Ski Breckenridge and you can take your pick between confidence-boosting corduroy, steep chutes, technical mogul runs or legendary snow parks, spread across five mountain peaks. Off the slopes, this Colorado ski town is an attraction in itself, with restaurants, bars and attractions galore, alongside friendly locals and Wild West roots which are very much alive and kicking.With so much to pack into your USA ski holiday, trawling through Breckenridge’s endless list of attractions could eat into your ski time. Work your way through our ‘top ten’ list instead:
- Hit the shops on Main Street: The clapboard buildings along Breckenridge’s historic Main Street are the perfect place for a spot of retail therapy. Browse more than 200 quaint boutiques, galleries and gear shops, which sell everything from handmade soaps to funky fashions.
- Ski Peak 8: Ride the Imperial Express – the highest chairlift in North America – to the top of Peak 8, where you can take in panoramic views across the Rockies and ski some of Colorado’s steepest terrain.
- Ski Peak 6: A brand new ski area for the 2013/14 season, Peak 6 adds an additional 543 acres to the resort, turning Breckenridge into the 4th biggest ski resort in Colorado – expect 400 acres of lift-served ski area, 143 acres of hike-to terrain and two new lifts.
- Cross-country/Snowshoeing: Book a lesson at the Breckenridge Nordic Centres and learn how to glide and skate along the resort’s network of cross-country trails. With something for everyone, from first-timers to pros, there’s a full range of lessons and workshops to get involved in, including ladies-only clinics.
- Dog Sledding: Mush a team of Siberian huskies through the Rockies as you ride into the woods and speed across magical winter landscapes with expert local guides. A great non-ski activity for the whole family and definitely one to tick-off on your next USA ski holiday.
- History and museums: Explore Breckenridge’s historic streets and learn about the town’s famous residents at the Barney Ford and Edwin Carter house museums, while families should head to the Mountain Top Children’s Museum for kid-friendly concerts and workshops.
- Gold mining: Venture 1,000 feet below ground to explore the century-old Country Boy Gold Mine, which was once Breckenridge’s largest. Open from late December through April, you can see, feel and smell what working life was like for Colorado miners.
- Hot air balloon rides: Get a bird’s eye view of Breckenridge as you float over its Victorian streets and across snow-encrusted mountains, looking down on the skiers and boarders below. One to add to your bucket list for 2015 ski holidays!
- Spa and stretch: Soothe your ski muscles with a visit to one of the town’s many day spas. Choose from sports massages and hot stone therapy to salt scrubs and herbal steam baths. Yoga fans will be pleased to find a good range of classes here too.
- Classy cooking: Visit Beaver Run Resort for evening cookery demonstrations, held from 6-9 pm on the first Thursday of each month. If you’d rather have someone do the cooking for you, ride on a sled to the top of the mountain for a star-lit dinner at Ten Mile Station.
About the author: Tara Rogers is a professional travel writer for Ski Safari – tailor-made ski holiday specialists.