Off The Slopes in Breckenridge, CO.

Lynette Pettinicchi
4 days ago
5 min read

I started visiting Breckenridge, CO, in 2022, and sans last year, have been back at least once a year since.

As an entrepreneur who still handles much of the day-to-day herself, I’m intentional about winter trips, especially since I typically close for holiday break in December. A few things about the town that appeal to me and make it ideal for my schedule:

Easy to travel to
JetBlue-accessible to work on the plane
Walkable town
Ski-in/ski-out accommodations

And of course, the atmosphere/vibes.

Breckenridge checks all of those boxes. And summertime unlocks a whole new experience with hiking, biking, wild flowers, and more.

The ski mountain has 5 peaks, which means there are a ton of trails that I can do - aka blues (and some blacks) that don't have the entirety of NYC on them. You can spread out, cruise, and take yourself on an all-day adventure.

Though I've been to Breck so many times already, there's still a ton of winter activities I haven't done - cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, sled dogs, ice skating, and more. I think next year, pending snow, I'll spend a day at the Breckenridge Nordic Center doing some of those!

Aside from my first year, I've been staying at Gravity Haus right in town and walking distance to Peak 9 (aka, ski in/ski out). I got a membership years ago, and it's been worth having. Transparently, I am grandfathered in to my monthly fee (and I WILL cry if they try to take that away from me).

In addition to the convenient location, the space has a coffee shop, restaurant, and bar (the apres menu is fire), an onsen that houses hot tubs and a sauna, and a gym with classes (and open gym during any other time). They have quite a few properties, and I'm excited to eventually visit more!

Here are 10 of my must-do eats, drinks, and ways to play in Breckenridge:

Ollie's for wings.
My first year, my friend and I went the first night and got wings, and I was obsessed with them. We kept it a tradition, and when we sadly drifted apart, I continued it. Because how could you not? The crisp, the flavor, ugh. So good. The venue and walk there are also part of the allure! I usually get the 7 wings with a Caesar side salad.
Rootstalk's tasting menu.
I came here during the summertime, after I hiked my first 14-er (Quandary), to celebrate and treat myself after a fun and challenging day. The service was fantastic, and each dish was not only unique but equally delicious. I did not do the wine pairing, but that is an option if you want! I haven't ordered off the regular menu yet, but I'm sure you can't go wrong with anything.
Arcade games and pizza at Downstairs at Eric's.
Downstairs at Eric's is a great apres spot for when you need a snack and activity in between, well, activities. My go-to there is a personal-sized pizza and local beer! There are also arcade games. This year was the first year I took advantage and had so much fun. I'm a big fan of Skee-ball, so I definitely played a few times. The games are also super cheap - I still have $20 on my card to use for next time!
RMU for bingo or trivia (they only had bingo, no trivia this year), and open mic night.
I've been to the OG location for drinks and now open mic, but my fav is the activities at the new location. I unofficially participated in trivia (which was really hard!), and this year played Bingo. I had the best time! Who knew that could be so fun as a 30-something? Check their calendar online for happenings!
Take a stroll through town to see my favorite tree.
The twinkle-light trees are my favorite to stroll through, and I have one favorite tree that I take a picture with every year. Walk around town during golden hour to get beautiful views and take in the lights.
A walk/short hike to see the troll (I did this in the summer, but people go in the winter).
Back near the ice rink, maybe a half mile/mile out of town, on the Trollstigen Trail, is the wooden troll created by a Danish artist! There's also some great hiking in the area, so plan to see the troll and check out the surrounding trails before returning to town for dinner.
Happy hour at the Breckenridge Tap House.
I checked off another place on my very long list of bars and restaurants to try with the Tap House. Right on Main Street, they have a large selection of local beers on tap, cocktails, and a robust food menu. I didn't eat there, but I heard they have good tacos! The bartenders are friendly, and it's such a nice, quaint spot to enjoy before deciding on evening plans.
Spend time browsing the cute items in Marigold's.
In the same shopping area as The Crown coffee shop, Marigold's is a boutique that has tons of cute gift-y items. I got a gorgeous flannel years ago that I still wear today! They have a mix of local and mainstream items. Pick an afternoon to browse all the stores - you won't be disappointed.
Morning coffee at Unravel inside Gravity Haus.
There's nothing like being able to wake up and not have to go outside to get coffee. Full disclosure, I get a discount here with my membership, BUT the coffee is really that good. I typically get a regular drip coffee with a splash of oat, but they have specialty options as well. You can also order a quick bite from Cabin Juice starting at 7 AM before they open!
Watch the ice sculptures get built the last week of January.
I've missed seeing these every year, and when I had to push this trip up due to a work commitment, I was overly excited to find out I would be able to see them both being built and on display. I stopped by three days in a row, and it was really cool to see the progress each day, leading to the first night they were lit up. It was also a consolation prize for the lack of snow and all the closed trails.