Winter Park, Colorado
Family fun is the big thing year-round at Winter Park. In the summer that means that nearly everything, from restaurants to mountain trails to in-town entertainment has something for all ages. Hiking and biking through the area can be as easy or as challenging as you want it to be, depending on the route you take. In the surrounding area there are over 600 miles of trails for mountain bikers, ensuring a great ride and plenty to explore. Beyond these active adventures, some attractions are just plain fun, like the 3,000-foot-long alpine slide and the mind-boggling human maze.
Though Winter Park is big on keeping its small town atmosphere, throughout the summer there are fun events large and small that keep the town hopping. Among the biggest are the Winter Park Jazz Festival and the Alpine ArtAffair. The family atmosphere is evident if you frequent the town's restaurants, where good food and a comfortable environment trump pomp and pretension. Get a bite to eat where the locals head by starting your day with a hearty, energizing breakfast at The Mountain Rose Café and ending with a filling pizza from Hernando's Pizza Pub. If you're craving a more upscale, romantic dining experience, try the fondue restaurant at Gasthaus Eichler or enjoy the views at the top of the mountain at The Lodge at Sunspot.
Although not the cheapest way to travel, the most luxurious and scenic way to get to Winter Park from Denver is by the ski train. Departing from Union Station early in the morning, the train allows a full day of skiing before its return trip. If driving is more your style, Winter Park is about 65 miles from Denver, on US-40 off of I-70. US-40 is narrow, steep and winding, so despite its apparently short distance on the map it takes a surprisingly long time to navigate even during good weather.
