A Romantic Weekend in Breckenridge, Colorado:
Things to Do Even if You Don’t Ski!
If you are searching for a where to go for a cozy winter weekend, look no further than Breckenridge, Colorado! I live in the desert where it’s still sunny and warm through November, and our winters never get snow. Sneaking away to the mountains and seeing a real snowfall is such a treat! Breckenridge is also the perfect winter destination to get into the holiday spirit—sipping cocoa around the fireplace, taking a sleigh ride, and walking down the adorable Main Street will feel like you’re in a holiday movie! Yes, Breckenridge is known for top notch skiing, but there are so many other things to do for non-skiers (like me). In Breckenridge, you won’t feel like you’re missing out if you don’t hit the slopes.
In this post, I’m going to show you how to spend an amazing weekend in one of my favorite cozy winter destinations: Breckenridge, Colorado!
Related: Things to Do in Leavenworth, Washington
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Breckenridge is a small town at the base of the Rocky Mountains about 1.5 to 2 hour drive from Denver. When you see the historic downtown Breckenridge, you will feel like you’ve woken up in a Hallmark holiday movie! The Victorian buildings are adorable and charming, and you can’t help but feel festive when you stroll down Main Street adorned with holiday lights, wreaths, and bows. The people of Breckenridge add to the town’s character. Everyone we encountered was friendly and laid back. Breckenridge is a town where visitors feel sincerely welcomed.
Getting to and around Breckenridge
It was both my significant other’s and my first visit to Breckenridge. After flying into the Denver airport, we rented a car and took the scenic route through the Loveland Pass. I highly recommend this way if weather permits because the views are stunning! The mountain pass reaches an elevation of 11,990 feet, and we watched skiers zipping down the mountain directly beside us as we drove on the highway. We didn’t encounter any weather or traffic issues that slowed us down, but I’ve heard this is rare. It’s a good idea to start the trip early to avoid driving in the dark. There are several shuttles from Denver International Airport to Breckenridge, and there is a free shuttle called Breck Free Ride to get around town. You could reasonably visit without a rental car. However, because we were staying a little bit further away from downtown, we decided a rental car was a good idea. As with most popular vacation destinations, parking can be scarce. We drove to the Stephen West Ice Arena and parked free and then hopped on the Breck Free Ride several times.
Bargain Cha$ing Tourist Tip: Flying on Southwest gives you the best bargain rates to Denver as well as two free checked bags for all of your winter gear! Lodging
We stayed in a gorgeous townhome on Baldy Mountain that was a steal on VRBO. I love to stay in rental properties because they have so much character and allow you to feel more at home than a hotel. This property had no shortage of rustic charm. It was just Aaron and me on this trip, but this property has an extra bedroom with adorable bunk beds. I would love to return and stay here again with our kids.
The Baldy Mountain townhouses are a 10-15 minute drive up the mountain from town. I loved the seclusion and quiet of the forest. Staying here helped us forget the stress of our daily lives at home.
We also like rental properties with a kitchen because Aaron is a fantastic cook. We save money by eating breakfast and dinners at our home away from home.
Check out all the Breckenridge properties on Vrbo below.
There is a City Market in the center of town on the bus route to stock up on groceries. We didn’t realize this the first night and drove to a Wal-Mart in Frisco, but it wasn’t too far out of the way. The Baldy Mountain Townhouses were perfect for us. However, for skiers, it makes sense to stay at one of the ski-in/ski-out resorts closer to the slopes.
To Ski or Not to Ski in Breckenridge
Breckenridge is a skier and snowboarder paradise. We are not skiers and made the decision not to ski this trip—partly because we are both very accident-prone! Aaron was already recovering from an injury earlier in the year, and we both have physical jobs that we wouldn’t be able to do in a cast or a knee scooter if we were injured. Unfortunately, my childhood memories of skiing in Germany consist of getting screamed at by a German ski instructor because I couldn’t master the snowplow. Maybe, I’ll conquer my fear of returning to the slopes someday, but it wasn’t on this trip!
Luckily, the town of Breckenridge and its surrounding areas offer so much to fill a weekend besides skiing or snowboarding. Had we been able to stay longer, there would have been plenty more to explore.
Main Street
As I mentioned before, strolling down Main Street is a must-do in Breckenridge. Main Street is lined with cute stores, cozy coffee shops, and restaurants with hot, hearty meals. Of course, my favorite was the Christmas store where I had to buy a commemorative Breckenridge ornament. We found a toy shop for my daughter’s souvenirs and several stores with high quality shirts because I always bring a souvenir shirt home for my sister. We sat and enjoyed a light snowfall at Coffee Depot which Aaron gives a thumbs up. When you walk behind the shops, there are beautiful views of Maggie Pond with the snow-capped peaks in the distance.
We drove a few minutes from downtown to the Breckenridge Distillery for lunch because Aaron is a whisky connoisseur. (There’s actually a tasting room without the restaurant on Main Street) This is the “Highest Distillery in the World” that offers complimentary spirits tastings, a free shuttle, and tours by reservation on Sunday afternoons. We enjoyed a hearty barbecue lunch, Aaron sampled whiskeys, and we had a nice chat with the bartender who told us what it’s like to live in Breckenridge. We also had a nice lunch at Breckenridge Brewery and Pub on another day. We are not fancy diners, and we’re content with tavern food. There are plenty of higher end restaurants in Breckenridge if your palate is more sophisticated!
Even if you explore Main Street during the day, you should go back after dark to see the holiday lights. Walking in the snowfall looking at holiday lights was definitely romantic, and something we can’t replicate in the desert!
Breckenridge has several outdoor fireplaces on Main Street which are great to warm up and get cozy in the cold: outside the Blue Stag Saloon, outside the Gold Pan Saloon, and at Main Street Station.
Ride the Gondola
Even if you’re not skiing, you should ride the FREE gondola to Peaks 7 and 8. You not only get amazing views of the mountain but also a peak at the gorgeous rustic homes with floor-to-ceiling windows going up the mountain. After our gondola ride, we relaxed at Unravel Coffee in the Gravity Haus hotel. Unravel Coffee was a great hangout to warm up before setting out in the cold again.
Walk the Trollstigen Trail
This is a beautiful forest walk where you can visit Isak Heartstone, a 15-foot high wooden Danish troll. Walking through the forest in Breckenridge, the air feels so crisp and clean. It’s such a welcome difference from where I live with unfortunately, a lot of air pollution and smog. Again, we parked free at the Stephen West Ice Arena and walked to the trail.
It’s important to consider that a lot of Breckenridge’s winter activities are snow-dependent. We visited the weekend before Thanksgiving before the winter season was in full swing. This meant the trip was definitely cheaper, but several attractions were not available:
Dogsledding
At Good Times Adventures, a team of Siberian Huskies takes you on a six mile sledding adventure around the Swan River Valley. I’m sure the views are breathtaking, and the ride is thrilling!
Snowmobiling
Also at Good Times Adventures, ride a snowmobile (equipped with hand warmers!) on a two hour trek with panoramic views of Summit County, Swan River Valley, and the White River National Forest. Snowsuits and boots are provided for adults.
Sleigh Rides
I don’t think anything gets you in the holiday spirit more than a horse-drawn sleigh ride through the snow to see holiday lights! Breckenridge Stables provides blankets and hot cocoa to keep the ride cozy!
Sledding
Both Carter Park and Runway Sledding Hill are open free of charge to anyone with a sled or tube. There are no rentals available. We had planned to sled on our last day because our townhome provided sleds, but the snow had melted by then.
I have these budget-friendly insulated snow bibs saved for a sledding adventure next time!
These Arctix ski bibs are bestsellers on Amazon, and I love the different colors to choose from.
Although we missed out on these snowy activities, we really enjoyed just soaking up the ambience of Breckenridge and hanging out at our townhome. It was so relaxing to sit by our fireplace watching the snow fall, cooking dinner while listening to holiday music or watching holiday baking shows!
Important Things to Consider about Breckenridge
Altitude
The altitude change is significant, and altitude sickness is real! Our availability didn’t allow us to spend time in Denver to adjust to the altitude before climbing up the mountain, and we felt it! I just felt winded most of the trip—even pulling on my jeans over my thermals left me breathless! Snow-showing and cross-country skiing are other winter activities in Breckenridge, but I know I wouldn’t have had the endurance with the altitude change. Aaron, unfortunately, felt nauseated and weak. Luckily, his symptoms were short-lived. We didn’t visit the oxygen bar, but I would definitely try it on a future trip.
I brought gummy vitamins which were completely dried up when I opened the container! Liquids in containers also explode at high altitude, so I agree with others’ recommendations to transfer shampoo into travel containers and leave space at the top. We baked cookies, and of course, burnt the first batch to a crisp. We’ll know better next time!
I wasn’t prepared for Breckenridge to be pitch black by 5pm. Plan that your days are short which may impact your ability to do certain activities safely.
Avalanche Prevention
During our stay, we kept hearing cannon blasts throughout the day. I had no idea that Colorado blasts artillery to create controlled avalanches to prevent larger, natural avalanches.
What to Pack
Coming from the warm desert, I had to buy all new clothes for this trip including a winter coat with a hood.
2. I loved these bargain waterproof snow boots. They were very comfortable, warm, and much more affordable than Sorels.
3. Fleece-lined leggings and leg warmers are very cozy.
4. I also wore thermal layers.I love the Cuddle Duds brand.
5. Quality gloves are a necessity for Breckenridge winters! These Isotoner gloves are fleece with Smart Touch technology to use your electronics.
6. I also recommend hand warmers if you will be spending time out at night or if you are doing an activity like sleigh-riding or dog-sledding if hand warmers are not provided.
7. Insulated socks are a must for sledding, snowmobiling, and nighttime sleigh rides.
9. Cozy slippers to pad around the cabin are also a good idea!
10. Don’t forget sunscreen! The high elevation of Breckenridge and clear skies are a recipe for a major sunburn. I have worn iT CC cream with SPF 50 as my everyday foundation since 2015, and I have never gotten a sunburn on my face! iT offers a wide variety of shades, and one tube lasts me almost 2-3 months.
All the blog posts I read about Breckenridge recommended really expensive winter clothes and boots. This didn’t make sense for me because I don’t have the opportunities to rewear these clothes at home. I found sensible boots and winter wear that did not break the bank.
Winter Weather
Weather is unpredictable and can be dangerous. The night we enjoyed walking in the snow down Main Street, we had a scare driving back up the mountain to our townhome. The road was covered in ice, and we were scared we would slide backwards down the incline into the gulch below. A friendly local who lived in the neighborhood helped us steer off the road and find a detour. Everyone was safe, but it was unsettling for us tourists who weren’t accustomed to driving up and down mountains.
This was a couple’s getaway for us, but Breckenridge is perfect for families with kids too. Between dog sledding, sleigh-riding, and hill sledding, I know I would have a blast bringing my daughter here.
Breckenridge, Colorado, is a perfect winter getaway whether you want to do non-stop outdoor activities or simply relax and enjoy the views. I had such a beautiful weekend in the mountains which is why Breckenridge is one of my favorite cozy, winter destinations!
