Winter Park CO Summer Solstice - get ready to celebrate and save on lodging for the summer!June 20th is the first day of summer and the Summer Solstice - the longest day of the year. This year will have an added bonus of a full moon which has not occurred in 70 years. The full moon in June is also refer to as the "strawberry moon" as the Algonquin tribes named it to coincide with the best time to pick the fruit. It's also known as a "honey moon" as it stays close to the horizon and can appear to take on an amber color and appear larger; or a "full rose moon" as it is referred to in Europe. The moon will hit its peak fullness at 6:02 am CDT.The sun is up just under 15 hours on the solstice depending on your latitude or distance from the equator.  Check the Sunrise and Sunset Calculator for how many hours of sunlight you will get to enjoy on Monday.The celebration of solstice derives from the Latin word "solstitium" meaning "sun standing still".Other fun facts: Stonehenge has significance in this day dating back hundreds of years as it was the most popular place for Pagans to celebrate and it famously aligns to the solstices and about 20,000 visitors are expected to visit the site on this day.Pagans believed that this midsummer day holds special powers as this is a time when the veil between this world and the next is at its thinnest.Festivals involving bonfires, picnics, singing, viewing the sunrise and Maypole dancing.Staywinterpark and Destinations West will be celebrating this day with the 3rd night free! This offer is valid for stays between June 20th and September 30th - act soon! This offer will expire on June 30th.Additional deals that celebrate the "official" start of summer:
- 2016 marks the 100th year of our national parks stewardship (official birthday is August 25th). Rocky Mountain National Park is only 40 minutes from the downtown area of Winter Park. Great reason for an overnight stay and day trip to the park.
- On Wednesday June 22nd and June 29th - watch for our "Flash Sale". These special offers will be valid for 24 hours only and too good to miss!
- Stay and Play golf packages. We have a number of great vacation rentals, including a private home on the Pole Creek Golf course. Stay 2 nights and 1 round of golf at Pole Creek for $204 per person. This package price is based on 2 people in a 1 bedroom. You can customize your package with other lodging choices and golfing at Pole Creek, Grand Elk or Headwaters.
- New Properties: We love to highlight our new rental accommodations. We have a new private cabin and luxury 1 bedroom condo. The Trailhead Lodge 1 bedroom is located in the heart of downtown and next to Hideaway Park. The lush interior provides a getaway that can't be beat and includes amenities of outdoor heat pool and workout facilities.  Our second new rental is located 2/3 of a mile from downtown at the Snowshoe home. This authentic cabin has a private outdoor hot tub with magnificent mountain views and large picture windows.
