Looking for something to do in Grand County and Winter Park?  Well, a day at one of our three museums is a day well spent.  Informative, interesting and fun and all on the cheap, take the kids and explore and see what brought us all here to the Fraser Valley.

The Grand County Historical Association has three museums in Grand County: The  Pioneer Village Museum Complex in Hot Sulphur Springs, Cozens Ranch and Stage Stop Museum in Fraser, and Heritage Park in Kremmling.

Pioneer Village and Heritage Park  Winter Hours are: Wednesday – Saturday 10 am – 4 pm and Summer Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 10 am – 5 pm

Cozens Ranch is closed in Winter and Summer Hours are: Tuesday – Saturday 10 am – 5 pm

ADMISSION
Grand County Historical Association Members free
Adults – $4.00 | Seniors (60 and older) – $3.00
Students – $2.00 | Children below Six – Free
Call 725-3939 for more information

To become a member of the Grand County Historical Society they can be contacted at:

Grand County Historical Association
110 E. Byers Avenue, PO Box 165
Hot Sulphur Springs, CO 80452
970-725-3939 – FAX: 970-725-0129

Website: http://www.grandcountymuseum.com/

How much snow will Winter Park Resort receive for the 2009/2010 ski season ending on April 19th, 2010?  That is the question that we  skiers ponder up here in Winter Park, Colorado.  Kinda of like mulling over the lint in your belly button but much more fun.  We here at Winter Park Lodging Company thought we could make this snow forecasting bit more fun if we had a contest.  So here is the contest:

Guess how much snow Winter Park Resort will receive by April 18th, 2010, as reported on the Winter Park Resort website, for a chance to win dinner and drinks for two at one of our fine restaurants here in WP.  Use the comment section below for your official entry and all guesses need to be in by April 1st ( yes April fools, you fool).  He/She that is closest to the snow total wins.  We will post a winner by April 20, 2010 on this blog.

We had a slow snow start to this ski season but the ski gods have been pretty kind to us the last month or so with a couple of doozy storms that dropped as much as 16″ of fluffy white on our beloved Winter Park.  A couple of these storms also sent avalanches crashing down on US Highway 40 to give us Winter park folk the better part of the day to enjoy Mary Jane/Winter Park by ourselves (and those fortunate enough to already be here).

The snow report and total for today March13th, 2010 look like this:

Winter Park Resort  averages 350″ inches of snow per year so we should be getting some big storms the rest of March and April this year.  Here is some historical info on snow totals at Winter Park Resort for the last year and the ten previous years:

Plenty of info to base your guesses on but please research away.  I will put my guess in first and may the best man win.  We all actually win with the more snow we get though!

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!

Winter Park Colorado Back-Country Skiing

The word is getting out about our new back-country ski operation headquartered here in the Winter Park Village.  Powder Addiction open this year and runs a snow-cat ski operation on Jones Pass.  I have had the pleasure of taking one trip with them and another is set for this coming Monday (yes that is my poor form in the picture above).  I would have three trip under my belt by this time if not for pink eye and 16″ of fresh powder that closed Berthoud Pass a week ago.  Not to worry I will be getting at least four trips in this year.

Anywho, the word is getting out as The Denver Post did an article about Powder Addiction and skiing at Jones Pass in today’s sport section.  A very good article about a great operation at Powder Addiction.  If you get a chance to take a trip with them do not pass it up.  The snow on Jones Pass, as the article says, is awesome and the terrain is fantastic.

Powder Addiction cat-skiing is not for everyone and here is what they say of those that should consider going:

As a reference, skiers should be comfortable on expert runs at developed resorts and should prefer powder snow to groomed terrain. Since Forest Service regulations keep the ‘cat at least 100 feet from the ridge line, skiers also should expect a couple of short hikes at elevations around 12,000 feet. The high altitude combined with good northern exposure keeps the snow cold and light.

Powder Addiction will provide some wide Solomon Czar powder skis and packs with avalanche beacons and a tasty lunch.   It is a day well spent and addictive…….Powder Addiction.

Come on up and try some back-country cat-skiing.

Winter Park Resort just seems to be racking up the awards of late.  Skiing magazine just named Winter Park’s Moffat Market as the fourth best Ski-Resort Cafeteria.  That is not bad as the building it operates in is quite old compared to the others on Skiing Magazines top ten list.

The Moffat Market was the highest ranked Colorado ski cafeteria and Vail’s Two Elks Lodge was the only other Colorado cafeteria ranked and they came in at number six.

Here is what Skiing Magazine had to say about the Winter Park Moffat Market:

Moffat Market, a railroad-themed food court (named after the Moffat Tunnel, a 6.2.-mile-long railroad tunnel that has its west end at Winter Park ski resort), offers food from around the world. There’s New York-style pizza at Grand Central Station, Tex-Mex at Santa Fe Station, and Asian noodle bowls at the Umami Station. We recently tried a veggie coconut curry bowl with rice noodles here—and were blown away by how spicy and delicious it was.

We recently had a chicken burrito at the Moffat Market and I have to say it was a huge burrito and very tasty.  Cost was a little pricey but food at ski resorts is never cheap.

Serving breakfast and lunch, the Moffat Market food court has a railroad theme and offers fresh cuisine and specialties that reflect the different regions of the country and the world. Storefronts and names identify the different food stations with options such as: New York-style pizza at Grand Central Station; Tex-Mex at the Santa Fe Station; enjoy Asian noodle bowls at our newly revamped “Umami” station; and hearty soups at the Shortline. Moffat Market also features an Einstein’s Bagels kiosk for fresh breakfast bagels, and lunch specialties. New this season is a totally revamped breakfast menu at the Moffat Market. Stop by for their specialty, “Eggs Delphia.”

Of course, you go to a ski resort for the good snow and terrain. But you’ve got to eat while you’re there, right? Skiing Magazine has done their research—eating at ski areas all over the country—and have selected the 10 best on-mountain restaurants in ski country.  And to call the Moffat Market a cafeteria simply doesn’t do it justice.

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

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.

It was a powder day yesterday at Winter Park Resort.  One of the localized snow storms that Winter Park is famous for dumped a nice 16 inch blanket of the white fluffy stuff right on top of our hills for the enjoyment of the Winter Park guests and locals.

Berthoud Pass was closed on Sunday at 6:30 PM so only those here and those willing to drive around through Silverthorne and Kremmling were able to enjoy the best day of skiing here in Winter Park in over a year.

It was an eventful day from start to finish.  I was supposed to do some back-country skiing with Powder Addiction yesterday but the pass closure scuttled that.  But not to worry, fresh tracks on 16 inches of new is dream of a Monday.  We were inline at 8:30AM for the 9AM first lift and the runs did not disappoint.  I did break a ski pole and my ski partner Scott Emory, he of Moonshine Liquors, lost a ski.   But overall it was a spectacular day and my legs are feeling it today.

March and April are the best months to ski in Colorado and especially Winter Park Resort.  Chances are we will get some storms as big as Sundays in the next few weeks so get on up here and don’t miss on the next powder day.

Here is the trail report for March 2, 2010:

We are at about 206 inches so far for the 2009/2010 ski season, that means we should have another 150 inches by the middle April.  Don’t forget Winter Park Resort closing day is April 18, 2010.  Last year we received over a foot of snow on the closing weekend of Winter Park Resort just in time for Spring Splash.

So don’t make this another I should have skied more year, come on up and get your spring skiing turns in.

Snow snow and more snow in Winter Park.  That’s right we have been getting crushed with snow here in Winter Park.  27 inches is the total in  the last week with more on the way.   Here are our snow totals for the last few days and for the year as of Feb 23, 2010:

Winter Park/Mary Jane averages around 350 inches for the year so we can expect to just get blasted the next eight weeks that the resort is open.  Here is what our friends over at SnowForecast.com are calling for for the next month or so here in Winter Park:

–We may see lingering snow flurries next Monday, mixed with sun and clouds, then next Tuesday high pressure ridging is possible. Mid next week (3rd of March) begins a series of storms, some moving more southerly, some northerly, but frequent, for frequent light to moderate or even heavy snow. This unsettled pattern over the west should keep the slopes fresh through mid March at least. The rest of March and most of April still look potentially snowy.

Snow in December, January and the first part of February was below average with most of the Colorado storms hitting the resorts located in the southern part of the state.  It looks as though that these storms should start taking a more northern route and it is looking really good for Mary Jane and Winter Park.

March and April are by far the best months to ski in Colorado.  The weather is a little warmer, the snow a little deeper and the beers taste a little better.

Spring Skiing in the Colorado Rockies – heaven on earth!