Anyone (Robbie?) have any suggestions on best place to stay in Winter Park? Have never skiied, want to try it, but also interested in sleigh rides, dog sled rides, tubing etc. Which resort is the best location? I'm confused from so many options. Iron Horse Resort, Zephyr Mountain Lodge, other?? Help!

I don't know those lodges, but Winter Park is not that large of a town. Stay at the main entrance rather near Mary Jane (Iron Horse?). I'm guessing those lodges are the new lodges. If so, they look very nice from the road. Tubing is at Frazier.

Where is Frazier?

Frasier is just outside of Winter Park - not more than 10 miles. The tubing hill is really fun!!

Hi Marie,
We've never stayed at Iron Horse Resort but it looks great and is well situated.I agree with the other comment re the size of Winter Park.It is great for skiing but if you want to do lots of other snow-things perhaps you need to try a larger resort?
Go with your gut reaction and have a great time!

We stayed at the new Best Western across the street from Winter Park Resort. Room was nice, great view of the mountains from restaurant. While in Winter Park check out the German restaurant-wonderful.

If you check out their website, you'll see the WP ski area has new condos (Zephyr?) at the WP base of the mountain (there is also a Mary Jane base with no lodging). The new condos are pretty much ski-in ski-out. The base area has a couple of restaurants and small shops, but not what I think of as a resort. Iron Horse is located on a road close to the base. The ski area offers skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling (after skiing ends for the day), snowcat rides, and gondola to the mountaintop restaurant for dinner.

A couple of miles up the highway is the town of Winter Park--lots of condos, motels, restaurants, shops. Near town are snowmobile rides.

Further up the road maybe 10 miles is Frasier, another town. It has more condos, grocery store, nearby tubing hill, nearby sleigh rides, snocats, etc.

Still further is Devils Thumb Ranch and other operations that offer sleigh rides, cross country skiing, and other activities.

So, you will be doing some driving or bus riding no matter what location you choose at WP. We usually opt to stay in town of WP in motel or condo close to grocery and restaurants for the evening (cheap). Then when go to the ski area (car or bus) we stay for the day. We then drive to any other activities in the evening or on non-ski days. You will pay more to stay at the base because you can then go back to your condo from the ski slopes during the day without having to catch a bus or drive. That would be handy if some of your group want to ski all day and others want to relax--easier to meet up during the day.

You can find many photos and descriptions of condos from the owners at such sites as vrbo.com and vacationspot.com. The people at the central reservations for WP resort are also usually very friendly and helpful in describing all the lodgings they represent.

Kay,
Finally someone giving me the info I'm looking for! We are 50ish, from the south, never skiied & hardly ever even seen snow. We will take lessons & try it but I don't see us "up on the slopes" all day long every day. So not sure as to whether to stay in town or at a ski in/ski out.
Also, wondering if Beaver Creek would be a better choice than Winter Park? For us, the sleigh & dog sled rides & tubing are as important as the skiing.
Yes, I have been doing extensive research - so are you saying to get to do anything other than skiing I have to take a bus several miles up the road? The info I got led me to believe it was all available right there in WP.
Where is the best ski area with all these things & easily accessible from an airport??? Many thanks for any replies!

I can't comment on the best all around compact resort--you would probably find comments on some of the ski boards such as iski.com, goski.com, and skitown.com. I don't know that a resort has skiing, sleigh rides, dog sledding, and tubing all based at the same area--most are talking about the ski resort "area", not one property. But we have gone snowmobiling, tubing, and snowcat touring each one time at WP. Indeed, you cannot walk from the ski base to the tubing or sleigh rides. The only activities "at the mountain" are skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, snowcat ride, and gondola to dinner. The other activites you mention are a drive/bus ride away.

We have been to Keystone and Breckenridge, but just to ski. At Keystone you ride the lift up to the area that has tubing on the ski mountain. I am sure the other activities are offered in the area, but not within walking distance from the base. There's a large outdoor skating rink there, but it is also a drive/ride from the ski base.

It depends on how you define WP as to whether all the activities are available there--they promote the ski area, town of WP, and town of Frasier as all one destination, but they are not adjacent. There is regular bus service (school buses) throughout the area, otherwise you can hire the local taxi or bring a car to get around.

Thanks, Kay!

I am curious if anyone knows of a rather compact or self contained resort that offers the type of experience Marie is asking for? I would love to know of a "winter wonderland" where a couple of adults could go to ski, sleigh, skate, etc. all within a relatively small area. Not a day ski area, but all activities in a relatively undeveloped setting. Am I being too much of a romantic?