Winter Park Hike Trail of the Week

Posted on May 31, 2010 by Chris

Hiking in Winter Park, CO

The Winter Park/Fraser Valley Chamber of Commerce is doing a bike and hike trail of the week and I thought I would pass it along on our blog for any of you that have an interest in hiking and biking.

The first edition is Monarch Lake for the hike. I have done this hike with my wife pregnant with twins so it is about perfect for kids, families and pets. Monarch Lake is absolutely beautiful and there is lots of wildlife in the area so keep the camera close and be on the watch. There is good fishing in Monarch Lake so take a pole and try to snag a big one.

Winter Park Hike Trail of the Week

Monarch Lake

Length:4.07 miles round trip
Elevation: Trailhead: 8,345′ Highest Point: 8,459′
Rating: Easy- A trail requiring limited skill with little challenge to travel
Trailhead Location: From the Winter Park Visitor Center continue North on US Hwy 40 for about twenty minutes into the town of Granby. Once you drive through the town of Granby you will see an exit sign for US Hwy 34 to Grand Lake and Rocky Mountain National Park.From there take Hwy 34, and between mile marker 5 and 6 turn onto CR 6 (FDR 125). Follow this road for 10 miles to the Monarch Lake parking area.
Trail Information: This easy loop around the lake is a popular destination year round. The trail begins at an old cabin that is staffed in the summertime. Along the way you will pass an old steam donkey engine, log chute pilings and cabin remains from when this area was logged in 1902. Keep your eyes open for the moose!
Special Trail Regulations: dogs must be on a leash not to exceed six feet at all times. Day use at this trailhead requires the purchase of an Arapaho National Recreation Area entrance pass or display of your golden passport on the dash of your vehicle. If you are camping overnight in the wilderness, then only a wilderness permit is required. Please leave the parking stub from the wilderness permit on the dashboard of the vehicle in the parking lot.

Again, Monarch Lake Trail is a great scenic hike just a short drive from Winter Park and Fraser on your way to Grand Lake. Make a day of it and head over to Grand Lake and have a bite to eat and take in Grand Lake, Colorado’s biggest natural lake.

Summer is here so get out of the house, get a little exercise and see the beauty of Colorado.

Winter Park, CO Free Music Thursdays

Posted on May 31, 2010 by Amy

Free music Colorado Mountains Free Colorado Live Music

Winter Park, CO will be hosting free Music Thursdays in Hideaway Park in downtown Winter Park. These are completely free shows and are just a blast to attend.

The shows start at 6PM and go till around 8PM and there are usually good crowds and lawn chairs are provided by The Winter Park Chamber of Commerce. It is always fun to pack a picnic dinner and some adult beverages and here a little live music in one of the most s[spectacular settings that you will ever hear live music. These shows are very kid and dog friendly and are well attended by both locals and visitors alike.

This year there are some pretty well known names on lineup that includes Opie Gone Bad and Hunker Down, a Winter Park favorite. The first show is June 24th and last is August 12th.

Here is the lineup and dates:

June 24: Samantha Fish
July 1: Boa & The Constrictors
July 8: Opie Gone Bad
July 15: Wendy Woo
July 22: Quemando Band
July 29: Rob Drabkin
Aug 5: Soul School
Aug 12: Hunker Down

Again the performances take place in Hideaway Park right on US Highway 40 in town. Look for the big moose on the north side of US 40 and take a right. The park on your left. Pack a picnic , the kids, some drinks and head out for some music and a great friendly atmosphere.

The last two years the weather has been great with mostly sunny skies and no wind. It does get a little chilly as the sun sets so be sure to bring a jacket if you are planning on staying past dark.

Come up and make a weekend out of the show with some great biking at Trestle Bike Park on Friday and maybe a hike or Colorado mountain golf on Saturday and then some mountain biking on Sunday.

Winter Park, CO Memorial Day

Posted on May 27, 2010 by Chris

Winter Park, Colorado Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial Day weekend is here. The start of official summer season and the weatrher is going straight from winter to summer. The weekend weather looks good with no precipitation in the forecast and almost all of the winter snow melted.

Looking for something to do up in Winter Park? Well there are lots of options this year with the weather looking the way it is. Here are some of your choices:

Fishing in Winter Park Lakes - We have a bunch of lakes here along US 40 and almost all are stocked with fish your you and the little ones. These small lakes are perfect for the kids to try to hook a big one. They are also good for the young at heart to try to snag a few. The one lake at the entrance to Rendezvous is supposed to be a Rendezvous owner only lake but it seems to me anyone can just walk on up and catch a few (it is a very well stocked lake).

Mountain Biking at Rendezvous – Some of the lower elevation riding here in Winter Park and the snow is all gone, there is a little mud though. This is my favorite riding in Winter Park with some rllong hills and some great flat trail along streams and a few water crossing spots. It is some very fun biking for just about all levels depending on what trails you take.

Take a Drive Over Trail Ridge Road – The road will be open by the Friday before Memorial Day and it should make for a spectacular day to check out Rocky Mountain National Park.

Come and enjoy a Winter Park Restaurant with lots of deals going on. Deno’s, The Sushi Bar, Back Country Grill are all offering big discounts and some great food.

Yes summere is officialy here so come on up to see all the beauty up here. Winter Park Resort base are operations do not open until June 12 but the a lot of stuff do do up here until then.

More on Weddings in Winter Park!

Posted on May 27, 2010 by sam

As more and more engaged couples catch on to the appeal and popularity of our quaint and beautiful town, it seems that new businesses that cater to weddings in Winter Park keep popping up. Recently I’ve stumbled upon a couple of well kept secret gems that I’m happy to be able to share with everyone.

First, wedding cakes! Evelyn Stowers has been in the business of making delicious and elegant wedding cakes for 44 years. In fact, the first wedding cake she ever created was for her own wedding (they’re still happily married, likely due to her sweet personality and the cakes she’s always whipping up in their kitchen). Evelyn showed me a binder filled with hundreds of cakes she’s created over the years, and I have to say that I melted completely into giddy girl mode! She has fun and gorgeous ideas for decoration, and after almost half a century of baking, you better believe she’s got more than a couple delicious cake recipes on hand. So ff you don’t feel like hunting down a big banner to post on your car that says “wedding cake on board” while you drive up our curvy mountain pass, then send Mrs. Stowers an email at evelynstowers@yahoo.com. She’ll be happy to hear from you!

Second, and a little more unique, is Ear 2 Ear photo booths. A couple of locals, Jeff Skinner and John Vella, have found great success with their small business of delivering, setting up, and operating photo booths at all kinds of events, including weddings. And yes, you’re thinking of the right photo booths: the same ones you laugh like crazy in at carnivals with your best friends. Photo booths are a creative and fun addition at any event; we think it’s worth your time to check it out! You can read about all the details and see some sample photos at www.ear2earphotobooths.com , then give Jeff and John a call at 970 509 9778.

And as always, if you have any questions about other great services in the area or are interested in lodging, give Winter Park Lodging Company a call at 877-329-1383. We’re always happy to hear from you!

Pole Creek Golf Course

Posted on May 26, 2010 by Chris

Colorado Mountain Golf

The sun is finally out up here in Tabernash and the golf courses are open. Pole Creek opened this season on May 15th but the first week or so was hampered by some classic Colorado spring mountain weather. This year promises to a great year for Pole Creek as this is the second year with the new club house and Bistro 28.

Have you been out to play the fine 27 up here in Tabernash? Well here is a little info on Grand County’s golfing pride and joy.

Pole Creek Golf Club is one of the few public 27-hole courses in Colorado and the only one in Grand County County Colorado. Pole Creek’s 7,107-yard course wanders through lush fields sporting native wildflowers, drastic elevation changes, vast bent greens and water challenge shots over two ponds and five lakes. The Ridge 9 course challenges experts to a rigorous game with 3,603-yard shots and tree-lined holes, while the more gentle Meadow 9 and Ranch 9 - accommodatesall playing levels. All three courses play to par 36.

Pole Creek’s design was conceived by Denis Griffiths, who incorporated existing lodgepole pine, valley meadows, sagebrush and a variety of water hazards including five lakes to create a diverse course appealing to a wide range of golfers.

The views at Pole Creek are some of the most spectacular you will see in all of Colorado.

So no that our winter is turning right into summer come on out and see what Pole Creek Golf Club has to offer high up here in the Colorado Rocky Mountains.

Winter Park, CO Recipe of the Month|Halibut Fish Sticks

Posted on May 24, 2010 by Chris

Halibut Fish Sticks with Dill-Caper Tartar Sauce

This month we have a Bon Appetit recipe from the June 2010 issue, Halibut Fish Sticks with Dill-Caper Tartar Sauce. Yes fish sticks. With a set of two and a half year old twins in the house this is just the thing for a kid friendly satisfying dinner. So here is Winter Park Lodging Company’s recipe of the month.

A coating of egg and panko (rather than a heavy batter) makes these lighter than the average fish stick. Plus, they’re sautéed rather than deep-fried.

Recipe by the Bon Appetit Test Kitchen

Photograph by Patricia Heal

June 2010

Ingredients

1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
2 tablespoons drained capers
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
2 tablespoons finely chopped cornichons or dill pickles plus 1 tablespoon pickle juice from jar
1 1/4 cups panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)
1 large egg
1 1/2 pounds 3/4-inch-thick halibut fillets, cut into 3×3/4-inch strips
3 tablespoons olive oil, divided

INGREDIENT TIP

The panko (Japanese breadcrumbs) for the fish sticks can be found in the Asian foods section of some supermarkets, as well as at Asian markets.

Preparation

Mix first 5 ingredients in bowl. Season with pepper. Cover and chill tartar sauce. Spread panko on plate. Whisk egg in small bowl. Sprinkle fish with salt and pepper. Working in batches, coat fish in egg. Coat in panko; shake off excess.
Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons oil in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add half of fish and cook, turning often, until fish is opaque in center and golden on all sides, about 4 minutes total. Transfer to 2 plates; cover to keep warm. Repeat with remaining oil and fish. Spoon tartar sauce alongside.

4 SERVINGS

PREP: 30 minutes
TOTAL: 30 minutes

Yum, Yum, Yum! Great fish sticks and the kids love them.

Gasthaus Eichler Reopening in Winter Park, CO

Posted on May 23, 2010 by Chris

German Restaurant Winter Park, CO

The Gasthaus Eichler is reopening with the original owners taking back over the rains and getting back to the German basics.

Hans and Hannelore Eichler have reopened the Gusthaus Eichler in downtown Winter Park after a year of the longtime eatery being closed as a public restaurant and open only for guests of the Eichler Hotel.

The Eichlers started Gausthaus Eichler in 1980, in the Conoco shopette on US 40, and then built the current location in 1987. The restaurant was popular with locals and visitors alike. The Eichlers later leased out the restaurant and the Gasthaus was run under the Eichler name until last fall. The leasers left town and the Gasthaus was not open to the public last ski season.

Well, the Eichlers are back in charge and returning the Gasthaus to its grand origins. Now, 30 years after first opening the Gasthaus, the Eichlers have returned with their original menu and legendary service.

Everything in the restaurant is still made by hand. Their potato pancakes, which could be bought frozen from Denver food suppliers these days, Hanne said, are crafted from scratch with real potatoes. The spätzle is handmade with a machine in the kitchen. Other popular items on the menu include wienerschnitzel, jägerschitzel and säuerbraten.

German food is not just bratwurst and sauerkraut at GE. Although there is that too — all the Eichler’s brats, available in both veal and pork, come from a Swiss butcher in Denver.

For dessert they offer Black Forest cake, chocolate mouse torte and apple strudel, all made from scratch. They’ve added chocolate and cheese fondue, and three German beers are available on tap.

In the summer there is an outdoor patio on the creek’s edge surrounded by potted flowers and space heaters.

The Gasthaus is a Winter Park original and really an institution here in Grand County. If you are going to have a night out give Gasthaus Eichler a try.

Winter Park is Perfect for your Summer Wedding

Posted on May 19, 2010 by Amy

Just because we are in the Wild West doesn’t mean we can’t be refined in the Mountains. Summer in the Rockies is perfect for your special day. Long, warm days and cool, clear nights are the perfect setting for you and your guests to celebrate a wonderful day. Winter Park has all the local help you will need to arrange everything for your wedding day. We can take care of everything from your cake to your lodging. All you have to do is relax and say “I DO!”

The girls at Pick Me! will treat your wedding like it’s their own, just without the stress. They can help with many aspects of your planning.

Event Planning

Wedding Coordination

Floral Design

Mobile Bartending

Weddings in Winter Park!

Posted on May 19, 2010 by Amy

Summers in Winter Park can be described with one word, Perfect! Long, warm, sunny days, cool, clear nights, and the best thing of all NO BUGS, well, at least compared to everyplace else in the world. Those conditions make for great weddings. Our views in Fraser Valley are some of the most beautiful views in the Rockies. And there are plenty of local businesses ready to help plan your perfect day. We have it covered from lodging to your cake!

Pick Me! offers all aspects of wedding planning. Kara and Ramie are so fun to work with too. They treat every wedding like it’s their own. Give them a call to handle everything but the “I DO!”

Event Planning

Wedding Coordination

Floral Design

Mobile Bartending

Winter Park, Colorado Beer Festival

Posted on May 19, 2010 by Chris

Colorado Mountain Beer Festival

The first annual Winter Park, CO beer festival has been announced and will be taking place in Hideaway Park in downtown Winter Park, Colo on Saturday August 14, 2010. This is Winter Parks first foray into the beer festival world but we are thinking that the Winter Park Beer Festival will be bigger and badder than the Great American Beer Festival in no time.

The Winter Park Beer Festival will be a celebration of beer, music and mountains, can you have any of these without the others?, in the beautiful environs of Winter Park, CO. There will be over 25 breweries represented doing beer tastings and selling merchandise with local and national bands to keep all entertained. There will also be vendors in Hideaway Park selling all that you will need to make this a fun and friendly day of beer drinking. We are hoping that the three young ladies to the left will be attending to help peddle some of the suds.

Breweries that can be expected to be attending, but in no way guaranteed to be, include New Belgium Brewery, Odell’s Brewery, Coors, Budweiser, Great Divide Brewery, Oscar Blues Brewery, Sierra Nevada Brewery, Left Hand Brewery, Grand Lake Brewery, Deschutes Brewing and Flying Dog Brewery. There should be some great beers by some of the best brewers in the nation.

As for music, the lineup should be fun with lots of good beer drinking tunes. Here is who will be playing:

JJ Grey and MOFRO

“intriguing and fortuitous… Grey’s a songwriter with a sharp wit and a knack for skewering the hypocrites, jive politicians and carpetbaggers who litter the landscape. The MOFRO vibe travels freely among swamp funk, blues, rock and soul, and does so with a certain down-and-dirty swagger that’s as real as it is appealing.”

Filthy Children

This funk/jazz/rock septet serves up a funkinetic frenzy of fresh, original, mind moving music; reminiscent of such groove giants as Soulive, Greyboy Allstars, John Scofield, and Deep Banana Blackout. Filthy Children deliver action packed funk that’s sure to be “a big fat kick in the groove”

Cowboy Dave

Hillbilly yuckster by day, Saturday-morning-cartoon hero by night, Cowboy Dave and his band of honky-tonk all-stars are poised to put the western back in country and western. Known to many as the deadpanned FortyTwenty frontman and fiddle player, Cowboy Dave Wilson has spent the better part of this decade honing his craft throughout the honky-tonks of the Midwest and South.

Sounds like some good grooves to get a good beer drink going up in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. This festival being on a Saturday lets you come up and enjoy a Free Ride Friday in Trestle Bike Park then the beer festival on Saturday and maybe some cross country/ single track mountain biking on Sunday before you return home.

I forgot to mention that the Winter Park Beer Festival benefits a truly worthy cause in the National Sports Center for the Disabled. I do not know of a better cause to give to and to do it all by drinking some beer and listening to some music in the Colorado mountains, now that is one heck of a weekend.

So come on out and celebrate summer with some beer and music!