Grand County: Colorados Best Kept Winter Secret
Do you long to ski, but are short on budget? Is your patience significantly shorter than amount of time you spend waiting in lift lines? Were there too many people and too little open space on your last winter vacation? Then come closer, I have a secret to tell you. For great skiing plus an abundance of other winter activities, with even greater prices and no crowds, forget Vail, forget Aspen, do not pass go and do not collect $200.00. Go directly to Colorado's best kept secret, Grand County. Located about seventy miles north of Denver, Grand County has a simple down home beauty and charm. While there is little glitz and glamour, there is lots of great skiing, both downhill and Nordic, snowmobiling, snow shoeing, snow boarding, horseback riding, snow tubing and even snow biking!
Silver Creek Ski Resort
If it is alpine skiing, snow boarding or even snow biking, youare looking for, Silver Creek Resort is where you want to be. You may not have known before this article that you were looking for snow biking, but trust me, you are. It is easy to learn, non strenuous and it is a blast! Composed of two separate, but interconnected mountains, Silver Creek has 33 designated trails (30% beginner, 50% intermediate, 20% advanced) spread over 251 acres of skiable terrain. They feature an extensive childrens program, adult alpine ski, parabolic ski, Nordic ski and snow board school, full equipment rentals, NASTAR races, as well as a restaurant, lounge and shop.
One of the best things about Silver Creek is its lack of lift lines. We were amazed that in peak season we never had to stand in line more than a minute or two. Likewise, the slopes were not crowded, making it easy for everyone to go at their own pace.
Stay At The YMCA (of the Rockies)
Forget all your preconceived notions about what staying at the YMCA means. The YMCA of the Rockies is a resort! The Y is an especially wonderful place for families and large groups to stay.
Very affordable, the YMCA is a non profit organization, the group plans include meals. The 240 rooms at the Y house between one to six adults. There are also six and seven bedroom cabins available, and the Ys pride and joy, the Heritage Reunion Cabin which accommodates 40! Great inexpensive lodging that comes complete with breathtaking views of the Rocky Mountains are not the only reason to stay at the YMCA of the Rockies, however. There are tons of activities available, year round.
The Snowmobile Capitol Of The World
Snowmobile enthusiasts come to the towns of Grand Lake and Granby in droves. There are miles and miles of groomed back country trails that take you past some of the finest views in the United States. Don't worry if you do not have a snowmobile, there are numerous rental agencies scattered about the area. A great choice is On The Trail snowmobile rental in Grand Lake, which rents single and double snowmobiles with helmets, suits and boots furnished. Reservations are suggested, especially on weekends and holidays. Call 970-627-2429 or 970-627-0171.
Where To Eat
Thereis lots of dining options in Grand County, but do yourself a favor and take at least one evening for Dinner At The Barn. Hosted by the vivacious Annie, Dinner At The Barn is a full evening's entertainment combined with dinner. Your evening begins with a peaceful horsedrawn sleigh ride through snow covered woods and country meadows to the propertys original homestead and barn. You'll think you were transported into a Currier and Ives painting. Dinner itself is a hearty affair of country coooking favorites, although they do have a vegetarian option. After dinner there's live music with Annie and John on guitars, harmonicas, washboard and stump fiddle. When the merriment ends, you're bundled back into the sleigh for the ride back to civilization. For information or reservations for Dinner At The Barn call 970-726-4923. A little less of a production but even better food can be found at E.G's Garden Grill located at 1000 Grand Ave. in Grand Lake. In fact, E.G.s had the best food e found in all of Grand County. They have a casual atmosphere with an innovative, yet inexpensive menu and full bar. You can call them at 970-627-0118.
You'll also find numerous other restaurants and coffee shops to fit your needs. Donot forget to try some rocky mountain oysters while youare in the area if you don't know what these local delicacies are, well...ask a native or look it up in the FabulousFoods.com glossary. A good place to get Rocky Mountain Oysters is the Silver Spur Restaurant and Saloon in Granby (970-887-9556).
In addition to the already mentioned Inn At Silver Creek 800-SKI-SILV (800-754-7458), US or 970-887-3384) and YMCA of the Rockies (800-777-YMCA (US) or 970-586-4444 or visit their web site at http://www.ymcarockies.org), you'll find some great Bed and Breakfasts and smaller motels in Grand County. Thereis even camping at Winding River Resort (winter open dates are December 13 - January 1), which also features sleigh and trail rides. Call 970-627-3215. Morningstar Ranch is a wonderful bed and breakfast, especially suited for active people. You can cross country ski or snow shoe right out the front door and onto 105 kilometers of groomed trails and theyare located just ten minutes from Winter Park ski area. Hosts Karen and Dave will make sure your every need is taken acre of at this charming eight room facility. Another great feature of Morningstar Ranch is Karens home made bread at breakfast. Yum! For information or reservations call 800-875-9739 (US) or 970-726-4895 or you can email them at dwz@aol.com
How To Get To Grand County
No matter how you choose to get to Grand County, the scenery will be gorgeous. You can drive from Denver (about 70 miles) or other areas over US 40. Trains are another option. Amtrak (800-USA-RAIL) will take you to Granby. There's also two small airports for private planes, the McElroy Air Field (970-724-3360) or the Granby-Grand County Airport (970-887-3661).
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