September Recipe of the Month from Winter Park, CO

Posted on August 31, 2010 by Valarie

Linguine with Arugula & Pine Nut Pesto

For September, we’ve got a fresh pesto pasta dish made with arugula, pine nuts, lemon, garlic and other fresh ingredients. Put it all together in a food processor and viola- you’ve got a delicious, fresh pesto. A food processor is recommended to make the pesto, but a blender should work fine, too.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups pine nuts, toasted (or substitute with almonds or macacamia nuts)
1 package of fresh arugula
2 lemons (zest of both and only one lemon juiced)
2 boxes of linquine (1lb each)
8 cloves of garlic
2 cups of olive oil
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
2 tsp salt
2 tsp black petter
parmasan cheese to top pasta

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 and place raw pine nuts onto a sheet pan and back for five to seven minutes or until lightly brown. Remove them from the oven and set them aside to cool.

Combine the arugula, lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic, pine nuts, parmesan cheese, salt, pepper and olive oil into a food processor and blend until smooth. Remove the pesto from the processor and put it into a large bowl.

Cook pasta according to package directions. Add cooked pasta into the bowl with pesto and mix well. Top with parmesan cheese and enjoy.

Best Coffee in Winter Park, Colorado

Posted on August 31, 2010 by Chris

Best Cup of Joe in Winter Park, CO

Coffee, it seems to be every man’s early morning addiction. It makes the morning a little better, a little warmer and cleans the cobwebs out of the noggin’. Well, we have a few caffeine dealers here in Winter Park, CO and we thought we would share Winter Park Lodging Company’s favorites place to get a steaming hot cup of coffee.

Sooo, here is the top three list of best places to get a cup of coffee in Winter Park, CO. These are in no particular order:

Rocky Mountain Roastery is one of the local shops here in WP and is a favorite of the WPLCo girls. The Roastery has two stores one in Winter Park and the other down the road in Fraser (this store is the locals choice). Here is what the Roastery has to say about themselves:

Rocky Mountain Roastery and Coffee Company was founded in 1993 in Fraser, Colorado, near the famous Winter Park ski resort. Since then we have become known for our unique high mountain roasting process, which allows more flavor to develop in each bean we roast. Each batch is slow roasted by hand at 8,550 ft. to ensure that your coffee is the very best it can be. We are family owned and operated business and always strive to outperform your expectations. We guarantee that you will love this coffee, or simply return it for an exchange or full refund!

RMR offers a $1 cup of coffee if you bring your own cup. Great deal but they do charge for wireless internet.

Mountain Grind is another local choice and they are headquartered in Winter Park at The Cooper Creek Square. Serving great coffee, fudge and creamy Italian gelato. Lots of food items and serving beer, liquor and wine. Here is what Mountain Grind has to say about themselves:

Come see Mountain Grind for free unlimited wifi, breakfast, lunch, dessert, coffee, or catering and treat yourself to something special! Visit us fountainside at Cooper Creek Square. You’ll love Winter Park’s friendliest (and lots more) coffee shop!

Lastly we have Starbucks. Two locations in the Winter Park/Fraser area. One at the Winter Park Resort Village and the other at Safeway in Fraser. I won’t go on as anyone who drinks coffee and most who don’t have been into a local Starbucks.

Wakeup! Have a cup of coffee.

Winter Park CO Season Ski Passes

Posted on August 31, 2010 by Chris

seaon ski pass winter park co Winter Park Resort Season Ski Passes

The time has come to get your season ski pass for Winter Park Resort. As of next week September 2, 2010 the prices of Winter Park and Steamboat lift prices will go up. If you buy before Sept 6 the season pass prices are as follows:

Winter Park/Mary Jane Resort Passes

Adult (18-69) $369

Teen (13-17) $299

Child (6-12) $209

Senior (70+) $209

5 and under $30

Rocky Mountain Super Pass

This includes unlimited skiing at Winter Park/Mary Jane and Copper Mountain Resort.

Adult (18-69) $409

Teen (13-17) $319

Child (6-12) $219

Senior (70+) $219

5 and under $30

Rocky Mountain Super Pass Plus

This includes unlimited skiing at Winter Park/Mary Jane, Copper Mountain Resort and six free days at Steamboat Resort.

Adult (18-69) $449

Teen (13-17) $339

Child (6-12) $229

Senior (70+) $249

5 and under $30

Unlimited Skiing at Winter Park/Mary Jane and Steamboat Springs Ski Resort

Adult (18-69) $949

Winter Park Four Pass

Four days of skiing or riding at Winter Park/Mary Jane Resort

Adult (18-69) $139

Now is the time to purchase your passes if you think you will be doing any skiing at all up at Winter Park and Mary Jane, Steamboat Springs or Copper Mountain.

Click here to buy your Winter Park season ski passes

Here are some of the pass benefits that come with the above passes:

Rocky Mountain Super Passes – Double your $59 Friends & Family discount tickets to 20 to be used anytime during the 2010/11 season*.
Winter Park Season Pass – 10 Friends and Family $59 lift ticket coupons, valid at Winter Park/Mary Jane only.
Winter Park Four Pass – 4 Friends and Family $59 lift ticket coupons, valid at Winter Park/Mary Jane only.
Discounts on Rental/Retail, Food & Beverage and Ski & Ride School.
Receive special passholder offers via the Pass Perks email.
Discounts off full-window rate lift tickets at most Intrawest resorts including Whistler Blackcomb, BC (excluding Colorado resorts).

Airfare Deal Alert for Winter Park, CO – September 2011

Posted on August 30, 2010 by Valarie

Ah, September. The kids are back in school and life’s routines have returned to keep you on the go, go, go. Be sure to take a little time off this winter to break the monotony. Winter Park is a different world where you can relax, shake off the routine and invigorate yourself with skiing, sledding, snowmobiling and more. And we’re the closest ski resort from the Denver International Airport.

The holiday school breaks are some of the most popular times to fly, so be sure to plan plenty in advance to secure the flights that work for you. Check out our list of september flight deals, and for up-to-date fare alerts from any city in the country, check out www.airfarewatchdog.com.

$98 RT	Albuquerque, NM (ABQ)
$218 RT	Atlanta, GA
$118 RT	Austin, TX (AUS)
$198 RT	Boston, MA (BOS)
$118 RT	Bozeman, MT (BZN)
$218 RT	Buffalo, NY (BUF)
$316 RT	Calgary, AB, Canada (YYC)
$178 RT	Chicago, IL (MDW)
$198 RT	Columbus, OH (CMH)
$178 RT	Grand Rapids, MI (GRR)
$198 RT	Greenville, NC (PGV)
$118 RT	Houston, TX (IAH)
$180 RT	Indianapolis, IN (IND)
$118 RT	Jackson Hole, WY (JAC)
$124 RT	Kansas City, MO (MCI)
$136 RT	Las Vegas, NV (LAS)
$136 RT	Los Angeles, CA (LAX)
$178 RT	Louisville, KY (SDF)
$168 RT	Milwaukee, WI (MKE)
$158 RT	Minneapolis, MN (MSP)
$178 RT	Nashville, TN (BNA)
$158 RT	New Orleans, LA (MSY)
$248 RT	New York City, NY (LGA)
$218 RT	Newark, NJ (EWR)
$148 RT	Oakland, CA (OAK)
$158 RT	Portland, OR (PDX)
$138 RT	Rapid City, SD (RAP)
$98 RT	Phoenix, AZ (PHX)
$158 RT	Portland, OR (PDX)
$138 RT	Rapid City, SD (RAP)
$98 RT	Salt Lake City, UT (SLC)
$138 RT	San Diego, CA (SAN)
$180 RT	Spokane, WA (GEG)
$118 RT	Tulsa, OK (TUL)
$128 RT	Wichita, KS (ICT)

Remember to check with us for availability at a vacation rental in Winter Park for your dates first, then book your flights! Search Winter Park Lodging Company now to see what options await you.

Winter Park Colorado First Snow Contest

Posted on August 24, 2010 by Chris

first measurable snow in Winter Park CO First Snow in Winter Park, CO 2010/2011

The time has come again for the second annual First Snow in Winter Park, CO Contest. Lady Summer is on her way out of the building and our three weeks of fall will come and go and then we are left with six months of glorious glorious snowy winter.

Here is a comment from WP local Mr. Scott Hefel on Aug 24th, 2010:

Seasons are a changing, I could see my breath on my morning walk with (my dog) Sam. I actually started to get excited for snow.

So the contest is, guess the date that Winter Park Resort will receive the first measurable amount (more than a half inch) of snow and you will win dinner, drinks and desert for two at either Deno’s Mountain Bistro or The Cheeky Monk Belgium Beer Cafe in the Winter Park Village. Guesses can be put below in the comment section and need to be guessed at-least SEVEN DAYS before the date of the snow. One guess per person please.

Last years first snow at Winter Park Resort was on September 21st, yes less than one month away. There were two snow contest winners last year and each received a prize.

Last years first Winter Park snow contest had 74 guesses and we are hoping to beat that this year.

All-right here goes, get your snow dance on and lets start getting ready for some fluffy white stuff here in Winter Park, CO. I will be the first to guess below so make sure to not guess my date for you will be certain to have no chance of winning if you do, I will definitely be wrong.

Thanksgiving in Winter Park, CO

Posted on August 24, 2010 by Chris

Winter Park Resort Thanksgiving

Looking to spend turkey day Thanksgiving, up in the high country of Colorado? Well look no further for in Winter Park, Colorado Thanksgiving is a dream come true.

A Thanksgiving getaway throws some vacationers and skiers off because there is a choice to be made between turkey, skiing and football. Well, you can have it all ways at Winter Park Resort and Devil’s Thumb Ranch.

The best of both worlds is to dig into a turkey and the trimmings in ski country after a good day on the snow. Thanksgiving will fall just four days before a full moon, so if you dine someplace with a view and the sky is clear, you may get the bonus of silvery snow and mountain-scapes bathed in moonbeams.

Sunspot, pictured above with a full moon, offers a dazzling spread of all that is Thanksgiving. Take a gondola ride up the Winter Park slopes and get million dollar views of the continental divide and the Fraser Valley.

At the Ranch House Restaurant just 10 min up the road at Devil’s Thumb Ranch a traditional Thanksgiving dinner can be expected with a modern twist. The Ranch House is a 1930 original homestead with stunning views of the Indian Peaks Wilderness. The food here is exquisite and will be the talk of future Thanksgiving for years to come.

One option for visitors who can’t miss Thanksgiving Day football is to have dinner delivered to their condo. Or make a trip to City Market or Safeway and make up your Thanksgiving meal as you would at home.

Whatever your desire for a Thanksgiving up in the Colorado Rockies is make sure to let Winter Park Lodging Company take care of your lodging needs. WPLCo is offering a Thankgiving/Ski season kickoff sale trough August 2010:

Our Ski Season Kick-off Sale offers you 20% savings at any of our Winter Park vacation rentals, including at ski-in/ski-out condos, down town cabins & homes or any other vacation rental you desire. Get ready for the skiing and snowboarding fun to begin in Winter Park! The 2010/2011 ski season is fast approaching, come to Winter Park to help us celebrate.

Thanksgiving/Ski Season Kick-off Sale Details:

Stay with Winter Park Lodging Company between Nov 16th and Dec 16th, 2010
Enjoy 20% savings on your entire stay.
Offer expires August 31st, 2010
Call 877-328-1383 or email us to take advantage of these savings

Fall Colors in Winter Park Colorado

Posted on August 23, 2010 by Chris

Rocky Mountain fall colors colorado Changing of the Colors Winter Park, CO

Every summer comes to this in Winter Park. It always seems to come to early and without warning. driving under the Rocky Mountain peaks and you notice an aspen that is starting to turn from green to yellow. Well, it is here in Winter Park this year. The neighbors aspen are about half yellow and some of trees on the hills are getting a little yellow also.

The change in colors comes early up here in WP-CO. Best time to see the trees is in mid-September. There is plenty to do in Winter Park and Grand County, Colorado in September and it is unbelievably beautiful this time of year. Check out some of the activities here in Winter Park the last half of September.

09/05	Labor Day Block Party, Street Dance & Sidewalk Sale
09/11-09/12	7th annual snow mountain challenge disc golf tournament
09/11	Colorado Crooked Roubaix
09/12	Run the Ranches
09/13-09/17	Devil’s Thumb Ranch Wrangler Summer Camp for Adults
09/18	Taste of Fall
09/19	Run the Ranches
09/26	Fraser Valley Fall Duathlon

Also, don’t forget that Trestle Bike Park is open everyday through Labor Day and Fri, Sat and Sun the following three weekends.

Mountain biking Winter Park in general in September and early October are at their best. The weather is a bit cooler, the scenery is amazing and a lot of the crowds have settled in for school down in the lowlands.

So now is the time to plan your fll getaway to the mountains and get a great discount from Winter Park Lodging Company.The WPLCo offer for fall and early booking is:

Labor Day Sale! Get 50% off your 2nd night for stays between Aug 1st and Nov 15th. OR get 20% off on stays between Nov 16th and Dec 16th. Book by August 31st.

Moose Class in Winter Park, CO

Posted on August 18, 2010 by Chris

Moose at Winter Park Resort

My sister Anne-Marie and her husband Larry celebrated their 27^th wedding anniversary with a ‘Moose Class’ through Ecoadventures, using room 2419 at the Zephyr as their home base. Anne took the class for credit for her career as a teacher, Larry opted for non-credit (wouldn’t do him much good as a flight simulator tech).

Using Zephyr Mountain Lodge 2419 as a base of operation was far superior to tent camping in the rain, which is what many of the class participants were doing. While others were slogging around their tents, Anne and Larry were high and dry, enjoying a glass of wine from their balcony.

The moose class taught reams of minutiae about moose and the class was successful in spotting 5 moose. Also, thanks to the tip from the maintenance man with whom Anne and Larry shared an elevator, Anne and Larry kept their eyes open at the base of Berthoud Pass and spotted 2 more moose on the way home!

All in all, a very memorable 27^th wedding anniversary.

Anne and Larry say thanks to Chris and Sarah at Winter Park Lodging Company.

The only regret was not being able to stick around for the CrankWorx bike extravaganza at Winter Park Base that weekend.

Come on up to Winter Park Resort and check out the moose. Late summer and fall are the best times to see the moose. In Rendezvous sub-division moose sighting are very very common and one big bull moose over there has been affectionately named Freddy the moose.

SIA Snow Show Returns to Winter Park Resort

Posted on August 18, 2010 by Chris

SIA Winter Park Resort

The SIA Snow Show returns to Denver and Winter Park Resort for the second year after a long run in the desert community in Las Vegas.

After 37 years in Las Vegas, the SIA Snow Show reported a six-year attendance high for the inaugural Snow Show held at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver from January 28-31, 2010. The sold-out Snow Show attracted 18,045 attendees and featured over 3,100 exhibitors representing 845 snow sports brands, including 125 new exhibitors.

For four days in 2011, the snow sports industry returns to Denver, Colorado to do business, socialize and network. With over 18,000 all under one roof, the snow sports community comes together once a year to see the latest trends, styles and innovations from ski, snowboard, cross country, AT/tele, backcountry, snowshoe and fashion.

The SIA Snow Show is two parts. One spent in Denver at the Convention Center and the other spent at Winter Park Resort with an on snow component. The Snow Show schedule is as follows:

SIA SNOW SHOW
Thursday, January 27 — Sunday, January 30, 2011
Colorado Convention Center
Denver, Colorado USA

Thursday, January 27
Friday, January 28
Saturday, January 29
Sunday, January 30

9A-6P
9A-6P
9A-6P
9A-3P

ON-SNOW DEMO / SKI-RIDE FEST
January 31 & February 1, 2011
Winter Park Resort, CO — Alpine, Snowboard, AT, Telemark, Backcountry
Devil’s Thumb Ranch, CO — Cross Country, Snowshoe

The SIA Snow Show, January 27-30, 2011 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, CO, delivers the largest, most concentrated and authentic trade event in the snow sports industry. It is the first time globally that the styles, technologies, innovations, culture and energy of snow sports is presented. Close to 20,000 industry professionals will meet to engage in business, networking opportunities, parties, brand events and seminars to feel the true essence of snow sports.

On January 31 and February 1, 2011 the industry will head up to the mountains for the On-Snow Demo/Ski-Ride Fest at Winter Park Resort and Devil’s Thumb Ranch. In conjunction with Western Winter Sports Reps Association’s (WWSRA) Rocky Mountain Demo and in partnership with Cross Country Ski Areas Association (CCSAA), buyers can try out the latest gear for ski, snowboard, AT/tele, backcountry, cross country and snowshoe while all other attendees can get some time on the hill with the brands, reps and media. Attendees of the SIA Snow Show and On-Snow Demo/Ski-Ride Fest get free lift tickets and entry to Winter Park and Devil’s Thumb.

The SIA snow show is the place to check out the new trends in everything SKI. Up at Winter Park Resort all the latest will be tested on the hills.

Looking for lodging for the on snow demo session in Winter Park, CO? Look no further than Winter Park Lodging Company for SIA Snow Show lodging.

Colorado Resort Season Ski Passes 2010/2011

Posted on August 16, 2010 by Chris

Winter Park Resort sesaon ski pass Colorado Ski Resort Season Ski Pass Prices

The mornings are getting colder and the evenings are getting a little shorter up here in the Colorado Rocky Mountains and this all points to the upcoming 2010/2011 ski season getting closer. Summer is not out the door yet but she has spied her jacket is tugging on her dates arm to get ready to hit the road. Have you purchased your ski pass for the season yet?

Most Colorado ski resorts are boosting their season pass prices by modest amounts for the 2010-11 winter after holding firm or even dropping prices to spur business last season, according to a survey by The Aspen Times.

There are lots options for ski passes to Colorado ski resorts now. Besides each individual resort offering there own ski pass there are also multiple resort passes. The Epic Pass from Vail Resorts offers unlimited skiing at all there resorts and A-Basin. The Rocky Mountain Super Pass and RMSP Plus offer unlimited ski at Winter Park and Copper Mountain, which Intrawest no longer owns, and the Plus offers 6 anytime days at Steamboat Springs Resort.

Steamboat offered its adult season pass for $899 if purchased by June 1. It’s being sold for $999 through Aug. 15, when the prices ratchet up again. Last season the pass sold for $879 before June 1, and $999 through Aug. 14.

Steamboat also sells a pass that combines unrestricted, unlimited skiing at the resort plus Winter Park for $1,049.

Crested Butte is selling its adult gold pass for $949. The price was $849 for skier and riders who made the purchase by April 4. The price for the full-pass was $849 last season.

Jackson Hole is touting its “new low pricing” for 2010-11. The ski area, run by former Aspen Skiing Co. President and CEO Jerry Blann, dropped its season pass price 25 percent, from $1,675 last season to $1,255 this year.

Back in Colorado, resorts competing for Front Range skiers remained locked in a pass war. Vail Resorts made a marginal price increase to its Epic Pass, from $579 last season to $599 this season. The pass is good for unlimited skiing and riding at Vail Mountain, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapaho Basin as well as Heavenly in California.

For those wanting the ultimate in a season ski pass, Colorado Ski Country offers the gold medallion. The Colorado Ski Country USA Gold Pass is the state’s most exclusive season pass. This coveted pass provides unlimited access to Colorado’s world-class snow conditions and ski areas all season long. The Gold Pass is fully transferable so purchasers can share their pass with colleagues, clients, friends, family and more. With no blackout dates, the Gold Pass can be used at 21 ski areas any day of the season. That is all the ski areas in the state beside those owned by Vail.

Only 100 gold passes are available for the 2010-11 season.

Whatever ski pass you end up purchasing don not forget if you are skiing at Winter Park Resort or Steamboat Resort use the Winter Park Lodging Company or the Steamboat Lodging Company for your accommodations.