Five Best Restaurants in Winter Park, Colorado

Posted on January 19, 2010 by Chris

Winter Park Colorado Best Restaurants

Top five favorite restaurants in Winter Park, Colorado. I guess you could say the Winter Park, Fraser, Tabenash area because they are not all in town proper of Winter Park, CO. This list is of actual full service restaurants and does not include Winter Park breakfast restaurants or Winter Park walk up restaurants. It also is focused on food even though a couple here are also my favorite Winter Park places to have a beer or cocktail. The list is in no particular order and is definitely not exhaustive.

**** ENTER TO WIN TWO FREE NIGHTS OF LODGING! Comment below with your favorite dinner restaurant in Winter Park and you’ll be entered into a drawing to win two free nights between June and August at a two-bedroom condo. Must comment by Feb 28th with winner announced March 2nd****

Winter Park Top Five Restaurants

Tabernash Tavern – Right on US Highway 40 in our home of Tabernash. The Tavern describes themselves as: “A wine bar in beautiful lower downtown Tabernash, Colorado, serving Chef Alberto Sapien’s international culinary creations”. As the description says it is a mix of very different styles of food and they haven’t missed every time I’ve been there. The Tavern has opened an Italian eatery in the town of Winter Park under the name Alberto’s.
Hernando’s Pizza Pub – Probably the most popular of all Winter Park Restaurants and one of the most consistent. The pizza is very good and their salads are fantastic. A great bar to watch the tourists and the locals alike with some great bartenders. Be sure to arrive early or call before heading over because Hernando’s is usually very busy.
The Sushi Bar – Yes, sushi up here at over 9,000 ft in the Colorado Rocky Mountains is pretty darn good. The Sushi Bar is located at the end of WP on US 40. The Sushi Bar has some great food and a very friendly waitstaff. With $1.50 bottles of beer everyday you can’t go wrong with some WP style sushi a a cheap cold one to wash it down.
Mirasol Cantina – Located on US 40 in the Conoco Shopping Center. Mirasol is a taco bar with great tacos ( try their lamb tacos) and the best margaritas in Winter Park. Chips and Salsa are fantastic and their salsa bar has some of the best salsas I have tasted. They have a small bar of about five seats that is a fun place to spend an evening eating and drinking. Mirasol is not open for lunch so make sure to join them for dinner.
The Ranch House Restaurant at Devils Thumb Ranch – Located in Tabernash at Devils Thumb Ranch. The room is spectacular and the food is just as good. The Ranch House serves New American Mountain Cuisine – which means real food, cooked with real ingredients. Organic and locally grown whenever we can. Always fresh, always delicious. Probably the most expensive restaurant on this list but also maybe the best with the highest level of service.

Maybe I should have done a best ten of Winter Park because there are some I definitely left out. The above list of five should most certainly include The Cheeky Monk, Fontenot’s and The Back Country Grill.

Our little town of Winter Park has some very good restaurants. Check out Winter Park Lodging Company’s restaurant discounts to get some great grub and drinks for a little bit cheaper.

Winter Park Wells Fargo Cup

Posted on January 18, 2010 by Chris

Winter Park Colorado Wells Fargo Cup

The Wells Fargo Cup ski weekend benefiting the National Sports Center for the Disabled makes its 35th appearance at the Winter Park Resort from February 19th to 21st, 2010. This event brings together world-class disabled ski racers, Denver celebrities, Broncos alumni along with amateur skiers and snowboarders of all abilities for a weekend of activities to benefit the National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD). The Celebrity Challenge is one of the most entertaining events of the weekend as celebrities and former football stars make their way down a racecourse. There will also be a silent auction that usually brings interest from big spenders to the most frugal.

National Sports Center for the Disabled

Founded in 1970, the National Sports Center for the Disabled’s mission is to positively impact the lives of people with any physical or mental challenge through quality adaptive recreation programs in over 20 sports. The NSCD’s impact on lives is direct, immediate and visible. Over 20,000 lessons were provided in 2007 alone.

The National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD) is one of the largest outdoor therapeutic recreation agencies of its kind in the world. For 40 years, children and adults with disabilities have looked to the organization for hope and encouragement. Each year, they take to the ski slopes, rivers, mountain trails and athletic fields to learn more about sports and themselves. With specially trained instructors and its own adapted equipment lab, the NSCD can accommodate individuals with almost any physical or mental diagnosis.

The Wells Fargo Cup is a great weekend of skiing benefiting truly one of the best causes that I know. It is also one of the most popular weekends to be in Winter Park. So make your plans now and help out a great cause and have some fun on the Winter Park/Mary Jane slopes.

Blues From The Top Festival Winter Park, CO

Posted on January 15, 2010 by Chris

Winter Park Blues Festival

The Blues from the Top blues show is back in WInter Park for the summer of 2010. June 25th,26th and 27th will see some of the finest blues players around descend on the hills of Winter Park for a long weekend of music, mountains and fun.

The performers so far are:

Walter Trout and the Radicals

Teresa James and the Rhythm Tramps

Trampled Under Foot

Mike Zito

Smokin’ Joe Kubek featuring Bnois King

Ana Popovic

Dick50 (Delbert McClinton’s band)

Samantha Fish

Nick Moss and The Flip Tops

JP Soars and The Red Hots

Delores Scott

Suprise Guest

Visit the Grand Blues Society website for tickets.

Come on up to Winter Park, Colorado for one a great music festival in the Rocky Mountains.

Mardi Gras in Winter Park, Colorado

Posted on January 15, 2010 by Chris

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……… ??

A Taste Of Winter Park/Grand County

Posted on January 13, 2010 by Chris

Winter Park Chef’s Cup Race

The 27th Annual Chef’s Cup Dinner Race, A Taste of Winter Park/Grand County is coming up on January 22nd, 2010. The evnt will start at 7PM at the West Partal Station at Winter park Resort.

The Chef’s Cup Dinner Dance is a benefit to support the Winter Park Competition Center youth ski and snowboard programs. Come watch the National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD) 40th Anniversary ski down parade and join them with at the celebration lunch and cake.

Ten to fifteen of Winter Park and Grand County’s best restaurants will donate their time and talent to prepare the food for 400 plus party goers to taste. Attendees will then vote for the overall favorite gourmet creation. Enjoy complimentary wine, margaritas, and beer, from Beringer Founders Estate, Margaritaville, and Mary Jane Ale. Guests can also bid on a huge variety silent auction items donated by generous supporters.

Call 970.726.1590 or 303.316.1590 for more information or to make a donation for the silent auction.

What a great night, free food and drink and all to support a great cause.

Winter Park Resort Vacation Deals

Posted on January 13, 2010 by Chris

Winter Park Colorado Vacation Deals

Now is the time to get up to Winter Park, Colorado. Deals are aplenty and the snow is starting to build up and get pretty good. The Winter Park snow forecast calls for a few inches tomorrow and hopefully some more this weekend.

I was checking out some of the deals that the Winter Park/Fraser Valley Chamber of Commerce is running at local restaurants and I stumbled upon a whole new Welcome Back to Winter Park Program that they are running this year. Some great deals from restaurants, retail stores and activities:

Winter Park, Colorado Restaurant Deals

*90 Steakhouse & Tavern at the Silverado II Resort*	*970-722-0*299	www.490SteakhouseAndTavern.com	Enjoy one complimentary entree when a second entree of equal or greater value and two beverages are purchased. Up To $15.00 Value.
Azteca Mexican Restaurant	970-726-2451	www.RestaurantAzteca.com	Buy 1 drink, get 1 drink of equal or lesser value free. Not valid with any other offer.
The Back Bowl Soup Co.	970-624-0010	www.TheBackBowlSoupCo.com	1/2 off any breakfast bowl Monday-Friday.


Bistro 28 @ Pole Creek	970-887-9797	www.PoleCreekGolf.com	15% off the entire meal (offer cannot be applied to other sales or promotions).
Cosmic Dog Mexican Grill	970-726-7178	www.CosmicDogGrill.com	Free Soda or $1 or with purchase of any burrito.
The Creekside Eatery & The Crooked Creek Saloon	970-726-9250	www.CrookedCreekSaloon.com	*Buy 1 Dinner Entrée from our ‘High Altitude Entrees’ or Pasta section, Get 2nd entrée 50% off with the purchase of beverages.
De Antonio’s Pizza & Pasta	970-726-9999		$2.00 off any large pizza or $1.00 off any dinner. Limit one per customer.
Deno’s Mountain Bistro	970-726-5332	www.DenosMountainBistro.com	Free Dessert with the purchase of a bottle of wine.
Fontenots Mountain Bistro	970-726-4021	www.FontenotsWP.com	20% off dinner entree. Mention this offer before ordering to receive discount. Not valid during the hours of 4-6pm (Recession Menu).
The Grand Lake Brewing Company	970-627-1711	www.GrandLakeBrewing.com	Free Logo Glass with the purchase of a pint of handcrafted beer at the brewery in Grand Lake. One per person per coupon.
Hernando’s Pizza & Pasta Pub	970-726-5409	www.HernandosPizzaPub.com	Free Cheesy Garlic Bread with purchase of $30.00 or more. Valid Monday – Thursday.
Mirasol Cantina	970-726-0280	www.MirasolCantina.com	15% off Entire Bill.
Mountain Grind Coffee & Bistro	970-726-0999		Get a free piece of fudge with any purchase of $5 or more.
The Mountain Rose Café	970-726-1374		Free cup of coffee with purchase of Entrée. Limit 1 per customer.
New Hong Kong	970-726-9888		1/2 off soup and egg roll with purchase of an entrée.
Pizza Hut	970-726-8101	www.PizzaHut.com	10% off your order. May not be combined with any other offer or coupons, including advertised specials.
Rudi’s Deli	970-726-8955	www.WinterParkDeli.com	Free half sandwich with the purchase of a full sandwich.
Star of India	970-726-5991	www.StarofIndiaWP.com	Free bottle of wine with purchase of two entrees.
Winter Park Sushi Bar	970-726-0447		Get a free Dessert with the purchase of any specialty entrée. Limit one per table. Not valid with any other offer or discounts or from 12/18/09-01/03/10.
Verso	970-726-9417		2 for 1 glass of wine (one per customer, excludes Verso 2003).
Wild Horse Gourmet Shop at Cooper Creek Square	970-726-9952		Buy one gourmet-to-go entrée or handcrafted sandwich and get the second at 1/2 price. One coupon per customer. Not valid with any other coupons.
Winter Park Pub	970-726-4929	www.winterparkpub.com	2 for 1 Appetizers or $11.95 for a 1-Topping Chicago Style Pizza. Some restrictions may apply.
Winter Park Winery	970.726.5144	www.WinterParkWinery.com	2 for 1 glass of wine, one per customer.
490 Steakhouse & Tavern at the Silverado II Resort	970-722-0299	www.490SteakhouseAndTavern.com	Buy 1 drink, get 1 free wine, well or draft.

Winter Park Colorado Activity Deals

Dog Sled Rides of Winter Park	970-726-8326	www.dogsledrides.com/winterpark	Free t-shirt for each sled reserved.
Fossil Ridge Horses	970-722-0100	www.FossilRidgeHorses.com	$3 off per person on a sleigh ride, excluding the holidays.
Grand Adventures	970-726-9247	www.GrandAdventures.com	$20 off any two unguided snowmobile rentals. Not valid 12/15/09 – 1/5/10 or weekends.
Sombrero Stables at Snow Mountain Ranch	970-887-1999	www.Sombrero.com	$2 off Dinner Sleigh Ride (or Hot Cocoa Sleigh Ride) per person.
Trailblazer Snowmobile Tours	970-726-8452	www.TrailblazerSnowmobile.com	$5 off on 2-hour tour. Not valid Saturdays or Holiday Weekends. Limit one offer per person.
Winter Park Park Resort Ski and Ride School	970-726-1564	www.WinterParkResort.com	2 for 1 Kid and Adult Lessons, all season with blackout dates 12/26/2009-12/31/2009 and 03/10/2010-03/25/2010.

Winter Park, Colorado Spas and Heath Services

Alpine Physical Therapy & Wellness Center, PC	970.726.8503		10% off Massage Therapy or Private Pilates instruction. $10 for drop-in fitness classes, Good for One Visit.
Mountain Moon Yoga	970-726-5786	www.MtMoonYoga.com	50% off one drop in class (regular price $12).
Fraser Valley Rec District	970-726-8968	www.fvmrdrec.org	$1.00 off regular admission fee at the newest recreation center in the Rockies!
Winter Park Athletic Club	970-722-7882		40% off Daily/or Weekly Rate, or buy 3 months get one month free. Machines must mention this coupon for discount.
Bella Vita	(970) 726-9505	www.BellaVitaGC.com	$10 off or 10 extra minutes added to a regular priced 40 minute (or longer) spa service. May not be combined with any other discounts or promotions. Please mention offer at time of booking.
Blue Sky Massage	970-726-5461	http://blueskymassage.tripod.com	10% off any service. Not valid with other offers, Gift Certificates or discounts. One coupon per service.
Body Works Organic Spa	970-726-4001	www.TheSpaBodyWorks.com	Purchase any Spa treatment of 50 min or longer and receive a free luxury hand or foot treatment.
Kut Above Full Service Salon	970-726-8784	wntrprkilizabeth@aol.com	$5 off a Haircut, Manicure, or Pedicure.

You can see all the deals that are being offered at Welcome Back to Winter Park Deals. Lots of ways to save money on your vacation to Winter Park or for you locals, that read my mindless drivel, there are some good deals here.

There is a section of deals that I left out about lodging, for obvious reasons. However, Winter Park Lodging Company will match any published offer that any other Winter Park Vacation Rental Company is offering. Mind you, this needs to be on comparable accommodations and comparable times.

We here at Winter Park Lodging Company can save you more and will give you better customer service than any of our Winter Park lodging competitors. Check out all the Winter Park deals that WPLCO offers.

Don’t be hoodwinked. Stay with the Winter Park locals not the Winter Park jokels!

Skiing Colorado vs Skiing in the East

Posted on January 11, 2010 by Chris

VS

Skiing back on the East Coast vs skiing in Colorado out West?? Is there even a comparison? I found an article on CBS website about skiing back East vs skiing in the West and I thought it would be a good piece for the Winter Park Lodging Company blog. I have never skied back East but Sarah, my lovely wife, grew up right by Seven Springs back in Pennsylvania and she tells me it is not a place that you would want to ski after skiing in Colorado. The problem as Sarah tells it is that back East you are basically skiing ice with some crust on top and it is not uncommon for it to rain when skiing. That does not sound to thrilling to me.

We here at Winter Park have some bone chilling weather at times but it is always a dry cold. -5F, no problem, put on an extra layer and the skiing is great with all the snow we get here. Our coldest days seem to be when the skies are blue so by afternoon the sun has warmed everything up.

Winter Park is mentioned in the CBS article and here is what they have to say:

“The moguls are much bigger and, perhaps more importantly, softer, in the West. The Mary Jane section of Winter Park, Colo., is known for moguls sometimes referred to as ‘VW Beetles’.”

I know quite a few people who have learned to ski back East at resorts such as Killington, Mt. Snow, Sunday River and Waterville. All those, that I know, are very good skiers. Is it that the treacherous ice and extreme adverse conditions teach skiers a different way?

The differences between skiing in the East and West are significant and many: altitude, acreage, snow and weather are all different, starkly so at times.

The bottom line is, get out here to Colorado to come ski some snow. Not ice, not rocks and not dirt but Gods’ own powdery white fluffy snow that we get a ton of here in Winter Park, Colorado.

Winter Park, CO. Jazz Festival 2010

Posted on January 11, 2010 by Amy

Winter Park Jazz festival 2010 Winter Park Colorado Jazz Festival 2010

Winter Park Jazz Festival is back at Hideaway Park in the Town of Winter Park. Dates for the festival are 7/24/2010 – 7/25/2010 and times are 11AM to 6PM both days. Last year was a great show and we are looking for more of the same for the 2010 rendition.

Don’t miss out on the lodging of your choice. Last year the premier lodging sold out quickly so book your WP jazz lodging now.

This is the biggest event in Winter Park for the summer season so make your plans and stay a few days in the beauty of Winter Park, Colorado. The acts have not been announced but stay tuned here as we will update when the official jazz lineup is announced.

Here was the lineup for last year:

Saturday July 25th, 2009

11:00 am Doors Open
11:00-11:45 Mango Chutney
11:45-12:00 Set Change
12:00-12:45 Dotsero
12:45-1:15 Set Change
1:15-2:15 Warren Hill
2:15-2:45 Set Change
2:45-4:00 War
4:00-4:30 Set Change
4:30-6:00 Four Play

Sunday July 26, 2009

11:00 am Doors Open
11:00-11:45 Mango Chutney
11:45-12:00 Set Change
12:00-1:00 The Rippingtons
1:00-1:15 Set Change
1:15-2:15 Hazel Miller
2:15-2:45 Set Change
2:45-4:00 Sax for Stax
4:00-4:30 Set Change
4:30-6:00 Boney James

Set your plans now and don’t miss some of the hottest jazz up in the Colorado Rocky Mountains.

Five Things You Must Do In Winter Park, Colorado

Posted on January 7, 2010 by Chris

Top Five Things to do in Winter Park, CO

Sitting down to do a top five list about a place with as many things to do as there are in Winter Park is quite hard I have learned. I was going to sit down and knock this little top five list out and be done with it. Not so easy, there are many things to consider and five just really isn’t enough. So here goes my top five or so Winter things to do here in the Rocky Mountains:

Ski Winter Park Resort. Doesn’t need a lot of explaining but WP is one of the top ski resorts in Colorado with the most annual snow of all Colorado destination ski resorts. Known for its moguls/bumps and family friendly atmosphere Winter Park/Mary Jane is known as Colorado’s favorite for a reason.
Take a trip out to Devils’ Thumb Ranch. Devils Thumb offers two very good restaurants, world class nordic/cross country skiing and the best spa in Grand County. There is a lot to do at Devils Thumb, located just outside Tabernash, CO west of WP on US Highway 40. They have a half indoor half outdoor pool that is fantastic with great views of the Continental Divide.
Snowmobile to the top of the Great Divide. Grand Adventures will take you snowmobiling up to the top of the great divide in safety and comfort. Experienced guides will take you on a trip of a life time to the top of the Colorado Rockies.
Take a snowshoe hike in the Arapaho National Forest. There are more trails than I can name and they are all spectacular. Almost anyone can snowshoe and it is a great workout and very peaceful. Rent some snow shoes pack backpack spend a day getting away from it all.
Ski Berthoud Pass on a moonlit night. Not for everyone and can be a lot of work. Nothing like skiing under a full moon though. This is dangerous so make sure to have the proper equipment and ability!!
Have dinner at the Tabernash Tavern. Great food and a great atmosphere.
Have a beer at the Parshall Inn.
Soak your bones at the Hot Sulpher Springs Mineral baths.

I could go on and on but it is Sarah’s birthday today so I’m off to start dinner.

Monthly Archives: January 2010