BT Forum

From what I remember there is an outdoor rink where Villa Italia used to be on Alameda and Wadsworth area - forgot the new name of the area.

My sister drove me through there and there was a rink in the middle of the area - pretty cool setting also at Christmas time with all the lights.

Snow Mtn Ranch north of Winter Park has a nice snow playground setup.  Really nice tubing hill, and lots of x-country trails and snowshoe terrain.
For outdoor skating, my wife loves taking the boys to Evergreen, and also Keystone Lake.  Call ahead for both, there's a delay between when the lakes freeze and when they open for skating.
Closer to home, there's  a new 'synthetic' outdoor rink in Highlands Ranch, and there's usually one downtown at the Tabor Center if you're in the city for any reason.

Cherry Creek mall also has an outdoor rink, I think...

Yes, you can rent skates in the Evergreen lake house to skate on the lake.  Pretty cheap to rent and skate -- don't know  what current rates are but you can look up their phone # -- might be under Evergreen Rec Center.  Lake opens this weekend for skating.  There is one large area for skating and several small hockey rinks.  They also have a concession stand.  Dress warm as it's usually 10* cooler up here than Denver basin and there can be a breeze across the lake.

We went to Fraser tubing last winter.  It is a ton of fun but not the most efficiently run place.  We got there and signed up and you are put on a waiting list (if there is a wait).  We came back at our approximate time and waited some more.  It was very windy there and only a small warming hut that everyone was crowded into.  They only take cash so be prepared.  When it's your turn, you get your tube and basically have an hour on the hill.  There are rules about how old you have to be to have your own tube, etc.  Our kids had a lot of fun and it's very fast.  You then come up the hill on a tow rope.

I think Breckenridge/Keystone has tubing, as well as Copper.  These places are probably more efficient; in fact I think you can make reservations there.  In the future, I'll probably look into these places instead.  The cool thing about Frasier is that it's a wide open hill.  Whereas I believe the other resorts have "lanes" down a hill.

Snow Mtn Ranch is great fun. Is that the same as Fraser? Or is there another place there?

The times we've been, we've never had to wait, but maybe they were slow days.

I've taken out of state visitors there a few times and they love it - there is enough stuff to do that is very 'wintery' that they feel they've gotten a good sample of winter mountain fun without having to go downhill skiing.

Typical SMR weekend:
Rent a house - they are big so share if you can, makes it cheaper
Roller skating (not a great rink or skates, but it's cheap, so who cares)
Indoor pool
Arts & Crafts room - the kids loved this - you have to pay by the craft but it's pretty cheap
Tubing - no rules tubing - woohooo!
Ice skating
Snowshoeing - you can rent the gear
XC Skiing - inexpensive and they have lessons and gear
Sleigh ride (not cheap, but everyone liked it once)

There is Winter Park/Mary Jane for 'big' downhill skiing very nearby, and for smaller I think there's Bryan Mountain, also Devil's Thumb but I think that's only XC.

It's been awhile since I've been there, but the tubing at Fraser is wonderful. It's pretty low key. I believe Snow Mountain Ranch is the YMCA near Fraser, just north of Winter Park, but I don't remember the tubing being at Snow Mountain Ranch. It should be a great winter experience for a 7-year-old. Keystone also offers tubing at the top of the Gondola. Copper has a tubing hill as well, at the Super Bee (East Village).

There is definitely tubing at SMR.

You are correct, there is tubing at SMR.  Is that the same as the Fraser Tubing hill though? Anyway, here is a link to more information about tubing in Fraser: http://www.vacationsinc.com/guide-to-winter-park/winter-activities/snow-tubing/  I grew up in Denver and used to love going tubing there when I was little, great memories!

Went to Evergreen yesterday and it was awesome!   They have a New Years Eve skate party i think we are going to go back for.   If anyone has any interest, it's well worth it.

Yep, they have fireworks @ 8pm & midnight.  Buy your tickets early -- it usually sells out.