Grand Adventures Snowmobiling in Winter Park
If you’re ready for an adrenaline filled adventure through the Colorado back country, you’ve got to sign up at Grand Adventures! Perfect for beginner, intermediate riders and families, there are several tour options that can be tailored to your groups needs. Today we lucked out with classic bluebird conditions, 45 degree temps and sunny skies for our two hour jaunt through the Arapahoe Forest. Guided by local Steve Willis, aka Snowmobile Steve (see picture on left), our group had a safety overview and then left the Winter Park Mountain Lodge around 10:30am to head up Corona Pass towards the Continental Divide. Although I was a first timer (and a wee bit intimidated on my own sled), it didn’t take long to get the feel and want to go faster and faster. After cruising up to nearly 11,000 ft, we passed the old railway tressle and stopped along the ridge for some photos and a brief history lesson. Turns out we were only a few miles away from the old logging town of Arrow, where the infamous Mary Jane lived and worked in the late 1800′s. The panoramic views of the ski area and Fraser Valley from here were amazing. A few minutes later we reached a wide open space where we could let loose on the sleds and take a few laps. If you like going fast, this part was especially fun! After some play time, we headed up to tree line to loop back around for the home stretch. On the way down, Steve led us through some really fun and twisting trails among the trees.
We paused for a few minutes for those who wanted to dive into the 4ft deep snowbanks along the side of the trail- quite refreshing:) Heading back home, it couldn’t have been a better trip. Great weather, fun and informative guide, definitely want to go again. I highly recommend going on one of these trips to anyone interested in trying out a snowmobile, not just because it’s exciting, but because it will give you a different experience of Winter Park and an insider’s look into the surrounding backcountry. If you want to take a day off of skiing and are wondering what to do….look no further! For more info, check out their website http://www.grandadventures.com/ or call 1-800-726-9247. Also, don’t forget that you get a discount on your snowmobile adventure when you book your lodging with Winter Park Lodging Company. Ask us about it at the time of booking!















Hot Air Balloon Rides
Derailer Bar – right at the base of Winter Park, with great views of the skiers coming down the slopes. Pricey appetizers that aren’t that great, but the view and the atmosphere make up for it.
ittle part of the pool where the water comes from that doesn’t have a concrete bottom and dared us to get in there. It was a little freaky at night but I did it and so did the other Sarah B from Cape Cod (photo below).
All of you who were full of sorrow to see the 69 years of the Ski Train come to an end will be elated to know that the Ski Train is coming back to Winter Park for the 2009-2010 season. Iowa Pacific Holdings LLC has stepped up with cars and engines to get the train going again. Amtrak will use their employees and manage the train schedules. The train will run starting Dec. 26 and finish on Mar. 28 when it pulls into Union Station for the last time of the season. We’ll keep you posted when we see what the schedule looks like. Book your trip and ride the train, just like the old days!