Best Coffee in Winter Park, Colorado

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.

Thanksgiving in Winter Park, CO

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

Winter Park, CO Breakfast

Sharky’s Grill Winter Park/Fraser, Colorado

I had a chance to finally get out on a weekend morning try the local eatery Sharky’s Grill after a early morning mountain bike ride.  I have been meaning to head over and try Sharky’s after several people had told me they have great green chili and a killer breakfast burrito. And I now whole heartedly agree.

I wrote a piece about Winter Park breakfasts and specifically breakfast burritos about a year ago.  There were a couple of comments on that blog about not including Sharky’s on the five best list and I said I would check them out.  Well about nine months later I have finally had a breakfast at a restaurant in the area (2 year old twins seem to make restaurant trips not so fun).

Anywho, after a day biking with Ed Raegner, Mike Ayers and Dr. Steve up on the Broken Thumb and Twisted Ankle trails back behind old Idlewild ski area Ed and I were able to have a bite at Sharky’s.  I had the special, a chorizo breakfast burrito, and Ed had corn beef and hash.  Ed’s looked very good and my burrito was just awesome.  Big, spicy and topped with fresh avocado, sour cream and a great green chili sauce.  We sat outside at a nice little two top and service was efficient.  Food took a tad long but it was a Sunday at brunch time and there was a wait for tables.

Overall the food was great, probably the best breakfast I’ve had in Grand County, and the service and atmosphere were commendable also.

Give Sharky’s a try for a truly great breakfast burrito. You can check out their Sharky’s Facebook Page or find them on their Google maps page.

Winter Park Village Events: The Back Bowl Soup Company Specials & Music

Back Bowl Patio

We wanted to spread the word on the latest Summer special at The Back Bowl Soup Company, located in the heart of the new base village.  Starting  Thursday, 7/29, Jeremy Farmer will be playing live music on the patio every Tue./Thurs.  from 5:30-7:30 pm for the Mountain Employee Happy Hour.  Enjoy a frosty beverage or a tasty appetizer, while the little ones play on the new Adventure Train playground. They even have free parking close by, right across the walkway from the Back Bowl.  Come out with your friends and family to enjoy good times in the Colorado sunshine, and remember to book your lodging with Winter Park Lodging Company for the best deals and sweetest digs in town.  Here’s a quick list of the specials~

Drinks- 2 for 1 draft beers and house wine

Food- 20% off food orders and complimentary animal crackers and pretzels

Winter Park, CO Memorial Day

Winter Park, Colorado Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial Day weekend is here.  The start of official summer season and the weatrher is going straight from winter to summer.  The weekend weather looks good with no precipitation in the forecast and almost all of the winter snow melted.

Looking for something to do up in Winter Park?  Well there are lots of options this year with the weather looking the way it is.  Here are some of your choices:

Fishing in Winter Park Lakes - We have a bunch of lakes here along US 40 and almost all are stocked with fish your you and the little ones. These small lakes are perfect for the kids to try to hook a big one.  They are also good for the young at heart to try to snag a few.  The one lake at the entrance to Rendezvous is supposed to be a Rendezvous owner only lake but it seems to me anyone can just walk on up and catch a few (it is a very well stocked lake).

Mountain Biking at Rendezvous – Some of the lower elevation riding here in Winter Park and the snow is all gone, there is a little mud though. This is my favorite riding in Winter Park with some rllong hills and some great flat trail along streams and a few water crossing spots.  It is some very fun biking for just about all levels depending on what trails you take.

Take a Drive Over Trail Ridge Road – The road will be open by the Friday before Memorial Day and it should make for a spectacular day to check out Rocky Mountain National Park.

Come and enjoy a Winter Park Restaurant with lots of deals going on.  Deno’s, The Sushi Bar, Back Country Grill are all offering big discounts and some great food. 

Yes summere is officialy here so come on up to see all the beauty up here.  Winter Park Resort base are operations do not open until June 12 but the a lot of stuff do do up here until then. 

Winter Park, CO Mexican Food

Mountain Rose Cafe

With the end of ski season coming upon us it seems that we have been eating out more than usual.  And maybe because it is now spring I have been having a hankerin’ for Mexican food and margaritas.  So in the last week or so we have eaten at Azteca in Winter Park, Lime in the Winter Park  Resort Village and Mountain Rose.  I thought I would give a run down of what I thought of these Mexican food serving establishments.  Mountain Rose serves lots of different types of food but when we were there I had a burrito and I will include that in this blog.

Azteca – this is one of our usual haunts and they serve up some great salsa and margaritas.  We usually order the espresso burrito (no idea why it’s called that) and it is always very tasty.  Azteca has two locations in the Winter Aprk area and we seem to always go the the one in the Kings Crossing building.

Lime – My wife had sworn off Lime the last time we went ther because of the cold in the building and the food. After skiing this week we decided to give it another chance and we were rewarded.  It seems Lime has figured out their heating issues and have inproved their kitchen.  I had a mix of three enchiladas (chicken, beef, cheese) and the wife had a bowl of black bean soup.  All  was very good as well as fantastic chips and salsa.  Carolina our server was very friendly and helpful.

Mountain Rose Cafe – This is a breakfast/lunch place that serves up a great chicken or breakfast burrito.  My wife tells me they have great baked goods and other items but I always get the breakfast or lunch burrito.

There is also Carlos and Maria’s in the Cooper Creek square that I have not been to in over a year.  From my memory they have decent food and some pretty good margaritas.  A couple of friends I ski with swear by Carlos and Maria’s as the best Mexican food in the Winter Park area.

So, ’tis spring and the time for tacos, burritos and margaritas!  Get on out and have a cold margarita in Winter Park, Colorado.

Beer and Food Tasting Winter Park, CO

Cheeky Monk Winter Park, Colorado

The Cheeky Monk in the Winter Park Village is having a beer and food pairing Thursday February 25th.  The tating will start at 6PM and go until close.

The Cheeky Monk is  featuring Trappiste Ales & “Southern Influenced” food .  As always, seating is limited & tickets go fast!  Please call 970-726-6871 to secure your reservation today!  What a great way to end a day of skiing – great Belgium beer and some Southern style food.

Email Michael Patrick, the manager at michaelp@thecheekymonk.com for more info and pricing.

Come on out and support our local Winter Park Restaurants and enjoy some great beer and food.

Ziggy’s Donuts Winter Park, CO

Winter Park Donuts

Looking for some good coffee and donuts in Winter Park.  Well, Ziggy’s donuts has now been open for a month here in Winter Park, CO.  Ziggy is serving up custom made donuts and some superb coffee right in downtown Winter Park.  Located in the Kings Crossing Shopping Center, right off of US Highway 40, Ziggy’s is the place for your doughnut fix.

Ziggy’s offers custom made donuts that come right off the conveyor belt and are custom hand dipped in whatever topping you chose.  There are five or six tables to enjoy your treats or a couple of counter spaces to watch the donuts being made.  The twins above, enjoying the first donuts of their lives, were mesmerized by the doughnut machine and the dipping in the custom toppings.

Ziggy’s also has coffee,  from espresso to cappuccino you can any coffee that you like from Ziggy’s magical Italian coffee machine.  They also have various Polish confections on the shelves for you to enjoy on the slopes up at the resort.

Just stop off on your way to Winter Park Resort and enjoy some fresh coffee and donuts.

Five Best Restaurants in Winter Park, Colorado

Winter Park Colorado Best Restaurants

Top five favorite restaurants in Winter Park, Colorado.  I guess you could say the Winter Park, Fraser, Tabenash area because they are not all in town proper of Winter Park, CO.  This list is of actual full service restaurants and does not include Winter Park breakfast restaurants or Winter Park walk up restaurants.  It also is focused on food even though a couple here are also my favorite Winter Park places to have a beer or cocktail.  The list is in no particular order and is definitely not exhaustive.

**** ENTER TO WIN TWO FREE NIGHTS OF LODGING! Comment below with your favorite dinner restaurant in Winter Park and you’ll be entered into a drawing to win two free  nights between June and August at a two-bedroom condo.  Must comment by Feb 28th with winner announced March 2nd****

Winter Park Top Five Restaurants

1. Tabernash Tavern – Right on US Highway 40 in our home of Tabernash.  The Tavern describes themselves as: “A wine bar in beautiful lower downtown Tabernash, Colorado, serving Chef Alberto Sapien’s international culinary creations”.   As the description says it is a mix of very different styles of food and they haven’t missed every time I’ve been there.  The Tavern has opened an Italian eatery in the town of Winter Park under the name Alberto’s.
2. Hernando’s Pizza Pub – Probably the most popular of all Winter Park Restaurants and one of the most consistent.  The pizza is very good and their salads are fantastic.  A great bar to watch the tourists and the locals alike with some great bartenders.  Be sure to arrive early or call before heading over because Hernando’s is usually very busy.
3. The Sushi Bar – Yes, sushi up here at over 9,000 ft in the Colorado Rocky Mountains is pretty darn good.  The Sushi Bar is located at the end of WP on US 40.  The Sushi Bar has some great food and a very friendly waitstaff.  With $1.50 bottles of beer everyday you can’t go wrong with some WP style sushi a a cheap cold one to wash it down.
4. Mirasol Cantina – Located on US 40 in the Conoco Shopping Center.  Mirasol is a taco bar with great tacos ( try their lamb tacos) and the best margaritas in Winter Park.  Chips and Salsa are fantastic and their salsa bar has some of the best salsas I have tasted.  They have a small bar of about five seats that is a fun place to spend an evening eating and drinking.  Mirasol is not open for lunch so make sure to join them for dinner.
5. The Ranch House Restaurant at Devils Thumb Ranch – Located in Tabernash at Devils Thumb Ranch.  The room is spectacular and the food is just as good.   The Ranch House serves New American Mountain Cuisine  – which means real food, cooked with real ingredients. Organic and locally grown whenever we can. Always fresh, always delicious.  Probably the most expensive restaurant on this list but also maybe the best with the highest level of service.

Maybe I should have done a best ten of Winter Park because there are some I definitely left out.  The above list of five should most certainly include The Cheeky Monk, Fontenot’s and The Back Country Grill.

Our little town of Winter Park has some very good restaurants.  Check out Winter Park Lodging Company’s restaurant discounts to get some great grub and drinks for a little bit cheaper.

A Taste Of Winter Park/Grand County

Winter Park Chef’s Cup Race

The 27th Annual Chef’s Cup Dinner Race, A Taste of Winter Park/Grand County is coming up on January 22nd, 2010.  The evnt will start at 7PM at the West Partal Station at Winter park Resort.

The Chef’s Cup Dinner Dance is a benefit to support the Winter Park Competition Center youth ski and snowboard programs. Come watch the National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD) 40th Anniversary ski down parade and join them with at the celebration lunch and cake.

Ten to fifteen of Winter Park and Grand County’s best restaurants will donate their time and talent to prepare the food for 400 plus party goers to taste.   Attendees will then vote for the overall favorite gourmet creation. Enjoy complimentary wine, margaritas, and beer, from Beringer Founders Estate, Margaritaville, and Mary Jane Ale.  Guests can also bid on a huge variety silent auction items donated by generous supporters.

Call 970.726.1590 or 303.316.1590 for more information or to make a donation for the silent auction.

What a great night, free food and drink and all to support a great cause.