There’s no better way to end a day on the hill than a little après. What is après, you might ask? Well, that’s the beautiful thing – après literally means “after” – so you can make it whatever suits your fancy. After skiing, after tubing, after a guided tour: there are no rules! (Okay, maybe one rule – have fun!). Here’s a how-to on a few of our favorite ways to close out a great day.
Après with a View
Let’s start with the classic: Mountaintop Après is a can’t miss event, and it happens every Thursday through Saturday from 4-7PM. Head up the Gondola (it’s free after 4pm!) and soak in gorgeous pink and orange sunset views on the way to Sunspot Mountaintop Lodge. At the top, enjoy live music, a beverage of your choice, and some delicious grub, like Ahi Tuna Nachos or Yardbird Wings.
Pro tip: be sure to step outside for a photo during peak alpenglow. The views continue with a moonlit gondola ride to cap off the evening.
Après Mid-Day
Whether it was one first-chair-on-a-powder-day lap or a couple corduroy cruisers before lunch, sometimes you don’t need to wait the whole day before you are ready to kick back and relax a little. Enter the mid-day après (like we said – there are no rules!). One of our favorite spots for this is Lunch Rock. Nothing beats beating the lunch rush while sipping on a bloody mary taking in views of the Continental Divide and Parsenn Bowl. On the Winter Park side, head over to Retta’s Bar in Snoasis for a great selection of craft beer and views of Lower Railyard.
Pro tip: be sure to sneak into Pepperoni’s at the Mary Jane Base at least once this season for a great slice of pizza.
Active Après
Maybe you’ve had a great day out and about and want to keep a good thing going. There is so much to see and do on the mountain that sometimes the best option is what we like to call ‘Active Après’. How does it work? One of our favorites is to head out with one of our Sunset Ski & Ride Guides for a truly unique experience. Ski a wide-open mountain and take in views of the sunset (and stars!) on your final laps of the day. Or, head over to the village for Glow Night Ice Skating and Glow Night Tubing! For a more relaxed (but still active) end to the day, head out on one of our Sunset and S’mores Snowcat tours. No matter what you decide to do, we know you won’t regret it!
Pro tip: join us for one of our moonlit uphill tours this season!
Après in the Village
If you are looking for a great meal as part of your après experience, you can’t go wrong with après in the Village. Head over to Doc’s for some great food and cocktails (we recommend the pulled pork!), or head to Lime for classic Mexican fare and delicious margaritas. Stoney’s is another great option with a sports bar vibe and traditional American fare.
Bonus tip: head to Adventures Decanted in town to sample wine from all over the world and enjoy delicious small plates.
The Après – Après
If there is one thing we know for sure, it’s that a hot tub is a wonderful thing after a big day.
Whether it’s after après (see what we did there?), or just the main après event, sometimes warm bubbles are just what a body needs after an adventure. If you are staying with us, be sure to check out the hot tubs at Frasers Crossing/Founders Pointe, Zephyr Mountain Lodge, and The Vintage!
In short: what you do after an adventure can be just as rewarding as the adventure itself! And that might just be the whole point of après. Whatever your day looks like, there’s always a way to cap it off with something special at Winter Park. How will you après?