Winter Park Resort Skiing For Kids

Teaching Kids to Ski at Winter Park Resort

We had our third day out with the twins on the slopes at Winter Park.  The day wasn’t as nice as last week but we captured Nicholas and Willem in action on video.  The plan was to head up the Gemini lift and spend a few hours at Discovery Park with the boys but when we got to the resort the snow was falling and the wind was a howlin’.  No problems!

We headed over to Sorenson Park and made about six quick runs down.  Willem skied all the way down a few times and Nicholas perfected his hard right turn to slow down.  I don’t think he means to make a hard right turn but lets give him the benefit of the doubt, he is only two.  All in all it was a very successful day and the boys are now excited to go skiing.

Next week we will take the first lift ride up to Discovery Park and make a few turns up there before we head down Turnpike.  Oh Boy, Turnpike is making my back hurt just thinking about all of the bending over.

Anywho, we are trying to get the boys comfortable on skis this year before we put them in ski school next year.  I think we are well on our way and I hope the  Nicholas and Willem do truelly enjoy the skiing and it’s not just the M&M’s that we are bribing them with.

Here is Winter Park Resorts description of their ski school for three year olds:

JUST BECAUSE I’M THREE

The main focus for the day is skiing, but a full day of skiing can be a lot for three year olds. Your 3 year old will learn about skiing and may also enjoy activities such as outside snowplay, arts & crafts, Adventure Sled rides. Children must be potty trained and willing to participate.

Guests without reservations may enroll their 3-year-olds on the 2nd floor of the Winter Park Kids Ski & Ride School.

Winter Park Kids’ Lesson Season Pass for $1299!

Top Five Winter Park Kids Activities

Winter Park, CO Kids Activities

After hitting the slopes and the Grand Park Rec Center with our twins I thought it would be a good idea to make a list of the top five activities with kids here in Winter Park, Colo.  These are the can’t miss things to do when coming up to Grand County with your little ones in the winter.  For summer there will be a whole other list.

Learn to Ski at Winter Park Resort - This is a no-brainer as most everyone coming to Winter Park this is the main reason that they are heading to our little piece of paradise.

Spend a Day at The Grand Park Rec Center – Our Rec Center sitting just at the end of the town of Winter Park is a kids and parents dream.  With two pools , diving board, lazy river, water slide. steam room, dry sauna, basketball courts, climbing wall, trampoline and lots and lots of exercise equipment for the adults this a great place to take a vacation from the snow outside.  Grand Park Rec Center also offers day care for kids.  This is especially helpful for those parents with the wee little ones.

Go Sledding or Tubing at Winter Park’s Colorado Adventure Park - The Adventure Park  offers Tubing, Airboards, Snow Scoots, and Sleigh Rides.  They are conveniently located just minutes from the Winter Park Ski Resort, in Fraser, and an easy 70 miles from Denver .  From young to young at heart they have something for you!  This is an exhilarating place.  The hill you go down is big and you can get some serious air.

Take a Dog Sled Ride at Winter Park Dog Sled Rides – We bought a ride for our niece and sister-in-law and they loved it.  When the the sled takes off it looks like a rocket.  The ride goes through some secluded forest area and it just amazing how fast the dogs go and how quiet it is in all the trees.  They are located just a short drive from Winter Park Resort on Grand County Road 5.

Sit in the Hot Springs at Hot Sulphur Springs – There are enough hot springs for the whole family with temperatures  for everyone.  There are  22 pools and private baths, which include a solarium pool, the therapy Elk Pool, and a summer swimming pool.   They are known as one of the nation’s oldest, largest and finest natural hot mineral springs resort and spa.  Relax and enjoy the sacred waters where the Ute Indians once bathed, healed mind, body, and spirit.

Enough activities to keep the adults and the little tykes busy for a week or so.  Stay tuned for the top five summer activities for kids in Winter Park, CO

Learning to Ski at Winter Park Resort

Teaching Your Kids to Ski at Winter Park, CO

We finally got our precious twin 2 year-olds out to the slopes at Winter Park Resort.  What took us so long you ask.  Well we waited until we had some nice spring like days with plenty of snow and warm, blue sky weather.  If we would have known how cool it would be seeing your children ski down the hill we may have had them out there a year ago.

We spent our first two days of ski learning and teaching experience at the base of Winter Park.  The first day we were on Mt. Maury with the Winter Park ski school classes.  I think from some of the comments that that hill is reserved for Winter Park ski school.  I think this is a better hill to teach kids on as everyone on this little hill looked to be under five years of age.  The second day we went over to Sorenson Park with all the big kids.  By day two Nicholas and Willem skied all the way down the hill by themselves.  Awesome is all I have to say.  No, they weren’t turning and they need help getting onto the magic carpet but these barely two year-olds skied down a hill all by themselves!  I could not have been prouder as some observers at Sorenson Park were cheering for the little tykes.  What a great day!

As you can see above Winter Park has wagons that are a great help in transporting the kids around the base.  It says on the wagon not to be used to go over the snow to Sorenson Park but we have been told by the Winter Park Hosts that it is OK to take the wagons over there.  There were three or four wagons at Sorenson when we arrived with ours.  Mt. Maury and Sorenson are just a short walk to Winter Park Base Rental ski shop and the Winter Park Market/Cafeteria.  The whole setup is very very convenient with the Winter Park Ski School right here as well.  Now you are asking why the heck didn’t we just put our little future skiing Olympians in ski school?  Well, the ski school will not take kids that are not potty trained.  And at the pace of our little ones they may be skiing black diamonds before they know how to use a toilet.

Next week we will attempt a chair lift ride up to Discovery Park.  We will keep you posted as to how that goes and if it goes at all like to today it will be one of the better days indeed.

Winter Park Village Free Events

Free Events in Winter Park Resort Village

There are many many activities in the Winter Park Village and almost all of them are absolutely free.  The new Village is in its first full year of operation and there are now four eateries up and running:

Goodys is a European creperie offering made to order crepes and homemade ice cream.

Lime is a modern Mexican eatery with great tacos and margaritas.

The Back Bowl Soup Company offers homemade soups, breakfast burritos and fantastic breads.

The Cheeky Monk is a Belgium beer bar with great Flemish food with some of the best beers known to man.

Enjoy all these restaurants and spend a night in Village with some of their free events.  From Mardi Gras celebration to free ice skating lessons there something for everyone in the Winter Park Village.

DISCO SKATE NIGHTS
Thursdays, January 7 & 21, February 4 & 18, 6-8pm

Get down tonight! Grab your skates and come dance to funky disco music! You are sure to have fun with your friends while ice-skating on the Village Ice Rink to a dj playing 1970’s disco music while the disco ball lights up the ice! Bring your costumes!

KIDS’ NIGHT OUT
Thursdays, December 17 – April 8, 5:30-8:30pm

The Village at Winter Park introduces Kids’ Night Out! This fun, activity-filled evening is for 4-12 year olds, and is loaded with activities – including dinner and s’mores by the firepit! Kids’ Night Out is a worry-free night out for Mom & Dad and a convenient alternative to at-home babysitting.

Details:
▪ Kids’ Night Out is held at Kids Ski and Ride School on Thursday evenings from 5:30-8:30pm
▪ Kids’ Night Out is a FREE childcare service offered to parents on the condition that $30 per child is spent in any commercial outlet at the resort during the hours that your children are in the program. We do require original receipts to verify the expenditure. If less than $30 per child is spent, parents will only be charged the difference.
▪ Kids’ Night Out includes dinner from Doc’s Roadhouse and indoor activities such as games, seasonal crafts and movies
▪ Please reserve your child’s space by 3pm on Thursday. Call Winter Park Guest Services at 800.729.7907 to reserve your child’s space. Enrollment is limited and is on a first-come, first-serve basis.

MINI RAIL JAM
Fridays, January 15 - March 19, 4:30-6pm

*No Mini Rail Jam on February 19

Little jibbers come practice and show your tricks! Hit the mini rail park, Bouncer, in the Village for some fun after the mountain has closed for the day. Practice your rail slides and jumps in a training mini terrain park.

Details:
▪ Recommended for skiers and snowboarders ages 6 – 12 years old. Helmets are recommended.
▪ Located at the Bouncer Terrain Park located across from Doc’s Roadhouse and adjacent to the Discovery Center in the Village

FIRESIDE STORY-TELLING

Saturdays, January 9 - March 27, 3:00-4:00pm Join around the Discovery Center Plaza firepit for an animated story retelling the history of Winter Park Ski Resort, the railroad, early settlers and mountaineers. This FREE story-telling series is offered weekly from January through March and will include the stories of Fraser Valley locals such as: Doc Susie Anderson, the Byers family, the Cozens family and David Moffat. A perfect event for the entire family!

COWBOY SING-A-LONG
Fridays, December 18 – April 18, 4-5pm Come and join us by the campfire for our fun Cowboy Sing-A-Long just outside of the Village Gazebo, located at the base of Winter Park Resort. Cowboys and cowgals of all ages will enjoy this laid back and entertaining live show featuring all your campfire favorites! This FREE family entertainment is available Fridays from 4–5pm in the Village Gazebo.

ICE-SKATING LESSONS
Daily*, December 19—mid-March, 4-5pm

*Saturdays are Blade Capades, ice-skating games

Come join a FREE lesson to learn how to “hit the ice” (after “hitting the slopes”) or improve your skills on ice. An instructor and hot chocolate will be provided for each lesson. Bring your own skates or rent skates near the Village Ice Rink.

*Sign up by 3pm at Village Rentals on the day of the lesson

MARDI GRAS CELEBRATION
Saturday, February 13, 12:00-5:00pm

High Altitude Style! Come join the party in the Village to celebrate this New Orleans tradition Winter Park-style! This event features bands, street performers, festive decorations, food and plenty of beads to go around!

Music (in Starbucks Plaza)

12:00pm-1:00pm:  Louisiana Clan Dogs
1:20pm-2:20pm:  Aden Harrell & Friends Jazz Quartet
2:40pm-3:40pm:  Otones Brass Band
4:00pm-5:00pm:  Dikki Du & The Zydeco Krewe
Performers (throughout the Village)

12:00pm-5:00pm:  Salida Circus Performers (includes flame throwers, jugglers, trapeze artists, jesters & unicyclists)
12:00pm-5:00pm:  Face-Painting and Caricature Drawings
12:00pm-5:00pm:  Children’s Crafts – masks and crowns
1:00pm-3:00pm:  Giant Puppetry
2:00pm-4:00pm:  Ear2Ear Photobooth

Food (in Starbucks Plaza)

Jambalaya, crawfish, etouffee, gumbo, crepes, bread pudding and beignets provided by Village restaurants

Lots of things to to do for free at “the Village”.  If you would like to have a free family night out, the Winter Park Village can not be beat.

Mardi Gras in Winter Park, Colorado

Winter Park Resort Mardi Gras 2010

You don’t have to be in New Orleans or Rio de Janiero to celebrate Mardi Gras.  We here up in Winter Park, CO have our own little celebration up on the ski slopes.  The Winter Park Resort employees are usually all decked out and there are lots and lots of beads.  You my even see some topless celebratants latter in the day if the sun is out and the booze is flowing.

The Winter Park/ Fraser Valley Chamber of Commerce will be putting on a Mardi Gras Festival for the kids and family at the Hideaway Park in Town of Winter Park from 1PM to 4PM on Feb 13th.  The sledding hill will be open and there will be games and treats for the kids.

Sol Vista will be putting on a Mardi Gras Snow fest.  SolVista Basin resort family celebrations: Fun Events for kids of all ages; music; food, beverage and retail specials. Kids Snow Play Park, Sledding Hill, and Cross Country Skiing always free.

And there will be lots of celebrating on the slopes with beads a flying and everyone trying to have some fun on the slopes of Mary Jane/Winter Park Resort.

It’s Mardi Gras, show us your……… ??

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

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!

Winter Park/Faser Snow Tubing Hill

Fraser Sledding Hill

I have seen the slopes of the Fraser snow tubing hill many times on the way home from Winter Park to Tabernash.  There behind our own little monument to American fast food, KFC and Taco Bell, sits the Fraser Snow Tubing Hill.  The operation looks quite impressive with the slope lit in the evening and the tubes flying down.  A good friend has even said that it is very fun, almost scary how fast you fly down.

I have to say, though, we have never tried the sled hill out.  I had a hard time envisioning twin one year olds enjoying the rush down the hill.  So this year we will give a report on the experience with two year olds.  Sitting down to write this blog I did do a little research of review sites to see what people thought of the sled hill and they were mostly positive with some complaining about the waits for tubes.  Check out Yelps reviews for the Fraser snow tubing hill.

Here is their contact info from the Grand County Chamber of Commerce:

Fraser Snow Tubing Hill
PO Box 219
Fraser, CO 80442
970-726-5954
E-mail: rj@fraserweb.com

Bring the whole family for a snow tubing adventure! Located behind the Alco shopping center in Fraser. Groups welcome.

We will schlep the twins out to Fraser this winter and give the Fraser Sled Hill a try and I will write a first hand review of Grand Counties very own sled hill.  We will keep you posted.

Winter Park Rec Center

We had a chance to tour the soon to be finished Fraser Valley Rec Center this week and man are we impressed.  Scott gave us the grand tour and the place is just stunning.  Two pools, steam room, hot tub, dry sauna, climbing wall, basketball courts, deck level trampoline with foam ball landing: the place has almost everything.  Can’t wait ’till the place opens up.  Scott said that opening day will be December 18th and they will have a grand opening the weekend of January 23rd, 2010.

The district has finalized the fee structure minus some small tweaks.  The center will offer child minding services for $4.00 an hour per child.  What a bargain!

We here at Winter Park Lodging Company would like to say job well done to Scott and everyone who had anything to do with the new Rec Center.  Everyone at Winter Park Lodging Company will be spending lots of time unwinding there.  The Bradford twins, Nicholas & Willem, are sure to spend countless hours there and learn many sports.

Fall Fun in Winter Park

Fall is upon us and there are still quite a few fun activities to check out during October. Here are some highlights…

October 9-10: 24th Annual Ski Swap. Come on down to West Portal Station to get huge discounts on new and used ski gear and outerwear for the whole family.  The swap is a primary fundraiser for the Winter Park Competition Center and scholarship funds, so help the cause! For more info, call 970-726-1590

October 15: Scary Movie Night @ the Fraser Library- “Children of the Corn”. Be prepared to get spooked- show starts at 6pm. For info call 970-726-5689

October 28: Showing of Warren Miller’s Dynasty. Head to Winter Parks Silver Screen Cinemas to check out the best in the ski movie biz. Showings at 6 and 9pm. Contact 970-726-5390 for more details.

October 31: Cooper Creek is hosting the 9th annual Trick or Treat Street and Haunted House. From 4-7pm, come out with the kids for some spooky family fun! Here are a few of the activities planned-

• trick or treating througout the mall                                                                                            
• haunted house and spooky graveyard                                  
• phantom photo booth
• free spooky supper at Moe’s
• Scarecrow scare-off contest announced at Moe’s at 7pm

here’s the WPLC scarecrow holding down the fort….