Getting out on the water in Winter Park, CO

Posted on May 31, 2011 by Chris

Whitewater Rafting around Winter Park, Colorado

The incredible snow year we have had is about to change into an incredible whitewater rafting year. Winter Park Resort received almost 400 inches of snow this ski season and we have probably gotten another 40 inches since the resort closed April 24th. All this snow is starting to melt and we are looking at one of the best rafting season in years.

The Upper Colorado snow basin is around 200% of normal snowpack and the water in the rivers is starting to rise. The Fraser River is already over 1000 cfs and the Upper Colorado 7000 cfs. That is a lot of water already.

Now is the time to book your summer getaway and take a ride down the Colorado or Clear Creek Rivers. Winter Park Lodging Company works with Adventures in Whitewater and Redtail Rafting.

Adventures in Whitewater offers rafting trips on either river, has experienced and friendly guides, plus guests of Winter Park Lodging Company get 15% off. Adventures in Whitewater offers a variety of raft trips for all ages on both the Upper Colorado River and Clear Creek. From first time beginners to expert paddlers, you will get the rafting trip that is right for you. Float in a raft through scenic scenery on the Colorado River with the young and the young at heart or challenge your wild side with a white-knuckled, adrenalin-charged Clear Creek rafting trip. The top priority is your safety, so AIW only uses qualified, experienced guides. Their home base is right here in Winter Park, Colorado, but they serve many other areas, including Breckenridge, Idaho Springs and Denver. They’d love to take you and your family for a ride, plus they’re a great resource for team-building, experiential learning, family reunions and wedding parties. Feel free to call their friendly local staff at 1-877-321-RAFT or (970)726-3279 if you have any questions.

NOTE: You MUST mention your reservation number and the vacation home you are staying in with Winter Park Lodging Company at the time of booking your trip to get the 15% discount.

Redtail Rafting offer trips on the scenic and wild Colorado River. Make a memory on the legendary Upper Colorado River while traversing Class I,II & III (mild to moderate) rapids. Red Tail’s highly trained professionals will guide you through a day of breathtaking scenery, bountiful wildlife and thrilling rapids. Redtail prides themselves on smaller, more personal trips, that you and your family will long remember.

Summer is here and the time is right for a little rafting up in the Colorado Rockies. Come stay with Winter Park Lodging Company and get a deal on some great rafting.

New Winter Park, CO Restaurants, Bars and Brewpubs

Posted on May 25, 2011 by Chris

tapas winter park colorado Wine Bar and Brew Pub to Open on US40

The restaurant world is doing its usual changes here on Winter Park this mud season. We have some restaurants moving, some new ones coming in, some remodeling and some expanding. It all means for a busy summer of construction and restaurant openings and movings. sushi winter park co

Deno’s Mountain Bistro is now open after their remodel. The Winter Park Sushi Bar has moved to their new location and re-opened. The Sushi Bar is in the space previously housing the Cosmic Dog burrito shop next to Rudi’s Deli. Both Deno’s and the Sushi Bar look great and the upgrades should work well for both of them.

Winter Park CO steakhouse Next we have Emilie’s Wine and Tapas Bar opening next to the BackCountry Grill by the owners of the Backcountry Grill. Locally owned and operated, Emilie’s Restaurant is Winter Park’s only wine and tapas bar! Offering a wide array of tapas (Spanish-style plates) Emilie’s knows how to keep it simple: good food, good wine, affordable prices. Look for Emilie’s to open Memorial Day weekend 2011.

Lastly we have a new Brew Pub and Sports Bar opening in downtown Winter Park. Literature & Libations, LLC d.b.a. The Library Sports Grill and Brewery to be located at 78491 US Highway 40, Winter Park, CO 80482 had a liquor

winter park co brewery pub

hearing May 17th and from what I can discern they were awarded a liquor license. The Literature and Libations group are an outfit out of Laramie, Wyoming and are planning a brewery and sports bar in the old Wild Creek space. Rumor around town is they will be opening sometime around June 24th. The Library specializes in 8 House Brews that vary from a Kolsch to a Stout. Stop in for a pint (or five)!

Lots of moving and shaking in the restaurant word in Winter Park, CO and it looks as we will have to check out all the new great food and drink. We will report back on what we thought of all the new fare.

Winter Park, CO Music Festivals

Posted on May 24, 2011 by Chris

Summer Music Festivals in Winter Park, Colorado

The summer music festival scene is about here in Winter Park. Winter Park Resort will open for the summer season on June 11th and the music festivals will follow soon after.

This year there are five music festivals and all have some great music. The music festival season is kicked off with the Blues from the Top Music Festival on June 25th and 26th with some of the best blues artists in the country. Next up is the resurrected American Music Festival on July 16th and 17th. The biggest show of the year, the Winter Park Jazz Festival is July 23rd and 24th. One of the biggest names in Winter Park this year will be Bret Michaels, of Poison fame, showing up for the Winter Park Music Festival with Warrant and Skid Row. The last music festival of the summer will be a beer and music celebration at the Winter Park Beer Festival on August 13th.

Lots of music for almost any taste with some great names. All shows will be in Hideaway Park in downtown Winter Park, Colorado. Tickets for all the shows can be bought through the Winter Park/Fraser Chamber of Commerce or with lodging through the Winter Park Lodging Company.

Check out all the lineups and show times:

Blues from the Top Music Festival

American Music Festival -Winter Park

Winter Park Jazz Festival

Winter Park Music Festival – with Skid Row & Bret Michaels

Winter Park Beer Festival

Lots of music festivals going on up here in Winter Park. Make sure to get your lodging now for the best and most convenient digs. Most lodging packes from Winter Park Lodging Company come with complementary tickets to the above music festivals.

Winter Park TreadFest 2011

Posted on May 20, 2011 by Chris

Winter Park, CO Bicycle Festival

The Winter Park Fat Tire Classic is being replaced by the TreadFest! The first annual TreadFest will take place in Winter Park, Colorado on July 9th, 2011.

Come experience beautiful Winter Park and the Fraser Valley on Saturday, July 9th at TreadFest 2011, a mountain bike fundraising event benefiting the National Sports Center for the Disabled and the American Red Cross. This event at Winter Park Resort will be in conjunction with the Epic Singletrack Race Series #3 Valley Point-to-Point and will feature supported trails that will be available to participants of all skill levels, from the family of recreational riders to those adventure-seekers looking for a challenge. All participants will have entry to the A Grateful Tread Festival with live music, beer from Avery Brewing, food and an Expo area. Grab your friends and form a team to compete for team fundraising, costume and member awards. Terrific prizes are being awarded to those individuals who reach distinguished fundraising levels, so join the fun and register today!

Visit the National Sports Center for the Disabled TreadFest Website for more information. Avery Brewery is now a main sponsor and I’m thinking that is the reason for the switch from the Fat Tire Classic as New Belgium and Fat Tire are no longer sponsoring the mountain bike festival.

TreadFest 2011 will be held July 9, 2011. The mid-July date will help us select the best trails that Winter Park has to offer without being restricted by late snowfall. TreadFest 2011 routes will be held on Winter Park’s Westside, including Corona Pass, Buck Creek, Pond Trail, Broken Thumb, Fraser River Trail and Idlewild!

This extensive network of supported trails will provide breathtaking views and a fun day for riders of all abilities.

Schedule of TreadFest events:

July 8, 2011 – Friday
6pm – 8pm - TreadFest Registration, Location TBD

July 9, 2011 – Saturday
6am – 9am - Participant Registration and Check-in, Registration Tent
6am – 12pm - Volunteer Check-in, Registration Tent
7am - Starting Line Opens
9:45am - Starting Line Closes
10am - Epic Singletrack Race Series #3, Valley Point-to-Point
10am - Greatful Tread Festival – Presented by Avery Brewing, Resort Base
12pm Sports Authority and Adaptive Hand Cycling Clinics, Resort Base
11:30am – 3:30pm - BBQ Lunch, Hospitality Tent
1:30pm - Sports Authority and Adaptive Hand Cycling Clinics, Resort Base
2pm - TreadFest Awards Presentation, Resort Base
2:30pm - Epic Singletrack Race Series #3 Point-to-Point Awards Presentation, Resort Base
4pm – 5pm - VIP Reception, Location TBD

The TreadFeat is a great way to enjoy WInter Park and help out two great charities. Come on up and get on your bike and see Winter Park, Colorado.

Visit Winter Park Lodging Company for your TreadFest lodging needs.

Recipe of the Month from Winter Park Lodging Company – May 2011

Posted on May 7, 2011 by Valarie

Cole Slaw with a Twist

Nothing goes better at a picnic than a homemade coleslaw. And it’s so easy. The hardest part is cutting the cabbage and the rest is a cinch. We featured this delicious recipe a couple of years ago, but with Memorial Day Weekend approaching, we couldn’t think of a better recipe for May than this yummy coleslaw.

Ingredients:

1 cup mayonnaise
1 tbsp pickled ginger
1 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp rice vinegar
1 tsp sesame oil
1/3 cup diced pineapple
3 cups finely sliced red and green cabbage

Preparation:

Mix dressing ingredients together and toss lightly with the sliced cabbage. That’s it, really. Enjoy.

Spring Spash 2011 at Winter Park Resort

Posted on May 5, 2011 by Valarie

When you see two guys skiing in jock straps, you know something crazy must be going on. Not to mention a bunch of people lining up to ski an obstacle course with a pond at the finish line. At least the guy in the bunny costume was thinking about staying warm and dry!

Happy Spring Splash Winter Park. Mud season has officially started with the end of the fabulous 2010/2010 ski season. What a celebration. Now, let the sun shine, the trails dry quickly and the mountain biking begin!

Winter Park, CO, Airfare Deal Alert – May 2011

Posted on May 4, 2011 by Valarie

At first glance, you may look at these prices and think – “where are all of the REALLY cheap flights?” Don’t worry, they’re still out there, but I decided to make sure that every city on this list was different than last month’s. So, for those $88 flights from Albuquerque, just go to Airfare Watchdog and plug in that city in the search for “flights from a city” to find the cheap flight to Denver.

May is the time to start planning your summer trip to Winter Park. All of our condos and lofts at the Village at Winter Park Resort have super-low prices through May 31st, starting at just $59 per night. Rates go up on June first, so don’t delay. Click here to search for a Village condo or loft today.

Remember we have deals all over town, from the fastest-growing downhill bike park in the US, Trestle Bike Park, to horseback riding and whitewater rafting, from discounts at restaurants to spa treatments. Click here to check out all discounts offered by Winter Park Lodging Company.

Go down the Winter Park Alpine Slide!

$120 RT	Casper, WY
$168 RT	Chicago, IL
$168 RT	Detroit, MI
$140 RT	Fayetteville, AR
$148 RT	Houston, TX
$148 RT	Killeen, TX
$148 RT	Long Beach, CA
$158 RT	Milwaukee, WI
$148 RT	New Orleans, LA
$108 RT	Omaha, NE
$108 RT	Phoenix, AZ
$148 RT	Portland, OR
$138 RT	Provo, UT
$148 RT	Raleigh, NC
$158 RT	Rochester, MN
$148 RT	Santa Ana, CA
$158 RT	Sioux Falls, SD
$138 RT	Spokane, WA
$140 RT	Springfield, MO
$148 RT	Wichita, KS

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.