Winter Park questions
 

Please clue me in to the nicest places to stay in winter park...great views my number one interest. I will be going in the summer, so I assume almost everything will be somewhat affordable. Also shopping and dining suggestions, please.

I'll be there to mountain bike, so if anyone happens to have trail recommendations or favorite bike shops, let me have 'em!

Thanks in advance

ttt

You will find great mountain biking in Winter Park. My husband rides his bike from our place there. He likes Snow Mountain Ranch's trails, also one that goes from the top of Winter Park Highlands over to Silvercreek. You can rent bikes at Snow Mountain Ranch, or seek fix-it expertise there.

Snow Mountain Ranch is a YMCA of the Rockies facility, and has an assortment of nice and reasonably-priced cabins and other housing, if you reserve early. It's in a beautiful setting, away from it all, with lots of trails and things to do, including horses, simple food grills, indoor roller rink, swimming pool and basketball/volleyball court, miniature golf, etc. It's a down-home place with lots of Colorado cache. We Nordic ski there often in the winter time, on the same trails used for biking in the summer. Beautiful panoramic views, plenty of solitude.

I think you'll find lots of trails and suggestions once you get to Winter Park. Much will depend on how much snow is still on the trails, and what month you'll be here.

For shopping, nothing glitzy is offered in Winter Park or nearby towns. It's not like Vail or Aspen-- much lower-keyed. You will find great sporting goods, and a few trinkets, that's about it.

For dining, best pizza anywhere is at Hernando's in Winter Park. For good barbecue, try Smokin' Moe's in town. Deno's, also right in town, is always hopping with locals, but I always find it too smoky, outdated, and mediocre for food. The Ranch House restaurant at Devil's Thumb, if they have a good chef again, is a beautiful small place for a special dinner looking out at open country, usually featuring game dishes.

For a really special dinner experience, I highly recommend that you drive about 30 minutes to Grand Lake Lodge-- an elegant old historic log building, with a gorgeous veranda overlooking that beautiful alpine lake. Can't beat the view and the food is always superb. You could ask about their cabin availability, if you want to stay there. It's rustic, but with a nice pool and an unbeatable authentic Colorado feel. Should be plenty of biking trails near there, too.

It's also fun to rent a speedboat on Lake Granby/Grand Lake for a couple of hours on a sunny day. A summertime Rocky Mountain high.

Any other questions, just ask. We have spent lots of time over the past 20 years at our get-away home in Winter Park. We love it there.

Maureen -

Thanks for the great info. A couple more questions if you don't mind:

What is the earliest you think we could go in the some and have dry trails to ride? I don't want to go in spring mud right after the snow melts.

Can you suggest some other lodging possibilities? What are the more upscale places in town? Either hotels or b&bs I suppose.

Thanks for the Grand Lake idea, I'll look into both the speedboating and the restaurant.

If you want the best chance for dry trails, come in August-- springtime in the Rockies is mud season. And, believe it or not, we've seen snow on July 4th in Winter Park! But August (even Sept and Oct) are usually warm and dry.
Winter Park in general isn't upscale, but I know The Vintage, adjacent to the downhill area, is a nice hotel and restaurant. Although I've heard it's changing to condos sometime soon, so might be under construction this summer.
The Beaver Lodge has an older lodge (needs updating) plus newer condos. It's between the downhill area and the town of WP.
The original Silvercreek condo complex is nice enough-- also needs updating, but it has an outdoor pool, gift shops, nice restaurant and pub. It's between Winter Park and Granby.
Just north of WP is Meadow Ridge-- a sprawling complex of simple condos with a pool and restaurant. Good views from up there.
Try Destinations West for a condo rental. We used them when we owned a rental years ago, and they specialize in more upscale places. Tell Diane I sent you (I think she's still owner).
You can also try Winter Park Central Reservations, but it's a bigger and less personal operation.
Have fun!

Destinations West website is
http://www.mtnlodging.com/

I think it's your best bet.
Feel free to ask me any other questions you want.