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posted on February 7th, 2013
 According to the Breckenridge Ski Patrol “there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad gear”. Make sure you have the right gear for your ski adventure. (Photo Credit: gobreck.com) If you’d like to learn to ski, there’s more to it than just figuring out how to walk in boots, use your poles or make a pizza to stop. We asked the ski patrol at Breckenridge Resort what are some of the most common mistakes for first time skiers. First, be prepared for the altitude change. Altitude sickness is due to the lower amounts of oxygen in the air at high altitudes. Altitude sickness can manifest itself in breathlessness, throbbing headaches and fatigue to name a few. To avoid the effects of altitude sickness, especially if you are coming to Breckenridge (or any mountain town) from sea level, is to gradually increase the altitude. If you are visiting Breck, spend one night in Denver first. This will give your body an adjustment period at 5,000 ft. prior to going up to 10,000 ft.
What else do you need to know? Here’s what else the Breck Ski Patrol had to say about common mistakes of first time skiers.
Continue reading Learn to Ski: Five Common Mistakes of First Time Skiers
posted on January 17th, 2013
 What’s a Southerners first ski vacation like? Read on. Guest post by Jennifer Close, Two Kids and a Map
When we moved from Pensacola, Florida to Denver, Colorado at the end of November, skiing wasn’t even on my family activity radar. My husband was excited about being closer to the mountain because he is an intermediate snowboarder but I had no interest in skiing. I had tried skiing once before on a trip to Wisp, Maryland and it wasn’t pretty. The adventure ended in a snow mobile ride down the mountain with a member of ski patrol. Not only do I have the bad memory of that one day of skiing, I am also not really a fan of cold weather or snow. Or, so I thought.
Our recent visit to Copper Mountain has completely changed my mind. As a Southern gal, I was very nervous and anxious about our ski trip. I am used to tank tops, flip flops and trips to the beach but I was determined to make the best of it.
You can find nonstop flights from Atlanta to Denver for under $200 right now, which helps to make the mountains of Colorado accessible for that big winter family vacation. If you are thinking about traveling to Copper Mountain, there are a number of things to consider before your trip.
Continue reading Plan a Ski Trip to Copper Mountain, Colorado
posted on August 20th, 2012
 The Sawmill Creek Trail in Breckenridge, CO goes past this crystal clear mountain lake. What: Colorado Hikes
Where: Sawmill Creek Trail
Length: 1.5 miles
Rating: Easy
Directions: The Sawmill Trail is located at the Snowflake Lift, near the intersection of Four O’Clock Road and Kings Crown Road. Walk or bike from downtown
We did several hikes while we were in Breckenridge. Some were self guided, and others were guided hikes, like the Sawmill Trail through the Town of Breckenridge. There are several groups that do guided hikes and each has their own angle. The Town of Breckenridge focuses on flora and fauna. Our leaders were very knowledgeable about the area and we learned several new plants including fireweed, a pretty purple flower that loves the disruption in the soil. It’s the first to bloom after fire – hence the name. We also learned how to tell the difference between spruce, pines and fir trees. Our guide, a retired science teacher, asked us to “shake hands with the trees.” The “friendly” fir is soft and you can’t roll the needles. The “spikey” spruce’s needles roll. The pine tree needles come in pairs.
Continue reading Colorado Hikes: Sawmill Creek Trail
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posted on August 20th, 2012
 Boreas Pass looks like the Oncler came through with his ax cutting down Truffela trees. These stumps are from trees cut down to make the railroad that went through here – in the 1800′s! What: Colorado Hikes
Where: Boreas Pass
Length: 6.6 miles one way (you can drive most of this)
Rating: Easy to Moderate
Directions: Go through the Town of Breckenridge, and when you pass the Breckenridge Brewery you go a couple blocks to a light where Boreas Road is well-marked. Follow this road all the way through, making no turns until you come to Road 50 at the other end near Como.
Photos: In addition to the photos below, here is a complete slide show of Boreas Pass.
This trail used to be a railroad line, although I don’t see how they could get a rail car through the pass in winter. As it is, the trail is closed to road traffic in winter and becomes a back-country ski destination.
Continue reading Colorado Hikes: Boreas Pass
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posted on August 20th, 2012
 The McCollough Gulch Trail covers a variety of terrain. What: McCollough Gulch Trail
Where: County Road 851, Breckenridge, CO 80424
Length: Approximately 2.8 miles roundtrip
Rating: Easy/Moderate
Directions: From Breckenridge begin at the junction of Ski Hill Rd. and Main St. Drive 7.9 miles south on CO highway 9. Turn right on County Rd. 850 and drive 0.1 mile. Take another right onto County Rd. 851. Stay left at mile 1.6. And park below the locked gate at mile 2.1.
Photos: For additional photos visit the McCollough Gulch Trail virtual tour.
Continue reading Colorado Hikes: McCollough Gulch Trail
posted on August 20th, 2012
 Old mining equipment and plaques explaining the history dot this kid friendly trail What: Colorado Hikes
Where: Iowa Mine Trail, Airport Road, Breckenridge, CO 80424
Length: 1.2 miles roundtrip
Rating: Moderate
Directions: Drive north for one mile on Hwy 9, left on Valley Brook Rd., right on Airport Rd. for .25 miles. The Iowa Hill Trailhead is on the left, directly north of the Public Works facilities. Limited parking available; drive up the dirt road to the second Iowa Hill trail sign.
Photos: For more photos, visit the Iowa Mine Trail Virtual Tour.
Continue reading Colorado Hikes: Iowa Mine Trail
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posted on August 20th, 2012
 The Gold Run Trail takes you through mine ruins and even a ghost town. What: Gold Run Trail (and the Preston Mill Ghost Town)
Where: Gold Run Trail, Gold Run Circle, Breckenridge, CO
Length: 10.5 mile loop
Rating:
Directions: From Downtown Breckenridge, drive toward Fisco on Highway 9. Turn right on Tiger Road (by the Breckenridge Golf Course). Drive about 1 mile and turn right onto Gold Run Road.
The problem with Colorado hikes is there are several spurs and it’s hard to stay on the intended path. This hike can take you from the trailhead into Breckenridge, or you can circle back to the parking lot. We opted to go on a guided hike with the Breckenridge Heritage Alliance. Not only did we hear great historical information about the mines and the Preston Mill Ghost Town, but we had a delicious lunch and didn’t have to worry at all whether we were on the right trail or not. My kind of hike. The trail starts as a jeep trail and is also a favorite for mountain bikers. However, there is plenty of room for hikers as well and it’s fun to explore the mill and town remains.
Continue reading Colorado Hikes: Gold Run Trail (Preston Mill Ghost Town)
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posted on August 20th, 2012
 I love this photo that looks like it’s snowing on my son – in July! Summer in Breckenridge is just as much fun as the winter. Temperatures are much cooler than most parts of the U.S. and there is a never ending supply of things to do. It’s always nice to mix a few free activities with some of the more costly endeavors, especially if you are visiting with a family. Here are a list of five free things to do during the Summer in Breckenridge. Know more, have a favorite? Tell us. Continue reading Five Free Things: Summer in Breckenridge
posted on August 12th, 2012
 Rafting down Glenwood Canyon. What: White Water Rafting in Colorado with Kids
Where: Colorado Adventure Center
When: Generally May – September
Cost: Prices start at $35 for kids and $47 for adults
$50 plus tax for the photo disk of your trip (make sure your photos are on the disk before leaving the rafting station.)
One of the activities the kids really wanted to do on our trip to Colorado was white water rafting. The Colorado Adventure Center has stations in Breckenridge, our home base, but we opted to travel to the outpost in nearby Glenwood Springs for a family friendly rafting trip. The hour and a half drive was beautiful. We rode down the mountain, through the foothills and into gorgeous Glenwood Canyon, with cut rock as tall as mountains and dotted with full-sized pine trees. The grey rock against the clear blue sky was breathtaking. This was to be the backdrop for our rafting adventure.
Continue reading White Water Rafting in Colorado with Kids
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posted on August 12th, 2012
 One of our favorite activities in Breckenridge was riding bikes along the Blue River Trail. This paved bicycle and walking path connects the Breck Rec Center to downtown. There is even an easy single track mountain bike portion. My kids started school last week. It was hard to come back from our summer in Colorado to the Georgia heat. The whole summer was a fantastic experience and I have my fingers crossed we can do it again next year. We packed a lot into a month, but there is still a lot to see and do in Colorado, so a return trip might be in order. Here are the highlights of our final days in Breckenridge and links to all our Colorado posts so you can plan your own vacation.
Continue reading Summer in Breckenridge with Kids: The Final Week
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