I abhor cold weather, I am an embarrassingly slow skier and driving up winding switchbacks makes me anxious. Even with all this working against me, I still love visiting Winter Park, CO. As a previous resident of Denver, CO I had my pick of ski resorts: Breckenridge, Vail, Keystone, Copper Mountain, but Winter Park was always at the top of my list. It is the closest ski town to Denver, affordable and least pretentious: the town isn’t trying to be something it’s not. If your winter vacation takes you to Colorado, consider taking a trip to Winter Park.
Lodging
Since money is usually an issue for me, I find myself staying in an affordable hotel in the nearby town of Fraser. There are plenty to choose from, but I’d recommend booking in advance in the winter months. If money isn’t an object, then I recommend staying in Winter Park Village at the foot of the ski hill. All of the lodges are gorgeous, some have hot tubs on the patio and most look out onto the slopes: you can literally put your skis on right outside your door and hop on the chairlift. Another option is to rent from a homeowner using Vacation Rental By Owner (VRBO), or Home Away.
Activities
If you aren’t a skier, don’t fret. In the nearby town of Hot Sulphur Springs, there are, surprisingly, hot sulphur springs. Only 30 minutes from Winter Park, the spa boasts 21 mineral pools, most of which are outdoors. The cost is $17.50 for adults and $2.00 for towel rentals. I once visited the spa in the dead of winter in the midst of a wet, heavy snowfall, and let me tell you – sitting in a mineral bath, outdoors, in the Rockies, watching the snow drift down, is one of the most peaceful experiences a person can have. If you are a skier, then by all means, go skiing. Winter Park has a wonderful ski hill. If you don’t have your own ski’s/snowboard, I recommend renting from Christy Sports. A basic ski package (with advance reservation) is only $12.76 as opposed to the resort rate of $30.00. Yes, you’ll have to transport your equipment to the slopes, but the price difference is worth the minor inconvenience.
Dining
There are plenty of fine (and not so fine) eating establishments in Winter Park and Fraser. One that I’ve found to be consistently sensible is Randi’s Irish Grill and Pub. The food is good, they have a decent beer selection and the price is average. The downside is this place can get crazy busy. For a more upscale experience, check out Deno’s Mountain Bistro and if you enjoy the live music scene, check out Winter Park Pub.