Gold was discovered in Breckenridge in 1859 and they haven’t looked back since. The first lift in Breckenridge opened in 1961 and it began to establish itself as one of the best ski resorts in North America. The village itself still retains the old gold mining town charm. The chalets, hotels and condos are spread widely throughout the area so if you want to stay close to the action then stay close to Main Street. The Epic lift pass covers Breckenridge, Vail, Beaver Creek, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin and is definitely a worthwhile purchase for intermediates and more advanced skiers and boarders. With direct flights into Denver from the UK and a short transfer up to Breckenridge it is a good choice of resort for skiers and boarders looking for some traditional American hospitality, skiing and nightlife. It is also a good resort for a twin centre with the likes of Jackson Hole.
Breckenridge Ski Resort Apres Ski
The best après ski will be found on Main Street. The Main Street bars tend to get pretty busy but there are loads of bars off the beaten track just waiting for you. There is a multitude of restaurants serving pretty much every cuisine imaginable.
Breckenridge Ski Resort Bars
We liked the Brewery when we were there as it had a good atmosphere. For live music head to the Blue River Bistro and dance till the wee small hours in Cecilia’s. Off the slopes there is also the Back Stage Theatre and the Speakeasy. For a taste of home pop into Burke and Riley’s Bar.
Breckenridge Ski Resort Restaurants
You can tuck into an array of food from around the world – from simple yet stupendous food at the Hearthstone Restaurant to fantastic crepes at Crepes a la Cart. If you fancy a burger, try Empire Burger, or a pizza at Giampietro Pizzeria. For a superb breakfast pop along to the Columbine Cafe. And there’s much much more!
Breckenridge Ski Resort Activities
The town has some good shops for souvenirs and gifts and head to the nearby Silverthorne for the factory outlets to grab a bargain! TenMile Flyer Zipline, tours, museums, snowshoeing, snowmobiles, dog sledding are just a few of the many activities available.
Breckenridge ski resort sits at 2926m so many people will feel the altitude when they arrive. However, just take it easy and you will soon adjust. Remember to drink lots of water! The runs themselves are mainly found through the trees with the steeper skiing and boarding to be found above the tree line. As with many of the North American resorts there are free ski tours that will show you round the mountain. These are definitely recommended when you first arrive to get your bearings and make the most of the resort. There are four main sectors to the mountain. Peak 9 has mostly blues and greens so is great for beginners. Peak 10 has a good black run that slopes down the side of the resort. Peak 8 reaches 3915m and is tough going at the top and has some fantastic bowls dropping into Peak 7. Beginners will just love Peak 9 and Peak 8 also has a good selection of greens running back into the town. Intermediates will find plenty of cruising runs through the trees and the more challenging bowls. Experts will find that 55% of the terrain in classified as black which is very surprising. Peak 8 is the area to head to for the more challenging stuff such as Devil’s Crotch, Hades and Inferno!
