Step into a real-life snow globe. Breckenridge has more to offer than just beautiful, powdery snow. It also has one of the most charming towns in all of Colorado.
Stroll down Breckenridge, or Breck’s, Main Street at 10,000 feet above sea level and you will notice a certain charm to all of it’s buildings. This is not staged. That Old Western vibe you get is authentic. Many of the original buildings that housed hotels, dance halls, and saloons from 150 years ago still remain as they were built! In the heart of the Rocky Mountains, Breck’s claim to fame was the 1850s Gold Rush. The Gold Rush brought in miners, mountain folk, brothels, saloons, and a rich and colorful history to the Victorian-style gold mining town. Today, it is home to the largest historic district in Colorado.
If you want to spend a day off the slopes, there is so much to see and do in Breck. You can never get tired of the architecture, unique shops, art center, historic elements, and of course food, offered along Main Street. It is quite frankly just a charming town, especially when illuminated with thousands of lights at night. If you are in Breck after December 8th, following the Lighting of Breckenridge and Race of the Santas, it’ll feel like you’ve quite literally stepped into a real-life snow globe.
Walk through this holiday postcard and get lost in it’s stores and restaurants. Stop by Breck’s oldest bar, The Gold Pan Saloon, enjoy après at one of the many bars, stop into a small store for freshly baked cookies or doughnuts. The opportunities are endless. You’ll notice the town stayed true to it’s area and design. You’ll find outdoor benches made of snowboards, lounge chairs made of skis, and signs made of broken ski equipment. Anything they could repurpose, they did.
I’m going to call out three spots I stopped by during my time in Breck. The first was Rocky Mountain Underground Tavern. If you are looking for a laid-back local approach to après ski, head to this half ski shop, half tavern locale on Main Street. Following your après ski drinks, follow the aroma of freshly bake cookies and stop by Mountain Top Cookie Shop for some take-home cookies or cookie sandwiches for dessert. Lastly, if you find yourself walking by Kava Cafe on your way to the Breck Gondola or during your lunch break in town, stop in this wooden store and do yourself a favor. Buy yourself a half dozen of their piping hot mini doughnuts.
When you walk through Breck you will not find your usual ritzy hotel chains such as the Ritz or the Four Seasons. What you will see is true mountain charm. I don’t know about you, but that’s what I look for when I want to escape to the mountains. True, rustic, quiet, cottage-lined streets rich in company with mountain folk.
If this hasn’t convinced you to choose Breckenridge as your winter getaway town, then maybe it’s ongoing list of annual events might. Make sure to plan your holidays accordingly around these fun and one-of-a-kind festivities unique to Breck.
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