Embrace Summer in the Mountains with Some of Our Favorite Grand County Date Nights!

Dinner and a movie is a tried and true date night - our small towns have plenty of amazing options for dinner and even a movie theater. But the outdoor adventures and unique opportunities here in Grand County make it easy to get creative with a night out, especially in the summer. We've put together a few of our favorites to help you spice things up or really impress on that first date! 

FRASER RIVER TRAIL TO WINTER PARK RESORT

Take an easy ride or stroll on the paved Fraser River Trail from downtown Winter Park to Winter Park Resort. The gentle, rolling trail weaves along the Fraser River through thick forested areas and the Idlewild Campground. When you make it to the resort, grab some ice cream, drinks, or dinner before cruising back down as the sun sets.

SUNSPOT HIKE

Start at the base of Winter Park Resort and hike up to the summit at Sunspot Lodge. Take the Ute Trail just under the Gondola for a two-mile hike with about 1500 feet of elevation gain. Sit out on the deck, soak up the sun, and enjoy panoramic views of the Continental Divide. They typically close at 2pm, so if you're looking for an evening outing, be sure to go on a Friday or Saturday for Mountaintop Happy Hour (4 - 7pm), with live music scheduled on Saturdays all summer long. Hop on the Gondola for a free ride back to the base!

PADDLEBOARD + PICNIC

Pack a cooler with drinks and dinner, load up a couple paddle boards, and head to one of our mountain lakes. Grand Lake, Shadow Mountain Lake, and Lake Granby are all easily accessed off Highway 34 and offer breathtaking views and miles of open water to explore. Monarch Lake, Willow Creek Reservoir, and Meadow Creek Reservoir welcome non-motorized boating, making them especially peaceful. 

Check out Icebox Mountain Sports, Rocky Mountain SUP, or Grand Lake Marina if you need to rent a board or two!

MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDE + HAPPY HOUR

Choose your own adventure on any of the mountain back trails here in the Fraser Valley! From a mellow loop on Creekside and Flume in Fraser's Experimental Forest to an hours-long excursion on the Idlewild trails west of Winter Park, you can find something for all ability levels. COTREX is a great resource for local trails, or read more about our favorite rides here and here. Feel reach out if for a recommendation if you're not quite sure where to go - we'd love to point you in the right direction! 

SOAK IN THE HOT SPRINGS

If you're looking for a more date night, Hot Sulphur Springs Resort & Spa offers the epitome of relaxation. Soak in the natural hot springs with twenty different pools of varying size and temperature. Then, grab dinner at Dean Public House. If you're coming from Winter Park or Fraser, take the scenic drive over Cottonwood Pass through aspen groves and pine forests with beautiful mountain views. Turn off Highway 40 about 4 miles southeast of Granby, and you'll eventually loop west around to the town of Hot Sulphur Springs.

SUNSET HIKE TO BROOME HUT

Ready to experience views that don't stop at 11,350ft while the sun sets over the majestic mountains? Take the steep (but oh-so-worth-it) one-mile hike from the Second Creek Trailhead on Berthoud Pass up to the Broome Hut. There are plenty of places to set up a picnic (that tastes even better since you had to work to pack it all in!) and enjoy the views as the sun sets over the mountains. Remember to pack layers and a headlamp or flashlight for the hike down! 

DRIVING RANGE + DINNER

Whether you've never picked up a golf club or you're an avid golfer, an evening at the driving range is always a blast. We love Pole Creek Golf right in The Fairways neighborhood in Tabernash - the breathtaking views of the Continental Divide followed by dinner on the patio at Bistro 28, Pole Creek's on-site restaurant just give off all our favorite summer vibes. 

THE THEATRE

Take in a show at Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre in Grand Lake. Their professional, Broadway-style live performances run all summer long. You can even pack in a paddle board on the lake and dinner in town before the show starts! 

DISC GOLF

Check out one of Grand County's disc golf courses. Play a round at Grand Lake's 18-Hole Disc Golf Course - you can buy discs and bags at the golf course pro shop. YMCA's Snow Mountain Ranch also has a great course. Bring your own discs or rent them at the Program Building. Note: you'll need a day pass to use the course. If you're not a member, you can buy a pass at the Program Building or use your Grand County Library District's Access Grand to get a free pass for up to four people. Hot Sulphur Springs also has a disc golf course - you can play a few holes before you go soak in the hot springs! 

LIVE OUTDOOR MUSIC

Pack a picnic and check out some free live music this summer! Fraser hosts Picnic in the Park every Tuesday; Granby Ranch hosts its Summer Nights series every Wednesday; Granby hosts Music & Market every Thursday; High Note Thursdays happens every Thursday at Rendezvous Event Center in Winter Park; and Cooper Creek Square has live music on Fridays and Saturdays. 

STARGAZING

The night sky doesn't get much better than it does here the high country of the Rocky Mountains! Whether you cruise up Vasquez Road in Winter Park and set up just off a forest service road or drive out to Rocky Mountain National Park, the unpolluted sky at elevation is truly breathtaking. And we think the views of the Milky Way from RMNP are worth the drive! If you're out that way, we suggest grabbing dinner at One Love Rum Kitchen on Grand Lake's boardwalk before you head to the park. 

FISHING

Whether you're tossing in a line off a boat in the lake or wading in the river with your fly rod, the peacefulness you can experience fishing is almost unparalleled. So pack a cooler and a picnic - you can set up some camp chairs at a spot along the river or on the shores of a lake. Or throw everything into a boat or kayak and find the perfect spot to throw a line in and soak in the mountain views this summer! Check out these tips, tricks, and locations for fishing Grand County

OFF ROAD ADVENTURE

Load up your side-by-side (or rent one from On the Trail Rentals in Grand Lake - you can get on the trails right from their location, so no trailer needed!). You can explore the 130 miles of scenic roads in the Arapahoe National Forest at your own pace. Pack a picnic to stop at an overlook and enjoy the views. If you're renting, check with us about borrowing a Grand Pass that gives you 20% your rental! 

LIVE IT UP THIS SUMMER!

These aren't just date night ideas - you can take advantage of all the summer fun in Grand County with friends and family, too! And if you're looking for a place or thinking about selling, summer is a great time to get in on the real estate market here in Grand County. Reach out to schedule a consultation, learn more about the buying and selling processes, and share your real estate goals with us! 

Posted by Leah Bishop on

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