We have some toys in the condo, which you are welcome to play with (a Brio
train set), puzzles, and games. Help yourselves!
We have 2 VCRs in the condo, and there’s a small video library with
a few videos for little kids. You may want to bring up a couple of your own,
too, if you like. We don’t have a DVD at this point; a portable should
work if you have one.
Winter Park Ski resort has a Children’s program which has ski school
for your older child, and daycare for your younger one. It’s expensive,
but may be worth it.
A fun outing from the condo: Walk down the hill (strollers are okay if
the sidewalks are shoveled) into town. It takes about 10 minutes. There’s
a place for hot chocolate at the first little strip mall on the corner of
Vasquez and I-40. It’s called “Cookies and More” and it’s
on the lower level. There’s an awesome toy shop on that lower level,
too. Also, you can walk up and around Van Anderson & Vasquez (it makes
a little one-block loop that’s perfect for fresh-air, leg stretching)
There’s a park/playground in town, with a small sledding hill. Lots
of kids are there when the weather’s good. Bring up a sled if you have
one, or you can buy them cheaply at Alco in Fraser. Also, there’s a
Safeway in Fraser.
The Harry Potter playground (our name for it!) is in Granby. Drive north
on I-40 to Granby, then as you’re on the far north side of town, turn
right up one of the hills, and follow the signs to the Visitor’s Center.
You’ll be able to see the park from there. It overlooks the town, and
the mountains, and it’s amazing.
Be sure to bring your swimsuits – the pool and hot-tub are fun for
the kids. The pool is small, but it is heated (it’s tepid, not hot).
Bring your usual pool toys, plus floaties. Unfortunately, the “shallow” end
is 3 feet deep or so.
There’s a very kid-friendly Mexican restaurant in town called Jalisco’s.
It looks like a bar from the outside, but it’s great inside. They love
kids there. Authentic Mexican. It’s located on the north end of town,
at the King’s Crossing shopping center (across from Hernando’s
Pizza).
There’s a little organic grocery store in town with a juice bar.
It’s near Jalisco’s.
For babysitting, we usually call the National Sports Center for the Disabled
(our son has a mild disability, so hence the connection) – but their
instructors are amazing, and sometimes want to earn extra money. We pay $12
an hour for our two kids. We just say, “Here’s when we’re
in town and need a couple of hours of babysitting. If anyone’s interested,
have them call us.”
Devil’s Thumb Ranch in Tabernash is worth a visit. Call them about
sleigh rides. They have cross-country skiing and snowshoeing available. I
think they may have the little burley-type sleds available for rental if
you want to ski with the kids in the sled behind you.