10 Fun Things To Do In Breckenridge, Colorado If You Don't Ski
Our trip to historic Breckenridge, Colorado last February left a lasting impression on both of us - as we each fell head-over-6-inch-heels in love with the quaint, picturesque city and suspect you will too. We spent an utterly fabulous week in this charming, laid-back mountain town creating memories that we won't soon forget. Not once did we find ourselves at a loss for what to do - despite the fact that neither of us ski!
Here are some of our recommendations for things to do if skiing isn't on your list either...
Dogsledding at Good Time Adventures | Breckenridge, Colorado | 2015 | © Christy Hydeck
1) Dogsledding - Just, Do It!
Hands down, this was our absolute favorite adventure in Breckenridge. Good Times Adventures expertly teaches you how to navigate your way around a dogsled. You take turns mushing and riding through Breckenridge, Colorado's stunning forests and enjoy the company of the beautiful + hardworking Siberian Huskies. (they LOVE what they do!) The landscapes? Perfection. (see some of our photos here) Mother nature made us one of the lucky ones - treating us to to a magical snowfall as we embarked on the backcountry trails. Our only regret? We didn't go a second time.
Dogsledding was such an amazing adventure that it warrants its own post, which will be coming to the blog soon!
Historic Walking Tour | Breckenridge, Colorado | 2015 | © Christy Hydeck
2) Historic Walking Tour
Carl and I each enjoy learning the history behind the places we visit and Breck was no different. This historic town comes alive with its interesting stories and wild west past, leaving you to walk away appreciating the beauty of this small town even more. We'd recommend doing it early in your trip as it's a great way to get a feel for navigating the town + will take you to places you may have otherwise missed. Adorned in historic clothing, our guide was amazing - she was so very patient as we took pics and her knowledge of the area was vast.
We can't recommend the Historic Walking Tour enough! (Check out some of the photos taken on our tour here.)
The Breck Connect Gondola | Breckenridge, Colorado | 2015 | © Christy Hydeck
3) Ride The Free Gondola
Just because we don't ski, doesn't mean we didn't want to watch! The Gondola (free!) took us up to Peak 7 + Peak 8 where we could take photos, people-watch, secretly wish we were as graceful on skis as the people we watched were + just simply take in the town from yet another vantage point. The glass cars offer spectacular views as you go up and down the magnificent Rocky Mountains. A fun experience! ( Check out some of our photographs of it here.)
Breckenridge at Night | Breckenridge, Colorado | 2015 | © Christy Hydeck
4) Go Stargazing
After seeing some of the gorgeous night photography people captured in Breck, I had asked if it would be possible to go on a night tour with a local photographer - this proved to be one of the smartest decisions we made!
We stepped outside of our guide's car somewhere off of Boreas Pass, and I looked up and seriously felt like a 5 year old child at Christmas as tears brimmed my eyes with happiness. Over and over again, I just kept exclaiming - WOW. For as many times as I have said that word in my life - I don't think I ever fully meant it like I did that night. You see, up until that point, I had never, ever seen SOOOO many stars in my life. It was as if glitter had been tossed up into the heavens by truckloads! Arthur, (a talented photog and our guide) noticed my excitement and remarked that it was nice to see his city through fresh eyes sometimes. We all take our surroundings for granted at some point, but that moment isn't one i'll soon forget.
The views of Breck at night are nothing shy of spectacular - and now that I have learned more about night photography, I plan to return there for that very reason. How could I not? Don't worry, I'll share a few of the best Breckenridge nightscape spots in another post.
Breckenridge Arts District | Breckenridge, Colorado | 2015 | © Christy Hydeck
5) Get Your Art On
The artist in me was incredibly thrilled to discover Breck's thriving arts district. Definitely carve time to take a class (or two!), meet the artisans and marvel at some of the awesome repurposed buildings. We took an oil painting class with Amy Evans and explored the breathtaking mountain landscape through the strokes of our paint brushes. Even Carl got in on the fun! I wish more towns would take notice and put as much pride into their creative community as Breck does.
Downtown Breckenridge Shopping Center | Breckenridge, Colorado | 2015 | © Christy Hydeck
6) Wander + Shop Main Street
Know those cinematic moments where someone runs into the rain or snow, sticks their arms out at their sides and begin happily twirling while looking up at the heavens? That's exactly what Breck's main street left me feeling like. It was like I had my own private snowglobe and truly, the area couldn't have been more charming to wander about. Hallmark should consider filming all their Christmas movies here. Really.
With twinkling Christmas lights, street lamps that have character, historic buildings, laid-back, friendly folks, unique shops, and a plethora of dining options - I think you'll find exploring + shopping historic downtown Breckenridge as delightful as we did.
Snowmobiling on Copper Mountain | Leadville, Colorado | 2015 | © Christy Hydeck
7) Take A Snowmobile Tour
Technically, this wasn't in Breckenridge - but White Mountain Tours made it ridiculously easy by providing round trip transportation to and from our Breck doorstop! Copper Mountain was insanely beautiful - we could have easily spent a few more hours exploring it on our snowmobile. My only wish is that we could have stopped for photos more frequently and had the time to set up our gear - next time, I'll inquire about the possibility of a private tour so my inner photographer is satisfied! I have a handful of photos up now, but still have to add the rest to the gallery.
Downtown Breckenridge | Breckenridge, Colorado | 2015 | © Christy Hydeck
8) Get Hitched
While Carl + I had that whole getting married thing done + finished already, we thought it was awesome to learn that Breckenridge is a destination wedding hotspot! Had we realized what a fairytale setting the area offered when we eloped in 2013, we just may have chosen Breckenridge as the fantasy backdrop for our nuptials. You may want to consider hosting your own breathtaking wedding there - get inspired here!
Breckenridge Stables Sunset Sleigh RIde | Breckenridge, Colorado | 2015 | © Christy Hydeck
9) Dinner + A Sunset Sleigh Ride
We had read about this online prior to booking it and were initially disappointed when we realized the sleigh no longer goes up the mountain. That being said, the scenery? Yep, still stunning - especially at sunset. Don't fret, You're given hot cocoa and blankets to keep warm too! We spent our last night taking in this otherworldly sunset on the sleigh and enjoyed the simple dinner and live music afterwards. Check out Breckenridge Stables for more information.
Breckenridge Beauty | Breckenridge, Colorado | 2015 | © Christy Hydeck
10) Oh Snap! Take A Photo Walk
Breckenridge is a photographer's paradise. Buildings over a century old that are covered in rich, lush textures - peeling paint, architectural details, wood and metal with character only age can give - and so much more. The landscapes - my word, the landscapes! The town - the colors, the mountain backdrops - everything, just everything in Breck is as if it was created just for a photo. (Psssst...Your Instagram will be thanking you for adding so much beauty! Check out GoBreck's official feed here.) I'll explore my favorite Breck photo spots in another post - there are just too many for today.
There are quite a few things we didn't have time to try that we wished we had - Exploring the backcountry with snowshoes is one of them! Breckenridge is far from just a ski town - it is a winter wonderland that offers adventures and activities, for anyone - year round. Personally, we look forward to going back - I think we will try visiting Breck in Autumn next time!
Always,
Chrysti
P.S. I was brought to Breckenridge, Colorado by GoBreck, the awesome tourism squad there - to share our adventures on my Instagram and talk with the local business owners about how to use Instagram for their businesses as well. While this was a sponsored trip, some activities were done on our own - and all opinions are mine. I wasn't required or even asked to blog about it -especially a year and a half later- that was done out of pure love for this charming, small town!
