Winter Park, CO Airfare Deal Alert – February

Posted on January 31, 2011 by Valarie

It seems that a handful of cities appear on this list on a regular basis, such as Houston and Tucson, but a couple of cities that rarely have cheap flights into Denver have made the list for February’s airfare deals: New York City and Washington, DC. And both are for only $168 round trip or less. Don’t see your departure city? Check www.airfarewatchdog.com to see if there’s a deal to Denver for you.

Plus, we at Winter Park Lodging Company have discounts and deals all over town, from ski rental deals starting at $18 per day, to discounts on dog sled rides, snowmobile tours & rentals, sleigh rides and more. Click here to check out all discounts offered by Winter Park Lodging Company now.

$58 RT	Amarillo, TX
$134 RT	Austin, TX
$174 RT	Baton Rouge, LA
$186 RT	Columbus, OH
$164 RT	Fayetteville, AR
$138 RT	Houston, TX
$132 RT	Indianapolis, IN
$142 RT	Kansas City, MO
$130 RT	Las Vegas, NV
$162 RT	Los Angeles, CA
$158 RT	New York, NY
$150 RT	Oklahoma City, OK
$130 RT	Phoenix, AZ
$176 RT	Portland, OR
$162 RT	San Diego, CA
$170 RT	St. Louis, MO
$116 RT	Tucson, AZ
$136 RT	Tulsa, OK
$168 RT	Washington, DC
$190 RT	Greensboro, NC

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.

February Recipe of the Month from Winter Park, CO

Posted on January 27, 2011 by Valarie

Thai Pork with Peanut Sauce

Peanut sauce has become one of my favorites and when Amy mentioned she had a Thai Pork recipe with peanut sauce I knew I had to feature it for a recipe of the month. This stuff is really good! And it’s so easy to do in your crock pot. Serve it over hot jasmine rice.

We hope you enjoy this recipe. The home cooks from Cooking Light’s website rated it with five stars.

Ingredients:

One 2-pound boneless pork loin, trimmed of fat and cut into four pieces
2 large red bell peppers, seeded and cut into strips
1/3 cup prepared teriyaki sauce
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter

For Serving:
1/2 cup chopped green onions (white part and som of the green)
1/4 cup chopped dry-roasted peanuts
2 limes, cut into 8 to 12 wedges

Preparation:
1. Coat the slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray. Put the pork, bell peppers, teriyaki sauce, rice vinegar, red pepper flakes and garlic into the cooker. Cover and cook on LOw until the pork is fork-tender, about 8 to 9 hours.

2. Remove the pork from the slow cooker and coarsley chop. Add the peanut butter to the liquid in cooker; stir well to dissolve the peanut butter and blend with the liquid to make the sauce. Return the pork to the sauce and toss to coat the meat evenly.

3. Serve in shallow bowls over hot jasmine rice, and sprinkle each serving with some of the green onions and peanuts. Pass the lime wedges.

Mary Jane and Winter Park Ski Video

Posted on January 27, 2011 by Chris

Mary Jane Powder, Bumps & Trees

It is time for another Winter Park Lodging Company ski video. We have been getting so much great snow this year the video opportunities have been close to endless. We have not been crushed by a huge storm this year in Winter Park but we have been getting a steady flow of good shots of moisture. It’s been 10 inches, 7 inches, 8 inches, 13 inches of snow about two to three days each week. Truly, this has been the best start to a ski season that I have seen in the last fifteen years.

Anywho, the above video is another after about eight inches of snow on a really cold day. Temperature high for the day was maybe 5 degrees at Winter Park Village. It was so cold the snow was screeching at us and was kinda sticky. I finally had someone else wear the camera besides me and Mr. Ed was the lucky guy who got to film my exploits. We skied Little Ten under the Challenger lift and Rainbow Cut on the video.

Demo skis were from the Mountain Adventure Center in the Winter Park Village and courtesy of Winter Park Resort Base Rentals – Thank You! Ed and I were both on Salomon Shoguns. A little rippen’ ski that liked the powder and wanted to turn a bunch. With the cold temps and sticky snow it was a little tough telling what the ski could do until later in the day.

The song is Road Rage by Catatonia, an old favorite, and iI think it kind of gets the mood of the skiing that day. The movie was created in iMovie by Apple.

Hope you enjoy the video and it gets the skiing juices going enough to head up to Winter Park and Mary Jane and hit the slopes. If you are looking for lodging up in the Winter Park area make sure to Winter Park Lodging Company a shout.

Favorite Guest Review of the Month

Posted on January 25, 2011 by Valarie

We all get so psyched when we hear that our guests have enjoyed their stays in Winter Park. It makes all the hard work pay off. Our main goal here at Winter Park Lodging Company is to provide great service at first-class lodging at a great price.

Check out our favorite, heart-warming, feedback for January from one of our recent guests:

Hey there,

I just wanted to tell you we LOVED the rental this weekend! I really, really appreciate the great service from you and your company!!! Honestly, I usually try and rent directly from the owners, however, this weekend has completely changed my mind! You provide both a great value and awesome service! I will definitely look to you guys first from now on!

Thanks again and hope you’re having a great day!

Kristin

Thank you so much Kristin!

Check out more of our guest reviews online now to learn more about the Winter Park Lodging Company difference.

Lime in Winter Park Village, Colorado

Posted on January 25, 2011 by Chris

Winter Park Resort Happy Hour

Looking for a great deal on some eats and drinks at Winter Park? Lime has unleashed a killer deal for happy hour and take out burritos and tacos. Check out the happy hour deals there below. The happy hour food deals are also nicely priced and very tasty.

Drink and food deals winter park resort

Lime is alo offering to-go tacos and burritos for $5. Two tacos or a burrito with shredded chicken, beef or pulled carnitas for only five George Washingtons, not too bad of a deal.

Lime is in the Winter Park Village and can be contacted at:

135 Parry Peak Way
Winter Park, CO 80482

(970) 726-5463

www.eatatlime.com

Head over to Lime for some decent deals during happy hour and some great priced tacos and burritos. If you check out their Yelp page you will find they have been getting some terrible reviews. We have eaten at Lime – Winter Park probably ten time the last couple of years and some of the complaints on Yelp are definitely valid. But, I do think Lime has tried to correct most of their troubles. The staff at times can seem uninterested in any kind of service and the food and drink can be overpriced. The restaurant is at the base of a ski resort so some of the high priced items can be expected. The last couple of times we have gone to Lime the food quality has also definitely improved.

With the new happy hour food and drink specials Lime should be turning a corner and should be a good destination for some good drinks and eats after a day at Winter Park skiing and boarding.

SIA On Snow Ski and Ride Demo Fest, Winter Park Resort

Posted on January 25, 2011 by Chris

SIA on snow demo-fest Winterpark Winter Park, Colorado SIA Demo Fest

The Snow Industries of America Snow Show is returning to Denver and Winter Park the last week of January, 2011. This will be the second year that the SIA Demo-Fest is here at Winter Park Resort.

The 2011 Denver SIA Snow Show will be followed by the On-Snow Demo/Ski-Ride Fest, January 31 & February 1 at Winter Park Resort (Alpine/Snowboard & Ski-Ride Fest) and Devil’s Thumb Ranch (Nordic). Over 150 brands are involved in this, two-day demo/ski-ride fest event complete with on-snow competitions: Uphill/Downhill Challenge and Office Booyz & Girlz Competition and a 2 Mile High BBQ at the Sunspot Lodge on Monday, January 31. The Nordic Demo begins Sunday, January 30, with a presentation on the Nordic Market Overview and Welcome Reception at 6:30P and a New Belgium Beer Dinner, Monday, January 31. In partnership with CCSAA (Cross Country Ski Areas Association) and in conjunction with WWSRA’s (Western Winter Sports Reps Association) Rocky Mountain Demo, this is where for the first time-globally, the market can try out the equipment and experience the latest technologies for ski, snowboard, AT, backcountry, cross country and snowshoe while mixing with their peers on the hill.

Last year was a great on snow demo at Winter Park Resort. There were many ski wear vendors giving out free gear and it was a very party-like atmosphere. Looking for SIA on snow demo-fest lodging? Winter Park Lodging Company still has some Winter Park Resort ski lodging available for Jane 31 and Feb 1.

If you are looking to just have a good time and hang around some ski industry and skier types head up to Winter Park and Mary Jane Ski Resorts for the SIA Snow Show Demo Fest.

Demo Skis at Winter Park Resort

Posted on January 13, 2011 by Chris

Mountain Adventure Center Winter Park CO ski demo sales Winter Park CO

Winter Park Resort Ski Rentals

Looking to demo some skis? Want to spend a day trying out some of the latest and greatest skis on the market? Winter Park Base Rentals and the Mountain Adventure Center offer some great demo skis and rentals and are very conveniently located in the Winter Park Resort Base.

We recently tried out a couple of pairs from the MAC (Mountain Adventure Center) and the staff was knowledgeable and very friendly. Charles was the man who steered me to a pair of Volkl Bridges that just screamed thru the trees and bumps and asked for more. Next day there was a bunch of powder and we took out a pair of the Salomon Shoguns for some great fun and a rippen ski that floated in the powder.

Check out the demo ski selection that they have at the MAC. The staff must get to ski these skis because they knew exactly what ski would be best for that particular days snow conditions. My favorites so far this year are the Rossignol S86, the above mentioned Salomon Shogun and the Rossignol S3. all are great skis that want to rip up the mountain. The demo package is about $50 a day and is well worth it especially if you are looking to purchase a pair of skis. One of the best ways to do the demo package is take out a pair in the morning and at lunch come back down and try out another pair. The MAC will let you switch out the demos to get a feel for the some different skis.

The Mountain Adventure Center is conveniently located in the Zephyr Mountain Lodge Riverside building and steps from the Zephyr Express chairlift. The MAC offers the latest demo skis from Salomon, Rossignol, K2, Head and Nordica. Try before you buy – Try one or try them all, you can exchange between models all day long for no extra charge. Find something you like? Apply up to 2 days rental to the cost of a new pair of skis! Open daily from 8AM – 6PM.

It would be nice to own a pair of skis for each days snow conditions but that gets a bit expensive. Let Winter Park Base Rentals and the MAC keep you on the skis that work best for your day. My buddies ask when I’m going to fill my quiver with another new ski. No need with the Mountain Adventure Center keeping the best skis on hand.

Snowshoeing around Winter Park, CO

Posted on January 13, 2011 by Chris

Winter Park, Colorado Snowshoeing

It has been snowing, snowing, snowing up here in Winter Park and there is no time like now to get out and check out the snowshoe trails of the Arapaho National Forest trails, Snow Mountain Ranch, Rocky Mountain National Park and Winter Park Resort.

Winter Park is pretty much surrounded with snowshoe trails that are in Arapaho National Park and some of these trails are accessed just by walking out your door. There are miles of trails and solitude and beauty for you to explore on your own pace.

Snow Mountain Ranch just down US Highway 40 in Tabernash has some great snowshoe trails. The YMCA’s winter spot near the Winter Park Ski Resort offers the Nordic Center, a place that features miles of trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Perfect for the winter activity beginner. Snow Mountain Ranch’s miles of snowshoeing trails accommodate everyone from the beginner to advanced. Snowshoe rental is available through the Nordic Center. $10-$15 for equipment.

The Rocky Mountain National Park can be accessed from Grand Lake, just a 25 minute drive from Winter Park and has trails for beginners to the advanced snowshoer. You can’t beat the park for its variety of trails. You could spend every weekend there and find a new trail to snowshoe. The problem is many people agree, and so even in the winter, solitude is a luxury. The most popular trails tend to get beaten down and turn so icy that you don’t need snowshoes to hike them. Try to go on a snowy day, when the fresh blanket will eliminate those problems.Rocky Mountain National Park rangers offer guided snowshoe treks in the winter and other snowshoe events are on the calendar.

Winter Park Resort offers guided snowshoe tours and snowshoe rentals. Winter Park Resort has some of the best snowshoeing trails of all the Colorado resorts, this is from word-of-mouth from friends and a couple experiences of our own. Generally any resort or the areas around them have good places to go. If you aren’t into the alpine skiing and find yourself in our little ski town ski town, you can find a good place to snowshoe for free or a few bucks.

That is Mr. ZB above taking on his snowshoe garb and hitting the great trails here in Winter Park, CO.

36th Annual Wells Fargo Ski Cup at Winter Park Resort

Posted on January 6, 2011 by Chris

March 4th thru 6th, 2011 – Winter Park Resort

The Wells Fargo Cup is one of of the ski season best events and is now in the prime ski month of March. This charitable event is coming upon us quickly and lodging at Winter Park Resort id filling up quickly. The Wells Fargo Cup 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). Competitors in the Governor’s Cup, a Pro Am race, assemble a team of five friends, family members or co-workers to compete for cash prizes and bragging rights. The highlight of the weekend is the World Disabled Invitational, when disabled skiers compete head-to-head on parallel courses. 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. A giant silent auction attracts frivolous and frugal shoppers alike!

The Wells Fargo Cup is an annual fund raising event for the National Center for the Disabled. It has numerous events scheduled which included a silent auction for merchandises and certificates, a celebrity/team race that everyone can participate for a fee or watch for free (on Saturday) and the World Disabled Invitational race on Sunday.

Help raise money to support the life changing programs for the NSCD and win great prizes like ski passes to Winter Park Resort (raise/donate only $100), VIP hospitality at the 36th annual Wells Fargo Ski cup and season passes to Winter Park Resort for the 2010/2011 season.

To help raise money and participate in the Wells Fargo Cup check out the NSCD.

Lodging is filling up quickly so book your Winter Park Resort Lodging with the Winter Park Lodging Company.

Winter Park, Colorado New Year Skiing

Posted on January 4, 2011 by Chris

winter park resort skiing Mary Jane CO skiing

mary jane co lifts

bump skiing mary jane co

Winter Park & Mary Jane Skiing

We have had unbelievable skiing so far in 2011. We started the new year out with some frigid days but the cold has left and the skiing has been great. The above photos are all from the Monday after the New Year with blue skies, sun on the shoulders and five inches of fresh powder. The storms are lined up this week to drop a couple of inches every other day until the coming weekend and then we are looking for another ten or more inch dump this weekend.

The Mary Jane chutes have been open for a day here and a day there with Runaway open the last couple weeks. Eagle Wind lift has been running the last couple of weeks and the skiing over there has been tremendous.

If you are looking to ski now is the time. Winter Park Lodging Company is offering the deal of the year for bookings made before Jan 15th. Buy one night of lodging and get the next night free. Half price to come up to Winter Park and Mary Jane and ski your heart out. Or go sledding, soak in the hot tub or have a night out with the wife and family at one of Winter Park’s fine restaurants. Lots of things to do here in WP and if you have three weeks or so you can fit them all in and what a blast of three weeks that would be.

Anywho, it is all about skiing this time of year and the ski conditions and weather have been cooperating. Winter Park and Mary Jane now have great conditions for skiing!