A Grand Time in Grand County: Winter Park, Grand Lake, Granby & More / COME TO LIFE 1 DAY 1 Start your voyage in Winter Park with a chairlift ride to 10,700 feet above sea level. Once the snow melts, Colorado’s longest continu-ally operated ski resort becomes a summer playground, and the swift Zephyr Express lift will take you to mountaintop views of the Continental Divide and the Fraser Valley in just six minutes. Downhill bikers flock to the resort for its ramps, jumps and top-to-bottom terrain, while the alpine slide (2) sends summer sledders down the mountain on more than 3,000 feet of bob-sled-like track. The adventure continues with a climbing wall, 18 holes of mini-golf, bungee trampolines and a giant maze, along with an events calendar chock full of music and beer festivals, a chili cook-off and kid-friendly outdoor movie nights. Or head to Snow Mountain Ranch in Granby to experience the spectacle of their new summer tubing hill and other family activities. The town of Winter Park also bustles year-round; don’t miss the free summertime concerts at Hideaway Park downtown or the new Foundry Cinema & Bowl to enjoy craft cocktails and wood-fired pizza while you bowl and watch movies. Other new dining and imbibing options include Caffe Giocondo, The Peak Bistro & Brewery and Hideaway Park Brewery. In the afternoon, go north to the laid-back county seat of Grand Lake , where hints of the village’s Western character are revealed in its historic boardwalks and hitching posts alongside the parking spots. As Colorado’s deepest and largest natural lake, Grand Lake attracts summer fun-seekers looking to water ski, fish, sail or relax on the beach. Rent a boat and take leisurely laps on the water, look up for eagles and down for trout. Take a mile-long hike to beautiful Adams Falls (1) , which feeds into the lake. This area is the western entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park and one of the state’s most popular areas for viewing moose and other wildlife. Or explore the area’s four mountain golf courses, where you’ll tee off amid inspiring scenery (and your ball will fly farther through our thin air). Catch an evening show at Grand Lake’s Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre, which presents a lineup of Broadway favorites and will have you whistling show tunes throughout your Rocky Mountain excursion. FROM TOP: ADAMS FALLS IN ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK, MILE/ANDREA BUROLLA; WINTER PARK RESORT. A GRAND TIME IN GRAND COUNTY: WINTER PARK, GRAND LAKE, GRANBY & MORE 2 COLORADO Deep lakes, thick forests and friendly attitudes define this expansive, mountainous county. Hot springs, outdoor adventure and Rocky Mountain National Park are just the tip of the must-do list. QUICK TIP For those who like to play in the water, the new Gore Canyon Whitewater Park south of Kremmling has park-and-play features for kayakers and stand-up paddleboarders. COLORADO.COM / 157
Colorado Official State Vacation Guide 2017: Page 157
