In a restored Queen Anne–style house, the Tread of Pioneers Museum is an excellent spot to bone up on local history. It includes ski memorabilia dating to the turn of the 20th century, when Carl Howelsen opened Howelsen Hill, still the country's preeminent ski-jumping facility.
Laura's is said to be the city's oldest candy store, established in 1913. It has fabulous pralines, but it also has rich, delectable golf ball-size truffles -- our personal favorite indulgence, although they've gotten a bit pricey as of late.
This excellent museum combines two beautifully restored Victorian homes and a separate gallery. Two permanent displays are particularly interesting: "History of Skiing" (tracing the evolution of skiing from its roots as essential winter transportation to the multimillion-dollar recreational sport of today) and "History of Steamboat Springs" (showing the growth and changes in the county from the...