Fly Cheap to Denver

Posted on February 27, 2010 by Valarie

Fare alert, fare alert, check out some cheap flights to Denver! I’ve compiled a list of flights to Denver from $98 to $200 from a variety of cities using Airfare Watchdog, and there are even more deals on their website. I am a huge fan of Airfare Watchdog, the airfare experts that find flight deals to or from any airport in the world, post them on their site for you to search and/or send you deal alerts on flights of your choice.

The deals below are current deals as of today, Feb 27th, 2010. Most of these aren’t advertised and can dissappear at any time, so act fast! Just click on the price to open up the fare details and see how to book. If you don’t see your departure city below, go to Airfare Watchdog to see if there’s a deal from your city to Denver.

DEALS ON FLIGHTS TO DENVER

PRICE	DEPARTURE CITY
$178 RT	Boston, MA (BOS)
$158 RT	Branson, MO (BKG)
$138 RT	Burbank, CA (BUR)
$158 RT	Chicago, IL (ORD)
$134 RT	Dallas, TX (DFW)
$156 RT	Houston, TX (IAH)
$118 RT	Kansas City, MO (MCI)
$130 RT	Las Vegas, NV (LAS)
$138 RT	Los Angeles, CA (LAX)
$148 RT	Milwaukee, WI (MKE)
$138 RT	Oakland, CA (OAK)
$138 RT	Ontario, CA (ONT)
$118 RT	Phoenix, AZ (PHX)
$158 RT	Portland, OR (PDX)
$98 RT	Salt Lake City, UT (SLC)
$138 RT	San Diego, CA (SAN)
$156 RT	Seattle, WA (SEA)
$184 RT	St. Louis, MO (STL)
$118 RT	Tuscon, AZ (TUS)
$158 RT	Washington, D.C. (IAD)

Once you book your flight to Denver, contact us to check for availability at a condo or home for your dates. Or better yet, if you’re flexible on your dates, check with us for availability first, then book your flights! Search Winter Park Lodging Company now to see what options await you.

Winter Park’s Olympian Ryan St. Onge

Posted on February 26, 2010 by Valarie

We are proud to claim an Olympian amongst our own Winter Park circle. The freestyle aerial ski jumper Ryan St. Onge, one of Winter Park’s own, finished at fourth place in British Columbia on Thursday, Feb 26th, just 2.5 points off from winning the bronze. Congratulations, Ryan!

Ryan and his family, including his brother Chad, another US Ski Teamster, moved to Winter Park in 1991 when he was eight years old. Ryan then trained with the Winter Park Competition Center for the next eight years. At the age of fourteen, he was selected to compete with the US ski team, performing two our of four jumps perfectly at the selection event.

Since then, Ryan St. Onge has gone on to win seven World Cup victories, three national titles, a silver medal in the 2009 World Cup Grand Prix and a gold at the 2009 World Championships held in Japan in March 2009. What an athlete! This is his second time at the Olympic games.

See the footage of Ryan’s go for gold at the Olympics in British Columbia on Feb 26th.

Winter Park Competition Center has 28 current or former athletes that have gone on to join the US Ski Team. Wow! In 2009, Winter Park Alumni Liz McIntyre was inducted in the US Ski Hall of Fame, another Winter Park Alum, Michelle Roark, won the US National Moguls Competition and the Winter Park Head Aerials Coach, Chris Seemann, was selected as the USSA’s freestyle coach of the year.

Let’s hear it for the first-class athletes of Winter Park!

Java Mic Night at the Mountain Grind in Winter Park

Posted on February 24, 2010 by Valarie

Mountain Grind Coffee & Bistro Brings Winter Park Live Music with Java Mic Night

For some fun on a Friday night with live music, a cozy atmosphere and yummy treats, come on down to the Mountain Grind Coffee & Bistro in Cooper Creek Square for Java Mic Night. Every week they feature a different artist, based locally, regionally or even nationally, for a variety of musical genres including Blues, Folk, Rock-n-Roll and more.

Along with enjoying great music played live, you can shop the Mountain Grind’s fun and trendy selection of gifts, souveniers and clothing. I love their funny greeting cards and retro magnets. You can also find some really neat coffee mugs, T-shirts, funky laptop bags and other colorful items.

While you’re at it, sip on a coffee, hot chocolate or even a cocktail now that they have a licence to serve alcohol. The Mountain Grind also has excellent fudge, Italian gelato and other treats. Actually, their Italian gelato is better than any ice cream I’ve ever had, but then again it’s not ice cream, it’s gelato! They also serve sandwiches, soups, chili (great) and salads, too, but you have to come by before 5pm to get those.

Well, you can see that I’m a fan of the Mountain Grind, but let’s move on to the music! See below for the current line-up for the Java Mic Night Series along with some insider info about each performer. Thanks to Ali Grayson for putting on such a fun weekly event and for providing the following information!

Java Mic Night Line-up (all shows are from 7-9pm):

Feb. 26th: Brad Pregeant ($5 cover or $2 for students K-12)
A local favorite! Music critic Jerry Minnich wrote pianist Brad Pregeant’s “range allows him to shift from jaunty blues to Bill Evansish standards to rippling New Orleans R& B . . .” Brad Pregeant was born in Louisiana and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Southeastern Louisiana University with a degree in piano performance, Classical. His Java Mic Night performance is sure to be saturated with authentic Cajun goodness! Local high school student & musician, Zach Thorpe, will be opening for Brad with some sultry Blues!

March 5th: Bobby Walker ($5 cover or $2 for students K -12) - Bobby Walker delivers blues, soul, and funky rock n’ roll performances with his trademark gravelly voice… [and] enthusiasm from the realness of the music he feels. He has a sense with guitar that drives home a lifetime of authentic music experiences to his audience. He has many recordings dating back to 1982, and has enjoyed performing all over the Western U.S., as well as Europe and Japan. Everyone who hears Bobby Walker knows from the first note that he is the Real deal.

March 12th: Jeremy Dion ($5 cover or $2 for students K-12)
Insightful progressive folk, like John Mayer meeting James Taylor. Tight grooves, soaring harmonies and a vocal style that is soulful, expressive and candid. Jeremy grew up outside Seattle, where he was influenced by the music of Crosby, Stills and Nash, James Taylor, and Paul Simon. Jeremy has been singing, playing guitar, writing songs and performing since he was a student at U.C. Berkley, combining the sounds of his musical influences with a bluegrass twist.

March 19th: Diane French ($5 cover or $2 for students K-12) - For the past several years, the Fraser Valley has been silenced by the intoxicating sound of Diane French and Band. Performing Songwriter Magazine calls Diane French’s music “soulful”, “cinematic” and “mesmerizing.” Java Mic Night is excited to feature Diane French again this year!

March 26th: Gregory Alan Isakov ($10 cover or $2 for students K-12)
Originally from Johannesburg, South Africa, Gregory Alan Isakov’s song-craft lends to the deepest lyrical masterpieces. With hints of his influences, Leonard Cohen, Iron and Wine and Kelly Joe Phelps, Gregory Alan Isakov has been described as “strong, subtle, a lyrical genius” and has shared the stage with touring artists such as Calexico, Ani Difranco, Brandi Carlile, Indigo Girls, Richie Havens, and Fiona Apple. He has performed throughout the United States and Europe and appeared at numerous music festivals such as South By Southwest, Telluride Bluegrass Festival and Rocky Mountain Folks Fest. Java Mic Night is honored to have GAI as our Season 6 finale show!

The Mountain Grind Cafe & Bistro is across from the fountain on the ground level of Cooper Creek Square, which is the three-story brick shopping mall in downtown Winter Park.

For more information, call 970-726-0999. You can also visit www.javamicnight.com, www.aligraysonmusic.com or www.coopercreeksquare.com.

Top Five Ski Runs at Winter Park Mary Jane Resort

Posted on February 24, 2010 by Chris

Best Ski Runs Winter Park, Colo

With all the snow we have been getting here in Winter Park I thought it would be a good time to do a best of or favorites list of runs here at Winter Park/Mary Jane. There are lots of runs here in Winter Park so this was no easy matter coming up with a short five.

Here is a resort trail map to follow along with if you care to.

Well then, here goes my top five ski runs at Winter Park/Mary Jane Resort:

1. Runaway/Trestle – there are a couple of ways to ski this and it all depends on the snow which is better. If snow is thin take Runaway to the lower part of Trestle avoiding the rock face on upper Trestle. If the snow is plentiful do all of Trestle and enjoy the jump turns on the rock face.

2. Upper Arrowhead Loop/Rainbow Cut – You get to ski right past Sterling Way and Golden Spike where it seems all the other skiers are heading. Upper Arrowhead has some very steep bumps and usually great snow. The run then opens up after the “hero bumps” (that’s how you feel after you ski them) into Rainbow Cut. Nice and wide with good snow usually up against the trees.

3. Eagle Wind – Not a true run but all the runs off this lift kind of mingle together and there is always good snow and good tree skiing. The run out at the bottom can be hell on the legs but it’s usually worth the the skiing you were able to enjoy.

4. Belle Fourche ( Bella Foosh) – Thick thick powder, kinda hard to get to and the same crappy run out as Eagle Wind, equals some of the best skiing in Colorado.

5. The Trees – To be specific ‘Topher’s Trees or Buckaroo Trees. Not on the map and on opposite sides of the resort but some great fun tree skiing. Ask a local and you may get a guided tour.

I left out Panoramic Express terrain because that is where all guests seem to be heading these days. There is great skiing over there but anymore there are lots of people to go with them. And it is chilly on top of Parsenn Bowl.

Think I’m way off or right on? Leave a comment on what are your favorite runs at Winter Park/Mary Jane.

Over Two Feet of New Snow in Winter Park

Posted on February 23, 2010 by Chris

Powder at Winter Park Resort CO New Snow at Winter Park/Mary Jane Resorts Colorado

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:

New Snow Winter Park Resort (In Inches)
24 hrs	48 hrs	72 hrs	Season
1.0″	7.5″	14.5″	180.8″

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!

Winter Park Shopping | Silver Creek

Posted on February 23, 2010 by Amy

Ah, shopping!

Silver Creek at the Winter Park Resort Base

I was hanging out at the base area during the Wells Fargo Cup this weekend and popped into the Silver Creek shop, located in the Zephyr Mountain Lodge. Not sure why I never had gone in there before (maybe it has something to do with always having ski gear on not in the mood to try on clothes). Well, what a nice surprise it was. I thought I had to go to Denver to shop for cute stuff!

I quickly found a True Grit vest that is now my favorite piece in the closet. And my friend and I both bought Xob baseball-style hats made out of recycled sweaters. We think we’re adorable. Marc, the owner, said no one ever tries the hats on and doesn’t buy one.

Silver Creek is open every day, 9 – 7 Friday and Saturday, and 9 – 6 Sunday thru Thursday. The True Grit clothing line is really fun mountain-chic and the Home line of jewelry is all around for picking and choosing some great accessories for your cowboy style.

Phone number: 970.726.5424.

J4 Junior Olympics at Winter Park Resort

Posted on February 22, 2010 by Chris

Winter Park Junior Olympics

Winter Park Resort is hosting the J4 Junior Olympics March 16th to 20th, 2010. This event features the highest level of racing in the United States for the J4 age class (racers born in 1997 and 1998, ages 11-13) including the fastest racers from eighteen states covering the Central and Southern Rockies and the Midwest as selected through their qualification events.

The racing will take place on the fast and furious Lower Hughes on the Winter Park side of the Winter Park/Mary Jane Resort.

After watching Bode Miller snag the gold at the Vancouver Winter Olympics I think this qould be a great way to get out and see some of the USA’s future future Olympians.

This event will see the best 11- and 12-year-old racers in the region compete in super-G, giant slalom and slalom events.

Come on out and support our future Olympians at the J4 Junior Olympians at Winter Park Resort.

Spring Skiing at Winter Park Resort

Posted on February 22, 2010 by Chris

Winter Park skiing in spring Winter Park Spring Skiing

It is getting to be that time of year when the heavy parka goes away and the nice light fleece accompanies you to the ski hill. Spring! in all its glorious incarnations is just a couple of weeks away and you know what that means? Lotsa lotsa snow, blue skies and drinking beer on the base decks. There is not a better time to ski in Colorado than spring and that goes for Winter Park as well.

As I said, the snow is usually best in March and April and the temperatures get a little bit warmer and the days a little bit longer.

Winter Park Resort is putting on the Spring Blast presented by Snickers® – Party at the Park on April 3rd and 4th, 2010. Here is what they have to say about their Spring Blast:

Celebrate the coming of spring! Relax on the decks of Derailer Bar with drink specials and live music, shop ’till you drop at our end of season blowout sales in base area shops, get free bump tips from the Winter Park Ski and Snowboard school, watch the area’s best freeride competitors in rail jam competitions and demo’s, and don’t forget about the season finale Winter Park Spring Splash.

Winter Park Resort is in the top 10 Spring Break Ski Trips for 2010. Coming in at number3. Here is what About.com has to say about Winter Park Resort as a spring skiing destination:

Winter Park is just 1 1/2 hours from Denver, Colorado, making it easy and cheap to get to by car, bus or Amtrak train (in fact, you can take the Amtrak ski train straight into Winter Park from either coast and get a 15% Amtrak student discount). A mountain bike-friendly place in summer, Winter Park is loaded with apres-anything spots.

So the weather is looking like Winter Park will be getting hit by lots of wet spring snow storms and the weather will be heating up: it is Spring Skiing in the Colorado Rockies.

Spring Skiing in Colorado

Posted on February 19, 2010 by Chris

Winter Park Spring Skiing

What is the best time of year to ski in Colorado? That is a question that we hear regularly hear in Winter Park. And my answer is always spring! To be specific it is mid march until the end of ski season in mid April. Colorado receives the most amount of snow in March and the temperatures are a little bit warmer. Spring is in the air in March and April and there is the influx of the spring breakers, why go to a beach when you can have the fluffy white snow in the Colorado Rockies.

Ever skied the corn? Well up here in Winter Park we usually don’t get the corn until late in April when our temperatures start to really heat up.

Corn is the name given to the large rounded snow structure the evolves from a melt and freeze cycle. The warm days melt the snow pack, form larger snow crystals and then refreeze at night leaving shapes like baby corn.

Know the conditions and try for the best corn skiing conditions. Don’t ski when it’s like a rock. Avoid the late afternoon melt when the conditions are a mess and it’s more like water skiing. You can manage this by following the sun. Ski east facing slops early, move on to the south slopes and then the west facing slopes to finish the day.

Here is the snow totals for Winter Park Resort last year:

2008 – 2009 Season
Month	Snowfall (inches)	Percent of 30 yr. average
October	7	101%
November	34.6	56%
December	93.2	152%
January	73.5	113%
February	59.3	103%
March	41.2	63%
April	70	190%
Total	378.8	107%

Winter Park is north faced and holds a long season. Last year with out 70′ inches of snow in April made it one of the best skiing months that I can remember here in Colorado.

Here is what one travel site says about Vail for spring skiing:

Second in size to Whistler Blackcomb, Vail is huge. Vail is a really crowded place during the season. Vail, with lots of sun exposure, is more erratic for late season skiing however.

March is one of the snowiest months of the year at ski resorts in the western US and Canada. You never know for sure where the skiing will be the best once March hits and spring begins but there are some places that are more reliable for snow seekers.

Look no further than Winter Park Resort for your spring skiing fix. The snow is deep the temperatures are a little bit warmer and sun shines a little bit brighter.

Spring Splash is the celebration of the last day of the ski season here in Winter Park and it is a party that should not be missed. So come on out and lets get ready for spring up here in the Colorado Rocky Mountains – Winter Park style.

Moonlight Snowshoe and Cross Country Ski at Pole Creek

Posted on February 19, 2010 by Chris

Winter Park Colo cross country skliing Winter Park, CO Snow Shoe & Country Cross Ski

The second moonlight cross country ski and snow shoe is to be held next Saturday night February 27th at Pole Creek Golf Club. We were able to attend the first edition and it was a fantastic time. The moon is so bright that the trails are well lit and halfway through there is a bonfire with hot chocolate and schnapps being served. Stay for dinner after the hike or ski at Bistro 28 they are serving up some great grub at reasonable prices.

Here is the full description from the Winter Park/Fraser Chamber of Commerce:

FULL MOON SNOWSHOE CROSS COUNTRY SKI AT POLE CREEK GOLF CLUB

TRAIL WILL BE WELL LIT WITH TIKI TORCHES
HOT CHOCOLATE AND SCHNAPPS AT THE BONFIRE!

DINNER AFTER AT “BISTRO 28”
FEATURING HOMEMADE PASTAS PLUS FANTASTIC MENU SELECTIONS
STARTING AT $8.
RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED FOR DINNER
PLEASE CALL 970-887-9797
Dinner every Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at Bistro 28
Burger and a beer/wine – Prime rib and Pasta specials

Don’t miss a fun way to get some exercise and enjoy the Grand County outdoors under the moonlight.