Breckenridge, Colorado….A Beautiful Mountain Escape #BreckVacation

Living in Colorado one thing is for sure, there is no shortage of beautiful places to visit.  I remember coming here several times as a young girl for our family vacations.  To a gal who was born and raised in Texas, I was pretty sure that Colorado was the “Promise Land”.

Surrounded by gorgeous mountains, the bluest sky I had ever seen and of course, white, soft flakes of precious snow, I guess you could say I always knew this would one day be home for me.

Fast forward ten years and my dream became my reality.  Even now, after living here for 15 years, I still am in awe of the beauty that is Colorado.

Since I live in the southeast part of the state, I try to get to the mountains as often as I can.  It’s not that where I live isn’t beautiful, but the crisp mountain air of the Rockies just calls to me.  One of the places that our family likes to visit most often is Breckenridge, Colorado.

Breckenridge, Colorado is only a short hour and half drive from the Denver area, so it is perfect for a quick day trip or a nice relaxing weekend getaway.

Being that I am a Texas native, I don’t do much skiing.  Unfortunately, I am the one that people are referring to when they mention the “Texan” on the ski slope.   However, we still love the snow and other winter/summer activities that Breckenridge offers our family.

BRECKENRIDGE SLOPES:

Let’s face it, the reason most people visit the mountains during the winter is for the slopes.  Skiing/Snowboarding provides families with great exercise, tons of fun and the chance to see the most beautiful sights possible.

For those of you fortunate enough to be allowed on the slopes, Breckenridge has everything you need.  With over 2,000 acres of ski terrain, this mountain provides perfect skiing for all levels of skiers. 

Of course, if snowboarding is your thing, you can’t go wrong with Breckenridge either. When we recently visited the mountain, the kids had so much fun watching as the snowboarders showed off their skills on the slopes. 

Breckenridge has an impressive summit elevation of 12,998 feet.  It also provides the most experienced skiers and snowboarders with 772 acres of open-bowl terrain. 

ACTIVITIES:

When we visited Breckenridge at the end of April this year, we had absolutely beautiful weather.  It was sunny during the day and chilly at night, just the way mountain weather should be.

We took the kids up the Gondola so they could see the beauty of Breckenridge.  It was so fun to see how the ground went from being dry to covered in snow by the time we reached the top of the mountain.

Right outside the gondola, there were people getting ready to hit the slopes.  You never could have guessed it from the gorgeous weather we were having.  The slopes where a little bit icy, but the end of April is extended ski season, so that is to be expected.

At the top of the mountain, there is a nice area for grabbing a bite to eat or having drinks with friends.  You absolutely couldn’t have better views than when sitting outside one of these establishments.

While we were there, we stopped at the Gold Runner Alpine Coaster and took the kids for a ride.  The Alpine Coaster  provides riders with 2,500 ft of coaster track.  The two-seater coaster cars gives you the ability to ride alone, or as we did, two to a car.

The Alpine Coaster is great for any age, as you control your own speed.  Whether you want to be a wild daredevil or take it slow and enjoy the scenery, the choice is yours. 

If you are planning to stay on the mountain for the day, the best value is to purchase the all day pass.  The coaster takes less than 3-4 minutes to complete, depending on how quickly you take the track.  Since we only purchased a one time ticket, it definitely left us wanting more.  You can find ticket prices for the Gold Runner Alpine Coaster by visiting their website.  It is open in both the winter and summer!

On this particular visit to the mountains, our trip was cut short due to sick kiddos.  We were hoping to get to explore more than we did, but that just means we will have to plan another trip soon. 

For more family friendly activities, you can check out any of the following:

Dinner Sleigh Rides

Snowmobiling and Dogsledding

Colorado Rafting

Adventure Company

There is probably as much to do in the summer months as there are in the winter months in Breckenridge.  As a matter of fact, that is when our family visits most often.

LODGING IN BRECKENRIDGE:

It is always so hard to decide where to stay when visiting anywhere from out of town.  With so many places to choose from, it can be difficult to select a place that everyone can agree upon.  In a mountain town, you want a place that is close to town, skiing, activities and of course has killer views.  Pine Ridge Condominiums has all that and more.

We were invited to stay at Pine Ridge Condominiums for our April trip to Breckenridge.  We stayed in a 2 bedroom condo with loft that sleeps up to 10 people.  Needless to say, I was in heaven the minute I entered through the front door. 

This particular condominium couldn’t have been more perfect for a stay in the mountains.  The decor of the home was exactly how you would expect a mountain home to be.  It was so warm and inviting with a beautiful wood burning fireplace for those chilly mountain weather nights.

The balcony from the living room opened to the amazing killer views I mentioned above.  From our balcony we could look out and immediately see the gorgeous snow covered mountains.  There was also a balcony located directly off the master suite.

If you are looking to save a little money during your mountain vacation stay, the condos at Pine Ridge come with fully equipped kitchens. (check models for accommodations)  You can stock the nice sized refrigerators with all your favorites.  It is great for making a delicious meal before heading out to the slopes or other daily activities.   We had all the necessities for us to feel like we were in the comfort of our own home provided.

The unit we stayed in came complete with two full bathrooms, which makes it perfect for a family stay.  The master bathroom had me begging my husband for a remodel of our own back home.  The shower in the master was huge and had a steam shower for relaxing those muscles after a long day of skiing.  The best part was that the floors of the bathroom had heated tiles.  I had never felt floors like this before, but now that I have, I want them!  On a cold night, it is so great to walk onto a tile floor and not instantly be cold.  Perfect for this mountain condominium.

There is nothing that Pine Ridge didn’t think of for making our trip as pleasant as possible.  Each room in the unit including the loft had a television with DVD.  The owners of the condo also had a fully stocked closet of board games to keep families entertained and spending time together.  After all, isn’t that what vacations should be about?

As for the property as a whole, it was nice, quiant and offered several amenities for the family.  While we were visiting they were doing maintenance updates to insure that the property continues to be one of the favorites in Breckenridge.  Be sure during your visit that you take full advantage of the Pine Ridge staff.  They are very knowledgeable about the best places to eat, activities and anything else you could need while visiting their property.  We chatted with them several times during our visit and they were always more than happy to assist us.

When staying at Pine Ridge, be sure to check out the pool, hot tub and fitness center.  We didn’t get the chance on this visit, but we certainly will the next time we have the pleasure of staying.

There is so much more I could share with you about the beauty of Breckenridge, but I will have to save that for the next time.  Whenever you are feeling the need to escape for a day, a weekend or forever, Breckenridge is the perfect getaway.  During the winter it is a winter wonderland and during the summer it is everything you need to avoid the hustle and bustle of the city.

I received a free nights stay at the Pine Ridge Condominiums in Breckenridge.  I was not asked to write a review.  All opinions are 100% my own.