Rocky mountain peaks peep over restored Victorian inns in historic Downtown Breckenridge, a former gold-mining town with a unique historical charm. And since it’s not a purpose-built resort town, like many other ski hubs in the area, well-rounded Breckenridge has lots more going for it. There’s a strong community feel here, and a packed calendar of fun events that run the gamut from a wine festival to a huge water fight with the fire department on 4 July. Being a mountain town, Breckenridge sits at 9,600 feet altitude, so you may feel somewhat peaky. Once you're acclimatised, discover this charming municipality with our definitive list of things to do in Breckenridge. And you can definitely trust our advice, because here at Plum Guide, we go above and beyond to ensure that your trip is memorable for all the right reasons. So make your way through this guide and discover the perfect ways to spend your time in Breckenridge.
Enjoy some horseback riding
As well as giving you the opportunity to realise any Wild West cowboy dreams you might have had as a child, horseback riding is one of the best things to do in Breckeridge, offering a memorable way to explore more of Colorado’s natural beauty. But there’s horseback riding and there's Colorado horseback riding. Rusty Spurr Ranch's horseback rides are less about following a single-file trail, and more about getting to know your horse and trotting around off-trail against a backdrop of Rocky Mountain wilderness.
Cuckoo Clock, Plum Guide home in Breckenridge, USA
Cycle up the Boreas Pass
Boreas Pass, Breckenridge, USA
Breckenridge is something of a cyclist’s dream. And you don’t have to be part of the lycra brigade to enjoy this one: the League of American Bicyclists has designated Breckenridge a “gold level bicycle-friendly community”, so you’re in for a good ride. Start downtown, then test your mettle with an uphill ride on Boreas Pass road - you'll be rewarded with panoramic views of the Tenmile and Mosquito mountain ranges.
Huckleberry, Plum Guide home in Estes Park
Take a tour of the Breckenridge Distillery
If a rum cask-finish whisky or a high-rye, all-American bourbon with butterscotch, candied orange, cacao and white pepper notes appeal (and they do to us), then Breckenridge Distillery is where you’ll find nirvana. As well as winning awards for its crafted spirits, it also happens to be the world's highest distillery. Does that make a difference to the whisky? Well, yes - we’ve checked and it does. And you can learn how if you ask the nice distillers here.
Sienna Sierra, Plum Guide home in Colorado, USA
Ski and snowboard down the snowy slopes
Breckenridge Ski Resort, USA
A list of things to do in Breckenridge would be incomplete without some classic winter sports. This wintry paradise gets more snow than most Colorado towns, making for truly excellent skiing across its thousands of powder-peaked acres. Runs here span beginner trails to double black diamond runs for the experts to glide around. The 12,840-foot Peak 8 has the highest ski lift in North America (being the highest thing in the world is a recurrent theme here) - though be warned, getting back down again is definitely for the more experienced skiers.
Rocky Mountain High, Plum Guide home in Colorado
Try your hand at other winter sports
Not a great skier? No problem. Try some of these alternative ways of bombing around Colorado’s snowscape: hop in a snowmobile, strap on some snowshoes, pedal around on a fat bike or take a sleigh ride.
Watch the International Snow Sculpting Championships
Every January, teams from around the world (from as far away as China, the UK and Ecuador) come to downtown Breckenridge to hand-carve 20-tonne blocks of ice into impressive snow sculptures. Now, we’re not suggesting you make a special trip for this, but if you're in town at this time of year, it's definitely worth watching the sculptors at work.
Sample the local wine
Celebrate the joys of decent wine at the Breckenridge Wine Classic, which happens every September. Expect, well, wine. But apart from that, wine with food. Wine indoors, wine outdoors and wine on the Main Street. Did we mention the wine? If you don't happen to be in town for the festivities, make up for it by visiting the Continental Divide Winery. Open year round, it's - somewhat predictably by this point in the article - the highest winery in the world.
Soak in a hot tub
Breckenridge has more than one thousand hot tubs (we know, that’s quite the stat). And there’s nothing quite like looking out at a snowy view while reclining swimwear-clad in a foamy pool of warmth - so if you can snap up rental home with one, we’d recommend it.
Attempt to master stand up paddleboard yoga
Rounding off our list of things to do in Breckenridge, we have this unique activity. Yogis looking to take their practice to the next level - and who have absolute faith in their core stability and sense of balance don’t mind falling in once or twice - might like to try honing their warrior pose on a stand up paddleboard. Meta Yoga Studios has you covered. You’ll leave your comfort zone at the shore before majestically (at least that’s what you’ll tell people) floating around Maggie Pond while executing the perfect downward dog.
