Breckenridge Colorado is an incredibly beautiful mountain town about two hours ‘(traffic depending) drive from Denver. Check out this list of our favorite Breckenridge things to do and bookmark it for your next ski trip or winter weekend getaway!
Staying in Breckenridge
When it comes to places to stay in Breckenridge, we can’t recommend anything more than renting an easy-access ‘ski in ski out’ condo or Airbnb. Summit Mountain Rental is a great company for finding a rental – but be sure to book your stay as far out in advance as possible – Dec – March are PEAK season and it’s hard to get a spot!
Airbnbs off of Main Street are great because they’ll give you easy access to all the Breckenridge things to do, as well as a ski in/ski out condo (Park Place near the Snowflake lift is a great spot too).
If you’re okay driving in for the day, Silverthorne and Frisco have great spots to crash, too! (And they are way cheaper for grocery shopping, too). The best part of renting somewhere with a kitchen is that you can cook a lot and save a good amount of money as opposed to dining out!
Where to Hit the Slopes in Breckenridge
The Breckenridge Ski Resort is home to 5 “peaks” of trails ranging from easy green runs to elite double black diamond runs – spanning across Peak 10 – 6 as well as a terrain park, tubing runs and more.
Lift tickets can be a bit expensive but the Vail Ski Resort Group owns a ton of resorts (including Wilmot in Wisconsin close to Lake Geneva as well as the popular Vail, Beaver Creek and Keystone resorts in Colorado, Whistler Blackcomb in Canada, Heavenly in Tahoe and more – you can compare the two in our recent Epic Pass vs Ikon Pass post here and offers passes that, depending on how often you want to go, can get you a great deal.
Life Pro Tip: food and beverage on the mountain can be EXPENSIVE. If you want to save some moolah, head to the local grocery stores and stock up on Cliff bars and other snacks to tide you over. Many bases have complimentary water near their guest stations and restaurants, but you might also want to bring small bottles of water to stay hydrated! You can also bring a backpack and pack a lunch to enjoy at midday.
Related: Epic Pass? Ikon Pass? Which one do you pick!? Check out our comprehensive guide and list of access sites for each pass here.
Breckenridge Restaurants
You can’t forget food on a list of Breckenridge things to do. Luckily, Breck is FULL to the brim with adorable cafes, bars, restaurants and specialty shops. Here are some of our favorites!
The Canteen Breck
This is quite the sleeper! Many of the dishes seemed to have an Asian influence – salmon with bok choy, rice and some amazing rangoon. Loaded mac and cheese, the ruben and mahi mahi tacos are also really good. Not only do they have great food, they’re pretty famous for their canteen cocktails. Cheers!
Mi Casa
If you are looking for some killer Mexican food, head to Mi Casa and you won’t be disappointed. Their margaritas are amazing – and so is the guacamole. Not to mention the chile con queso. If you get their early enough you can save some money with the happy hour menue. Additionally, they are conscientious about dining needs and have a gluten-free dinner menu. Though the kitchen is not gluten-free, they do have cooking techniques to make every attempt.
Hearthstone
Hearthstone is known for its game-centric meat options and unique fine dining selections. Despite being an upscale restaurant, though, it’s still comfy smart casual! Jeans, sweaters, leggings totally work everywhere in Breckenridge. Try the charred octopus and medjool dates (stuffed with cheese, of course!). The butcher’s cut steak is out of this world.
Cabin Coffee Company
Cabin Coffee Company is located on the main strip and a great choice for caffeinating. In addition to baked goods, they have a ton of excellent speciality drinks (and of course, just coffee, too). Try the gingerbread latte with almond milk or the candy cane mocha. Whatever you get, it’ll definitely fuel you for a day of boarding, skiing or shopping!
The Coffee Depot
Situated right on the outskirts of the main downtown strip is an adorable little caffeine refill station called the Coffee Depot. The inside is just as cute as the outside and is full of goodies baked in-house and local swag.
Mountain Top Cookie Shop
If there’s a sweet tooth in your group, you HAVE to head to Mountain Top Cookie Shop. In addition to regular cookies, they also have sandwiches that feature their famous buttercream frosting smooshed between two cookies. Try the ‘Ullr’ (named after the Norse god of winter, but in modern times is known as the god of skiing and is celebrate quite a bit in Breckenridge), which has chocolate chip sea salt caramel with buttercream frosting!
Après Bar
Apres is hands down one of the best bars in Breckenridge. They make their own bitters, syrups and other ingredients in-house and do a lot of magical things (like color-changing drinks!), so you can’t skip out one of their crafted concoctions. They also have games – so slide up a chair and prepare to get cozy.
Shopping & Other Breckenridge Things to Do
Not only does shopping local support important economy for the surrounding town, you’ll also find some amazing artisanal goods, curated clothes, awesome accessories and if you’re feeling generous, some really great souvenirs, too!
Lucille’s Breckenridge
Cross the alley from Belvidere & Hern to Lucille’s for amazing womenswear and other gifts – across 3 floors! I went straight up to the 3rd floor (where the clearance rack is – oh, also and the basement level, too) and found a great sleeveless blouse for warmer weather. I love bringing back souvenirs in the form of clothes and accessories because it’s functional – and stimulates the economy and tourism. There are a bunch of amazing hand-crafted bags and other accessories to check out as well.
Arabella Boutique
When you browse all the shops in Breck, things can start to look a littttle bit the same – but not at Arabella. If you’re in the mood for a sweater or sweatshirt with a cute/quirky saying on it (like Apres Ski) or embellished jeans, this should be your go-to! Jodie prides herself on curating cute, quirky, unique and statement clothes and accessories you’re DEFINITELY going to get complimented on.
Get a Massage at Harmony Spa
If you’re feeling sore from a day (or five) on the slopes, head to Harmony Spa for a massage and work those knots out! Often times the therapists are snowboarders or skiiers themselves, so they can especially tend to your aches and pains. And despite being in a resort town, it’s not terribly expensive; $105 for a 60-minute hot stone treatment. They also provide oxygen treatments in addition to other spa sessions if the altitude is getting to you.
Have you been to Breckenridge? Is there a spot we missed?! Let us know by responding to our newsletter!
