Winter Park, CO Restaurants

We had a chance to get  out and hit an old Winter Park favorite for lunch today.  Carvers has been around for since 1983 and has gone through a couple of different owners and has been open for dinner some parts of the year and then closed for other parts of the year.  Currently Carvers is open for breakfast and lunch seven days a week.  Carver Brothers Bakery first opened on June 1, 1983, in Winter Park, Colorado. It was started by Jim, Bill, Sara and Eleanor Carver.

Today the old time bakery serves up some fine breakfasts and lunches including great Eggs Benedict variations.  Today we had a Frito Pie chili bowl and an egg white omelet with bacon.  Yummmm!

Carvers strives to use only the freshest, locally-grown products available including 100% cage free eggs with no added hormones or antibiotics.  The same can be said for the 100% naturally grown beef…It’s locally raised in Colorado without adding hormones or unnecessary antibiotics.  All bread products served are made in house daily including the bread accompanying our breakfast entrées, all sandwich buns and to-die-for cinnamon rolls.  The extra attention sets them apart from other places and will bring you back time after time.

Check out the full Carvers menu.

CARVERS is little hard to find because they are one of the only sucessful business not on Main Street.  They are located behind Cooper Creek Square in downtown Winter Park.  If driving, turn west on Vazquez Road from HWY 40 and pull into the free parking garage located 100 yard from your turn on the right.  You will find them at the west end of the mall.  There is also parking available by accessing us from Lions Gate Road.  Call if more info is needed, (970) 531-7120!

Check out Winter Park Lodging Company’s list of favorite Winter Park restaurants.

If you are looking to get even further away, check out the experimental forest in Fraser. This beautiful trail system takes a little longer to get to, but is well worth the drive. This 23,000 acre forest has been a site for studies in alpine and subalpine environments since 1937. For a nice easy ski, park at St. Luis Campground and ski the loop which includes Creek Side and Flume trails. If you are looking for a challenge, add on Chainsaw and Zoom, but be prepared for some big climbs. Click here to view a map of this area (look for the blue box stating 1^st St. Louis Campground).

Please be sure to bring a map on either of these trails, along with sun screen, a light snack and plenty of water. Maps are available at the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce, located in the heart of Winter Park. These trails are also great bike trails in the summer.

American Blues News reviewed one of her songs, 4 Non-Blondes, as being part Rolling Stones, part John Lee Hooker, and part Dukes of Hazzard car chase. In other words, Samantha knows how to play the blues, and we’re guaranteed another amazing show this Friday. Kate Moss will certainly only add to the party; she’s no stranger to the guitar herself. With these two on stage together, be ready to dance.

One added bonus: the Blues Society is kind enough to appreciate Verteran’s Day at the show, so any Verteran plus one guest will get into the show FREE! Guess what else? If you’re a guest of Winter Park Lodging Company, mention it at the door and your ticket will be on the house too! If you didn’t book with us this time, your ticket is $10, but it’s for a good cause: the Grand County Blues Society is a non-profit, so all the cash they collect at the door goes toward keeping Blues in the School and Blue Star Connection successful programs. Plus, our donations and ticket purchases help us to to keep bringing great live blues music back to Winter Park as often as we can. So, after you’re done waxing your skis for the early opening of Winter Park Resort this Saturday, come out to Smokin’ Moes for a great night with us. Want to make a weekend out of it? Give Winter Park Lodging Company a call to set up your lodging, lift tickets, ski rentals, and some free tickets to a great show!

To all you wine lovers out there, Deno’s received the “Best of Award of Excellence” from Wine Spectator magazine. This Winter Park favorite is one of only 25 restaurants in Colorado to receive the prestigious award. Denos’s prviously had won the award multiple times in the 1990′s and earl 2000′s.

Deno’s Mountain Bisto wine list was noted for its strengths in California, French and Italian selections.

Here is the listing from Wine Spectator for Denos Award of Excellence:

Deno’s Mountain Bistro

78911 U.S. Highway 40
Winter Park, CO, 80482
United States

Wine Strengths: California, France, Italy
Wine Pricing: Inexpensive
Cuisine: American/Mediterranean
Selections: 495
Inventory: 2,965
Wine Director: Nick and Ted Kutrumbos

Chef: Debbie Lewis

Entrées: $11 to $38

Deno’s Mountain Bistro is a place where all are welcome and everyone can relax. Nothing fancy – no valet parking or maitre d’ in a tuxedo – the world is stressful enough without adding to it with pretentious restaurant behavior.

Deno’s has some fun happenings going on this summer with a great happy hour and a cruiser bike night with a “you flip for a drink”.

Winter Park Cruiser Rides are every Tuesday starting at Deno’s Mountain Bistro at 6pm. Introducing flip night. $10 wrist band gets your specials at participating businesses all summer long. (proceeds from wrist bands goes to the Grand Foundation)

In short if you looking for a bite to eat or to have a few drinks give Deno’s a try.  Nice patio, great wine list and avery reasonable happy our menu, sounds like some good fun a Deno’s.

Winter Park, Colorado is such an amazing place that we think it is worth at-least one photo a day.  SO, we here at Winter Park Lodging Company have started a little photo project.  We will be publishing a new photo each for 365 days straight on the Winter Park Lodging Company Facebook page.  This little project started officially on July 17, 2011.  We have captured some great shots already and are looking for more.

If any Y’all would like to show us your Wp shots please feel free to throw them up on the WPLCo Facebook page. To the left and below are some of the shots that we have recently that we have snapped in an around the Winter Park and Fraser Valley.  It is the time of year for flowers, bike rides and afternoon thunderstorms, so the rules are keep your bike, camera and rain jacket at the ready.

Here is the 365 days of WInter Park photo album so far.  Today we will be looking for some great shots up above WP on the mountain bike trails in the James Peak Wilderness Area.

We also have the Winter Park Jazz Festival officially starting tomorrow so look for some shots of the great jazz musicians that are playing here in Winter Park this weekend.  There really are so many things going on right now that only one shot a day may be a little unrealistic.  We will keep to under three a day though to be sure.

So, once again if you would like to share your photos of Winter Park, CO go ahead and slap them up on the WPLCo Facebook page.

Summer has arrived and the High-Note Thursday music series in Hideaway Park is ready for some outdoor sounds under the peaks.  This coming week we have Nick Moss and Friends on June 23rd.  The High-Note Music Series is a free event put on by the Winter Park/Fraser Chamber of Commerce that is a great time for locals and guests alike.  Chairs and music are provided with food and beverages allowed.  So pack up a picnic, bottle of wine or two and head out to Hideaway Parkfor some great tunes with friends.  There is not a cheaper, better time to be had here in Winter Park.

Here is the rest of the lineup for Thursday Music in the Park:

June 30:  Opie Gone Bad

July 7:  Kory Brunson Band

July 14:  Red June

July 21: Jack Hadley Band

July 28:  Andy Hackbarth Band (special performance by Due West)

August 4:  Slopeside

August 11:  Hunker Down

On July 14th our friends from North Carolina, Red June, will be playing in Hideaway Park and I recommend you come and see one of the hottest Americana Acoustic bands in the country.  Here is what one music critic is saying about Red June:

The Red June sound is as versatile and original as the musicians themselves; they touch on bluegrass, roots rock, and traditional country music with powerful harmonies, innovative songwriting and expert musicianship. Collectively, Will Straughan, Natalya Weinstein and John Cloyd Miller have shared the stage with countless bluegrass and Americana greats such as James Taylor, Sam Bush, Joe Craven, Jim Lauderdale, Del McCoury, Alice Gerrard, Jim Shumate and B.B. King and have performed at festivals across the country including RockyGrass, Grey Fox, Merlefest, Grand Targhee, MagnoliaFest and Shakori Hills.

Make a plan and come out to hear some great music up here high in the Rocky Mountains.  All the bands are great but you should not miss Red June.

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.

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!

Colorado’s Favorite Front Porch is set to open under new owners full time June 6th, 2011.  Last summer the Lodge opened for a short time with limited food and hours as a kind of audition for the new owners.  This season will see the Grand Lake Lodge up and running at full steam serving breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as getting back into the wedding business.

GLL is now owned by an investor group out of South Dakota and managed by Regency Hotel Management.  The full restaurant menu has not come out yet but that should be available in the next few weeks.

The new Grand Lake Lodge website (partially completed) can be found at http://grandlakelodge.rtrk.com/

If you have never been out to the Lodge, it is quite a treat.  Some of the best views in all of Colorado.  The Lodge sits above the town of Grand Lake which is on the banks of Colorado’s largest natural lake.  Grand Lake has been a summer playground for some of Colorado’s most wealthy and famous residents.  The entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park sits just outside Grand Lake Lodge’s entrance.  If are looking to explore the high country or just get away, there is not a cooler place than the Lodge.

Word on the street is there will not be too many changes coming to GLL at least this year.  The Lodge will be open from July 10, 2011 and will close September 11, 2011.  Wouldn’t it be really nice of the new owners could keep GLL open in winter months also?  That may be too tall an order though.  It is very nice to see Grand Lake Lodge reopening and we wish them the best!

Winter Park Lodging Company has won the ZB award.  What is the ZB award you ask?  Well, the Zb award the most creative use of the Winter Park/Fraser Valley mascot ZB.  And why is our mascot named ZB here in Winter Park, Colorado? ZB is the original Colo license plate numbers that were given for Winter Park and the Fraser Valley ( see picture to the right).

Whew that is complicated!

Here is the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce announcement of our big win in the promote ZB contest:

Winner Announced: The Chamber is pleased to announce the winner of the “ZB’s Launch for Lunch Contest” held in January.  Drumroll please… the winner is Winter Park Lodging Company for their incredibly creative ZB sticker.  Also, an Honorable Mention to Grand County TV18 / Outside Television for including ZB in a commercial.  Check it out by clicking here.

We won we won we won!  Look for ZB all through the town of Winter Park, CO.

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