Steaks and Chops in Winter Park, CO

Posted on December 5, 2011 by Chris

Strip & Tail Winter Park, Colorado

Had a chance to get out and visit one of the new restaurants here in Winter Park. Strip & Tail opened about three weeks ago in the space once occupied by The Sushi Bar and before that was home to Lost Boys Hamburgers.

Strip & Tail remodeled the space and it turned out magnificent. There are two large screen tv’s behind the bar and the bar has been completely redone. The color scheme is now tasteful off white and homey wood. In short the space is very classy with a mountain feel.

I started out with some happy hour calamari that was served with cocktail and bbq sauce. The entree was a double cut pork chop with steak fries and creamed spinach. The entire meal was very tasty as was the bottle of Emeritus Pinot Noir. Owner/Barkeep Steve provided great service and conversation about Timmy Tebow, the Broncos and the NFL in general. I had a flan for dessert with a dram of tawny port… delicious.

Strip & Tail has a great happy hour with food and beverage specials. They serve a kobe/wagyu strip steak that looked fantastic that I will need to return for. The meal was one of the best I have had in Winter Park and I highly recommend Strip &Tail.

Strip & Tail is on the Winter Park Lodging Company VIP discount card. Make sure to stop by after you hit the slopes or after your mountain bike ride. Great steaks and chops in the town of WInter Park with a great brew and wine collection.

Strip & Tail Contact Info:

Address
78259 US Hwy 40
Winter Park, Colorado 80482

Phone
970.363.7047

Email
ssbromberg@comcast.net

Best Bars in Winter Park, CO

Posted on October 13, 2011 by Chris

Winter Park Resort Area Best Bars

Beers and skiing go hand in hand like ski condos and hot tubs. We have finished, finally, the best burgers review for Winter Park, CO and since ski season is just about here we thought we would do what are the best bars here in Winter Park and the surrounding Fraser Valley.

There as many kinds of bars as there are beers and there is a place for each and every one of them. Local pub, restaurant bar, shot bar at the ski slope, sports bar, bar at the pizza place, the night club bar …. lotsa bars and we have them all here in WP.

What is your favorite and why is the question? Is it the selection of beers on tap, great location and view, the hotty slinging the swill, the bartender hooks you up with with free suds, great people watching (both sexes), what gets you to head out and plop your dollars on that bar?

I did a best place to get a beer in Winter Park a couple of years ago and all those places are still around but they are places to get a beer not necessarily bars (splitting hairs maybe?). So we are doing this top five bars for the start of this ski season. Remember we have some new places here in WP so lets not leave them out of the competition. Emilie’s wine bar, The Library Sports and Grill are two of the newbies that should be in consideration. We also have an older list of best patio to get a beer in Winter Park, CO. Lets not leave these, mostly, Winter Park Resort watering holes out of the equation either.

So here is how this works, I will post this blog on the Winter Park Facebook page and you all can recommend away either on the FB page or in the comments below this blog. I will take the top five and give those top five the old college try.

So here goes: What are the best bars in Winter Park, CO?

Best Burgers in Winter Park, CO

Posted on October 12, 2011 by Chris

Winter Park, Colorado’ s Best Burger

It has taken awhile but we have completed the best burger competition in Winter Park, CO. I have eaten enough burgers to be fairly sure that I will not be ordering a burger in a restaurant for the next couple months. The positive is I have learned we have some killer burgers here in Winter Park.

The original competition was going to be a contest of the top three recommended by our Winter Park Lodging Company Facebook Fans but there were more than three recommendations. I tried all five different burgers in addition to the ever present McDonald’s franchise here in Winter Park, CO.

I have seen some burger reviews break down a burger almost scientifically in how they rate the burger. I was not very scientific at all. If the meat was flavorful and the bun had a good texture and consistency I pretty much thought the burger good, from there it was deciding what burger had the best flavor combination overall.

The restaurants that we visited were Deno’s, The Library Grill, Heck’s at Devils Thumb Ranch, Randi’s and Sharky’s. There was not a bad burger at any one of them. I am a blue cheese lover and most if the time I ordered some kind blue cheese burger sometimes with bacon. At Hecks they had a burger with a nice slice of pork belly that can be seen in the pic on the far right. YUM!!!!!

So the top burger in Winter Park, Colorado goes to……… drumbeat please……..

Deno’s. As I said the competition was close but if I had to rate the five burgers I would go in this order:

Deno’s – great meat but it is the bun that really makes this burger.
Heck’s at Devil’s Thumb Ranch – you can not go wrong with putting a slab of pork belly on a burger. They might even be 1a
Randi’s – may have had the best meat but the bun was “stiff”. Still a really good burger and had some awesome onion rings to go with.
The Library – ordered the Paul Bunyon which is a two patty behemoth that will satisfy any large appetite. The sweet potato fries sound great but are pretty much mediocre.
Sharky’s – don’t know why they are last as the burger was really good but a tad small. They have a homemade bun that is fantastic.

So, there are the best burgers in Winter Park, Colorado from my humble opinion. You can and will not go wrong with any one of these. If you are in a rush, or hungover, you can still hit McDonald’s for that Big Mac or Q/Pounder with cheese but you would be much better off hitting one of these local stops here in Winter Park and Fraser.

Here is the original post for the best burger competition in Winter Park , Colorado.

Fraser Valley Hot Dog: Best Hot Dog in Winter Park

Posted on September 29, 2011 by Chris

Fraser Valley Hot Dog, Brats and Mixed Grill

On my search for the best burger in the Winter Park, Colorado area I came across absolutely the best hot dogs and brats. Fraser Valley Chicago Style Dogs serves some great dogs, brats and other tasty grilled vittles.

As I was planning on hitting the last of the candidates for best burger in WP I saw on Fraser Valley Hot Dog’s FaceBook page they were offering a $6.00 Elk Brat. What a deal and I had it Fozzy Dog style, that is covered with blu cheese, bacon and caramelized onions with a side of chips and a drink. Yummmm! Great lunch and very easy on the wallet.

We are still working on that best burger contest and hope to have that done by this weekend. But of you are looking for a killer dog done by a WP local go see Matt at Fraser Dog and get the Fozzy. You will not be disappointed.

Check out the Yelp Page for FVHD.

FVHD is on off season hours right now so check their FB page or drive by the dogs are worth seeking out.

Who Has the Best Burger in Winter Park and Fraser?

Posted on August 29, 2011 by Chris

Who has best hamburger in Winter Park Colorado

Top Hamburger in Winter Park, Colorado

We here at Winter Park Lodging Company thought we should start a little best of project for the Winter Park and Fraser area. We would like some reader/fan participation and even participation of our fellow business her in the WP area. How we thought this would work is that WPLCo comes up with a category…. say best place for a beer, or best hamburger… whatever category and our reader/fans can suggest the favorites. WPLCo research crew, me and whoever is lucky enough to be in tow, will try the top three suggested and rate them accordingly. Sound like fun? Well, it will pass some of the time away before the start of this ski season.

So our first category on the best of Winter Park/Fraser project is, as you can tell from the tittle, what restaurant has the best burger in the Winter Park area? Lots of restaurants here with some great burgers but what one are the top three and of those who has the big whopper of the burger here in Winter Park?

You are welcome to make your suggestions on either the comments section below or on the Winter Park Lodging Company Facebook page.

With a just a quick glance at the burger landscape in WP I would have to say that those that would need to be tried would be Deno’s, Devils Thumb Ranch House, Bistro 28 at Pole Creek Golf Club, The Library and Randi’s. We do have a McDonald’s here in WP and there is something to be said for a Big Mac and the Quarter Pounder with Cheese.

So let it fly, who has the best burger in the Winter Park, Colorado area?

Winter Park, Colorado Top 25 Ski Resorts

Posted on October 25, 2010 by Chris

Top colorado ski resorts winter park Best Colorado Ski Resorts

The new SKI Magazine Ski Resort Rankings for 2010-2011 has hit the shelves. The ski areas are ranked by readers with results in several different categories. The rankings were based on a comprehensive survey of over 20,000 SKI Magazine readers. The SKI Magazine resort rankings are highly thought of in the ski industry and are great exposure to adoring ski enthusiasts.

Colorado as whole did very well with 9 rankings in the top 25. Vail came in at No.2 and Beaver Creek No.3. Steamboat fell out of the top 10 and landed at No. 13 this year. Our beloved Winter Park Resort came in at No. 22, one spot higher than last year.

Here is what SKI Magazine had to say about the Winter Park and Mary Jane ski area:

We’re surprised: After all Winter Park has gone through, with a cool new village and four new lifts—six years and $40 million later—it only moved up one spot this year. No matter. We know it’ll take time for readers to realize there’s now more to this place than 3,078 acres of sweet terrain. (Like restaurants, ski shops, an ice-skating rink, a sledding hill and a brewpub.)

The terrain, though, continues to stand on its own; it has always been enough to keep this Denver-local hill in the top 25. “Mary Jane has the best bumps in North America,” raves a reader. Indeed, The Jane enjoys scores of passionate devotees who hit Railbender, Derailer and Drunken Frenchman, then eat lunch and blast music in the parking lot.

But the resort is attracting new disciples for its sidecountry terrain: “The Vasquez Cirque and Parsenn Backside are my special happy places,” says a reader. If you can get to them—“tough to get from one mountain to another” is a common refrain. And despite the new village, readers complain that the base still lacks what the bigger, more luxurious resorts offer: “No superb restaurants or retail,” a reader says. However, others enjoy this nightly serenity. Next year, thanks to several new restaurants moving in, we predict Winter Park evenings will be a bit less serene—and a lot more fun.

Winter Park again did well in the on mountain side of the rankings and suffered in the apres or nightlife part of the rankings. Here is my take, if you want to ski be it beginner, intermediate and especially expert there is not a better place to visit. The snow is usually the best in all of Colorado and the ski school is one of the best in the country. If you wear a fur coat and as an adult need someone to carry your skis to the lifts then maybe you should head to Deer Valley, Utah or Vail. But if you like to ski and you like snow Winter Park, CO can not be beat. I have skied all the Colorado resorts in this years Ski Magazine top 25 and I will say not a one has anything on skiing at Winter Park and Mary Jane.

Check out the full SKI Magazine resort rankings here.

The above photo is courtesy of Winter Park Resort.

Favorite Winter Park Summer Patios

Posted on August 3, 2010 by Valarie

Backbowl's Patio

One of our favorite summertime activities in Winter Park is just hangin’ out at one of our favorite patios, kickin’ back to some live music and enjoying some cold beverages in the mountain sunshine. It’s definitely a favorite pasttime of mine!

When it comes to great summer patios in Winter Park, there are a few restaurants and bars that surpass the rest. If you have another favorite that I leave out, just let us know by leaving a comment below.

My Top Picks:

- The Winter Park Pub. The patio at “the pub” is #1 in my heart. There is usually live music at least three times a week, plus tons of space and seating for plenty of sunshine opportunities. They also have a tent for shade or rain coverage. It’s also a #1 locals favorite, so it’s a good place to mingle.

- The Cheeky Monk - This is a newer restaurant at the Village at Winter Park Resort. The vibe inside is awesome, and they have like, a million types of beers. The patio is killer, too, and they oftentimes have live music and drink specials during the summer.

A packed patio at "The Pub"

- Backbowl Soup Company – another new restaurant at the Village at Winter Park Resort, Backbowl has an attractive, spacious patio with umbrellas & nice views. They also have live music and drink specials on Tues & Thursdays and the “Adventure Train Playground” that the kids love.

- The Sushi Bar – Another local tradition is to hit up happy hour at The Sushi Bar at least a few times in the summer to enjoy their large deck. During happy hour you also get two-for-one specials on selected drinks & sushi rolls. They don’t have live music, but their parties and/or specials make up for that.

- Deno’s Mountain Bistro. A prime, south-west facing patio, this is a lovely spot for afternoon sunshine. Deno’s wine list is impressive, plus they have all the regular ol’ standbys and great wings. The only catch is that they don’t have live music.

- Fontenot’s – This deck is often overlooked, but for what reason, I don’t know. They have a really nice deck, tables with umbrellas and great food. They tend to be on the pricey side, which may be why it’s not frequented too often by locals, but they have delicious appetizers like fried green tomatoes and coconut shrimp. Not a spot for live music, either.

Other honorable mentions include the Gasthaus Eichler patio for lunch next to Vasquez Creek, Rudi’s Deli patio, and the Mountain Grind Cafe at Cooper Creek Square.

Crankworx Bike Fest Winter Park, CO

Posted on July 15, 2010 by Chris

Colorado crankworx lodging Winter Park Bike Festival

The biggest Colorado bike festival of the year is almost here. Get ready for gravity defying mountain bike riding at the biggest and best bike park in the state.

Crankworx runs from July 29th to August 1st. Watch the world’s best freeride mountain bikers battle it out for over $35,000 in prizes in Winter Park’s Trestle Bike Park. Catch the high-flying action of Slopestyle, the intense speed and head-to-head competition of Dual Slalom, or watch the pros tackle most difficult trail in Trestle Bike Park in the UCI/Pro GRT Downhill competition. Plus, check out the latest in bike gear from a variety of manufacturers in the Vendor Village, free live music and parties in the evening and more! You won’t want to miss this event.

Crankworks 2010 events include:

July 29, 2010: Dual Slalom Slopestyle Qualifiers
July 30, 2010: Super Downhill Best Trick
July 31, 2010: Cross Country Slopestyle Finals
August 1, 2010: UCI/PRO GRT Downhill

Make sure to get your lodging at the Winter Park base close to where the competition will be going on. Last year the base are was full so make your reservation today to get the primo digs.

Winter Park Lodging Company is offering 3rd night free so come up and see the the festival and experience the whole Crankworx weekend.

When you’re not busy watching this incredible mountain biking event, you and your kids can also enjoy other activities in the Winter Park area:
•skateboarding at the skate park in Hideaway Park in downtown Winter Park
•horseback riding
•alpine slide
•miniature golf
•lift rides
•hiking
•mountain biking
•golf (at nearby Pole Creek Golf Course, Headwaters Golf Course, Grand Lake Golf Course, or Grand Elk Golf Course)
•fishing in rivers, streams, and lakes

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.

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!