The secret is out … Breckenridge, Colorado is not just a winter destination. Sure, the 300+ average inches of snow a year brings its share of snow enthusiasts, but with more and more year-round activities to take part in, Breckenridge is quickly becoming the place to be all year long. Par for the course, however, is that with increased visitation comes higher costs. Visiting a vacation town like Breck – or any other vacation town for that matter – will undoubtedly be a little pricey, so the following is my list of how to stretch your almighty dollar while visiting our mountain paradise.
First and foremost, save money on your accommodations. Naturally, I am going to plug our Breckenridge hotel – the Wedgewood Lodge – because not only are our prices on the reasonable side (for Breckenridge, that is), but you get the most bang for your buck! With accommodations ranging from studio condos to three bedroom townhomes (all with full size kitchens), we certainly have the right size rooms for everyone.
Three Bedroom – Kitchen
Again, shameless plug … all of our units have full kitchens. The food on the mountain and in town can be incredibly expensive; why not make your own meals and take them with you on your excursions? Oh yea, did I mention that ALL of our units are equipped with full size, fully stocked kitchens? No need to dine out every evening – or afternoon for that matter – as you can make a trip to the grocery store and make your own meals on the less expensive side. A great saver if you don’t want to be left with leftovers at the end of your trip is to check out Olive Fusion’s recipe kits that come with pretty much everything needed for a full meal … and they deliver right to our door! I promise, you will save money and it’s delicious!
Along the same lines, if you must dine out, why not take advantage of the various happy hour deals going on in and around town? If you plan it right, you can make a full meal of the happy hour specials (like the FREE nachos at Mi Casa). Looking for the best happy hour deals in Breckenridge, check out the list from our friends at I’m Not at Work?
In a resort town it can often be difficult to find activities that won’t break the bank. However, there are some free and reasonably priced options for you and your family to cash in on. Activities such as ice skating, gondola rides, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, hiking, biking, museum & art tours and going to the theatre are some nice options.
The Stephen C. West Ice Arena offers public skates and even family skate nights at reasonable prices as low as $8 per adult session and $22 for the entire family.
The BreckConnect Gondola gains 391 feet in elevation from town to the ski area, is just a quick 10-minute ride, is open 9am-7pm seven days a week during the ski season, and best of all … it’s free! While it is a wonderful, scenic way to view Breckenridge Ski Resort from above, the gondola is also a practical way to travel from town to the bases of Peaks 7 and 8.
If you want to enjoy all the snow has to offer without the hefty lift ticket price tag, visit the Breckenridge Nordic Center for cross country skiing or snowshoeing for as low as $20 per person. This can be a great alternative way to see the beauty that our mountains have to offer. Price still too steep? Break out your Flexible Flyer and head on over to the Carter Park Sledding Hill for some good, old fashioned fun. And the best part? It’s free!
During the summer, in addition to the gondola rides (9am–6pm in the summer), another free activity is to utilize the many miles of hiking and biking trails that surround our mountain town. Need to rent a bike? Not a problem as our friends across the street at Charter Sports will give you 30% off your rental or guided excursion.
If history is your thing, give the Breckenridge Heritage Alliance a shout and enjoy some of their walking tours and guided hikes. For the best price in town, head on over to the Barney Ford House Museum and experience the amazing story of Barney Ford – an escaped slave turned civil rights leader – for free.
Arts lovers rejoice … Breckenridge Creative Arts offers multiple tours to showcase the Town’s public art collection, the Arts District campus and other cultural highlights in the community. From May 5 through October 21, free docent-led tours are available on Fridays and Saturdays. However, if you like to blaze your own path you can do a self-guided tour using your mobile device to listen to the Breckenridge Public Art + Arts District Audio Tour. Accompanying maps are available at the Breckenridge Welcome Center and Old Masonic Hall for your convenience. You may also call 970-453-3187 ext. 7 for more details.
And last but not least, the Breckenridge Backstage Theatre offers some impressive theater productions at an extraordinary price. For as little as $15, one can enjoy all that the local Breckenridge talent has to offer.
Admittedly while it might be tempting to ultimately purchase something from one of the over 200 shops, restaurants and bars on historic Main Street, it is still definitely worth the walk to experience the old mining days of Breckenridge. During the winter season, the street is adorned with holiday lights and during a snowfall can make for one of the experiences of a lifetime!
