Planning a Perfect Winter Park Vacation
This year, we are already seeing the snow fall while the Aspens are beautifully bright and colorful in places like Winter Park, Colorado. We’re thinking this means it’s going to be a very good winter and ski season. If you’re able, head up to Winter Park this autumn to see the Aspens. We recommend hiking trials near Meadow Creek Reservoir, James Peak Protection Area, and for a bit more of a challenge, Jones’ Pass takes you up a steep climb to above the tree line. IF you can’t make it until the 2013-2014 ski season, you’ll still have a chance to discover an incredible area that offers more than skiing or snowboarding.
Spend a Day on the Slopes
With 3,000 acres of skiable terrain, you truly could spend your entire vacation on the mountain exploring five terrain parks, racing against friends or family on a side-by-side timed course, taking free tours of the mountains, renting snowshoes for an outdoor hike, and tubing on their brand new course with four lanes open as late as 8PM.
Spend a Morning Swimming (Indoors, of course!)
Off the mountain, you’ll find plenty of family friendly options that are less expensive than resort activities. Just two miles north of Winter Park, the town of Fraser is home to the Granby Park Community Rec Center, with a natatorium that has a 20-foot loop slide, huge water play structures, and a full pool with diving boards. The center also has rock climbing, ice skating lessons, a sauna and workout facilities, and walk-in child care (that’s probably the best part, right?). This is not just a place for locals who pay membership fees, but a cheap way to spend the day with low rates and fun for each member of your family.
Spend an Afternoon Touring the Winter Park Area
Just across the street from the Winter Park Resort, you’ll find Grand Adventures (located in the Winter Park Hotel). We highly recommend spending a day outside exploring with snowmobile riding throughout the area. You can take a ride up to the Continental Divide, visit Grand Lake, and have access to hundreds of miles of trails. Your kids (and grown-ups too, let’s face it!) will love this outing. It’s just thrilling and you get a chance to see wildlife. Also, this is a great idea for a family or big group because you’ll get the experience of doing something together, but still have time away from crowds and other parties. You could even give your kids a huge thrill with the chance to drive on one of Grand Adventure’s mini snowmobiles, but for a day of exploring, driving with a child will be the most cost effective trip.
Finding the Perfect Lodging Accommodations
As always, your best bet to find discounted lodging for any area is to search for locally owned businesses. Check out Access Winter Park, who offers incredible Winter Park lodging options of all sizes at discount rates throughout the fall and winter seasons. Access Winter Park is an example of a smaller company that might not be on your radar because other companies appear first in the search engines. But they are locally owned and operated, offer private homes and condos close to the ski resort or away from the crowds, everything you’d need or want out of a perfect vacation rental.
