Breckenridge Information

Apres-ski

There are few ski resorts livelier than this Colorado town. Breckenridge is now almost a year round resort, which always helps venues develop into more complete establishments.

At the end of the ski day the 150 seat T-Bar (tel: +1 970 547 8837) at the base of Peak 8 is usually heaving. Then downtown, old favourites include subterranean sports bar Downstairs at Eric's (tel: +1 970 453 1401; www.downstairsaterics.com) and Breckenridge Brewery (tel: +1 970 453 1550; www.breckbrew.com), a friendly microbrewery pub (try their Avalanche Ale).

A bar that absolutely must not be missed is the Gold Pan Saloon (tel: +1 970 453 5499; www.thegoldpansaloon.com), the longest continuously operated bar west of the Mississippi River (from 1879).

For late-night revelry, head to Cecilia's (tel: +1 970 453 2243; www.cecilias.tv), Breck's largest club.

For those wishing to partake (and are aged 21 or over), recreational marijuana is sold at the Breckenridge Cannabis Club (tel: +1 970 453 4900), located in the downtown area.

Eating out

There are now more than 120 different cafes and restaurants in Breckenridge with a huge choice of dining experiences on offer.

Relish (tel: +1 970 453 0989; www.relishbreckenridge.com) has a strong reputation for its cuisine, which is seasonal and Colorado inspired. Meanwhile, The Blue Stag Saloon (tel: +1 970 453 2221; www.bluestagsaloon.com) boasts an extensive menu and cosy surroundings, while The Hearthstone (tel: +1 970 453 1148; www.hearthstonerestaurant.biz) is ideal for those looking for upmarket traditional American fare.

If you'd prefer something continental in Colorado for a change, Le Petit Paris (tel: +1 970 547 5335; www.lepetitparisbistro.com) is one of the best French restaurants outside of France, while other restaurants around the resort offer Mexican, Southwestern, Chinese, Italian and Indian cuisine.

For a quick sandwich and designer coffee, Cuppa Joe (tel: +1 970 453 3938) is generally regarded as the best in town.

Resort Information

Beyond the slopes

Breckenridge shares a lift pass with nearby Keystone and Arapahoe Basin, as well as Vail and Beaver Creek an hour away. The first two (reached by a free bus service) should be visited for skiing only; the others (reached by a cheap bus service) are additionally worth having a look around for their shops and ambiance.

The resort itself provides a nice opportunity for simply strolling around, but for those looking for something to do, there's an excellent public recreation centre with a swimming pool, and the usual ski resort offerings of ice skating, snowmobiling, dog sledding and regular snowshoeing tours.

For something a little unusual, head out into the forest on a guided ranger tour (tel: +1 970 453 5000). The one-hour walk will give visitors the chance to learn more about the environmental aspects of the resort and the surrounding forest.

Family fun

The ski school, which offers lessons from age three, is highly rated, while the Peak Adventure Series also gives youngsters challenging lessons. Breckenridge provides a good place for families to ski together once the little ones are more accomplished on their skis.

Off the slopes, there are three childcare centres (at the base of Peaks 8 and 9 and in the resort), which take kids aged eight weeks to five years. The 'Kids' Day Off' and 'Kids' Night Out' activities look after children to enable parents to enjoy some 'me time' off the slopes. Among the other child-friendly activities, the Recreation Centre (Airport Road) gives lessons on its climbing wall from age four.

Retail therapy

Visitors can spend hours searching out the quirky shops squeezed in down narrow alleyways, along balconies and around corners. There are more than 80 shops in Breckenridge, encompassing everything from sports gear and T-shirts to individual boutiques, fascinating art galleries and food stores. Try Goods (105 South Main Street) for unusual clothes or Breckenridge Brewery (600 South Main Street) for bottles of beer.

For an even greater choice, the factory outlet centres (100-plus shops) at Silverthorne are 20 minutes away via a free bus service.

Splashing out

Take a snowmobile tour up to Georgia Pass on the crest of Continental Divide (the point that decides whether rivers flow east or west), up at a staggering 3,531m (11,585ft). The two-hour trip entails driving a state-of-the-art snowmobile. Tours are available through Good Times Adventures (tel: +1 970 453 7604; www.snowmobilecolorado.com).

Hotels

The sprawling ski resort has a variety of ski-in/ski-out slopeside accommodation and plenty of choice in the town itself. As well as a range of apartments, there is also a choice of chalets and hotels in Breckenridge, from luxury mountain-view offerings to cosy bed and breakfasts.

Luxury

Moderate

Cheap