Winter Park, CO Airfare Deal Alert for July

We have regular summer guests that come to Winter Park from Arizona to escape the intense 120 degree heat. If you live in Arizona, check out the airfare deals from Phoenix and Yuma, where there are cheap flights into Denver International for under $150 round trip, or from Prescott for just over $200.

You don’t have to live in the heat of Arizona to enjoy the spectacular summers of Winter Park. Temperatures in Winter Park rarely get past 80 degrees and there is no humidity, which makes for perfect weather for hiking, mountain biking, golf and so many more summer activities in Winter Park and Grand County.

Remember to check with us for availability at a vacation rental in Winter Park for your dates first, then book your flights! Search Winter Park Lodging Company now to see what options await you.

Winter Park, CO Airfare Deal Alert for June

Just weeks before the official start to summer, now’s the time to start your summer vacation planning in earnest.  Compared to last month, fares have definitely gone up. Here is our list of thirty-five flight deals to Denver for June, now with arrows showing whether the flights are going up or down compared to May.

Going Fast!

Check this out, if you live in Albuquerque or Salt Lake City, you can get to Denver on Southwest Airlines for $50 each way if you book by June 3rd. Act fast!

Also, Midwest Airlines has flights to Denver from Kansas City or Omaha  for as low as $59 each way and from New York La Guardia for $139 each way.  You must travel on a Tues/Weds and book by this Friday, June 4th to grab these deals.

More Flight Deals

Let us know where you’re flying  from and we’ll keep our eyes peeled for deals for next month’s report. Just email valarie@wplbo.com. You can also check online at www.airfarewatchdog.com, and while you’re there, set up monthly, weekly or even daily alerts for flights to or from the airports of your choice.

Remember to check with us for availability at a vacation rental in Winter Park for your dates first, then book your flights! Search Winter Park Lodging Company now to see what options await you.

More on Weddings in Winter Park!

As more and more engaged couples catch on to the appeal and popularity of our quaint and beautiful town, it seems that new businesses that cater to weddings in Winter Park keep popping up. Recently I’ve stumbled upon a couple of well kept secret gems that I’m happy to be able to share with everyone.

First, wedding cakes! Evelyn Stowers has been in the business of making delicious and elegant wedding cakes for 44 years. In fact, the first wedding cake she ever created was for her own wedding (they’re still happily married, likely due to her sweet personality and the cakes she’s always whipping up in their kitchen). Evelyn showed me a binder filled with hundreds of cakes she’s created over the years, and I have to say that I melted completely into giddy girl mode! She has fun and gorgeous ideas for decoration, and after almost half a century of baking, you better believe she’s got more than a couple delicious cake recipes on hand. So ff you don’t feel like hunting down a big banner to post on your car that says “wedding cake on board” while you drive up our curvy mountain pass, then send Mrs. Stowers an email at evelynstowers@yahoo.com. She’ll be happy to hear from you!

Second, and a little more unique, is Ear 2 Ear photo booths. A couple of locals, Jeff Skinner and John Vella, have found great success with their small business of delivering, setting up, and operating photo booths at all kinds of events, including weddings. And yes, you’re thinking of the right photo booths: the same ones you laugh like crazy in at carnivals with your best friends. Photo booths are a creative and fun addition at any event; we think it’s worth your time to check it out! You can read about all the details and see some sample photos at www.ear2earphotobooths.com , then give Jeff and John a call at 970 509 9778.

And as always, if you have any questions about other great services in the area or are interested in lodging, give Winter Park Lodging Company a call at 877-329-1383. We’re always happy to hear from you!

Winter Park CO Restaurants|What’s open in Mud Season

Winter Park Mud Season Dining

We are a couple of weeks into mud season here in Winter Park, Colorado and there are days filled with snow and some others filled with sun.  It is still a good time to get out and have some food and support the local eateries that are staying open in this finicky mud season of ours.  Here is a list of the local restaurants and what they are up to this year, as to if they are open or closed.

Most of the restaurants that are open here in WP now are offering specials, so don’t forget to ask.  Also, to contact any of the above restaurants go to the Winter Park/Fraser Valley Chamber website for the respective phone numbers.

Airfare Deal Alert for May

Check out May’s list of thirty-five flight deals to Denver. When comparing to last month’s report, I noticed that some flights have gone up, some have gone down and some have dissappeared, but there are some great new ones, too. Like round trip flights  from Washington DC for only $178 and even from Honolulu for under $500!

Let us know where you’re flying  from and we’ll keep our eyes peeled for deals for next month’s report. Just email valarie@wplbo.com. You can also check online at www.airfarewatchdog.com, and while you’re there, set up monthly, weekly or even daily alerts for flights to or from the airports of your choice. 

Remember to check with us for availability at a vacation rental in Winter Park for your dates first, then book your flights! Search Winter Park Lodging Company now to see what options await you.

Monthy Airfare Deal Alert

Last month’s newsletter article featuring flight deals to Denver was such a hit that we’ve decided to post a monthly blog with up-to-date airfare deals to Denver so those of you interested in coming to Winter Park or other Colorado areas can grab a great deal on a flight. Below are thirty-five  featured flights as of Thursday, March 25th, but there are over 120 more on www.airfarewatchdog.com, which is updated daily with new flight deals to hundreds of cities in the US and all over the world. 

Remember to check with us for availability at a vacation rental in Winter Park for your dates first, then book your flights! Search Winter Park Lodging Company now to see what options await you.

Child Care Options in Winter Park

Need a break from the little guys for a day or two so you can go out and ski on your own?  That’s okay.  When you’re kids don’t know how to ski well or are too young to take lessons, it might be nice to have a kid-free day so Mom and Dad can go out on the slopes on their own.

Here’s a few options and contacts so you can inquire about finding day care while you’re in Winter Park.

Grand Kids Child Care - located in Fraser, just two miles from downtown Winter Park and five miles from the Winter Park Resort ski area, Grand Kids is a trusted source for child care among locals. Normally they only care for children on long-term contracts, but this winter they are providing care  for drop-ins or short-term periods for babies aged 2months to 18 months.
Contact Information:
505 Willow Ln
Fraser, CO 80442
(970) 726-4202
Gkids@rkymtnhi.com

Wee Willies at Winter Park Resort - Provides day care for children ages two months to six years old from 8am to 4pm daily. They’re located at the base of Winter Park Resort at Kid’s Ski and Ride School (level two) . Reservations are required 48 hours in advance and cancellation within 24 hours incurs a $25 fee.   Bring a favorite toy, change of clothes, diapers and pacifiers as well as immunization records (on the first day).

Wee Willies is currently advertising a deal on hourly child care for $20/hour for a minimum of two hours.  Regularly a full day is $95 , a half day is $75, and three consecutive days are $270.  Five or ten punch cards are also available and are transferable to all children in immediate family.  A five punch card is $350 and a ten punch card is $700.
Contact Information:
(800) 420-8093 or (800) 729-7907

Mountain Kids of Winter Park -  they have child care providers that can go to your lodging to take care of your kids and will bring activities for them. They also offer to take your kids to fun activities in the area and have drop-in care available. 
Contact Information:
P.O. Box 2121
Fraser, CO  80442
(970) 726-8339
atmiller@coweblink.net

Parents’ Night Out - Another convenient choice in which CPR trained and insured babysitters travel to your accommodation.  They’ll bring games, movies and even pizza. All sitters are CPR trained and insured. Call to make a reservation.
Contact Information: 
P.O. Box 1188
Winter Park, CO 80482
(970) 887-0272
melandsteve@juno.com

Other Child-Care Providers and Child-Related Services: 

 
Learning Hands Child Care
(970) 887-2484

Granby Play Days Preschool
(970) 887-3459

Fraser Valley Metropolitan Recreation District
Providing golf, recreation, and youth activities for the Fraser Valley. Licensed day camps and daily kids activities. Call for current schedule and reservations.
Contact Information:
P.O. Box 3348
Winter Park, CO 80482
1-800-511-5076
info@fvmrdrec.org

Blues Show at Smokin’ Moes in downtown Winter Park this Saturday!

Grand County Blues Society is at it again! If you’ve never heard of the Grand County Blues Society, you’re missing out on some of the most passionate Blues supporters out there. Once or twice a month these guys bring the Blues to Winter Park by hosting a great band at our very own Smokin’ Moes Ribhouse and Saloon, located in Cooper Creek Square. Check out their website where you can read more about what they do and check out upcoming shows. The shows are always a blast; be ready to dance to some fabulous live music and enjoy Smokin’ Moes’ famous ribs.

If you take a break from tearing up the dance floor during the show, track down one of the Blues Society members with your questions about blues music , you won’t be disappointed! This Saturday, they’re hosting John Richardson and the Jelly Roll Bakers (Johnny O and Andy Irvine) at 9pm. You can check out a quick bio about these guys on the Blues Society website.

Hope to see you there!

Ski Broker in Winter Park continues to keep us happy!

Well,  I did it. I finally bought a new snowboard. I’ve been riding on the same one for five years now, and while it    was a very sturdy, balanced, reliable board, it was time for an upgrade. (I promise this blog is not just a justification of my purchase to avoid buyer’s remorse).

So, after contemplating, researching, and saving pennies, I called Ski Broker in Fraser (one of their three locations) to ask if I could pretty please borrow a demo board to try out and possibly purchase (demo boards are brand new models that ski and snowboard companies send over to rental shops so customers can try out this year’s new gear). When Alissa, one of many knowledgable and helpful staff members, heard I was interested in buying, she went above and beyond to track down a board that would be perfect for me. With the help of Alissa, Paul (owner, check out his story: http://www.wpskibroker.com/AboutUs/tabid/54/Default.aspx), and Jamie (who assured me a snowboard was a necessity), I am now looking at a brand new Arbor Push snowboard. When it finally snows here, I’ll absolutely take a picture on the slopes to show it off

When I am about to spend half my rent money on a snowboard, I want to purchase one from someone who I know, trust, and is passionate about skiing and snowboarding themselves. Isn’t that what you want when you’re renting gear or having someone polish and tune up your own gear? Well, good news, that’s exaclty what you’ll find in our local, family owned Ski Broker. These guys do it all: they have a fantastic selection of rentals (of everything, including snowshoes and clothing) and gear for purchase, as well as extensive tunes and repairs. Check out their website for everything they have to offer: http://www.wpskibroker.com/Home/tabid/36/Default.aspx. Since we trust them so much we wanted to share them with our guests, so don’t forget that when you book with us you receive 22% off your rentals at Ski Broker!

Grand Adventures in Winter Park has new snowmobiles!

Grand Adventures, our local go-to for snowmobiling in Winter Park, has purchased brand new fleets of snowmobiles for the winter season! The new snowmobiles are 2 seater Yamaha Venture Lites (for guided tours) and 1 seater Yamaha Phazers (for unguided tours). Here are the specs, with translation for those of you who aren’t professionals:

Fourstroke: Quieter, more efficient, and larger than two stroke engines. Also, the professionals over at Grand Adventures tell me  you won’t get any of the fumes that come with two stroke engines.

Ergonomic: They are designed to fit your body, resulting in a super comfortable ride that requires less work from you.

Smoother acceleration: So you don’t have to deal with whiplash while you’re cruising on the continental divide at almost 12,000 feet

Heavier: In the words of the Grand Adventures professionals again, this means that the snowmobiles “won’t dance around, but will plow through the snow.”

AND, these new snowmobiles burn 1/2 as much fuel, making them more environmentally friendly. Plus, they’re quieter, making it easier for you to get a good look at all the wildlife you might run into.

Check out Grand Adventures’ website: http://www.grandadventures.com/ for more information on rentals, tours, rates, and more. Snowmobiling really is one of the most fun ways to check out some incredible views of the mountains and Winter Park, not to mention being quite a bit easier than hiking up a mountain in the middle of winter. Have fun!