Do we need a special vehicle to be able to drive safely in Winter Park. Should we rent a 4 wheel drive vehicle?
Answer: You will
rarely have to drive on more than 1 inch of snow. Between the state and Grand County, the roads are plowed constantly during
storms. Front wheel drive vehicles do just fine so unless you need the extra space afforded by the larger SUVs, a sedan should
work just fine.
What do we need to use the wireless internet system at Beaver Village.
You will need a laptop computer with a wireless
card. There are no Ethernet outlets in the condo – the system is entirely wireless. And, it provides channel level security
so you know your information is safe and cannot be seen by the people in the condo next door.
How long does it take to drive from DIA
Airport to the condo?
From the time you plane lands and you get your rental car, it takes about 2 hours to get to the condo in normal
traffic. If you hit Denver during morning or afternoon rush hour, it could take longer. Also, winter driving conditions
is a given in the mountains and it is best not to rush your trip by driving too fast for the road conditions.
Do you have any
special discounts for lift tickets?
We encourage guests to take advantage of special offers before the season opens. After November
1st, the prices of lift tickets is controlled by the ski area. Your best deal is to go to the ski area web site (see our links
page) and see if they are offering any specials.
Where do we go to get groceries and any other items we might need during our
visit?
We have a full size Safeway store in Fraser for food and some odds and ends. They also have a full service Pharmacy. Also in Fraser, we have an ALCO store that carries clothing and general merchandise. The ALCO store is about 1/4th the size
of a Wal-Mart. If you need to hit a Wal-Mart on the way to Winter Park, stop in Evergreen (exit of I-70). There is a Super
Wal-Mart there.
What is the best way to get to the ski area – shuttle or car?
A lot depends on how busy it is. During busy
times like the holidays, weekends, March, we strongly encourage you to use the free shuttle. Sure, it rides like a school bus
(because it is a school bus), but it is FREE, is very convenient, gives you the shortest walk to the lift and is fun too….you can
meet some interesting folks on “The Lift” as we call it. During quieter times, you can take your car and if you park in the
Vintage parking lot (the hotel near the base), you get to ride the new free Cabriolet lift to the village. In the next couple
years, we will be seeing a brand new parking garage at the base.
Can we take the Train to Winter Park?
Sure can – the Amtrak
comes to Fraser twice a day. Just let us know so we can arrange to have you picked up at the train station.
I don’t ski
– what are some other things you can do in Winter Park during the Winter Months?
There are lots of things to do other than skiing. Ever tried snow shoes – if you can walk, you can snowshoe. Depending on the depth of the snow, it is a good work out too. If you are not into downhill skiing, you might enjoy cross country skiing. We have two Nordic (cross country) ski areas – one
is at Devils Thumb Ranch – see the link on our “LINKS” page and we also have a Nordic Center at the YMCA of the Rockies. You
can explore some beautiful forested areas, see wildlife, and enjoy the great outdoors in the Colorado High Country. Other activities
include tubing (riding an inner tube down a hill) and going out on a Snowmobile trip. See the question below.
I want to ride
a Snowmobile – where do I go and what do they do?
We highly recommend Grand Adventures – they are located just across from the ski
area and while they offer a variety of options, we suggest the two hour Continental divide Adventure. This is what they say
on their web site: “The most popular snowmobile tour in the state is also Grand County’s only adventure tour to the Continental Divide.
The tour is for all abilities on wide regularly groomed trails. We follow the Historic “Moffat” railroad route to Corona Pass (weather
permitting). Tours top out at nearly 12,000 feet with views of the entire Winter park Ski area and the Fraser Valley. Play in a large
open bowl above timberline.” Grand adventures also has snow mobile adventures in Grand Lake. It is about a 45-50 minute
drive to Grand Lake.
We are thinking about visiting the Rocky Mountain National Park – how far is it and what things can we do there?
The
Kawuneeche Visitor Center and Park Entrance is the closest to Winter Park and is just adjacent to the town of Grand Lake. You
can cross country ski or go out on Snowshoes for miles and miles. You may see wildlife like Moose, Elk and Coyotes. Although
Trail Ridge Road is closed in Winter, you can drive about 20 miles into the park and get to areas where the Colorado river runs. These are great areas for going out on snow shoes or cross country skis. The peace and solitude you will find in our national
park cannot be described in words. Also, the Park Rangers do offer winter tours on cross country skis and on snow shoes. You can call the park - (970) 586-1206 - for more info or you can visit the web site using the link on our “links page” on this
web site.
What about summer activities – what is summer like in Winter Park?
In a word – AWESOME. The temperatures are moderate,
the humidity is low, and the skies are a blue that is hard to describe. Things to do – well, we do have four golf courses –
one with 27 holes that is not far from Fraser. We have lakes, more lakes and the largest natural lake in Colorado – Grand Lake. We have fishing and lots of beautiful streams (ever hear of the Colorado River). We also have the Fraser River – this was President
Eisenhower’s favorite summer fishing place. We have hiking and (did I forgot) – 600 miles of mountain bike trails. Rent
a bike or bring your own – up to you. 45 minutes away, we have the Rocky Mountain National Park (see the link on our “links”
page), we have hundreds of square miles to explore, trails everywhere at all levels, hundreds of Elk, Moose, Marmots, Pikas, and Coyotes
too. And (we think) we have some of the best Park Rangers in the nation who will take you on guided informative hikes to some
really neat places. The West side of the park is the quiet side – the East side (near Estes Park) is much more crowded. So enjoy a hike with a few friends and a ranger and see things you have never seen before. Enjoy learning about the unique nature
of life in these Rocky Mountains.