Less than 100 miles west of Denver on I-70, Breckenridge has been one of Colorado’s most popular ski destinations since the resort opened 60 years ago this month. Today, the free-spirited, laid-back town of 5,000 is a magnet for athletes, artists, and the eco-conscious (the town has a comprehensive sustainability plan, including a ban on single-use plastic bags). Here’s a breakdown of how to do Breck this winter.
Country Boy Mine and a Public Art Tour
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The headliner here, of course, is the Breckenridge Ski Resort, which celebrates its anniversary with the opening of a new high-speed chairlift on Peak 7, improving access to some of the best alpine skiing in the country. With 11 bowls, nearly 3,000 skiable acres, and a 12,998-foot summit, experts will find plenty of fresh powder.
There’s plenty for non-skiers, as well. History buffs will enjoy a visit to Country Boy Mine, a remnant of Breck’s gold-prospecting origins just two miles east of downtown. Take a tour of the mine, which was founded in 1887, and then try your hand at panning for gold, go sledding, or introduce your kids to the miniature donkeys, Darn and Goldie.
Art lovers, meanwhile, can embark on the self-guided Public Art Tour, which includes 30 pieces scattered throughout town, most notably Isak Heartstone, Danish artist Thomas Dambo’s 15-foot-tall wooden troll on Trollstigen Trail.
Mimi & Pin, Tin Plate, Rootstalk, and Breckenridge Distillery
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Start your day with Spanish coffee and dulce de leche churros at Mimi & Pin, right next to the BreckConnect Gondola. After burning off those calories on the slopes, refuel at Tin Plate, which opened earlier this year and serves sourdough pizzas made with locally stone-milled heritage wheat flour in a 138-year-old mining cabin. For a more romantic evening, make a reservation at the one-year-old Rootstalk, which offers high-end comfort food (braised rabbit pot pie, housemade pasta) in a well-appointed Victorian building. Either way, get a nightcap at the Breckenridge Distillery, the world’s highest distillery at 9,600 feet above sea level. Try the acclaimed bourbons, then blend your own bottle at the new interactive spirits lab.
Folcland and Ohana
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Breckenridge is home to more than 100 shops, many of them reflecting the town’s ethos of sustainability. Among the newest are Folcland, which sells clothing, accessories, and apothecary items from independent American designers who use natural and recycled materials, and Ohana, a spin-off of a Steamboat Springs apparel and home goods shop with a mountain-meets-beach vibe, hand-screen-printed T-shirts, and items from Colorado artisans.
Gravity Haus Breck
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Opened at the base of Peak 9 in 2019, Gravity Haus Breck is something of a Soho House for outdoor enthusiasts— although you don’t need to be a member to book a stay. Unexpected amenities include a super trampoline and a Japanese-style onsen with hot and cold tubs and saunas, while the mountain-chic rooms come in a variety of configurations, from single kings to bunk-bed set-ups for up to eight guests. Adrenaline junkies can book a backcountry ski clinic, and Gravity Haus members with Haus Quiver access also get unlimited premium gear demos from nearby Breck Sports.
From $160, gravityhaus.com
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