Day Trip to the Lake Granby and Grand Lake

I tell my kids all the time we are so lucky to live in Colorado.

Two hours from our home sits this beautiful cabin, The Selbu Ski Chalet, in the mountains just minutes from Lake Granby, Shadow Mountain Lake, and Grand Lake. The scenery on these lakes is simply stunning and so is the fishing!

Over Labor Day weekend we spent a couple of days fishing and exploring. Summer time is simply amazing up here. There just is so much to do. Our kids love to fish so we decided to try some shore fishing on Lake Granby, near Sunset Point. There are several marinas around the lake that can get you anything you need as well as a few tips on where the fish might be biting. We spent the day sitting on the beach with the kids casting and reeling away. We didn't have much luck however the views alone next to the water were enough for me. 

After some fishing we headed into Grand Lake for some ice cream. They have this iconic little down town with authentic boardwalks and the lake is one block off main street. There is this great little public beach there nestled between a couple of marinas and a fantastic ice cream shop across the street. The kids absolutely loved playing on the beach and in the water. The water was a bit chilly but felt amazing with the warm weather. Next time we will probably make a day of just hanging out at the beach. Beware- it can get BUSY! 

The next day, we drove around Lake Granby and ended up near Arapaho Bay. A beautiful section on the South East side of Lake Granby that also has a campground. I would have loved to camp here! We found another spot for the kids to fish and for me to absorb all the beauty. A kayak or boat would probably have produced a better chance at the fish, so this will definitely be on our list next time! Not much luck again but the kids still had a blast. We will definitely make it a point to spend more time at the lake next year.

If you come stay at The Selbu Ski Chalet over the summer, a day or two by the lake is a definite MUST!

Granby Eats - Places to check out on your vacation at The Selbu Ski Chalet

So we have been doing our darnedest to keep experiencing all that there is to eat, see, and do in this glorious area EVERYONE wants to vacation at. SO MUCH TO DO! There will be more blogs later on those, but today I thought I'd mention a few tasty places we've had a chance to check out. Keep in mind, we are in the mountains and these are small towns. In fact don't be surprised if some of these place close down in between tourist seasons. I've made that mistake a time or two.....

Maverick's Grille This place is your classic mom and pop type restaurant. It's got a little for everyone. From burgers and sandwiches to a little Mexican, Italian, and BBQ. This place is almost always open and has pretty decent food and service. Their green chili is awesome and on the spicier side!

Granby Garage Roadhouse A newer establishment in downtown Granby with lovely outdoor seating. Come here for Steaks, Brews, and Good Vibes. And the cheese curds are pretty awesome too!

Brickhouse 40 The hubs and I got to experience this for his birthday. This would be considered 'upscale' for our little mountain town. Dishes are a bit pricier but the food we had was awesome, not to mention the historic digs where it's located provided for a great ambiance. You can even find happy hours and live music. Decent wine and beer selection, Greek-American fare in a rustic-chic brick building with a bar, fireplace, and views. We had pasta and it was rich and delightful. 

Granby Ranch Grill Great spot with a cozy fireplace, outdoor patio and eclectic fare ranging from pizza to steak. This is located in the Granby Ranch Ski Lodge and is a great place to unwind after a day of skiing or sit on the patio and watch the mountain bikers come down the hill in summer. Did I add breathtaking views too?

Debbie’s Drive In Classic American food at this drive in diner-carhop service or drive thru. Feature’s burgers, fries, wraps, and sandwiches! They also have donuts!

Java Lava Cafe Breakfast, wraps, and sandwiches at this little establish in downtown Granby. I’ve only had breakfast here but it’s great every time. We love their burritos and french toast. Can get busy so get there early!

Showboat's Drive by Pie Did you know there is a Drive By Pie place? I haven't tried it yet but I am looking forward to experiencing pure glutton in the comfort of my front seat. If you try it, let me know!

Altitude Pizza You can actually get pizza delivered to the cabin!!!! That's right, our little place up the mountain can get a warm pizza pie delivered to the front door. And it's pretty good too. Just be prepared to spend the delivery minimum!

Well, there's a few places to try if you get to stay at The Selbu Ski Chalet. If you try more places, let me know! 

Packing For Summer Mountain Weather

Colorado is all about the outdoors. Packing for its sudden dramatic temperature changes can be a practice in futility. Not to worry though, here's a quick guide to what you will need.

Water. What? I can't stress this enough. I know it's not an article of clothing, but it might as well be in this arid climate with high altitudes. It should be attached to you at all times. You should be consuming it like a beer-drinking college kid at a football tailgate. Like a mom of three consumes wine after her kids pass out in a sugar-induced coma after a day toting them to every birthday party, sports activity, or celebration of mediocrity. Just sayin', it's that important. Start consuming it before you even get here. And then make sure you have an endless supply of it and it's attached to your hip at all times. It will perform miracles preventing altitude sickness.

The rest of the list is pretty much a no brainer. Pack lots of layers. The weather can change in an instant, especially up in the mountains. Thin shirts that wick moisture, those sweet pants that zip off to shorts, rain resistant jacket, hats, sunglasses, decent hiking boots/shoes if you're hitting the trails, fleece for those cool evenings. If I'm camping at altitude I will often bring gloves and a hat for those cool mornings and evenings. 

Don't forget the sunscreen! It's easy to get burned here in the summer as well as the winter. Something about being a mile closer to the sun sometimes makes a difference.

And of course bring a backpack. Keep it packed with the above essentials and you will be ready to hit the trail and go exploring anywhere you see an oppurtunity.