Wake from your Breckenridge vacation home to see mountains rise over this charming Victorian mining town on the Blue River. Called Breck by the locals, this laid-back town welcomes you with shops, restaurants, bars, galleries, and cafes and beckons you to outdoor adventure. Visitors come to Breckenridge year-round for first-rate skiing and snowboarding in the winter, as well as its hiking, biking, fishing, and paddling in the warmer months. Before heading to the mountains, open the door to this old gold rush town’s rich history and culture at its many museums.
Visitors rent vacation houses in family-friendly Breckenridge for year-round outdoor adventure along the picturesque Rockies. The four majestic peaks at Breckenridge invite skiers and snowboarders at every ability level, and in the summer, the mountains and rivers become an outdoor playground with alpine slides, biking, rafting and adventure of every kind.
At 9600 ft. above sea level, Breckenridge lends itself to over 300 inches of snowfall and over 300 days of sunshine a year. Breck’s average winter temperatures are 28 F by day and 15 F at night with intense sun and epic snow on the mountains, perfect for hitting the slopes. For skiing and snowboarding, winter season at Breckenridge Ski Resort starts in mid-November and peaks December-early March. For three weeks starting in mid-January, snow sculptors from all over the world come to demonstrate their craft at the International Snow Sculpture Championship.
As the weather warms visit Breck from the early to mid-April to sample local eats and microbrews, to be witness to 5 Peaks--North America’s longest ski-mountaineering race, to listen to some of the area’s best live music at the different fests that make up Breckenridge’s Spring Massive. Enjoy an average 70 F degree weather in the summer, with clear blue skies and lush mountain greenery. For a biking buzz, come to Breck Bike Week the week after July 4th for the USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championships, group rides, mechanic workshops, and more.
Due to its variable weather, spring and fall are considered “off season” at Breckenridge. As mountain run-off help rivers reach their peak flow, it’s a great time for white-water rafting and kayaking in spring. In fall, golden colors paint the mountains for scenic hiking and cycling.
An off-season trip to Breckenridge also gives you more time to learn about the area’s rich gold mining history, as well as its intriguing historic figures. From the historic to the haunted, from a snowshoe to a saloon tour, start at the Breckenridge Welcome Center, where dedicated guides will lead you through the town’s earliest log cabins, saloons, and dance halls by way of history with a twist.
Walk through the Barney L. Ford Museum and discover the journey of a former African American slave who not only became a successful businessman in Breckenridge, but also one of Colorado’s first great civil-rights activists and leaders in adult education. To learn about Breckenridge’s early environmental efforts, visit the Edwin Carter Museum. There you can see thousands of wildlife specimens that taxidermist Edwin Carter preserved to show the Gold Rush’s environmental impact, as well as Colorado’s diverse wildlife.
Whenever you rent a Breck vacation home, remember to stay well-hydrated in Breck’s high elevation and wear plenty of sunscreen.
Walk along historic Breckenridge and let the smell charbroiled burgers sizzling, pizza crust rising in brick ovens, or grilled salmon on a cedar wood whet your appetite. For five-star dining or a quick bite before heading for the slopes, find it at one of Breck’s hundred restaurants.
Hearthstone Restaurant (refined American comfort) 130 S Ridge St (970-453-1148) www.hearthstonerestaurant.biz
Ember (new American) 106 East Adams Avenue (970 547-9595) www.emberbreck.com
Mimi’s Fried Pies and Ice Cream (sweets and savories in a flaky crust) 411 S Main St, Ste 4 (970-547-8330) http://www.mimisfriedpies.com/
Motherloaded Tavern 103 S Main St (970-453-2572) www.motherloadedtavern.com
Breckenridge Brewery 600 S Main St (970-453-1550) www.breckenridgebrewery.com
Downstairs at Eric’s 111 S. Main St. (970-453-1401) www.downstairsaterics.com
Visitors can plan a short outdoor vacation at a Breckenridge vacation home over a long weekend, but to fully enjoy Breck’s rich history, culture, and many activities, plan to stay several days to a week.
