Here’s the best part: Rudi’s Deli is going to be offering HALF OFF their ENTIRE MENU from ski season opening day, Nov. 18, through Thanksgiving day. Take advantage of that deal to try a couple new additions to the menu, including 3 new entree salads (Ahi, Greek, Chef’s, and Pasta salad with tomato, edamame, and feta), 3 new soups (stop in to find out!), and a new Ultimate veggie wrap. Don’t forget that Rudi’s also offers tasty burritos and bagels for breakfast, as well as coffee from the famed Rocky Mountain Roastery. New winter hours are 10 am to 8 pm every day. Check out the website for the complete menu!

www.winterparkdeli.com

600+ miles of designated trails, eight major loop arteries, thousands of backcountry roads, this is what makes the Winter Park area a haven for bikers.  A couple of my favorites:

• Long Trailwinds up from the base through aspens and lodgepole pines with beautiful views of Fraser Valley
• Upper Roof of the Rockies  another ride with amazing views that climbs to over 11,000 feet
• Tipperary and Spruce Creek another great choice. Follow highway 40 to County Road 5 to County Road 50 to the Tipperary trailhead. The trail winds up through mountain meadows then down to RD160 from where you can take other trails or head back

• Sunken Bridges  

The Fat Tire Classic also makes it’s return to Winter Park after a two year absence.  This is one of the most fun mountain bike events of the year and this year they are limiting ridership to 800 people.  Sign up now before it is too late.  The event now benefits both The National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD) and the American Red Cross.  Dates for the evnt are July 17th to July 19th, 2009.  Info can be found at  Fat Tire Mountain Bike Classic.

I was standing in line yesterday at The Zephyr Mountain Lodge to get a key reprogrammed for our condo there and I overheard a guest asking about night skiing here in the Fraser Valley.  Aaaha, another subject for the Winter Park Lodging by Owner blog.  SolVista Basin is open for night skiing and tubing on select Saturday evenings this winter from 5pm-8pm.  Cost for night skiing is $10 per person, tubing is $10 per person or a combo ticket for $15 per person. Season pass holders at SolVista can night ski or tube for free. Scheduled night skiing and tubing dates include: Dec. 26, 27, 28, Jan. 2, 3, 17, 31, Feb. 14, 28, Mar. 14, 28.   So there is one date left for the 2008/2009 ski season and that is March 28th.  Information can be found by calling 888-283-7458.

Only one night of night skiing left here in Grand County so get your last turns in for the year!

After just getting some fresh snow, it’s hard to believe that we are looking towards summer and golf season.  Grand County boasts 4 fantastic  golf courses, and they are all planning to open sometime between May 1 and 15, depending on the weather. It’s time to polish your clubs and wash your balls, golf season is just around the corner in Grand County.  Your stay in a Winter Park Lodging By Owner property is sure to be a Hole in 1!!

HEADWATERS

POLE CREEK

Pole Creek Golf Club offers 27 holes of nationally-ranked golf.  Golf Digest says it’s the #1 place to play in Colorado. The magnificent peaks of the Continental Divide serve as a backdrop for many spectacular holes. With a new irrigation system, new golf carts and a brand new clubhouse, Pole Creek has a completely fresh image and attitude. Multiple tees assure a challenge for all, so pick any two combinations of 9-holes and experience award-winning, championship golf and scenery at 8,600 feet. Call 970-887-9195, or 800-511-5076 or check out their web site, http://www.polecreekgolf.com/, to make your tee time online.

 
GRAND ELK

Designed by two great names in golf, Craig Stadler, and Tripp Davis, Grand Elk is a golfer’s masterpiece with the flavor of Scottish links. Grand Elk boasts gently rolling fairways and strategically placed hazards. Five sets of tees provide plenty of choices for all levels of golfers. Call 970-887-9122, or 877-389-9333 or check out the website, http://www.grandelk.com/golfcourse.asp,  to make a tee time.

 

GRAND LAKE

Picture an 18-hole championship course at an elevation of 8,420 feet with the peaks of the Never Summer Range of Rocky Mountain National Park commanding your view on the #1 tee box. Designed by Dick Phelps, the course offers narrowly rolling, well-tended fairways with subtle greens.  The majestic Rocky Mountains tower high above offering exclusive and panoramic views.  Call 970.627.8008, or 800.551.8580, or check out the web site, http://www.grandlakerecreation.com/, to make your tee time. 

 Call Winter Park Lodging By Owner now to make your lodging arrangements and plan your golf adventure. 877.329.1383

Sign in front

You feel like you stepped out of Granby and into downtown Denver as soon as you go through the front door. Dino Kaplanis, the chef, and his wife, Amy,  have certainly created an inviting dinner spot with relaxing atmosphere, delicious food, and an affordable wine list. 
 

Located in what was once the home furnishings store, you are instantly welcomed when you walk through the door. The fantastic fireplace surrounded by comfy chairs is a great spot to enjoy a cocktail before or after dinner. The friendly staff ushers you in with such warmth that everyone feels like a local.

The menu focuses mainly on Greek dishes and dishes with a Mediterranean twist. We sampled a   few different entrees and enjoyed them all. The baby lamb chops, served in a smaller portion, were tender and juicy. The perfect size serving  to

Relaxing by the fire at Brickhouse 40

 enjoy with the fresh Greek salad. Yia Yia’s Pasta with red sauce was a yummy blend of Mediterranean flavors, and the serving  was so large we took some home.  But it was the Chicken Milanese that stole the show. It was sooooo tender and served with a duo of sauces that complimented each other and the chicken perfectly. I don’t have to tell you that there were no leftovers on my plate, even though the portion was quite healthy. We finished off the meal with Loukamathis, Greek donut holes. They were just the right amount of sweet and fluffy goodness to go with our Ouzo shots. Dino joined us for a toast and wanted to make sure I told everyone “The Ouzo flows freely here!”

They are open every day for lunch, 11-2. Dinner hours are Monday through Thursday, 5-9, and Friday and Saturday, 5-10.  I’m also looking forward to brunch on Sunday, 10-2. They have an omelet bar, my favorite! Make sure to check it out, because it’s worth the drive “all the way to Granby”!

The good grub

Give them a call at (970) 887 3505 to make a reservation.  Check out the web site to see the full menu and upcoming events

http://www.brickhouse40.com/Menu.html.

Aahhhhh!! this is going to be cold!

Spring Slash is coming upon us soon.  On April 19th the official Coca-Cola Winter Park Spring Splash, celebrating the last day the ski resort is open, will mark it’s 41st year.  Wow!  I guess they started it the year I was born.  The race will start at noon at the base of Winter Park with the athletes rideing and skiing the lower part of Larry Sale.  Registeration starts at 8:30am the day of the race.  There will be live music in the plaza from 2:30pm to 6:00pm.  It is a great day for the whole family to celebrate the close of an awesome ski season.  Details can be found at the Winter Park Fraser Chamber of Commerce website http://www.winterpark-info.com/index.aspx?sectionDirectory=events&eventID=1915

Over on the Mary Jane side of the resort is the unofficial Spring Splash.  Not for the whole family, this is the locals way of saying lets get it on summer!  Live music, lots of BBQ and more adult beverages than can be named.  This is a rip roaring good time and it isn’t so tame.  Very crowded later in the day and the Winter Park/Fraser Police have showed up the last few years so be sure to get a ride from the Valley Taxi guys.  Their website is http://www.winterparktaxi.com/

With all the snow on the ground up here in Winter Park it is a little hard to think about golf at this time but we have been having some warm days up here this week so my my mind is starting to make the spring switch.  Here in the Rocky Mountains it seems we go from  one week of spring skiing at Winter Park Resort and the next week playing golf at Pole Creek Golf Club (do you play golf or just golf?).  I think the three nine hole courses are out of this world.  Sarah and I live only a three minute drive from the clubhouse which makes it all the better.

Here is a brief description of the course from Pole Creek’s website http://www.polecreekgolf.com/index.html:

“Pole Creek Golf Club is one of the few public 27-hole courses in Colorado and the only one in Grand County. Pole Creek’s 7,107-yard course meanders through lush fields replete with native wildflowers, drastic elevation changes, vast bent greens and water challenge shots over two ponds and five lakes. The Ridge 9 course challenges experts to a rigorous game with 3,603-yard shots and tree-lined holes, while the mellower Meadow 9 and Ranch 9 - indulge all playing levels. All three courses play to par 36. Pole Creek Colorado Golf Course is a member of the Colorado Golf Association.”

Here are some of the awards the course has won in the last few years:

2006 – Zagat Survey –  Best course to play in the Rocky Mountain Region including CO, ID, MT, NV, UT & WY.

2005 – Avid Golfer Magazine:     

1. 5th best course to bring out of town guests
2. Best Finishing hole #9 Ridge
3. 2nd Place – Best Public Mountain Course
4. 3rd Place – Best Golf Course in the $50-$99 range
5. 4th Place – Most Scenic Course (public or Resort)
6. 3rd Place – Most underrated Golf Course (public or resort)

2004 – Denver Post, Colorado Peaks – Best Mountain Golf Course

2003 – Rocky Mountain News – Top Mountain Golf Course – Top of the Rockies Award

1995 – Golf Digest – Americas 500 best places you can play – Colorado #1 Pole Creek

The clubhouse restaurant is Bistro 28 at Pole Creek Golf Club.  The Sunday brunch is fantastic!  They have remodled the clubhouse and bar this year so we will keep you posted how that turned out when they open up here in a couple of months.

Pole Creek Golf Club is also a great place for weddings.  From our back deck of our house we can hear the celebrations going on over at the Club.

We here at Winter Park Lodging by Owner (WPLBO) are looking to partner with Pole Creek in the near future.  In the mean time we will match any of their summer play and stay deals.

Now lets go hit the driving range and wash the winter rust off the swing!

1. Tabernash Tavern - upscale comfort food with quality that you can’t believe here in Tabernash.  Great atmosphere also.  It has taken over from Devil’s Thumb Ranch as our upscale favorite!  Cheaper too!!
2. Hernando’s Pizza - an old time favorite that just seems to keep getting it right.  They have the all time best Hawiian Pizza with sliced almonds.
3. Mirasol Cantina - Great margaritas and a dynamite salsa bar.  Try the lamb tacos, they are fantastic!
4. Sushi Bar - Great sushi in the mountains and the best staff around.  Say hey to Jill our favorite bartender.  She can whip up a mean Maker’s Mark Manhattan.
5. The Winter Park Pub  - Sometimes you need to get down and dirty with some live music and draft beer.  If it was an epic day on the slopes don’t forget the Jager.  Give Jeff, the owner, a holler tell him his WPLBO neighbors sent you over.
6. Azteca Mexican Restaurant  – Family style mexican with good margaritas.  They have a nice patio for the summer and great salsa.
7. Rudi’s Deli - Best sandwiches in Winter Park and Tim the owner is a great guy.  Talk a little politics with Tim as you chow down your “Holiday on a bun” – my favorite.
8. Fontenot’s – A little cajun up in the Colorado Rocky Mountains.  Great gumbo and jambalaya and they put up with our food throwing twins!
9. Lime – They were one of our competitors in Denver but now I’m outta that biz we can recommend them freely.  Brand new in the Winter Park Village but the three times we’ve been there food and margs have been great.  They do need to figure out their heat/cold issues with the front door though.
10. The Cheeky Monk  - They opened Feb 28th and we tried it out already. AWESOME! Big red walls with vaulted ceilings and Belgium-like chandeliers, it really does feel like a Belgium ski lodge. Hang on, is there skiing in Belgium?  Anyway, it’s worth going and mention Winter Park Lodging By Owner.  You get a free Blanche De Bruxelles draft with any purchase when you mention our name.   

For anyone who has spent time in Tabernash (little town near Winter Park, Colorado) would not expect a fancy, fabulous restaurant to be downtown, but that’s just what has appeared in the last few months. Chris and I went there last week and were astonished – great decor, fabulous food, and fun service. I got the pork tenderloin and it was really tasty. We started with a cheese plate. Felt like I was in France again (with ski stuff all around). Delicious with some red wine we had to celebrate Chris’s 41st birthday! Oops, don’t tell him I gave away his young age. Definitely recommend it. I’ll post a photo and menu of it here soon when I get one.