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!

We had a chance to hit the town, sans the two rabble rousing twins, this weekend and our dinner plans brought us to The Back Country Grill for a night out with WP locals and some visitors from Nashville, TN.  We hadn’t been to BCG for over a year and it was good to see how things have been going for them since the change in ownership before this ski season.  Brad and Emily took over from original owner Bob this past October.

We hit BCG about 7PM and it was busy busy as all of Winter Park was jumpin’ with a Saturday night full of Spring breakers.  We had a table waiting so we were able to sit down right away and enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail. We had some grilled scallops and a quirky nacho dish for appetizers.  Scallops were great but the nachos as I said were a little odd.

For dinner the table ordered a steak salad, mahi fish special, elk medallions, 2 Cowboy Cut Rib-eyes.  The steaks were big, juicy and delicious and the other foods looked great and there were only compliments for the food.  We enjoyed a couple of bottles of wine with dinner and the wine list was value priced and quality was good.  Service was a tad slow, but hey it was one of the busiest nights this ski season in Winter Park.

Back Country Grill did not disappoint and we had a fine evening out on the town.  Brad and Emily are opening a wine and tapas bar next door to BCG called Emelie’s, which will be a great addition to bar/restaurant scene here in Winter Park, Colorado.  Overall, we had a great night and we would recommend Back Country Grill for a nice night out on the town with a perfect steak and bottle of wine.

Saturday nights at SolVista Basin are anything but typical. Starting at 5:00pm, you can ski, snowboard and go night tubing on their fully-lit slopes until 8:00pm. As a guest of Winter Park Lodging Company, you’ll get a night ski lift ticket for only $5.

Discount Details:

Guests of Winter Park Lodging Company get a Saturday night ski or snowboard lift ticket for only $5 instead of $10 with a coupon provided in your welcome gift bag. Swing by our office in downtown Winter Park  or print a coupon now if you need  extras. For more information about SolVista Basin’s Saturday Night Skiing & Tubing, call 970-887-5123 or click here.

Restrictions:

Offer expires April 2nd. One coupon per person. Coupon is not valid for night tubing tickets. Night tubing tickets are $11.  Coupon cannot be combined with any other discounts.

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Winter Activities in Winter Park

Winter Park Guide

The Snow Industries of America Snow Show is returning to Denver and Winter Park the last week of January, 2011.  This will be the second year that the SIA Demo-Fest is here at Winter Park Resort.

The 2011 Denver SIA Snow Show will be followed by the On-Snow Demo/Ski-Ride Fest, January 31 & February 1 at Winter Park Resort (Alpine/Snowboard & Ski-Ride Fest) and Devil’s Thumb Ranch (Nordic). Over 150 brands are involved in this, two-day demo/ski-ride fest event complete with on-snow competitions: Uphill/Downhill Challenge and Office Booyz & Girlz Competition and a 2 Mile High BBQ at the Sunspot Lodge on Monday, January 31. The Nordic Demo begins Sunday, January 30, with a presentation on the Nordic Market Overview and Welcome Reception at 6:30P and a New Belgium Beer Dinner, Monday, January 31. In partnership with CCSAA (Cross Country Ski Areas Association) and in conjunction with WWSRA’s (Western Winter Sports Reps Association) Rocky Mountain Demo, this is where for the first time-globally, the market can try out the equipment and experience the latest technologies for ski, snowboard, AT, backcountry, cross country and snowshoe while mixing with their peers on the hill.

Last year was a great on snow demo at Winter Park Resort.  There were many ski wear vendors giving out free gear and it was a very party-like atmosphere.  Looking for SIA on snow demo-fest lodging?  Winter Park Lodging Company still has some Winter Park Resort ski lodging available for Jane 31 and Feb 1.

If you are looking to just have a  good time and hang around some ski industry and skier types head up to Winter Park and Mary Jane Ski Resorts for the SIA Snow Show Demo Fest.

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.

The second edition of the hike of the week is back for Winter Park, Colorado.  This week the hike takes a little drive from WP up to Rocky Mountain National Park.  This week’s hike is a relatively easy and short hike that goes to a beautiful waterfall and continues to a stunning meadow with great mountain views and small ponds teaming with fish.  There is a charge to get into Rocky Mountain National Park but this hike is a hike in and there is no fee.  If you continue to drive into the Park there is a charge

On the way back stop in Grand Lake and check out Colorado’s biggest natural lake with some of the best views in Colorado.

Adams Falls, East Inlet Trail – Winter Park Hike of the Week

(Rocky Mountain National Park)

BEGINNING ELEVATION: 8400ft.

ENDING ELEVATION: 8480ft.

Miles one way: .5 miles to Adams Falls, 1 mile to the glaciated valley

Rating: Easy

Trailhead Location: From the Winter Park Visitor’s Center drive north on US HWY 40 19 miles through Granby to US HWY 34 and turn right. Continue for about 15.3 miles to the Grand Lake Visitor Center and turn right in to the village of grand Lake. At the Mountain Food Market, the road will veer to the rights into Grand Lake (a wooden sign days “Welcome to Grand Lake”) veer left and follow the road for 2 miles to the end of the road to a parking lot, the trailhead is well marked.

Trail Information: This is an easy hike up to a beautiful waterfall. It is suitable for all ages. Be careful at the top of the waterfall as the water is fast and strong. Keep small children well away from the water’s edge at the falls and stay on the trail only. If you decide to, you can continue on another .5 miles past the falls in to an alpine meadow with gorgeous views of “Mt. Baldy” and ponds full of fish.

Special Trail regulations: This hike is in the Rocky Mountain National Park so no dogs or bikes are allowed.

Stay tuned next week for the third installation of the Winter Park Hike of the week.

Winter Park Hike of the Week No. 1

Ski out your back deck!

Yet another ski in/out condo joins  the Winter Park Lodging Company family this week – welcome, Zephyr 1215!  Located on the 1st floor of the Slopeside building, Zephyr Mountain Lodge 1215 boasts something no other condo in Grand County can – it’s truly the only ski in/out condo at Winter Park Resort since they added a gate on their back porch allowing you to ski right out to the slopes.

Any other condo at the resort requires you to walk down the hall and out the main back door to the slopes (ok, that’s not too tough of a task) but for bragging rights, this spot allows you to beat the others to the slopes and click in your bindings right off your back deck.

It has one bedroom with a queen bed and the living room has another sofa queen sleeper. Enjoy a private kitchen as all Zephyrs have and the outdoor hot tubs just 50 feet from your deck as well.

The condo also is right next to the new village in Winter Park which includes some of our favorite spots – get good margaritas at Lime, tasty beers and fries at the Cheeky Monk, delicious soups and breakfast burritos at the Back Bowl Soup Company and grab a t-shirt there too.  If any of you aren’t skiing the resort, you can also sign up for snowmobiling in the village at Grand Adventures.

The condo was just listed on our website and wide-open for bookings so email us at info@winterparklodgingcompany.com or call 1-877-329-1383 soon to get your spot in this guaranteed to be booked-up condo this winter!

Hot Sulphur Springs, CO is not the most original name out there but a telling name it is.  Hot Sulpher has been relaxing travelers for many, many years from as long back as the Ute Indians were running things up here in this part of Grand County.

The first inhabitants of the springs were the Ute Indians who used the hot springs for many years. The Utes believed in the healing qualities of the waters and referred to them as “big medicine” and “magic waters”, and bathed themselves, their horses and dogs, children and women in the water, in that order! The Ute Indians often set their winter hunting camps beneath the natural shelter offered by the bluffs enclosing Byers Canyon, which adjoins our property. In 1840 William Byers, for whom the canyon is named, became the first white man to discover the hot water at our little town, which he named Hot Sulphur Springs. Byers recognized the economic potential of the baths and the surrounding area. With the aid of the U.S. Cavalry and the courts, he acquired the land, somewhat deviously, from the Ute Tribe.

The resort has been continually operational for 140 years and in the 1920’s to 1950’s was one of the most popular hot springs resorts in the Rocky Mountain States. In 1997, after our extensive renovation, the Ute tribal spiritual leader blessed the waters at our opening ceremony that almost 1,000 people attended. The Ute Indians are welcome to use the springs once again. We are blessed by enjoying renewed recognition and attendance and are considered one of the best natural hot mineral springs resorts and spas in the country.

The mineral baths at Hot Sulphur Springs are a great place to spend a day.  It is nice kid friendly and a perfect place to relax after a day of skiing.

Here is a discount coupon for the mineral baths.  If you need transportation out to Hot Sulphur Springs be sure to call Curt at Valley Taxi.  They do run taxis out there and bring you back as well.

So, if you need a little relaxation in the Colorado Rockies look no further than the mineral baths in Hot Sulphur Springs.

Now is the time to get up to Winter Park, Colorado.  Deals are aplenty and the snow is starting to build up and get pretty good.  The Winter Park snow forecast calls for a few inches tomorrow and hopefully some more this weekend.

I was checking out some of the deals that the Winter Park/Fraser Valley Chamber of Commerce is running at local restaurants and I stumbled upon a whole new Welcome Back to Winter Park Program that they are running this year.  Some great deals from restaurants, retail stores and activities:

Winter Park, Colorado Restaurant Deals

Winter Park Colorado Activity Deals

Winter Park, Colorado Spas and Heath Services

You can see all the deals that are being offered at Welcome Back to Winter Park Deals.  Lots of ways to save money on your vacation to Winter Park or for you locals, that read my mindless drivel, there are some good deals here.

There is a section of deals that I left out about lodging, for obvious reasons.  However, Winter Park Lodging Company will match any published offer that any other Winter Park Vacation Rental Company is offering.  Mind you, this needs to be on comparable accommodations and comparable times.

We here at Winter Park Lodging Company can save you more and will give you better customer service than any of our Winter Park lodging competitors.  Check out all the Winter Park deals that WPLCO offers.

Don’t be hoodwinked.  Stay with the Winter Park locals not the Winter Park jokels!

When you book online, select the WINTER PARK VILLAGE as your pick up location.

BOOK ONLINE WITH WINTER PARK RESORT RENTALS NOW

Benefits

More than just ski rentals, when you rent with Winter Park Resort Rentals you also enjoy these extras:

• Free on-snow storage. Pick up your skis and poles on the way to the lift, then return them for overnight storage at the end of the day.
• Late pick up. Open until 9pm so you can stop by on your way into town the night you arrive. Or have them bring the mountain to you with Custom Delivery Service (see below).
• Lift ticket and lesson pick-up. Pick up your prepaid lift tickets or ski rental vouchers while you get fitted for skis.
• Purchase lift tickets. Buy your lift tickets when you pick up your skis. You can even use lift ticket coupons.
• FREE Kids Rentals. If you rent a performance or demo ski or snowboard package, you’ll get a free kids rental. One free kids rental per adult.
• Retail Discount Card. Get a discount card good for 10% off all Winter Park Resort Retail – waiting for you in your welcome gift bag. Also good for 10% off walk-in ski/board rentals and 40% off on overnight equipment storage.
• Additional gear such as goggles, snow clothes and helmets are available for rent.

Custom Delivery Service

Want to skip the lines? Rent with Winter Park Resort Rentals and you also have the option to add on Custom Delivery Service. With Custom Delivery Service, you’ll get the following:

• Delivery of your boots and a custom boot fitting by a ski technician.
• A claim ticket to present to the outdoor counter on the way to the lifts. They’ll have your skis & poles or snowboard outside waiting for you.
• Delivery of any pre-paid ski lessons or lift tickets so you’re ready to go.
• Storage of your regular shoes on the last day you ski, so you can drop off your boots at end of day and you can walk away in your shoes.
• If you’re using your own boots, they can come to you to discuss your ski choices and then take your boots back with them so you can pick them up in the morning with your skis.

This service is valued at $29.99 for up to four people and then $5 for each additional person. It’s well worth it if you’d like to skip the lines and save your time and energy enjoying more fun activities on your ski vacation in Winter Park.

Base Storage

This service is available to all guests of Winter Park Lodging Company, even if you don’t rent skis through the Winter Park Resort Rentals. Save up to 35% off of regular prices when you present your discount card that is provided to all guests in your welcome gift-bag. Normal prices are about $5.00/night.

If you have any questions, just call us at 877-329-1383 or email us at any time.

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