Winter Park is known for outstanding outdoor adventures--skiing, snow cats, snowmobiling, and more. You know it. You expect it. You go there for it. But the adventure you might not expect in Winter Park is the food. Prepare to indulge and try out these 4 great places to eat in Winter Park.

1. Mountain Grind

Luckily while shopping at Cooper Creek Square I found Mountain Grind, a locally-sourced, organic, and award-winning cafe for brunch. Perhaps my favorite meal in Winter Park, I enjoyed the house-made sausage gravy on top of two "two-ingredient" biscuits with organic, free-range eggs (over medium). I even had them grind up some coffee for me to take and enjoy during the rest of my trip.

2. The Peak

I detrained at Winter Park during a blizzard. Since it was early in the day, I walked across the parking lot to have lunch at The Peak before checking into my condo at  Stay Winter Park. Good and hungry after a long train ride, the Surfer Burger with provolone, jalepeno bacon, and avocado on brioche filled the need. I even decided to indulge in a sample of the house crafted American Lilly beer, a pomegranate and blueberry wheat.

3. Hernando's Pizza Pub

During the blizzard I had ordered pizza delivery, so at Hernando's Pizza Pub I chose the antipasto salad (a meal in itself) and lasagne instead of their specialty. Everything was outstanding so I may have to make a trip back someday just for the pizza.

4. Volario's

Volario's, located at the Vasquez Creek Inn, served up my final meal in Winter Park. I had the cheese plate with a selection of cheese, fruit mostarda, and pickled vegetable, plus Vongole (pasta served with littleneck clams, tomato brood, squid ink capellini), and even tiramisu for dessert. There was plenty left over, so they boxed up the cheese plate for me to take on the train. What a treat!

Read more about Colorado by rail:

My New Favorite Travel Accessory

Want Less Fear, More Joy? Take the Next Step

A Lesson in Breeding Mason Bees

An Amazing View on the California Zephyr

Travel writer and publisher of Evolving Magazine, Jill Dutton, caught the train travel bug at an early age when she spent three months traveling Europe by rail. Now, Jill travels--and writes about--the United States and Canada by rail. Read about her adventures at www.usabyrail.blog. Jill is now offering guided rail tours starting with Santa Fe, New Mexico in July.