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!

Rudi’s Deli Specials to Celebrate Opening Week of Ski Season!

Maybe it’s just us in Winter Park, but we like to eat good, hot, homemade food, especially when it’s a chilling thirty below during the depths of winter (and we eat a little extra in the fall too, so we can pack on some winter fat to keep us warm…). One of our longtime favorites is Rudi’s Deli, located right in downtown Winter Park, because of the incredible homemade soups and hearty sandwiches. What’s best about this place, aside from the turkey avocado melt and the toasted reuben panini, are the cheap prices! (Remember, I’m a broke snowboard bum, so when I say cheap, I mean it).  

Here’s the best part: Rudi’s Deli is going to be offering HALF OFF their ENTIRE MENU from ski season opening day, Nov. 18, through Thanksgiving day. Take advantage of that deal to try a couple new additions to the menu, including 3 new entree salads (Ahi, Greek, Chef’s, and Pasta salad with tomato, edamame, and feta), 3 new soups (stop in to find out!), and a new Ultimate veggie wrap. Don’t forget that Rudi’s also offers tasty burritos and bagels for breakfast, as well as coffee from the famed Rocky Mountain Roastery. New winter hours are 10 am to 8 pm every day. Check out the website for the complete menu!

www.winterparkdeli.com

Winter Park Pub Open all Fall!

To those who have never visited, the Pub probably seems to be a pretty standard bar. Beer, pizza, flat screen TVs for Monday night football…but what you may not know is that the beer is an ever changing selection of local brews, the pizza is incredible homemade deep dish, and you can have that pizza for free while you’re watching Monday night football on the flat screens. Still not convinced? Then head over to the Pub on Taco Tuesday for $1.00 tacos, or on just about any Friday or Saturday to check out some great live music.

More important than the pizza, more important than the tacos, and almost more important than the beer, the Pub is going to become your bar after you vist, no matter who you are. Locals, bikers, families, fishermen, tourists, snowboarders and skiiers, mountain bikers: no matter what you do, if you want a good beer, good food, and a good atmosphere at the end of the day, the Pub is it. Unlike lots of other bars and restaurants in Winter Park and Grand County, the Pub stays open year round for both its loyal regulars and those just visiting. See ya at the Pub.

Rise and Shine Bakery Cafe in Winter Park

I did two things this summer: drink too much coffee at Rise & Shine Bakery Cafe, and mountain bike, in that order.  Now that the snow has started falling I may be giving up mountain biking for a few months, but nothing will be able to keep me from my favorite coffee.  And don’t think I’m the only one; Rise & Shine is a local’s favorite, serving up freshly roasted organic coffee, lattes, mimosas, bloody marys, and homemade bread, pastries, doughnuts, and bagels baked fresh daily. With a great lunch menu as well, Rise & Shine is a perfect stop before or after hitting the slopes all day.

On your next visit to Winter Park, make sure to stop at Rise & Shine  to experience the fun, cozy, coffeehouse atmosphere and homemade breakfast at my favorite cafe.  Peter Baldo, owner of Rise & Shine and coffee perfectionist, has been kind enough to offer guests of Winter Park Lodging Company any specialty drink for a dollar off!

Pole Creek Fall Golf Specials

The Superintendent’s Revenge tournament is going on Saturday, October 10th.  It’s a 11 am shotgun start, 4 Person Scramble, $55 includes golf, cart, practice balls, prizes and appetizers during the awards party. Call 970-887-9195 or email mary@polecreekgolf.com for reservations.

Bistro 28 is still featuring old fashioned hamburgers on Thursday nights. Enjoy a hamburger and a beer (or a glass of house wine) for only $7.50 and Friday nights prime rib for only $15.

OCTOBER APPRECIATION WEEK
Starting Monday October 5th Through Friday October 9th green fees will be only $50 including cart and practice balls. Daily lunch specials at Bistro 28 for only $6. Call the golf shop for reservations 970-887-9195

They will stay open until the snow stays for the winter. 

J4 Junior Olympics to be held in Winter Park, CO March 2010

Winter Park Resort will host the J4 Junior Olympics again this year on Hughes steep face. The events will take place March 16-20, 2010. Racers will come from 18 different states, all the way from Ohio to New Mexico. Come cheer for them as they speed down the mountain side. We have some great condos available in the Zephyr Mountain Lodge that you can watch the races from your balcony. Contact the Winter Park Comp Center for more info at 970.726.1590.

Farmer’s Almanac Says “Lots of Snow and Mild Temps” for Winter Park this Ski Season

Get Ready for a Big, Snowy Winter

According to the Farmer’s Almanac, we are going to have milder than average temperatures with higher than average snow fall. Sounds great to me! It should be an early start with snow starting accumulating early in November and falling all through late January. Things will cool down in February, keeping the snow from falling, but then it will pick up again for March and April. Whatever the winter brings, we will be having fun up here in Winter Park. Get your vacation booked early to guarantee you have the perfect spot.  Things are filling up fast!