Sleigh Ride Dinner in Steamboat Springs

What a night to remember! For my birthday, my husband arranged a weekend surprise dinner at our favorite place to hang out, Steamboat Springs. The dinner included a gondola ride to the ski lodge located about a 1/4 of the way up the ski mountain where you were able to stop and grab a hot cup of cider...then board this "sleigh ride" to the other side of the mountain. Since I do not ski anymore, I was thrilled to see so much of the mountain lit up by the lights of the caterpillar and the stars. We bundled up and enjoyed the view. What fun!! The dinner was a full 5 course meal served indoors (thankfully, not a warmed tent) and with full wait staff!! Entertainment included a man on acoustical guitar that sang so many of my favorites, I was playing "Name that Tune" the entire meal!! I didn't get any pictures of the food, although I was tempted. Do you like food as much as I? Let's just say I have eaten at some of the best restaurants in Venice, Austria, and Switzerland, and this rivaled them all!! Yumm-o!!

Our daughter, Erin and I on the sleigh ride. The sleigh was a big red machine with platform seats going across in rows. It was pulled by a ski-cat (caterpillar) which for the 75 people or so was a lot more do-able than a few horses, I am sure!! It was so fun!! But cold, you ask...well, the 16 degree temps were made bearable with wool blankets that we wrapped around our waists and sat upon. And then my sweet husband gave us his to lay across the top of our laps. The most amazing thing, the stars at night were out and you just had to look up above the snow-capped pines and winter white aspens to see them. It was breath-taking!!

Tom and I at my birthday dinner. I had to edit this photo because my hand went berserk at the last minute and showed up right next to my chin. But I have to add this, see the lovey-dovey couples in the background? The table above my head...the couple became engaged that night. The man on the guitar sang some sentimental love song, they announced a special request, and he got down on his knees and proposed. It was so sweet to see the movements, tentative, and her reaction, which was joy. It just made me cry~~

Erin and her Dad, Tom, at the dinner at Ragnar's Restaurant at the top of the ski mountain.

Thanks for coming along to view my pictures and read of the fun night we had!! It was probably the most memorable birthday I have had. Let's just hope I can remember it...hee!!

And just so you don't worry, I am having another dinner at our favorite hamburger joint tonight with our other daughter who had to work over the weekend.

Don't you love that about birthdays? It just keeps getting celebrated in small and big ways all week long!!