Breckenridge With Kids: Five Fun Family Winter Activities

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Guest Blogger: Leslie Stranathan is an educator from Windsor, Colorado. After teaching public school for 10 years, she began homeschooling her two children and has written an activity guide for families interested in exploring and learning about Colorado. Leslie’s family recently began a traveling adventure and they are on a mission to explore all 50 states in their RV. You can find them on YouTube and Instagram.

Nestled in the mountains at 9,600 feet is Breckenridge, a small town with big charm. With beautiful ski slopes covered with snow, a quaint main street draped in holiday lights, and plenty of spots to stay warm, Breckenridge is the perfect winter destination for families. Located just an hour and a half west of Denver, Breckenridge is easily accessible to locals and those traveling to Colorado from out of town. Our extended family has met up in mountains for a week every winter after Thanksgiving for many years. My husband and I have skied for over 20 years and enjoy all of the amazing ski resorts in the Rocky Mountains, but this year was the first time my kids got on skis!

Here are five fun family activities for all ages to enjoy in Breckenridge!

#1: Explore the Mountains!

My family, exploring the mountains by snow shoe!

Even if you’ve never stepped on snow, the experts here can teach anyone, of any age, to get down the hill safely. Lessons are available daily, with options for private or group instruction at the Ski and Snowboard School. For kids, the Kids’ Castles provides ski rentals, drop off care, meals and fun activities to make the experience that much more special. My kids (aged 5 & 9) loved meeting new friends and learning to ski with other children their age. By the end of the first day, they could control their turns and stop using their “pizza” wedge. Most importantly, they were excited to come back the next day. The EPIC SchoolKids Pass provides up to 4 days of lift tickets in Breckenridge and includes one full day of lessons with ski or snowboard rental all for free if your child is in Kindergarten – 5th grade (not limited to Colorado residents).

#2: Ride the Gondola

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Breckenridge is known for its excellent transit system. Free shuttle buses get you almost anywhere you’d like to go and are accessible from most lodging locations. The Breckenridge transit center acts as a hub for the shuttle system and is also home to the BreckConnect Gondola. This completely free 10-minute ride will whisk you from the town of Breckenridge to the bases of Peaks 7 and 8. At the top you can enjoy watching the skiers on the slopes, warm up with hot chocolate, or enjoy lunch in the lodge. On the days we skied, we took the shuttle from the door of our condo to the gondola, which carried us right up the mountain, all while in our ski gear. It was the perfect way to travel. The ride and beautiful views make this a fun activity for any age.

#3: Play at the Children’s Museum

Kids aged 0-10 will be entertained for hours with all there is to explore at the Mountain Top Children’s Museum. Located in the heart of downtown, the exhibits  include a Wonder Lab, Creation Station, Kidstruction Zone, Tot area, Medical Center, and a Rocky Mountain wildlife section. The museum is packed with hands on toys and games, and encourages imaginative play. Several evenings a week parents can choose to drop off their children and enjoy a night out on the town while the kids are supervised and entertained by the incredible staff at the museum.

#4: Savor a Crepe!

Breckenridge is home to so many amazing restaurants! Family friendly and full of character, your biggest dilemma will be trying to choose just one place to eat each evening. There is one spot you can’t miss though. Crepes A La Cart has two locations in town. The main street food truck stand nearly always has a line – and it is well worth the wait. Crepes A La Cart has a huge menu of both sweet and savory options that will satisfy everyone in your family. It is always fun to watch the friendly staff members cook delicious fresh crepes while you wait. Ask ahead, and they’ll cut your crepe so it’s easier for hungry kids to share.

#5: Glide on the Ice

There are a few winter activities that always pop into my mind when I picture a mountain vacation. Ice skating is always at the top of the list. Fun for all ages and great exercise, the indoor and outdoor public ice arenas at the Stephen C. West Ice Arena are easily accessible from town. The facility has a variety of skates available to rent, and provides helmets free of charge. There are also support slides in both child and adult sizes for those that aren’t comfortable yet on the ice to use to stay upright. If skating isn’t for you, try hockey, curling or broomball!

We hope you enjoyed Leslie’s list of Five Fun Family Activities in Breckenridge!

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10 comments

Melanie December 12, 2017 - 3:06 pm

Oh Breckenridge, how I love thee!! What a fun place to go with (or without) kiddos! My niece is going in February, to learn to ski for the first time, and I wish I could be there to see her!

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tanviidotcom December 12, 2017 - 3:13 pm

It looks like a great getaway … I wish I know how to ski!

❥ tanvii.com

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Sam | Away She Went December 12, 2017 - 4:24 pm

That sounds like such a fun trip! We don’t have kids, but we would definitely enjoy all of those activities just the 2 of us (except maybe the children’s museum).

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Leigh Suznovich December 12, 2017 - 9:43 pm

What a stunning place! My husband and I definitely need to go. I’ve always wanted to learn how to ski and snowboard, I’ve never set foot on the slopes. The creperie afterward could be my reward, ha!

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Dawn Karwoski December 12, 2017 - 11:48 pm

What a great winter getaway for the entire family. I have heard such great things about Breckenridge.

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Jereann December 13, 2017 - 8:34 pm

I would love to take my kids on a trip to Breckinridge when they get a little bit older! So many fun things to do!

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Elizabeth O December 15, 2017 - 1:14 am

I admire folks who really get into winter sports and enjoy every minute of it. Unfortunately for me, I’m all apres ski and a hot mug of chocolate by the fireplace. This list of activities looks like a ton of fun in a gorgeous setting. 🙂

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Tonya Tardiff December 15, 2017 - 1:44 am

This is what makes me so excited for a vacation. Colorado is on our list of places to go this year. Bookmarked this post, thanks for the tips and for sharing!

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Erica @ Coming up Roses December 15, 2017 - 8:30 am

It looks like there are a lot of fun things to do there! Great place to go on vacation!

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I'm Busy Being Awesome December 17, 2017 - 2:35 am

What a fun get away – and I love that crepes made it into the trip, too; my favorite 🙂

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