A couple weekends ago, the family and I headed to Winter Park for a little staycation. If you are a skier or snowboarder then you probably know that Winter Park Resort is a great destination...especially this year with all the awesome snow they have been getting. But did you know that Winter Park is an all-around family-friendly town?
We stayed at The Olympia Lodge. Truth be told, we chose it because it was the only place I could find that would allow our furry child to stay with us. Luckily it was perfect for my family, and would have been even without the dog. The room had a fridge and a microwave, and a small dining table with two chairs. There was no coffee maker in the room, but the motel does offer a free continental breakfast (very basic).
We were able to park right in front of the room, which was really convenient for unloading and loading the car. The Olympia has a pool and hot tub, but we never used them; they were only open from 4pm-10pm and my kiddos were too worn out after skiing. The beds were comfortable, the room was clean, and the owners were super-friendly and nice. The Olympia is not a high-end hotel, but we were completely comfortable there.
The room we stayed in had two separate bedrooms with a queen-size bed and TV in each (but no DVD players). The back bedroom could be closed off with a sliding pocket door. The bathroom had a tub and shower. Toiletries were very basic - the shampoo and conditioner were in singe-serving foil packets, and the soap was nothing great...but since you'd be driving over from the front range anyway, it's no big deal to bring your own. You may also wish to bring your own drinking cups, as we were given only four flimsy plastic cups in our room. (I'm sure we could have requested more, though.) Be sure to also bring your own pen and paper, as there was not any in our room.
The Olympia is located within walking distance to the downtown restaurants, playground, coffee shops, etc...although this could be a loong walk if your kiddo is pokey. :) The free shuttle that runs during ski season to the ski area and around town stops right across the street (northbound) and a few hundred yards north (southbound). There is a laundromat within walking distance, which is good to know when traveling with kids. It cost me $5.50 to do one load of laundry, including detergent.
Winter Park is kid- and dog-friendly, with tons of outdoor activities no matter what the season. We discovered a small, groomed sledding hill, with sleds provided, for ages 8 and under. My boys had a great time there while my husband and I enjoyed the propane-fueled firepits alongside the hill. This hill is just behind Hideaway Park, which looks like it would be a great playground in non-snowy months. When we went, the snow was piled up a couple feet high (yep, that's it in the picture).
Family-friendly dining is easy to find in Winter Park. Casa Mexico has delicious - you guessed it - Mexican food and yummy, spicy salsa. There is free, covered parking right next to the restaurant. We had to wait a bit for a table, but it wasn't too long, and the wait was well worth it.
The Foundry is a cool place with bowling, a movie theater, games, and food. The bowling/games/eating area is nice and open, and the families we went there with felt comfortable letting the kiddos kind of do their own thing (youngest ones were in Kindergarten). I thought the food was really good, and I loved the decor. If you go for bowling, make reservations ahead of time. We reserved two lanes a few days ahead, and didn't have a lot of available time slots from which to choose.
We ate breakfast one day at Mountain Rose Cafe, right next door to our hotel, and at Carvers the other day. Mountain Rose was good, but Carvers was something special. I will definitely be eating there on my next trip to the area.
One of the family-friendly attractions I did not get to visit this time around was the Grand Park Rec Center. It looks like it would be really fun for everyone, featuring:
- pool with slide & play structure
- climbing wall
- indoor track
- workout equipment
- drop-in childcare
- lobby area with fireplace, TV and game table
There's a big meadow behind the rec center that is great for cross country skiing or dog walking (my girl had a blast playing in the snow). In the summer, when it's not covered with snow, it’s a Frisbee golf course.
Macaroni Kid Winter Park, anyone??
