Grand County – the Winter Family Place Grand County, Colorado- Just a 90-minute drive from Denver is a place where families can go to experience the wonder and excitement of winter in the Rocky Mountains.  Grand County has it all, from skiing to ice fishing, and everything in between!   Skiing is, of course, Grand County’s original destination winter sport.  Three alpine ski resorts and five nordic centers offer skiing experiences for skiers of all abilities, and all offer group or family packages for savings on lessons and passes.  More experienced nordic skiers can choose to explore Grand County’s scenic winter landscape on some of the countless miles of backcountry trails.    There are other ways to explore the area during winter.  Snowshoeing, dogsledding and horseback trail rides let you see areas not otherwise accessible on foot or by car.  Snowmobiling is big here; choose from a guided tour through pine forest or to the top of the Continental Divide, or rent or bring your own snowmobiles for some independent backcountry adventure.   For some old-fashioned family winter fun, how about ice-skating or snow tubing?  The lighted tubing hill in Fraser is a great place to spend the day or evening riding up the hill and zipping back down on a giant inner tube.  Outdoor skating rinks in Winter Park, Fraser, and Grand Lake give everyone a taste of yesterday.    Ice fishing is a popular winter activity.  Lake Granby, Grand Lake, Shadow Mountain Lake, Wolford Mountain Reservoir, and the Williams Fork Reservoir all offer excellent fishing, and local shops sell equipment, supplies and licenses.  The annual Wolford Mountain, Three Lakes, and Green Mountain Reservoir contests offer cash and prizes for competitors of all ages.    All winter, special events offer even more opportunities for family fun.  The holiday festivities kick off with Granby’s Parade of Lights and, in Grand Lake, the Old-Fashioned Christmas activities include a music festival and caroling in the streets.  For the competitive spirits, there are several series of alpine and nordic races, from seeded qualifiers to family fun tours.  The unique and popular Ididarace dogsled race is held in Kremmling each February.   Grand County is just a short drive from Denver and the Denver International Airport via US Interstate 70.  If train travel is your style, Amtrak makes stops in Granby and Fraser, and the Ski Train runs daily between Denver and Winter Park.  For more information about Grand County, contact the Grand County Colorado Tourist Board at 800/729-5821 or visit their website at www.grand-county.com.