Highlights from the Blues from the Top Festival in Winter Park

Posted on June 30, 2010 by Valarie

JP Soars at Winter Park Blues from the Top Music Festival

JP Soars and his handmade guitar

It turned out to be another perfect weekend of beautiful weather and outstanding blues performances for the eighth annual Blues from the Top festival in Winter Park, Colorado. This weekend is my personal favorite of all Winter Park music festivals because: 1) it kicks off the summer in Winter Park; and 2) you can dance to the blues music right in front of the stage. You must check it out sometime if you haven’t yet.

The festivities started on Friday night with Curtis Salgado followed by Andy Irvine’s Blues Collective at Music at the Mall at Cooper Creek Square, then moved over to Smokin’ Moes for the official Pre-Festival Jam with jam performances by the festival’s performers. The dance floor at Smokin’ Moes was packed as usual and the musicians were clearly having as much fun as we were!

I missed the show on Saturday, but the highlight (from what I’ve heard) was the Walter Trout performance preceded by the hail strorm that swiftly cleared the park out for about 10 minutes. The cooler air after the storm was welcomed by my festival-goer friends, who came back to enjoy Walter and his band close out Saturday’s show.

Sunday’s show started out with a mimosa from one of the vendors, then my freinds and I settled in our campchairs to take in some sun and music. It wasn’t long though before we were up dancing to the tunes. We had Curtis Salgado, Nick Moss and the Fliptops, Mike Zito, Theresa James, JP Soars and Trampled Under Foot. JP Soars was especially entertaining with his handmade guitar (pictured). His high energy blues, paired with a deep soulful voice, was definitely a lot of fun to dance to.

There were a lot of vendors to peruse between acts, plus good food like BBQ, Fried Catfish and Mexican. I loved the authentic $3 tamale and the mint chocolate chip ice cream for desert. The continual lathering of sunscreen was necessary with all the wonderfully bright sunshine, with no afternoon thunderstorm or hardly a cloud in sight. The Australian hat vendor sure must have made a killing, although be warned, he doesn’t take bargaining jokes lightly.

Ah, just another fun summer weekend in Winter Park, with plenty more to come. Next up is the Free Hi Country Music Festival, the Winter Park Jazz Festival, the Free Fox Classic Rock Festival and the Crankworx Colorado Mountain Bike Festival. The summer was just kicked off wonderfully by the Blues from the Top Music Fest.

Hoe Down in the Wild West of Winter Park

Posted on June 29, 2010 by Chris

Who doesn’t love a good Hoe Down? It’s fun for the whole family. You can go to an authentic Hoe Down in Tabernash, just 15 minutes from Winter Park. Sombrero Stables at Snow Mountain Ranch invites you to Hoe Down with them every Friday night, the last one is August 13th. Starting at 5:30 and ending at 9:30, you can enjoy live entertainment, wagon rides, a game of horse shoes, and kids games. Dinner, cowboy fare of pulled pork and hot dogs with all the fixin’s and a drink, is included. Adults are $20, children 6-12 are $15, and kids 5 and under are $8. (There are reduced rates if you choose to eat before you go. Adults-$15, Kids $10, and Tots $5. ) Tickets are available at the Stables office. Give them a call at 970 887 1999 to reserve your saddle today.

Opie Gone Bad in Winter Park, CO

Posted on June 28, 2010 by Chris

Winter Park free music Thursday Winter Park, Colo Free Music Thursdays

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

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

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

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

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

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

Trestle Bike Park Freeride Fridays

Posted on June 23, 2010 by Chris

Downhill mountan bike Winter Park co Winter Park Trestle Bike Park

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

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

Here is the complete deal for Freeride Friday:

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

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

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

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

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

Group Lesson Special

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

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

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

So get your gear together or come rent with Trestle Bike Shop and enjoy extended hours at the park. Stick around afterwards for your complimentary beverage and Coca-Cola® Family Movie Night Family in the Village!

Crankworx Colorado Bike Festival

Posted on June 21, 2010 by Chris

Crankworx Winter Park, CO

Crankworx Colorado is again back at Winter Park Resort this year and this is the premier bicycle festival of the year in Colorado.

Crankworx Colorado is one of the largest gravity-fueled mountain bike festivals in the United States. Come up and check out the action for FREE*!! During four intense days, spectators are awed by some of the world’s best mountain bike athletes battling it out for over $35,000 in prizes. Some of the biggest names in mountain biking like Semenuk, Basagoitia, McCaul, and Berrecloth will be on site. Don’t miss the mountain biking event of the summer; make your plans now. You won’t regret it.

Crankworx Colorado is Intrawest’s US version of the Whistler BC’s Kokanee Crankworx. This is the premier downhill biking event in the world.

Last year the all the lodging booked up at the Winter Park Resort base, closest lodging to the Crankworx area, and this year is looking like the same will happen. Book your lodging now to get the convenient digs for the bike fest.

Schedule of events is as follows:

2010 Crankworx Schedule

Thursday, July 29

Dual Slalom

Slopestyle Qualifiers

Friday, July 30

Super Downhill

Best Trick

Saturday, July 31

Cross Country

Slopestyle Finals

Sunday, August 1

UCI/PRO GRT Downhill

If you have never seen or heard of Crankworx you are missing out. There are some amazing athletes and these guys do some crazy stuff on a bicycle. If you have kids they will surely be able to tell you what this whole Crankworx thing is all about.

Again book your lodging now for a great time and a great festival in the mountains. Let Winter Park Lodging Company take care of all your Winter Park CO lodging needs so you can Play Hard, Rest Easy.

Winter Park, CO Summer Fun

Posted on June 21, 2010 by Chris

summer in winter park colorado

Summer in Winter Park, Colorado

Today is the first day of summer officially and that means it is hot, very hot down in the low lands and dreamy beautiful up here in the Rocky Mountains. The time to head to Winter Park is now to enjoy the beauty of Colorado without the crowds.

Here is the weather for Denver June 21st to June 24th:

89°F

Current: Cloudy
Wind: W at 4 mph
Humidity: 80%

Mon

89°F | 60°F

Tue

91°F | 61°F

Wed

81°F | 60°F

Thu

89°F | 64°F

63°F | °C

Current: Cloudy
Wind: W at 4 mph
Humidity: 80%

Mon

89°F | 60°F

Tue

91°F | 61°F

Wed

81°F | 60°F

Thu

89°F | 64°F

And here is the weather for Winter Park, CO.

65°F

Current: Sunny
Wind: SW at 3 mph
Humidity: 44%

Mon

71°F | 42°F

Tue

73°F | 42°F

Wed

66°F | 43°F

Thu

73°F | 47°F

As I said time to get out of the heat!

Lots of events and activities in WP this time of year also. The Eighth Annual Winter Park Blues Fest starts this Thursday with the best lineup ever for this rockin’ show.

There is also the Winter Park Chocolate Festival this weekend on June 26th. Taste some great chocolate with some wine and have a great time in the Rockies.

And for the kids there are all the events and activities in the Winter Park Village and base area:

COCA-COLA® FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT
Fridays, June 25 – September 3 The Village at Winter Park presents Outdoor Movie Night! We will be showing a great selection of family and kid-friendly movies every Friday evening from June 25 – Labor Day Weekend. Movies will be held outdoors on the lawn next to the Discovery Center and are free to the public. A limited number of chairs are provided. All movies will begin just after sunset. Times may vary week to week.

CIRQUE du SATURDAYS
Saturdays, July 3 - September 4

It’s a circus in the mountains every Saturday in the Village at Winter Park! Kids will enjoy the fun and festive atmosphere as they walk with troubadours, unicyclists, stiltwalkers, jugglers, and more in the Village from 10am – 2pm. Don’t forget to pause long enough for free face-painting and caricatures. All events are free and fun! Come one, come all! Don’t miss out on the chance to join the circus!

KIDS’ NIGHT OUT
Saturdays, July 3 – August 21

This fun, activity-filled evening is for 4-12 year olds. This program is loaded with indoor and outdoor activities and it includes dinner and s’mores by the firepit! Kids’ Night Out is a worry-free night out for Mom & Dad and a convenient alternative to at-home babysitting. Kids’ Night Out is held at the Discovery Center in the Village at Winter Park on Saturday evenings from 5:30pm – 9:00pm starting July 3rd and running through August 21. Kids’ Night Out is a FREE childcare service offered to parents on the condition that $30 per child is spent in any commercial outlet at the resort during the hours that your children are in the program. We do require original receipts to verify the expenditure. If less than $30 per child is spent, parents will be charged the difference. Kids Night Out includes: Dinner from Doc’s Roadhouse and Outdoor Activities / Indoor Activities - games, crafts, movies.

Reservations: Please reserve your child’s space by 3pm on Saturday. Call Winter Park Guest Services at 800.729.7907 to reserve your child’s space. Enrollment is limited and is on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Now that is a deal free day/night care while the parents head out for a drinks and dinner.

Summer is here and the now is the time to make your plan to head up to the mountains. Let Winter Park Lodging Company make your getaway fun, economical and relaxing.

The Winter Park Mountain Bike Trail of the Week #3

Posted on June 17, 2010 by Chris

spruce creek to tipperary grand county Tipperary to Spruce Creek

The third Winter Park mountain bike trail of the week is here. This week we have a great ride with some double and single track going trough Spruce Creek a couple times. Overall it is a great ride with some water, good downhill jumps and great mountain scenery.

Tipperary to Spruce Creek

Distance: 7miles
Trail Location: From the Winter Park Visitor Center head north on US Hwy 40 into the town of Fraser. At the stop light turn left onto CR 72 stay right and drive through the meadow. At the “T” take a left, at the top of the hill you will see the Rodeo grounds.
Trail Description: Begin at the rodeo grounds west of Fraser. Head west on Givelo Trail. At the first intersection, CR 50S, turn right. Stay left on CR 50. Continue on CR 50 uphill, past two lodges on the right and over the cattle guard. Look for Tipperary on your left. Take a left on to Tipperary. Tipperary is a two track climb through, pines, aspens and lush mountain meadows. A canopy of trees covers much of the trail. Cross the first creek; continue to climb. Climb through two meadows, past a couple of springs, past the intersection to Back Scratch and through the second (and last) creek. The trail levels and begins the descent not long after a wet spring-fed area. You are now on Spruce Creek. (You only know this by looking at the map as there is no intersection or sign) The descent is much more technical than the climb. It’s loose and rocky, so be careful. Your next turn is a left onto St. Louis Creek Road and follow this back to your vehicle at the Rodeo Grounds.

Come on out and enjoy the great Colorado outdoors. Let Winter Park Lodging Company supply your Winter Park summer vacation lodging and enjoy an active healthy getaway.

No. 3 Winter Park, CO Hiking Trail of the Week

Posted on June 16, 2010 by Chris

Winter Park, Colorado Hike of the Week

The third hike of theweek is here. This week we are headed over the Granby and Grand Lake way to Strawberry Lake. The lake got it’s name from mineral deposits that make the water look a bit strawberry colored.

Strawberry Lake

Length: One-Way Mileage- 1.55 Miles
Elevation: Trailhead: 8280’ Highest Point: 9189’
Rating-Moderate
Trailhead Location: From the Winter Park Visitor Center continue north on US Hwy 40 through the town of Granby. You will see an exit for US Hwy 34 towards Grand Lake and Rocky Mountain National Park On US Hwy 34, between Granby and Grand Lake, between mile markers 5 and 6, turn east on CR 6. Follow this road for 7.6 miles. Park on the left at the pullout. The trailhead is on the right.
Trail Information: The trailhead is located across the street from the pullout. The beginning of the hike you are going to be gaining elevation crossing Strawberry creek several times. You will notice that the creek is a reddish color from mineral deposits. Follow the creek to a fork that will have a trail marker which identifies the High Lonesome Trail, Strawberry Bench and Indian Peaks Wilderness to the left and the Caribou Trail to the Right. Strawberry Bench is the flat meadow straight ahead with Strawberry Lake barely visible in the meadow. Follow the trail to the left (east) and cross the creek, where there is a faint fork on the right. Turn right at the fork and head into the woods. The trail meanders into the meadow before you get to the lake.

Get out of the house and come have some fun in Winter Park, Colorado. Looking for some lodging to get out of the heat and crowds? Winter Park Lodging Company summer lodging is affordable, comfortable and well appointed. Get on up to the hills.

Winter Park, CO Chocolate Festival

Posted on June 16, 2010 by Chris

Colorado Summer Food Festivals

Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate …. who doesn’t like chocolate? What is your favorite chocolate? Well lets try some of the best before we make that call.

Winter Park Resort is putting on a summer food festival that is all about the love of chocolate.

Winter Park CO Chocolate Festival

June 26th 2010

A treat for the Winter Park vacationers and a destination for chocolate lovers around the state! Everyone loves chocolate! The Winter Park Chocolate Festival will include chocolate samples and fine chocolates for sale from a wide variety of regional vendors. Special guests and a full-day’s event schedule round out the fun!

There is even a wine pairing with chocolate session. Now that is right up my alley – wine and chocolate.

Saturday the 26th

10am - Winter Park Chocolate Festival opens!

11 am – Pudding Eating Contest!

Rounds for kids and adults! The catch – no hands!

12 noon – Denise Nickerson on Stage!

Star of the original Willy Wonka film talks about ”My Life as the Blueberry Girl”

1 pm – Truffle Competition Awards Presentation

2 pm – Truffle Demo with Chef Trusan

3pm – Chocolate and Wine-Pairing demo with The Chocolate Therapist, Julie Pech

3 – 5 pm – Wine Tasting

5pm – Festival closes.

Sounds like a great way to to enjoy some tasty treats and in Colorado Rockies.

What is your favorite chocolate? The favorite in our home at the moment is the Lindt dark chocolate with sea salt . Sounds odd but man it is delicious especially with red wine.

Outdoor Gear Swap in Winter Park, CO

Posted on June 10, 2010 by Valarie

Don’t miss the 2nd annual Fraser Valley Community Gear Swap benefitting Habitat for Humanity on Saturday & Sunday, June 19th and 20th. Come out between 9am & 5pm to the Epic Mountain Sports parking lot at the Park Place Shopping Center (with Conoco and Movie Theater).

Sell your used skis, snowboards, bikes, kayaks, golf clubs, tents & camping gear or any other sporting equipment you no longer need, or pick up a new addition for your outdoor gear collection.

To sell your stuff, drop off your gear on Friday afternoon between 4pm and 6pm or on Saturday morning between 7am and 9am. You name your price, fill out a sale form and keep 100% of the proceeds from your gear. If you don’t want to take that old stuff back to your garage, you can donate it to the Habitat for Humanity.

Plus, all Park Place Shopping Center stores will donate 5% of Saturday sales to the Habitat Humanity. Take advantage of the big sale at Epic Mountain Sports and specials at Rise & Shine Bakery, and feel good about helping out the community.

For more info, call Epic Mountain Sports at 970-726-2868.