat is a small town with limited childcare capacity, and holiday weeks fill up well in advance.
Drop-In Child Care
Steamboat Kids Play Garden
345 Anglers Drive, Steamboat Springs
Phone: (970) 457-4466
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Closed Saturdays and Sundays.
Website: kidsplaygarden.com
Read the hours carefully. The weekend closure catches out visiting families every season, so if you were planning a Saturday ski day built around drop-in care, this is not your option.
That aside, Kids Play Garden is the go-to for visiting families and has been for years. It is a creative learning and arts center designed to be environmentally conscious, with eco-friendly materials and cleaning products, and all food served is wholesome and peanut-free.
The model is genuinely flexible: drop in, one hour minimum, then pay by the minute. Children build, create, exercise, and play in a secure space supervised by experienced teachers, with an indoor playground and jungle gym for burning off energy.
Visiting parents consistently report that kids who normally struggle with drop-off settle in here quickly, and that the routine feels close enough to a familiar daycare day to ease the transition.
Weekday mornings they also run a flexible preschool curriculum for children aged 2 to 5. Children do not have to be potty trained.
Other Local Centers
Steamboat has several licensed child care centers, including Discovery Learning Center on Village Drive. These primarily serve local families on enrollment rather than drop-in visitors, and most carry waitlists, but it is worth a call if you are staying for an extended period.
You can look up any Colorado provider's license status through the Colorado Shines provider search.
In-Home Babysitting
Steamboat Babysitting Company
Website: steamboatbabysitting.com
Sitters travel to your rental property, which is often the easiest option for an evening out, for very young children, or when you want kids to stay in a familiar space. They provide care from newborns through teens.
Reservations are first come, first served with a limited number of staff, so book well in advance, particularly for Christmas week, New Year's, Presidents' Day weekend, and festival weekends.
Steamboat Resort Ski & Snowboard Lessons
Worth knowing up front: Steamboat Resort no longer offers standalone childcare. Care is provided through lesson programs only. The good news is that a full-day lesson runs 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. with lunch included, which covers most of a ski day.
Lessons can only be booked through the resort. Book at the same time you book lodging, because they sell out during peak weeks.
Ages 2 to 4: Ski With Me
One-hour private lessons with 1:1 instruction. Lift access and rentals included for the lesson duration. Offered at 9:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 2:00 p.m. Good for a first-ever experience where an hour is plenty.
Ages 6 and Under: Young Kids Group Lessons at Mountain Camp
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., drop-off between 8:15 and 9:00 a.m.
Mountain Camp, adjacent to the Gondola Transit Center, is the one-stop shop for families with small children. Lessons include instruction, lunch, lift access, and an equipment rental option.
Group sizes are capped at five kids, so every child gets real attention. Little ones start on indoor play mats to visualize the shapes their skis will make before heading outside, and the day mixes on-snow time with indoor fun. Instructors are specifically trained for this age group, with sing-alongs and silly stories very much part of the program.
Depending on comfort level, kids progress from beginner magic carpets up to mellow intermediate terrain.
Flag any food allergies or dietary restrictions during booking.
Ages 7 to 12: Kids Group Lessons
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Lunch provided. Grouped by ability, with exposure to more varied terrain as kids are ready, and breaks for hot chocolate and snacks.
Ages 13 to 17: Teen Group Lessons
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Lunch provided. Matched by ability with an instructor suited to the group.
Prices, products, and procedures are subject to change without notice. Advance purchase discounts generally require booking at least 7 days before arrival.
Questions Worth Asking
We share these options because visiting families ask us about them constantly, but we do not screen or vet third-party providers. A few things worth confirming directly before you book, whichever option you choose:
- Are caregivers background checked, and is the service licensed or insured?
- Is anyone on site CPR and first aid certified?
- What is the caregiver-to-child ratio?
- How do they handle allergies, medication, and dietary requirements?
- What is the cancellation policy, and what happens if your child gets sick?
- For in-home sitters, can they provide references from other guests?
Trust your instincts. Any good provider will welcome these questions.
Better Day For Indoor Fun?
Want to spend the day with your kids off the slopes? Storm days happen, and Steamboat has plenty for the little ones.
- Bud Werner Memorial Library, 1289 Lincoln Ave, (970) 879-0240. Monday to Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Friday to 6:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Free, with children's books, story times, kids activities, and a cafe with good chai. Visiting parents repeatedly describe it as the thing that saved a snowed-in afternoon. steamboatlibrary.org
- Old Town Hot Springs, 136 Lincoln Ave, (970) 879-1828. Indoor and outdoor heated pools, waterslides, a climbing wall, and a fenced splash area for toddlers. Keep your receipt and you can come and go all day. oldtownhotsprings.org
- Excel Gymnastics of Steamboat, 1955 Bridge Ln, (970) 879-3467. Underground trampoline and a large foam pit. They also welcome visiting gymnasts into team workouts, which is a lovely option if your child trains at home. Call ahead for open gym times, as availability is limited and some sessions fall during school hours.
- Steamboat Springs History Museum (formerly Tread of the Pioneers), 800 Oak St, (970) 879-2214. Tuesday to Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., closed Sundays and Mondays. Ski history, the mining era, and a Victorian home tour. Small, affordable, and about right for an hour with school-age kids. treadofpioneers.org
- Howelsen Ice Arena, 285 Howelsen Pkwy, (970) 871-7033. Public skating plus ice bumper cars, which are a genuine hit. Check the online calendar for public session times, since the rink shares ice with hockey.
For more, see our 11 things to do off the slopes.
Stay Somewhere That Makes It Easier
The right property does a lot of the work for you. Space to spread out, a kitchen for meals on your own schedule, and somewhere close enough that a mid-day break is actually possible.
- Ski-in ski-out lodging, so drop-off and pick-up at ski school are short walks
- Walk to slopes properties
- Private homes and townhomes, which give a sitter somewhere comfortable to work and kids their own room
- Homes with pools
Browse all Steamboat Springs lodging and check our lodging deals.
Contact Steamboat Lodging Company
Tell us the ages of your kids and what you are hoping to do, and we will help you match a property and point you toward the right options.
Phone: 970-457-4785
Email: Contact us here
Office: 1169 Hilltop Parkway, #101A, Steamboat Springs, CO 80487
More Steamboat Planning Resources
- Best Ski Runs For Kids At Steamboat Resort
- 8 Ways To Get Your Kids To Love Skiing
- Easy Winter Packing List For Kids
- Packing For Your Steamboat Ski Vacation
Hours, contact details, and program information verified as of publication and subject to change. Steamboat Lodging Company shares these local options as a convenience and does not screen, endorse, or take responsibility for third-party child care providers. Please verify licensing, insurance, and credentials directly before booking.