Fall Colors in Winter Park Colorado

Changing of the Colors Winter Park, CO

Every summer comes to this in Winter Park.  It always seems to come to early and without warning. driving under the Rocky Mountain peaks and you notice an aspen that is starting to turn from green to yellow.  Well, it is here in Winter Park this year.  The neighbors aspen are about half yellow and some of trees on the hills are getting a little yellow also.

The change in colors comes early up here in WP-CO.  Best time to see the trees is in mid-September.  There is plenty to do in Winter Park and Grand County, Colorado in September and it is unbelievably beautiful this time of year.  Check out some of the activities here in Winter Park the last half of September.

Also, don’t forget that Trestle Bike Park is open everyday through Labor Day and Fri, Sat and Sun the following three weekends.

Mountain biking Winter Park in general in September and early October are at their best.  The weather is a bit cooler, the scenery is amazing and a lot of the crowds have settled in for school down in the lowlands.

So now is the time to plan your fll getaway to the mountains and get a great discount from Winter Park Lodging Company.The WPLCo offer for fall and early booking is:

Labor Day Sale! Get 50% off your 2nd night for stays between Aug 1st and Nov 15th. OR get 20% off on stays between Nov 16th and Dec 16th. Book by August 31st.

Favorite Winter Park Summer Patios

Backbowl's Patio

One of our favorite summertime activities in Winter Park is just hangin’ out at one of our favorite patios, kickin’ back to some live music and enjoying some cold beverages in the mountain sunshine. It’s definitely a favorite pasttime of mine!

When it comes to great summer patios in Winter Park, there are a few restaurants and bars that surpass the rest. If you have another favorite that I leave out, just let us know by leaving a comment below.  

My Top Picks:

- The Winter Park Pub.  The patio at “the pub” is #1 in my heart. There is usually live music at least three times a week, plus tons of space and seating for plenty of sunshine opportunities. They also have a tent for shade or rain coverage. It’s also a #1 locals favorite, so it’s a good place to mingle.  

- The Cheeky Monk - This is a newer restaurant at the Village at Winter Park Resort. The vibe inside is awesome, and they have like, a million types of beers. The patio is killer, too, and they oftentimes have live music and drink specials during the summer.

A packed patio at "The Pub"

- Backbowl Soup Company – another new restaurant at the Village at Winter Park Resort, Backbowl has an attractive, spacious patio with umbrellas & nice views. They also have live music and drink specials on Tues & Thursdays and the “Adventure Train Playground” that the kids love.

 - The Sushi Bar – Another local tradition is to hit up happy hour at The Sushi Bar at least a few times in the summer to enjoy their large deck. During happy hour you also get two-for-one specials on selected drinks & sushi rolls. They don’t have live music, but their parties and/or specials make up for that.  

- Deno’s Mountain Bistro.  A prime, south-west facing patio, this is a lovely spot for afternoon sunshine. Deno’s wine list is impressive, plus they have all the regular ol’ standbys and great wings. The only catch is that they don’t have live music.  

- Fontenot’s – This deck is often overlooked, but for what reason, I don’t know. They have a really nice deck, tables with umbrellas and great food. They tend to be on the pricey side, which may be why it’s not frequented too often by locals, but they have delicious appetizers like fried green tomatoes and coconut shrimp. Not a spot for live music, either.  

Other honorable mentions include the Gasthaus Eichler patio for lunch next to Vasquez Creek, Rudi’s Deli patio, and the Mountain Grind Cafe at Cooper Creek Square. 

Winter Park, CO Airfare Deal Alert – August

Here is a selection of August’s airfare deals of the month, provided by www.airfarewatchdog.com.  Check back daily on Airfare Watchdog for updates and new flight deals to all major 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.

Day at Grand Lake, Colorado for $2

I took the kids to Grand Lake this week for a day of fun and we spent a whopping $2.  If you have toddlers that are entertained by water, sand, and ice cream, give it a try for a day while you are here.  Here’s what our day looked like:

9am – departed Winter Park with lunch packed

9:40am – arrived in Grand Lake, parked on main drag across from park

9:40 am – 10:40am – played on big play structures in park with lots of other kids. Four swings – 2 for little guys, 2 for bigger kids.

10:40 – walked down to lake (3 minute walk) and played at “beach”. Nice thing is that water is really cold do you don’t have to worry much about your toddlers jumping right in. They think it’s good enough to get their feet wet and laugh at the dogs jumping in after the ball.  Lots of sailboats and motor boats where out.  If you wanted to break the $2 budget, you could rent paddleboats (seat 4) for $24/hr for 2 people or $32/hr for 4 people.  You can also rent boats right there too but that would probably break the bank.

11:30am – had packed lunch on picnic benches and faced the water so we were entertained with the view. Kids ate

Yum! $1 cones.

more than normal. Guess this strategy worked.

12 noon – packed up lunch, and headed to ice cream.  You can go right there by the beach (homemade ice cream, looked good) but we went back up to the ice cream joint in town b/c there were about 30 people in line at the one by the beach.  Got a chocolate ice cream – kid size – for each child in sugar cone.  $1 each.  wow!  Sat outside on a bench for little kids and they looked so cute eating their ice cream, a lady stopped and took a picture of them with her camera.

12:30pm – walked the boardwalk a bit and then got in the car and headed back to Winter Park

12:40pm – two boys fast asleep in the car just as the afternoon rain started to fall.

Opie Gone Bad in Winter Park, CO

Winter Park, Colo Free Music Thursdays

The Winter Park Free Music Thursdays started last week and continues this week with Boa & Thde Constrictors.

Next week the guest is Opie Gone Bad. These guys are a big name to have up here in Winter Park for a free show.  With some of the bigger names in music getting ticket prices in the $300 range this is a breath of fresh air.

On Thursday July 8th you can get on up to Winter Park, CO bringing your favorite picnic meal, wine or other adult beverage and sit in the beautiful Hideaway Park Amphitheater and see Opie Gone Bad for only the price of gas, food and booze.  That sounds like a screaming deal and a darn good time.

Music outside in Winter Park can not be beat.  There is a long tradition od great music up here in WP.  The American Music Festival was an annual event here for  long time and played host to some of the biggest names in music including Dave Matthews, Toad the Wet Sprocket and Warren Zevon just to name a few.

If you are looking to see some music and want to get out of the heat and crowds down in the cities check out Winter Park’s free music Thursdays.

Winter Park Lodging Company is running a third night free special right now so come on up to the cool air of Winter Park for three nights and only pay for two.  Make you plans now for some great music up in the Rocky Mountains.

Trestle Bike Park Freeride Fridays

Winter Park Trestle Bike Park

Freeride Friday’s are starting early this year. In fact they are starting this weekend. What is freeride Friday? you may ask. Well it is not free downhill riding, as in no cash spent.  It is freeridin’ on Friday with extended hours discounted rates and lots of activities after the ridin’.  If you have never been or your kids, especially those teenagers, you need to get out to Trestle Bike Park to check it out.  A more fun thrilling day can not be had and it is a serious workout on the body.

Anyway, the trails up here in Winter Park are in such great shape that Freeride Friday is starting this weekend, June 25th.  So get your gear together or come rent with Trestle Bike Shop and enjoy extended hours at the park. Stick around after the ride for your complimentary beverage and Coca-Cola® Family Movie Night Family in the Village!  The movie is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The Winter Park Chocolate Festival is on Saturday and the weather looks spectacular for the weekend.

Here is the complete deal for Freeride Friday:

Rental / Trestle Park Pass, $34.99 (walk-in only)
Extended Bike Park hours open until 7pm with discounted lift/rental packages

For just $34.99, get a downhill mountain bike, lift ticket, protective gear and all the runs you can fit into 3 hours. Just head to the mountains by early afternoon to take advantage of this $79.99 value for only $34.99. Package includes:

▪ Kona Stinky downhill bike
▪ Body armor package
▪ Full face helmet
▪ Lift ticket
▪ Bonus Coors Light or soda

Everything you need to get you on the mountain and start your weekend! Valid from 4-7pm, with rentals due back by 7:30pm. Call 303.316.1564 for more information.

Freeride Fridays Bike Park Lift Ticket only: $19
Trestle Bike Park School
As part of Freeride Fridays, Trestle Bike Park School is offering deals on two new clinic times:

Group Lesson Special

• 2 hours of coaching for $20 per rider
• 11am, 1pm, 3pm
• Additional hour of coaching for just $10 more

Fun fun fun is all I can say about Trestle. Anyone with even a small bit of thrill seeking in them needs to check out the bike park. Its is a great time, safe and as I said a great workout.

Looking for some lodging when up in Winter Park, Colorado?  Well, let Winter Park Lodging Company hook you up with the best prices, deals and local knowledge of the area.

Winter Park Colorado Mountain Bike Trail of the Week

Flume Trail Winter Park, CO

Here is the first Winter Park Colorado mountain bike trail of the week.  The Winter Park Chamber of Commerce  has started to do a mountain bike trail of the week and I thought I would pass it along.

I have ridden the Flume/Creekside trail with the wife about three years ago.  The ride is not that physically demanding but there are a couple tricky parts that take some mountain bike skill.  I would say the whole family could do this ride with maybe a couple of areas of walking for the beginning bikers.

Some mountain bike etiquette:

• downhill riders make way for uphill riders
• if the trail is very muddy dismount and walk bike
• if taking a break move off of trail

OK so here is the Flume/ Creekside mountain bike trail of the week.

Length: 5.3 Miles
Elevation: 8,900′
Rating: This is a physically easy trail but does require intermediate off-road skills.
Location: The trail starts at the St. Louis Creek Campground. From the Winter Park Visitor Center head north on US Hwy 40 for 1.5 miles once you come to the stop light in Fraser take a left on to CR 72 and stay right through the meadow. Once you come to the stop sign take a left. To get to the campground take CR 73 from Fraser for four miles.
Trail Information: Begin at St. Louis Creek Campground. The trail-head for Creekside. Creekside begins as a two track that is rocky and rutted in sections and slightly uphill with little terrain change at the beginning. The two track will turn into single track as the trail approaches the creek. The single track trail becomes more difficult with less gravel and larger river rock and more twists and turns. This is the most scenic part of the trail. Large beaver ponds may harbor an occasional moose, so take time to enjoy your surroundings.
Enter Flume and be prepared for an extremely fun ride. This trail is slightly moderate downhill descent with numerous turns, yet is never too hard. The kind of ride that makes your smile hurt. Heavily wooded forests at times gives way to open meadows full of wild flowers in the spring. The Flume trail gets its name from an old logging flume, which it parallels, for much of the ride. The trail will go through some aspens before reaching the scenic over look bench. Take time to enjoy the view of Byers Peak and St. Louis Creek.
Shortly after the scenic overlook is a trail junction. Straight ahead is Chainsaw, turn left and the trail will take you across St. Louis Creek. Turn left after the bridge and follow an old road back to the campground.

This is a great ride that is not to hard.  Do look for moose and other wildlife in the area.

On the way back to Winter Park stop and have a beer and a bite to eat at one of Winter Park’s fine eateries.

Summer is here so lets get outside and enjoy this wonderful place called Winter Park, Colorado.

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.

Winter Park Resort Alpine Slide

Summer Activities in Winter Park, CO

For those of you that are alpine slide lovers there is some very good news from Winter Park Resort.  There will be all new sleds for the slide this year.

Colorado’s longest and most exciting two-track Alpine Slide is located under the Arrow chairlift with viewing from the base area.   Both tracks are 3,030 feet long with 26 linked turns.  New this season, guests will ride in style on new, state of the art, alpine sleds.  Cost is $15, children 5 and under are free.

The Winter Park base area will open for summer fun on June 12, 2010.

If you haven’t ridden the alpine slide or more importantly taken your kids to ride the slide you are missing out.  we took our almost two year olds last summer and  they were thrilled with the ride.  For those kids a little older the alpine is especially thrilling .

There are lots of things to do at the Winter Park Resort base for the young ones and those that are just young at heart.  Winter Park Resort summer activities and attractions include lift-accessible mountain biking, Colorado’s longest Alpine Side, Amaze’n Human Maze, Leaps & Bounds Bungee, Rock ‘n Roll Gyro, Zephyr Express chairlift rides, Outdoor Climbing Wall, Mountainside Mini Golf, an 18-hole mountaintop disc golf course, eateries and shops.

Get up to Winter Park this summer and beat the crowds and the heat and have a little fun with the whole family.

Winter Park Colorado Mud Season

Winter Park, Colorado off season, shoulder season or plain old mud season.  We are smack dab in the middle of it up here in the Rockies.  Snow, sun, mud, wind, snow and more mud seems to be how the weather is going this time of year.  Not a lot going on but it is still beautiful up here now but remember to bring some clothing layers ’cause the weather will change at the drop of a hat.

What to do to in Winter Park in this mud season of ours?  Well, I thoughtI would do a top five things to do in Winter Park, CO after the ski season ends.  So here goes.

1. Grand Park Rec Center – I’m not sure what we have done in the past without the rec center but it couldn’t have been this fun.  The kids love the place and it’d an escape from whatever crazy weather that is outside.
2. Ski Berthoud Pass – The snow keeps falling so lets just roll with the punches and continue skiing.  There is some hiking involved but it is a great way to get in shape and some pretty good skiing. This can be dangerous so be careful.
3. Get ready for Winter Park Mountain Bike Season – weather can be an obstacle but there is riding that can be done especially on the roads.  Get those legs working now and get the benefits come June.
4. Ski A-Basin - They have been getting good snow this spring and won’t close until June. Head on over through Silverthorn and spend a day skiing like we are in the middle of the winter.
5. Hit the Hot Sulphur Springs Mineral Baths – spend a day soaking the old bones in some healing waters and chase the cold away.  Relaxing and invigorating all at the same time.

There is still a lot to do here in the mud season.  Try one of the above activities and you can go hit one of Winter Park’s fine restaurants or bars that are serving food and drink right through this shoulder season.  Check out Deno’s Mountain Bistro or The Sushi Bar.