Grand County Life - Granby Ranch

Kick Off Summer in the Mountains: Memorial Day Weekend + June Highlights

"Summer Starts Sooner" this Memorial Day with Early Openings, Live Outdoor Music + Special Events Kicking off the Summer Season

Aside from a handful of spring snowstorms, it’s felt like patio-sitting summertime for longer than usual this spring, thanks to a relatively dry, warm winter. Early-season trails have been hike and bike ready since March, the sun has been shining, aspens are already budding, and wildflowers are even starting to pop. So it definitely feels like TIME to kick off summer here in the mountains!

Grand County summers are as good as it gets: from exploring the three lakes region and soaking in the old-school charm of Grand Lake’s boardwalk, to hopping on hundreds of miles of singletrack, catching live outdoor music, golfing our…

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Ring in the New Year in the Mountains!

Cheers to 2026! How to Celebrate New Year's Eve in Grand County

The holiday season is always magical here in the Winter Park area: snow-capped mountains, festive lights, and a slower rhythm make it easy to get into the holiday spirit. And when it comes to ringing in the New Year, there’s no shortage of ways to celebrate! Think fireworks, an outdoor silent disco, light parades on skis, live music, and even a theater performance. Truly, there’s something for everyone. From family-friendly fun to all-night dance parties, I’ve rounded up the best New Year’s Eve events and dinner specials so you don’t have to dig around and can focus on enjoying your time in the mountains. Wherever you are and however you celebrate, I hope you’re able to toast to 2026…

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Take Advantage of Local Options for Thanksgiving Dinner

 Thanksgiving Dinner Made Easy: Skip the Kitchen and Enjoy Local Favorites Serving up Traditional Meals this Year!

Whether you're visiting or call the Fraser Valley home, Thanksgiving week has so much to offer if you find yourself in Grand County for the laid-back holiday. With the both Winter Park Resort and Granby Ranch open and in full swing, tubing and sledding hills ready to welcome guests, and (hopefully!) enough snow on the ground to get out for a cross-country ski or snowmobile ride, there are a wealth of opportunities to play outside and appreciate the beauty of the mountains. And events like the Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot, Cooper Creek Square's Celebration of Lights, Winter Park Resort's Holiday Tree Lighting, Granby's Parade of Lights…

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Celebrate Spring in the Mountains with Winter Park Resort's Annual Bash + Splash!

Powder Days, Sunshine, Live Music, and Themed Events Make April at Winter Park Resort a Month-Long Party! 

April showers and May flowers might signal spring in most places, but here in Winter Park, spring brings powder days, bluebird skies, snow "beaches," sunny patios, and a calendar full of events to celebrate the ski season and warmer weather. We shed the layers and embrace the climbing temperatures every spring - early morning skins up the Jane might have us in a t-shirt by the time we reach The Olympia, and the sun is still shining on that last chair that drops us off for a final run down a soft line to our favorite après deck. 

With spring break winding down and town a little quieter, we get to experience the the best of spring each April…

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Top 10 Winter Park Valentine's Day Date Ideas

Celebrate Valentine's Day in the Mountains: Top 10 Date Ideas

February in the mountains is a beautiful amalgamation of the thick of winter and the coming spring. Snow still blankets the ground while temperatures are heating up, making it an ideal time to take advantage of all the opportunities the snow brings. The abundance of winter adventure makes it easy to get creative with your Valentine's Day, coupling an outdoor adventure, day at the spa, or local experience with a decadent, cozy dinner out.  Whether you're looking for high adventure or a relaxing indulgence, the Winter Park area has it all and more. 

1. TAKE A HOT AIR BALLOON TOUR

There's something undeniably romantic about floating above the Fraser Valley with spectacular views of…

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Local Happenings: Check Out Grand County's January + February Events

Embrace the Adventure with a Wealth of Midwinter Events this Snowy Season

Our winter wonderland is at its peak in the midwinter months! The snow and lower temps have settled in for the season, making it easy to take advantage of all the winter adventure available here in Grand County. Whether you're snowmobiling, exploring on cross-country skis, ice fishing, earning your turns, backcountry skiing, or taking advantage of downhill adventures at Winter Park Resort and Granby Ranch, opportunities to enjoy our majestic Rocky Mountains are abundant. Add in a calendar full of local events, and you have even more options for embracing winter in the mountains! 

THREE LAKES ICE FISHING CONTEST: JANUARY 24 - 26

The longest running ice-fishing contest in…

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Mark Your Calendars for Holiday Events in the Winter Park Area!

Celebrate the Holidays in the Mountains with Festive Local Events!

Blankets of snow, twinkling lights, smoke drifting out of chimneys, and turning lifts. It really doesn't get much more magical than experiencing the holidays in our little winter wonderland. The month of December brings a calendar full of events (many free and family-friendly) here in Grand County. From Winter Park to Grand Lake, you're sure to find an event to get you in the holiday spirit!  

WINTER PARK RESORT: WINTER WONDERLAND, REINDEER + HOLIDAY DRONE SHOWS

SATURDAYS, DECEMBER 14th and 21st: 11am - 5:30pm

Head to the Village at the base of Winter Park Resort for their Winter Wonderland event on December 14th, complete with hot cocoa, photos with Santa, cookie…

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Take Advantage of Cross-Country Skiing in Grand County!

Explore Miles of Groomed and Single-Track Trails on Skate and Classic Skis Throughout Grand County's Rocky Mountains!

Cross-country skiing, also known as Nordic skiing, has deep roots in Grand County. Early settlers in the area used what many now refer to as "skinny skis" for transportation in the long winter months but soon developed a love of exploring the Rocky Mountains on skis, with reports of cross-country skiing for recreation dating back to the late 1800s. Hot Sulphur Spring's first Winter Carnival in 1911 included cross-country skiing as an event and marked what many deemed the beginning of the ski industry in Colorado. 

It's easy to see why Nordic skiing grew from simply a means of transport to a beloved pastime. If you're looking to…

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Thanksgiving Dinner Options in the Winter Park Area

Planning a Stress-free Thanksgiving Dinner? Dine-In or Order To-Go at One of Our Local Favorites!

Whether you're visiting or call the Fraser Valley your home, Thanksgiving week has so much to offer if you find yourself in Grand County for the laid-back holiday. With the ski area open and in full swing, tubing and sledding hills ready to welcome guests, and enough snow on the ground to get out for a cross-country ski or snowmobile ride, opportunities to play outside are around every corner. Events like the Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot, Cooper Creek Square Celebration of Lights, Winter Park Resort's Holiday Tree Lighting, Granby's Parade of Lights and Christmas Tree Lighting, and Grand Lake's Annual Tree Lighting give off those festive vibes as…

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Nonprofit Spotlight: Grand Nordic

The Grand Nordic Club Promotes Nordic Skiing with Resources, Education, Programs + More

Outdoor enthusiasts are the heartbeat of Grand County, and the Grand Nordic Club is the epitome of a grassroots, share-what-you-love organization that promotes outdoor recreation here in the Winter Park area. Nordic skiing in the Rocky Mountains for recreation dates back over a century - early settlers in the Fraser Valley began cross-country skiing for sport in the early 1900s, taking advantage of the copious amounts of snow that fall on our beautiful valley all winter long. 

The glue that binds the Grand County Nordic skiing community together had its inception in 1993. The Grand Nordic Club was founded to serve our community and promote Nordic skiing by…

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