Breckenridge – Colorado

Breckenridge is a popular destination for both Colorado locals and British visitors, especially those who like to ski all day and play till late

An evocative old gold mining town, “Breck” charmingly retains much of its Victorian character and comes into its own after dark. Breckenridge offers enough thrills for any skier, but it is also enticingly within 20 miles of Keystone and Arapahoe Basin, and 34 miles from its sister resort Vail, all of which can be skied on the combined and excellent value “Colorado Ticket”. Breck has one of the best snow-sure records in the USA.

The diverse terrain offers skiing spread across 4 interconnected mountains known by numbers rather than names. Peak 7 is the newest, with both groomed and unpisted areas for intermediate and advanced skiers. Peak 10 offers the most challenging runs; Peak 9 is regarded as the easiest and finishes almost in the centre of town, whilst Peak 8 has something for everyone with much of the terrain through glades of pine and spruce.

The area also includes world-renowned terrain parks and half-pipes for freestylers, and for the start of 2006/2007 season the new Breckenridge Gondola will offer even quicker access to both Peaks 7 and 8 directly from the heart of town. Breck’s top station altitude - a breathtaking 13,000 feet, and served by North America’s highest ski lift - is just one of the reasons for an envied snow record.

The historic downtown area has many shops and boutiques and a good choice of bars plus over 50 restaurants. Café Alpine, the River Walk Café and the Maggie Restaurant are all recommended. Nightspots include the Alligator Lounge, Cecilia’s, Sherpa and Yeti’s, while the Underworld is the main boarder meeting spot. Or try a moonlit snowmobile ride for dinner in Dry Gulch, a Colorado “ghost” town. Whatever your taste in après-ski, Breck can probably cater to it.

ARRIVAL AIRPORT Denver

TRANSFER TIME 2 hrs

LIFT TICKET from £95 per adult

SKI RENTALS from £95 per adult

TUITION from £40 per adult

Experience Breckenridge from £645 per person. Price is based on 2 adults sharing a standard hotel room at the Great Divide Lodge for 7 nights, scheduled return flights and shared transfers.