Hello Routt County! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Fire restrictions, story baskets, and movies on the mountain + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.
Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC bill: If your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
Session recap for Steamboat: Sen. Dylan Roberts and Rep. Meghan Lukens briefed Steamboat Springs council on 2026 session, citing a $1.2 billion shortfall, 450-plus bills, and housing reforms for workforce housing and transit-oriented zones -- see the session takeaways.
Supporting local graduates: The Rotary Club of Steamboat Springs awarded $22,000 in scholarships to eight graduating seniors, recognizing academic achievement and postsecondary plans and helping recipients take their next steps -- learn more about the awards.
Restrictions tighten in Hayden: Hayden moved to Stage 1 fire restrictions June 18 for high fire danger. Open fires and most campfires are banned as Routt County sheriff’s office declared a red flag warning -- see Hayden fire rules.
Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.*
The bill all retirees should double check: Car insurance. If you’ve been on the same plan for years, you might be paying way more than you need to. It’s an easy one to forget about, but switching could save you up to $600 this year. Case in point: I shopped around and ended up cutting my premium in half -- this free comparison tool makes it easy.*
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02 — From our sponsor Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC billIf your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Unlock some midweek fun: Need a fresh group hang that isn’t another patio beer? Crooked Key Escape Rooms runs clever, story-driven adventures in downtown Steamboat, including an outdoor puzzle hunt around town and immersive indoor themes that make teamwork actually fun, not corporate-retreat awkward.
Playtime by the river: If the kids need to climb and you need a breather, Little Toots Park hits the sweet spot with a solid playground, picnic tables, and BBQ grills by the river, plus easy Core Trail access. Swing by this week for shade, space to roam, and an easy reset.
A serene local reset: Yampa River Botanic Park is the kind of low-effort, high-reward escape your week deserves. Stroll shady paths, eavesdrop on the river, and leave feeling suspiciously like a person who can identify more than one plant without Googling.
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04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
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Buy one window treatment this summer, get the second 50% off: “My fourth order over 8 years. Product reliability, consistency to values & warranty kept me returning!” See what keeps customers coming back to 3 Day Blinds. Book your free consultation and enjoy summer savings on blinds, shades, and drapery. *Claim your summer savings →
Carrying $5,000 or more on your cards? Stop the interest charges: A balance that size racks up interest fast, and at today's rates it barely budges no matter how much you pay. This card gives you 0% intro APR until 2028 on balance transfers (made in the first 60 days), with a $0 annual fee. That means almost two years to pay down what you owe with no interest charges. *See if it's a fit →
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Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
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05 — The event calendar Fun for the famOur favorite upcoming kid and family-friendly events. All events are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
📚 Story Baskets @ Bud Werner Memorial Library (Steamboat Springs) | Wednesday (6/24) at 10:30 AM – If you’ve been waiting for a sign to swap screen time for story time, the Steamboat Library has Story Baskets. Little ones reimagine a favorite book with hands-on play, props, and big imaginations, while you bask in sneaky literacy, shared giggles, and indoor calm.
🧗 Friday Fun Day @ Steamboat Climbing Collective (Steamboat Springs) | Friday (6/26) at 10:30 AM – Fridays are for letting the kids climb the walls somewhere other than your house at Steamboat Climbing Collective, $5 a pop for ages 1.5 to 17. They burn energy, you sip coffee and supervise, and we all pretend it’s cross-training for ski season.
📖 Stories in the Garden @ Yampa River Botanic Park (Steamboat Springs) | Friday (6/26) at 10:30 AM – The Children’s Garden turns into a pint-sized book club, with a Bud Werner storyteller, a new theme each week, and a craft destined for your fridge. Kids 0 to 7 bring the wiggles, you bring sunscreen, a hat, and bug spray.
🤸 Excel Gymnastics Open Gym – Ages 6 to 10 – Wed & Fri @ Excel Gymnastics of Steamboat (Steamboat Springs) | Friday (6/26) at 12:00 PM – Let your 6 to 10-year-olds burn off that bottomless energy at Excel Gymnastics Open Gym on Wednesdays and Fridays. They get free play on trampolines, beams, and bars, you get a quiet drive home, and a bedtime that requires fewer negotiations.
🏈 Flag Football One Day Academy @ Dry Creek Park (Hayden) | Saturday (6/27) at 9:00 AM – A full day of flag football in Hayden, with skill drills, rules refreshers, and fun games, plus lunch included. Think PE class with no tackles, just flags, perfect for brushing up fundamentals, burning energy, and earning guilt-free nap time.
🎬 Movies on the Mountain @ Steamboat Square (Steamboat Springs) | Saturday (6/27) at 8:45 PM – Summer nights on the mountain call for blankets, big screens, and those family favorites you can quote in your sleep. Steamboat Square turns into our backyard cinema, with stars overhead, kids mostly still, and you, a camp chair, a hoodie, and a cold Coke.
🌱 Yampatykes - Week 4 - Environmental Engineers @ Yampatika's Environmental Learning Center at Legacy Ranch (Steamboat Springs) | Monday (6/29) – Trade your kid's couch-fort permits for the real deal at a hands-on nature session on beavers, birds, spiders, and, yes, humans who engineer habitats. Expect local critter lore, curious hands at work, and a blessed break from screens, courtesy of Mother Nature and the Yampa.
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — From our sponsor Heads up for pet parentsTogether with our sponsor Lemonade. Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving. As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Pet Insurance. It was too late for me, but you could save thousands on your next vet bill with *Lemonade. |
07 — The Routt County report Weather forecastToday — High: 88°F — Low: 45°F — Precip: 18%
Isolated thunderstorms after 3pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Southwest wind 0 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Later: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45. South wind 0 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Tomorrow — High: 80°F — Low: 43°F — Precip: 73%
A chance of rain showers before 9am, then showers and thunderstorms likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 80. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Later: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 43. This house is wildThis newly built 6-bedroom mountain home spreads across 70 acres with sweeping Flat Tops views and room to roam. Main-level living keeps the primary suite, three additional bedrooms, and open kitchen, dining, and living spaces connected, while a gas fireplace and massive covered deck add warmth and drama. Downstairs, a game room, junior suite, hot tub patio, and meadow-ready land seal the deal.
Take a peek inside → |
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