Summer is the season for travel and when you’re looking for a destination that pairs mountain beauty with easy access to fun as well, Winter Park checks every box on the list. The following are a few great ideas to add to your itinerary when you’re looking to make the most of the time spent this summer in Winter Park!
Take a Ride Down the Alpine Slide
While Winter Park Resort is an oasis of downhill and slope-side fun in the winter, summer is the time to take advantage of all the Winter Park Base has to offer! Of course, that doesn’t mean you can’t find your thrills heading down the mountain at an impressive clip. The Alpine Slide at Winter Park Base is a must if you’re looking to experience the fun of a downhill adventure minus the fresh powder. The Alpine Slide here enjoys the title as Colorado’s longest of its kind making it as exciting to ride as it is fun to say you’ve done when you’ve returned home. Reaching the top of the Alpine Slide starts with a ride up the Arrow Chairlift. Once you’ve reached your destination, you’ll hop on board and make your way down 3,000 feet of track that offers up stunning views along the way. Hoping to enjoy the scenery at a slower pace? That works too. Speed can be moderated at will making this a ride that’s worth taking a time or two while you’re here. The Alpine Slide is designed to welcome riders ages 3 and up with those 5 and under encouraged to ride alongside an adult. If you happen to have purchased an unlimited activities day pass, the Alpine Slide is conveniently included on the list. Visitors who head to Winter Park Base between June 18th and September 5th can ride the Alpine Slide daily while hours are adjusted on September 6th to operations on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays only. The slide is open to guests between 10:00 am and 5:00 pm.
Add a Mountain Biking Adventure to the Itinerary
A highlight activity for many travelers looking forward to summer fun at Winter Park Base is time set aside to enjoy mountain biking. Cycling enthusiasts and newcomers to the sport alike will find that this area is a prime place to take to the trails on two wheels and pair impeccable scenery with access to adrenaline-pumping fun! The Trestle Bike Park at Winter Park Resort is home to over 40 miles of downhill trails that can accommodate mountain bikers of all skill levels. Whether you’re searching for the next challenge or you’re just looking for a little fun out in nature, these trails are sure to inspire.
While an independent mountain biking adventure is always enjoyable, those who prefer a more guided experience can find that too when visiting Winter Park Base. The resort’s Mountain E-Bike Tour is a great option when you’re looking to focus more on the views and learn a little something about the terrain along the way as well. These tours tend to run an hour and a half typically and can accommodate up to 10 people at a time. The tour departs from Sunspot Lodge and makes its way to Lunch Rock. Alongside a knowledgeable and friendly guide, participants will enjoy an electric bike ride across terrain with an elevation of 600 feet. Lunch Rock is a wonderful place to get out the camera and make the most of snapping photos of the Continental Divide before heading back down as a group. The Mountain E-Bike Tour is suitable for participants aged 14 and up.
Take Some Time to Play Disc Golf
When you’re looking forward to a little friendly competition with an open-air view too, a round of Winter Park Base disco golf is a must! The course is open as of June 18th and features 20-holes to try alongside family and friends. The course is built over ski trails and offers up beautiful views across the Continental Divide as well. Start your adventure at the top of Arrow Lift with the option to ride down the alpine slide on the way back to the beginning when you’ve finished your game. You don’t even have to worry about bringing your own disc golf gear as rentals will be readily available to guests all summer long through Adventure and Supply Co which is found in The Village. For planning purposes, do keep in mind that this disc golf course is over a mile long and runs up and down mountain slopes. It’s worth wearing a good pair of shoes and being ready to get those daily steps in!
Book Your Adventure for Summer in Winter Park Today
When you’re ready to make the most of your summer in Winter Park, Visit Winter Park has the luxurious vacation rental options you need to top it all off in style. Get in touch today to learn more about our exciting options and to start planning!
Is there any greater joy in life than the taste of an ice-cold beer? On summer days it signifies that a job has been well done or that the party is about to begin. In the fall, the spicier tastes of pumpkin porters add a taste adventure to our days and in the winter, the heavier flavors ensure that we stay warm no matter what the temperatures are outside. And although the wine was once the champion of drinks, leaving beer drinkers to be classified as average joes, today’s craft breweries have elevated the status of the drink we all love to heights that wine could only hope to enjoy! In real life you may not get the opportunity to partake in your favorite beverage as often as you would like, thanks to work, school, and, of course, driving, but when your vacation journey brings you to Winter Park and a stay in one of our Visit Winter Park Lodging seasonal sanctuaries, this guide to our favorite breweries will ensure that your visit is hearty, refreshing, and hopping with good times!
Big Trout Brewing Company, 50 Vasquez Road
The environment is very important to Colorado residents and Big Trout offers an eco-conscious high efficiency brewing system that does very little damage to the natural side of Winter Park while still managing to provide the good taste beer drinkers crave. Locally owned and operated and providing a large charitable input into our Winter Park community, the beers range from the light and clean Catamount Kölsh to the unusually named Drunken Frenchmen described as a Barley Wine, every beer they offer is delicious, refreshing, and reduces water waste by about 20 to 30 percent!
Hideaway Park Brewery, 78927 US-40
Originally known as Hideaway Park, Winter Park changed its name in the late 1970s to reflect the nature of our town, just as Hideaway Park Brewery reflects the history of the region. Open every day of the week from noon to 9 PM, the beers served at this establishment represent the best Colorado has to offer. The ever-changing list of beers on tap range from the Arapaho Amber to the experimental IPA known as Humulus # 49, and because they also offer to-go beers, you can take your favorite and enjoy it in the comfort of your Visit Winter Park Lodging escape! Their dog-friendly patio is always a great place to enjoy their drinks with a few four-legged fur babies for companionship!
The Peak, 78491 US-40
Because man (or woman!) can not live on beer alone, the pub grub-focused menu of the Peak ensures that no one will be left hungry! Enjoy their Wild Game Burger with a Ghost Writer, an American Amber with 6.4 % ABV, or an ancho chili-rubbed Elk Tenderloin with a pitcher of Peso, their Mexican Lager, and leave feeling all is right with the world. Don’t forget to save room for dessert as their S’mores Chocolate Cake is practically world-famous, but if you choose to enjoy their Chocolate Milk Stout (No Diggity) in place of an actual dessert no one will blame you!
Idlewild Spirits Brewpub and Restaurant, 78737 US-40 #1000
In keeping with the newly elevated status of craft beers, Idlewild Spirits Brewpub and Restaurant provides a dining and drinking experience that will make you feel special! Also offering a long list of locally produced spirits, including Idlewild Vodka, Rocky Mountain Silver Rum, and a white whiskey that will keep you warm on the coldest of days, this special brewpub is destined to be the highlight of your Winter Park adventures! Served tapa style, the food menu of Idlewild includes innovative delights that will impress your taste buds, especially if you like the spice; their Za’atar Shishito Peppers and Chorizo Green Chile Queso are our latest obsessions, but we can honestly say that everything they serve could be considered our favorite! Their beers are local and refreshing offering up unusual names such as New Holland Dragons Milk and Odell Isolation Ale; can you tell we absolutely love our times at Idlewild?
Camber Brewing Company, 365 Zerex Street in Fraser
Winer Park doesn’t have a monopoly on breweries as you will soon learn from your visit to the Camber Brewing Company in our next-door neighbor town of Fraser. This mom-and-pop Winter Park brewery, started by a man who had a dream and the desire to spend more time with his family, offers a cozy ambiance that makes every guest feel welcome and a variety of beers that reflect his passion for the hops. Their Camber Amber is delicious and fun to say, but we suggest that you pay equal attention to every brew on tap or risk missing out on the taste sensation of a lifetime!
Fraser River Beer Co., 218 Eisenhower Drive in Fraser
Another Winter Park brewery in Fraser is Fraser River Beer Co! This brewery was born when two very different people with very different strengths and goals came together over their shared love of beer. The beer here is brewed in small, handcrafted batches using the finest, Colorado-grown malt, hops, and yeast they can source! As an added bonus to the great beer here, there is also Shreddy’s Taco Truck parked on the lawn of Fraser River Beer Co. Stop by for a bite before or after enjoying this brewery!
Vicious Cycle Brewing, 751 South Zerex Street in Fraser
The last Winter Park brewery on our list is Vicious Cycle Brewing! The name of this brewery refers to ‘the vicious cycle of life,’ which is where the two owners found themselves in 2014 and they decided to make a change. Now, after starting their business they strive to help others break out of their ‘vicious cycles’. So stop by today to enjoy great beer, Asian fusion food from the food truck outside Phlavor, and break out of your vicious cycle of life!
Come Home to Visit Winter Park Lodging
As you hop from brewery to brewery (using the free Lift bus system services and designated drivers, of course!) you will have the happiest of times but coming home to your Visit Winter Park Lodging sanctuary will truly bring you joy. Reserve your favorite today!
Even as you have just barely begun to recover from the fun and excitement of your Memorial Day weekend, chances are you have already started the planning process for the next big holiday, America’s 246th birthday! Falling on a Monday this year means we all have another long weekend and if you are looking to expand your horizons with a visit to Winter Park, Colorado, we at Visit Winter Park Lodging have a few ideas on how to make this Independence day one you will wish never had to end! From fireworks displays to picnics in the park to relaxation in the ever-so-comfortable seasonal sanctuaries we offer, Winter Park on the 4th of July is destined to be a holiday you will never forget!
All-American Breakfast
On this day dedicated to celebrating everything patriotic, you may want to start out your day with an all-American breakfast, either prepared yourself in our fully equipped kitchens or by heading out to any of our local eateries! Coffee will always be fresh and brewing at home and the temptation to sleep late and enjoy donuts on the deck may be high, so why not do a little extra prep on Sunday and stop by Rollin’ Street Bakery, 78737 US-40 #2500, for a batch of fresh-baked donuts? They will be open in Winter Park on the 4th of July as well, but if you want to sleep late, doing a little pre-planning ensures that your morning will start when you want it to start! Of course, a big breakfast on a bonus day off is always an enjoyable treat and Carver’s Bakery Café, 78336 US-40, offers plate-sized meals that will prepare you for any adventures you may be planning on this wonderful day!
Walk Off the Cinnamon Rolls
Carver’s Bakery Café is famed for its rich and gooey cinnamon rolls and if you feel a tad guilty for eating an entire one all by yourself, a hike along the Fraser River Trail will surely help cut through the guilt! This easy trail is one the entire family can enjoy and as you hike along with one of our favorite places to be in Winter Park, you can enjoy the lush green landscape, the perfect summer temperatures, and the sights and sounds of the Fraser River as it rushes past. Walking off that cinnamon roll has never been this fun and although the trail is only 5 miles round trip, you will feel justified in going back to Carver’s the next day and order another!
Fore!
Golf was once called a good walk spoiled but we see nothing negative about spending a few hours hitting the greens of the beautiful courses in Winter Park and the surrounding towns! The Pole Creek Golf Club in nearby Tabernash is actually a 27-hole public golf course meandering through our beautiful Colorado landscape and offering fields of wildflowers that will help you forget about that botched drive you made on the 8th hole of the day. The Granby Ranch Golf Course, located in Granby, is another public course designed to be enjoyed by all skill levels and has been known to offer a little something extra in the form of elks, porcupines, and even the occasional bear possibly seeking a picnic basket to rummage through!
The Big Event
You have come all this way to celebrate the 4th and of course, we do it up right in Winter Park, offering an evening of all-American fun. The Rendezvous Event Center, located at 78821 US-40 is the center of everything that is amazing about Independence Day, offering a free concert by the Fabulous Thunderbirds, a place to enjoy another American favorite summer activity, a picnic, and many different games that the entire family will be able to enjoy! End the night with a bunch of oohs and ahs as you stare up at the sky that will be exploding with color and realize anew how wonderful it is to be an American on this beautiful summer night. After the past couple of years, it is wonderful to be surrounded by fellow countrymen doing what we do best, celebrating our nation on its birthday!
The Beauty of a Quiet Day at Home
Your Visit Winter Park Lodging seasonal sanctuary is built to be the highlight of your Winter Park 4th of July fun, offering comfort, luxury, and a style that will make you feel welcomed and appreciated. Sleep in late in our cloud-soft beds, take an early evening walk around the neighborhood listening to the sounds of other families celebrating, and sit out on the balconies, patios, or decks, sipping wine while watching the sunset over the mountains. When the sky is dark, chances are you will be able to catch a variety of different fireworks displays without having to leave your very comfortable seat! Reserve your favorite today and join us in wishing our country the happiest of birthdays!
Start the summer off right with a Winter Park Memorial Day visit that will have you planning your next visit before you even leave. There is plenty to see and do during your stay in Winter Park that will keep everyone happy and busy and ready to go on the day’s adventures no matter where they may lead.
Hot Air Balloon Ride
Take to the skies over the beautiful scenery of Winter Park and the surrounding area this Memorial Day. Grand Adventures offers hot air balloon rides that take you high above the mountains and around the Winter Park Fraser Valley area. See the Continental Divide, Rocky Mountain National Park, Fraser River, and more from a bird’s eye view. Flights take off at sunrise, but the views are worth the early wake-up call. Celebrate the flight with a champagne toast after landing.
Water Sports
Up the adventure with water sports. Book a Memorial Day whitewater adventure along the Colorado River where you and your group can navigate mild to moderate (Class II and Class III) whitewater on a half-day or full-day rafting or kayaking trip. Make sure to pack your water gear and store your valuables and anything you don’t want to get wet in a dry bag. For a calmer water experience, choose to stand up paddleboarding where you’ll enjoy a view of the water ahead and distant mountains, or a nearby lake for swimming and boating sports.
Hiking
There are hundreds of trails and loops perfect for beginners all the way up to the most advanced hikers. Lace-up your hiking shoes and wind through the Arapaho National Forest to see Saint Mary’s Glacier, Monarch Lake, or Loch Lomond. There are trails fit for the kids, as well as trails that allow you to bring furry family members, bikes, or horses.
Moffat Tunnel West Portal
The railroad and water tunnel designed by industrialist David Moffat paved the way for dealing with the costs related to severe snow conditions. The tunnel cuts through the Continental Divide in Colorado and provides a “West Portal” you can explore. If luck is on your side, you’ll see a gigantic coal train using the tunnel to move its load. Don’t forget your camera.
Winter Park Memorial Day Getaway to Winter Park
Enjoy your start to summer with a Winter Park Memorial Day getaway this year. Before you get to planning all the fun you’ll have, make sure to book a vacation rental home with Winter Park Escapes. When you’re not out on an adventure, prepare a home-cooked meal in the fully equipped kitchen. Afterward, spread out in the open living area for some TV or a movie or relax in a private outdoor space. We have units from two bedrooms all the way up to five bedrooms for a Memorial Day reunion. Choose a premium unit for upgrades like stainless steel appliances, granite counters, hardwood floors, flat-screen TVs, and more!
Contact us today to start planning your Winter Park Memorial Day getaway!
As world restrictions have begun lifting, we find ourselves craving something we never knew we would miss until we had to live without it for a few years. The annual family vacation was cancelled, as were all travel plans, and we were all forced to find new ways to entertain as we participated in virtual schooling, working, and even museum and zoo tours. Today, however, the end is in sight and as borders begin opening once again you may find yourself planning a family fun vacation in our beautiful mountain home town of Winter Park, Colorado. Offering idyllic landscapes, crisp and clean country air, and a variety of family adventures that will be enjoyed by the entire family, the only thing better than a Winter Park vacation is a family vacation in Winter Park spent luxuriating in the comforts offered by our Visit Winter Park Lodging family escapes! This guide to fun, adventure, and comfort will ensure that every minute of your stay will be ones you wish could go on forever!
Enjoy Hiking on Your Winter Park Vacation
Exercise is important and when you are on vacation in Colorado it won’t seem like exercise when you hike to where the wildflowers are! The trails that go along Jim Creek are easy ones, allowing even the smallest legs to do a lot of walking on their own. (We can’t promise that the hike won’t end with a toddler sitting on the shoulders of dad, but those are memories you will look back on fondly when they are grown and living on their own!) The trails here offer fields of wildflowers, forests of lodge pole pine and Aspens, and the occasional wildlife encounter, much to the delight of families from all over the world!
The Family that Rides Together has so Much More Fun!
Every 12 year old girl (and more than a few 12 year old boys!) go through a horse crush stage and you can make your tweens dreams come true when you take part in a guided horseback ride offered through High Country Trails! Located in Fraser, this experience takes riders through some of Winter Park’s most breathtaking landscapes and offers hours of memories you will never forget. The horses are all well trained and friendly, the guides are knowledgeable and personable, and the views will change your life and when you see the smiles that light up your kiddos faces, you know you won’t be able to hold back your own grins of glee!
Angler’s Delight
As our kids grow older they don’t want to spend as much time with us as they did when they were little and we admit it, that hurts more than a little bit. Family vacations are designed to bring that togetherness back and as you grab your poles, bait boxes, and cooler full of snacks and beverages it is time to head to the Fraser River for a morning of bonding experiences. The Fraser River is known as one of the best fishing spots in the region, offering more than its fair share of different varieties of trout. Winter Park Flyfisher offers guided fishing trips in the area, teaching budding fishermen and women all the secrets to fly fishing, embedding in them a lifelong love of the sport!
What’s for Dinner?
In real life those 3 words can wreak havoc in a busy household of people, but during your family fun vacation in Winter Park, they are just the start of some new and delicious adventures! Pig out on pizza from Hernando’s Pizza Pub (78199 US-40, Winter Park) dive into your favorite all-American dishes at Doc’s Roadhouse (201 Winter Park Drive, Winter Park) or savor some good old-fashioned barbecue at Smokehouse BBQ (78656 US-40, Winter Park)! Every craving will be satisfied no matter which restaurant you choose and when you are seeking, Carver’s Bakery Café, 78336 US-40, Winter Park has the hearty breakfasts your family needs to keep them energized throughout a day of Colorado adventures!
Come Home To Visit Winter Park Lodging
The best part of any family getaway is the time you spend together as a family and our Visit Winter Park Lodging escapes offer comfort and convenience as you do so! Enjoy movie nights watching big screen televisions from the comfort of plush sofas, munching on popcorn made fresh in our fully equipped kitchens. Unplug for a few hours and gather round large dining tables playing board games provided by many of our homeowners for that exact use, building puzzles, or learning the finer points of a rousing game of go fish. Read your youngest kids books as you cuddle together in cloud soft beds, scroll through Tik Tok with your teens, laughing at the antics on the screen, and when the house is quiet and everyone else is asleep, sip a glass of wine and relax in front of a roaring fire with your favorite traveling partner, recapping the wonders of all your adventures so far.
Families Love Us!
Reserve your favorite Visit Winter Park Lodging family escape today!
With a name like Winter Park you might expect that we lock the gates, shutter the stores, and close down until the snow season rolls around again, but you could not be further from the truth. Winter Park is a year round vacation destination, offering something unique, fun, and exciting to do every season of the year and as we all begin to start making plans for our summer getaways, we at Visit Winter Park Lodging think you should turn your interest to our direction; this guide to all that makes Winter Park an amazing summer getaway will help give you a gentle nudge into doing just that and our comfortable and luxurious properties are destined to help make your summer in Winter Park vacation even better!
Charlie’s Frozen Treat Shop, 78966 US-40
Some of life’s best memories are made from the smallest moments and the age old treat of enjoying something frozen on the hottest days of summer is one of those moments that Charlie’s Frozen Treat Shop specializes in! Offering a taste of summer in Winter Park every day of the year, your favorite fro-yo, ice cream, and gelato can be purchased here and if you are traveling with your fur children, they also sell pup cups and doggie bone’s sure to bring your pet pure bliss!
Fantasy Meadow Hiking Trail
summer in Winter Park temperatures rarely get to be too hot, making outdoor activities your favorite thing to do, including a hike along the Fantasy Meadow Hiking Trail. As the name suggests, the enchanting beauty of this trail will amaze as you hike along cheerful streams, frolic in fields of wildflowers, and explore the quiet beauty of the wildlife that make their home in this exquisite fairy land. Take the Gondola to the top of the mountain and step into a magical landscape that will burrow its way into your soul.
Winter Park Uncorked
As we make our way through the end of the pandemic, many festivals and events are making their way back to the towns and cities across America and Winter Park Uncorked is one summer event that shouldn’t be missed. Taking place on July 30th this year, live music, great food, and wines from all over the country ensure that this will be the most idyllic day of your summer getaway. Also offering a Cork Off in which participants try to pop a champagne cork further than anyone else, the Rendezvous Event Center in Winter Park will be selling tickets at a later date, so be sure to check back often!
Fore!
As the sun stays out longer and the grass grows green and lush beneath our feet, residents and visitors start polishing their clubs in anticipation of opening day of golf season. The Pole Creek Golf Club in Tabernash, the Granby Ranch Golf Course in Granby, and the Grand Elk Golf Club, also in Granby, all offer golfers the opportunity to enjoy the perfect day. For families who like the idea of golf but have kiddos that may make a day on the greens a bit uncomfortable, the Meandering Moose Mini Golf course, 528 Grand Avenue in Grand Lakes, promises a pint sized adventure that may help your children blossom into a love of the grown up version of the game!
Mad Adventures with MAD Adventures
White water rafting offers the ultimate in thrills and MAD Adventures, 78311 US-40 Suite 200, offers the opportunity to experience those thrills safely. Featuring rafting trips on the upper Colorado River that take you on a peaceful trip through some of the most beautiful landscape in the state but also give guests a taste of the rapids, this is one experience that will make you the envy of your friends back home.
Shopaholic Paradise
Although shopping is an activity that can be enjoyed all seasons of the year, the mild temperatures make it more pleasant as you walk in and out of the stores. Stop by the Lavender Elephant and check out their summer collections of women’s fashions, visit Uptripping and explore their whimsical art and home décor, or lose yourself in the wares (including souvenirs) offered by Moose Hollow Trading Company, all stores located right here in Winter Park. And because our Visit Winter Park Lodging seasonal sanctuaries offer washer and dryers, you can pack lightly and save room for all the treasures you can’t live without!
Summer Adventures in Comfort
Not all the fun has to be enjoyed outside your Visit Winter Lodging escapes. Sometimes a day spent lounging at home can be the best day of all! Choose a sanctuary that offers a community pool and spend your day splashing with the kiddos or soak in the hot tubs on cooler summer nights. Every day and every night is an adventure in comfort when you choose our Winter Park summer sanctuaries for your seasonal escape. Reserve your favorite today!
Although it is always nice to get back to normal after the big winter holidays are passed, we often find ourselves missing the closeness and togetherness that each holiday represents! Fortunately, a new batch of holidays are waiting in the wings, each one destined to be memorable as we hang out with family and friends. The next one up to bat, Easter, is not one normally spent in travel mode, but we think it should be! Especially as our Visit Winter Park Lodging holiday hideaways offer all the comforts of home and a welcoming ambience designed to bring families and friends even closer together! If your Easter journey finds you in Winter Park, Colorado this April 17th, this guide to all the fun you can have during your stay will perhaps lead you to the start of a new holiday tradition!
Add some Winter Park Easter Charm to your Seasonal Sanctuary
The Easter Lily brings charm to the celebration of the holiday and there is no reason why you can’t add one to the décor of your Visit Winter Park Lodging home away from home. Stop by the Safeway in nearby Fraser and explore the beauty of the Easter flowers in their floral department. Located at 40 CO Road 804, the ever-present Easter Lily is sure to be on display, so go ahead and buy one for the dining room table and let the scent of the lily sweeten up your Easter celebration as it wafts through the house bringing smiles to all who experience its scent!
Seasonal Sports
Winter Park Ski Resort stays open until the middle of May, so as the Easter Bunny hops on over for his annual visit, you can enjoy the waning days of the ski season. For those who haven’t quite mastered the skills of schussing, hiking is always a good option, just be sure to bundle up to stay warm during your travails. Take a hike along the Fraser River Trail, enjoying views of the landscape as the river passing below provides a “musical” accompaniment to every step you take. This enjoyable hike is an easy one, lasting 5-miles roundtrip, and is perfect for enjoying one last Easter snowball fight! For those seeking more of a challenge, the Yankee Doodle trail (bet you’re humming the Yankee Doodle song right now!) leads you high above the horizon, giving Easter hikers a workout that will help pre-empt any extra pounds that may drift to your hips after the Winter Park Easter feast!
A Feast to Remember
The best part of most holidays is the family feast and Easter is no exception. Choose to create a meal that will never be forgotten in our fully equipped gourmet kitchens or give mom a break and explore the culinary landscape of Winter Park! The Waffle Cabin in Winter Park Village offers a sweet way to start your day while Doc’s Roadhouse is destined to be your favorite lunch spot in all of Winter Park, even if they don’t offer an Easter Brunch! Moffat Station Restaurant has an amazing Marinate Lamb Leg, served with roasted cauliflower, spiced carrots, creamy polenta, and lamb sauce, ensuring that your Winter Park Easter celebration will be a deliciously memorable one!
Holiday Traditions
Every family has their own traditions for family celebrations, including Easter, some want to start the day with a sunset service, others prefer to spend the day together playing board games, and still others, may prefer to take this time to participate in family outings. Our own families love to go to the movies on Easter, after all the feasting and egg hunting has been completed, and if that is one of your holiday traditions, you may be excited to learn that “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore” is scheduled to be released on Easter weekend and is sure to be showing on the big screens at the Foundry Cinema & Bowl, located at 22 Second Street in Fraser!
With the Family
These are just a few ideas on how you can fill the minutes of your Easter break and we are sure you have more of your own, but before we leave you to your own devices, we have one last thought. Our real lives are filled with hassles, hustles, and too many things that we HAVE to do, making it imperative that we take a step back every once in a while and do the things we WANT to do with our families. Choosing to stay home and enjoy the comforts of our Visit Winter Park Lodging holiday hideaways can be the perfect way to tighten family bonds. Hiding eggs for your littles to find under massive pine trees in the backyards, creating an Easter feast in our fully equipped kitchens. Watching Easter shows on state of the art televisions, kissing your babies goodnight as they fall asleep in cloud soft beds dreaming of the treats the Easter Bunny will leave for them, and sitting in front of a roaring fire, wine in hand, rehashing all the fun you have had on your Easter getaway in Winter Park. These moments make memories you will never forget and will be made all the better when you choose Visit Winter Park Lodging for your seasonal sanctuary! Reserve your favorite today!
With a name like Winter Park, you may expect it to close down shop during the other 3 seasons of the year, but our small mountain town offers fun adventures every season of the year! Fiery vistas you won’t want to miss in the fall, verdant and lush greenery in the summer months, and during the spring? Offering the waning days of winter (no matter what the calendar says) and the promise of spring that will take your breath away, your summer adventures in Winter Park promise to help you make memories you will never want to forget. This guide to spring in the Winter Park mountains will give you a few ideas as to what you can expect from March through May.
Snow on the Winter Park Mountains
Unbelievably, ski season in Winter Park often lasts through the first week in May, so be sure to pack your warm clothes. Offering a last chance blast on the slopes, spring may be shy, but the fun you have as you snowboard and ski will make sure your seasonal escape starts with a bang! Spend your days on the slopes and your evenings enjoying the warmth and comforts of après ski at the Derailer Bar, our favorite hangout at Winter Park Resort. The lower areas of Winter Park will offer less snow, but the Coca-Cola Tube Park offers plenty of sledding opportunities for thrill seekers of all ages. Closing for the season in mid-April this year, April 17th to be exact, the tube park offers multiple lanes with sharp curves for banking, a covered conveyor belt for easy (and warmer) access to the top, a warming hut at the top, and a warming lodge at the bottom that sells hot cocoa to be enjoyed by a roaring fire as players warm up before heading back to the tubes for another go!
April Weekends
As we eek every last bit of fun out of the winter months, April weekends are for enjoying a taste of the cold and a preview of the summer with their Spring Bash & Splash! This free celebration of the season offers live music, cold brews, and some of the best food truck vendors in the county. The Big Wonderful Beerfest and Bluegrass event is scheduled for the first weekend in April this year, week 2 offers the Country Bash, week 3 is for our Retro Bash where guests are asked to wear costumes from their favorite decade and music of the 80s and 90s will be much appreciated, and the final week? This wonderful Bash & Splash comes to a close with a Beach Bash Splash! Offering Hawaiian shirts, tropical drinks, and a chance to catch some rays as you play in the last of the snow, it is also time for the SPLASH segment of Bash & Splash. Skiers schuss down a small slope and try their best to skim across the pond at the bottom, if successful cheers ring out through the air and if not? Well, it’s going to be a mighty cold rest of your day if you don’t bring a change of clothes! And yes, everyone is invited to try; are you brave enough?
May is Fishing Season
As the runoff from snow melting on the mountain fills the streams and rivers that dot the landscape of Winter Park and the surrounding town, fishing becomes a big deal once again! The Fraser River is home to Brown, Rainbow Trout, Brook and Cutthroat Trout with the best access areas being found along the Fraser River Trail (if not everyone loves to fish, May is a beautiful time for a hike along the river!) and regulations state that all Rainbow Trout must be released. A fishing license is required and can be purchased at many of our local sporting stores, including Winter Park Trading Company or it can be purchased online at https://www.cpwshop.com/licensing.page. And remember, if the fish are jumping but aren’t biting, the experience of sitting on the banks of the Fraser River with a pole in hand, a cooler at your side, and the Winter Park mountains standing guard in the background will bring peace and make happy memories. If you do catch your limit, chances are your Visit Winter Park Lodging seasonal sanctuary has a grill on its deck for optimum cooking enjoyment!
Stay in and Play
On the coldest days, you may find yourself more interested in staying home and exploring all the amenities found in our Visit Winter Park Lodging escapes. The Spring is a great time to go on a workcation to Winter Park so if you’re here for a workcation we have the lodging you’ll enjoy while you’re here. Offering rustic lodge cabin styles and modern amenities, guests can stay warm as they lounge near roaring fires, soak in the simmering bubbles of outdoor hot tubs, or enjoy family game nights at tables built for families. Fully equipped kitchens offer updated appliances so why not bake some cookies with the kids for a sweet treat they will never forget? Comfortable beds in tranquil bedrooms, spa-like baths, and a welcoming warmth that makes all who reside within feel treasured are hallmarks of a Visit Winter Park Lodging vacation home. Reserve your favorite today!
The joys of a road trip have been a uniquely American experience since the days of covered wagons. Back then, of course, when we loaded our wagons with everything we owned and began our travels, there was no GPS to guide us, no roadside diners to feed us, and often there wasn’t even a home to shelter us against the elements, which probably made an early trip to Winter Park in the spring months slightly scary! Today, however, your comfortable car is loaded with suitcases and ski gear, your teens have their ear buds in and their attention turned to the tiny screens in their hand, and the roads are paved, smooth, and all leading to your Winter Park spring escape and an adventure in fun and comfort in our Visit Winter Park Lodging abodes!
Did we Say Ski Gear?
In other parts of the world, spring is when the snow melts and the flowers begin to push their way through the fertile soil, but in Winter Park, spring is still a winter like wonderland! The 2021-2022 ski season is not scheduled to end until May 3rd, ensuring many more fun runs down the slopes are in your future. If space is limited in your car, however, you can leave the skis at home and rent all the equipment you need at any of the sporting good shops in town, including Beaver’s Sports Shop, Epic Mountain Sports, and on the mountain at Winter Park Ski Resort!
Spring Bash & Splash, April 2nd through April 24
Celebrating the end of winter with a big party is always a great idea and the weekends in April are destined to be your favorite time to visit as you participate in our Spring Bash & Splash. Offering live music, tasty food, and a variety of special events destined to be the highlights of your road trip, there’s never a bad time for a party in Winter Park, Colorado!
Cozens Ranch Museum, 77849 US Highway 40 in Fraser
If you truly want to understand what those early settlers encountered when they took part in their own road trips with an end destination to the Winter Park area, the Cozens Ranch Museum will paint a clear picture! At different times during its lifespan, the museum has been a stagecoach stop providing food and shelter to weary travelers, home to the local sheriff, and a prosperous cattle ranch. Today it serves as a window into the past and promises to be an intriguing and entertaining adventure during your road trip to Winter Park!
Blue Sky Massage, 21 Telemark Drive Unit 201 in Winter Park
All those hours spent behind the wheel of your road trip are sure to add some kinks, aches, and pains to your tired muscles, so why not spend some of your vacation hours enjoying the pampering that is provided by Blue Sky Massage? Offering a variety of spa packages, their tourist package is a great one for travelers who may have trouble adjusting to the altitude of Winter Park. Combining aromatherapy and massage, you will walk out of Blue Sky ready to conquer the world!
Take a Road Trip to Winter Park within a Road Trip
Now that you have had a few days to relax and get the kinks out, you may be looking to explore more of the Colorado country side with another road trip to Winter Park, one that begins and ends in your Visit Winter Park Lodging spring escape! The landscape of Colorado is a joy to see and there are some unique places to visit, including the west portal of the Moffat Tunnel. Built in the late 1920s, the concrete structure maintains an art deco vibe popular to the area and still provides a portal for trains to go through today. The gateway to the Rocky Mountains lies just 35 miles away from our own mountain town, and just 30 miles away you will find the town of Hot Sulphur Springs. The hot springs in Hot Sulphur Springs will definitely take care of any lingering travel pains that the massage at Blue Sky was unable to conquer!
Explore the Comforts of your Visit Winter Park Lodging Spring Sanctuary
After that long car ride, you may not feel like doing anything more strenuous than hanging out at home and we are perfectly ok with that! Many of our Visit Winter Park Lodging properties come with a hot tub out under the stars, access to community amenities, or even fire pits around which you can stay warm, roast marshmallows, and tell your favorite ghost stories! Stay up late into the night, watching the sky change as the stars all come out to play and pull the curtains closed in your cozy bedroom retreat, to keep the sun from waking you up too early. Reserve your favorite Visit Winter Park Lodging spring sanctuary today! Contact us now.
Like snowflakes, every traveler is different and just because some members of your family love to ski, it doesn’t mean that everyone is amenable to the idea! The cold, the snow, and the way it hurts when you fall, well, we understand that snow isn’t everyone’s cup of tea but that does not mean you have to skip Winter Park for your winter vacation! We are more than just a ski town, offering a plethora of exciting things to do in Winter Park and see, and this guide to everything that makes Winter Park wonderful only improves as you discover how staying in one of our Visit Winter Park Lodging vacation escapes will enhance your getaway!
Shopping
Our second favorite vacation activity, no matter what our destination happens to be, is exploring the shops that make up the landscape of the towns we visit. And although Winter Park is not a large town, the variety of stores we offer will more than keep you occupied while your snow loving family hits the slopes. Art galleries featuring the works of local artists (Karen Vance Fine Art is a local favorite!) boutiques that encourage you to be yourself (Be…Boutique accepts you just the way you are) even sweet shops like Treeline Treats will help you feel so much better about not joining in the fun on the slopes!
A Taste of Culture
Museums are another popular way to get to know the town of Winter Park better and two vastly different establishments jump into our minds, the Cozens Ranch Museum and Headwaters River Journey. Cozens, located in nearby Granby offers a fascinating portrait of early life for local settlers with the building it is housed on actually being listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Headwaters River Journey, located right here in Winter Park, however, is an altogether unique museum, offering an interactive experience that explores the rivers that run through the Colorado landscape. Designed to impress both kids and adults, it is the perfect place for you and your child, a fellow non-skier, to tighten your bonds as you learn about the world’s most precious resource.
Mountaintop Après & Fun Things to Do in Winter Park
Just because you don’t want to ski, it doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the most popular pastime of all, the après ski “party” held at Sunspot Mountaintop Lodge at Winter Park Resort. Taking place every Friday and Saturday from January through April, access to the Gondola is free after 4, allowing non-skiers to enjoy the fun. Offering live music (a different band each night) cocktails, and views of the most beautiful sunset you have ever seen in your life, Mountaintop Apres is about to become your new obsession!
Spa Day for the Win
What’s better than being warm and cozy inside during your escape to Winter Park? Being warm, cozy, and pampered by the amazing staff at Blue Sky Massage. Located at 21 Kings Crossing Road Unit 201 in Winter Park and offer a wonderful range of services that include multiple ways to be pampered, your skin, muscles, and body will thank you for the experience! Their Winter Wonderland package offers a body massage with peppermint oil, a foot massage in which your tootsies will be exfoliated, massaged with shea butter, and relaxed with hot compresses that will make you forget that just minutes ago you were trudging through the cold snow. The scalp massage included in this package will make you forget everything else except just how good it feels!
The Romance of Ice Skating
People who don’t like heights are prone to not like skiing, but skiing isn’t the only winter sport that you can try out during your stay in Winter Park. Ice skating still gets you out there in the crisp air and when you ice skate holding hands with your favorite traveling partner, your winter getaway becomes a romantic journey you will never forget. The Village Ice Rink, located in Winter Park, opens as soon as the ice is hard enough and stays open until warmer days arrive once again!
Eternal Summer in the Mountains
And finally, for the travelers who always have their faces turned to the sun, the Grand Park Community Rec Center allows you to experience summer in the depths of winter! Offering waterslides, pools, a lazy river, and everything you need for a resort vacation in a winter playground, the rec center is designed to keep you entertained and fit; it also offers a rock climbing wall, fitness classes, and a host of other things to do in Winter Park that will definitely counteract all the calories you have been ingesting while on vacation!
Stay at Home and Play
Let your family brave the wilds on the ski slopes as you soak in the hot tub, nap on comfy sofas, or sit in front of the fireplace with a glass of wine and a good book! Reserve your favorite Visit Winter Park Lodging winter escape today!