If you are heading to Colorado at all this summer a weekend spent in Breckenridge needs to be on your to-do list. It has quickly become one of my favorite mountain towns with so many cute shops and great restaurants. Plus, it never hurts to have stunning mountain views as you walk down Main Street.
Here are my recommendations for a weekend in Breck!
Where to Stay
I personally love a good Airbnb and there are a ton of really great condos for all group sizes that you can find on Airbnb. Most of them will be in a condo complex that will have access to a hot tub and/or swimming pool so if that is a big deal for you, you’ll be set.
If you are more of the resort stay type person, you cannot go wrong with the Grand Colorado on Peak 8 or the Marriott that is at the base of Peak 9. If you stay at the Grand Colorado, you’ll either need to be prepared for a longer walk to Main Street, need to ride the free Gondola up/down, or make use of their free shuttle. A perk to staying at the Marriott is you are a half block away from Main Street - no shuttle necessary.
Must do activities
Hiking
If you are going to the mountains for a long weekend, you need to get in at least one epic hike, right? One of the best perks of staying in Breck is how close you are to the base of one of Colorado’s famous 14ers - Quandary Peak. Sitting at 14,265 feet above sea level, the peak can be seen just south of Breckenridge. Start early - the parking lot fills up FAST and you absolutely need to be down and off mountain before the crazy afternoon thunderstorms roll through.
Not up for a 14er? No problem. There are so many great hikes in the area. Check out McCullough Gulch Trail for some stunning views.
Adventure
If you are up for some base-of-the-mountain fun, check out Epic Discovery. You can zoom down the mountain on an Alpine Coaster, go mountain biking, play mini golf, and so much more. There is absolutely fun for the whole family there - kids included!
Visit the Gold Dredge and discover part of Breckenridge’s history. You can find out more about it here. You can drive to a tiny parking lot, and do a very short (0.1 mile short) hike down to where the Dredge was left.
Sports
Rent a mountain bike or a cruiser and either hit the mountain biking trails on the mountain, or bike all around town. You can take the path from Breckenridge all the way to Frisco and back!
Shopping
Even if you don’t love to shop, a stroll down Main Street is absolutely worth it. There are all sorts of shops to browse from your classic T-shirt shops to local art galleries to kids toy stores. You can also find some great boutique clothing stores and every outdoors gear store there is.
What to Eat & Drink
I love good food and drinks. I have a rule that no matter where we go, we must eat and drink local - no chain restaurants for this gal!
Fancy dinner and cocktails: Breckenridge Distillery, reservations highly recommended and they sell out fast, so definitely plan ahead on this one. You can also swing by for happy hour and have a much better chance at getting seated if you don’t have reservations.
Pizza: Downstairs at Eric’s. A fan favorite and the wait is worth it. If you want pizza to-go to eat at your airbnb, they do call ahead orders or you can order at their bar window when you arrive.
BBQ: Whiskey Star Smokehouse. Grab a whiskey cocktail and hang outside by their firepits, or grab some amazing bbq from their restaurant. They do open seating so just grab the first table you see!
Dessert: If you go to Breckenridge, your trip is not complete until you stop at Mountain Top Cookie Shop for a large cookie. Whether it’s your after dinner dessert or a mid-day treat, this cookie shop is drool worthy.
McCullough Gulch Trail
Base of Peak 9, Breckenridge
