Breckenridge, Colorado – 12 FREE things you’ve gotta do!

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Breckenridge, Colorado.

This town.

So quaint. So much history. Such beauty.

I love that it’s just a two-hour drive from Colorado Springs, and only 90 minutes from Denver or Boulder!

If you live in Colorado, or are here on vacation, it’s absolutely worth taking at least ONE day to spend in this magnificent place.

The drive is phenomenal. Your day will be magical. Your soul will be refreshed.

This town must be on your bucket list.

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Here are 12 FREE things we recommend doing in Breckenridge.

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1. Play downtown!

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There are two parks right on Main Street that our kids love. They can also splash around in the river on a warm day.  The views are beautiful and the people are friendly – we all have a good time!

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2.  Visit the museums!

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Breckenridge is the largest historic district in Colorado.  Once home to gold mining, Breckenridge’s history dates back to the 1850s.  With that said, there are a handful of interesting, free museums! Take a tour, learn about the history of this great little town. I recommend starting at the Welcome Center. It’s a museum filled with lots of interesting information about the city, plus, the staff will provide free maps, and recommend all the best places to go in town!

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3. Take the Gondola

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It’s free and PHENOMENAL! This is one of our favorite things to do when we come to town! We LOVE the beautiful ride up the mountain. You can get off at the top, walk around, and play in the snow!

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4. Hike

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There are spots all over town perfect for family hikes! As I mentioned before, stop by the visitor center/museum. You will get a map and recommendations. The guides inside the welcome center will tell you all about the different hikes – lengths, whether they are hard or easy, and what you’ll see!

The hike to see the troll is easy and beautiful!

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5. Walk Main Street

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Walk all the way down one side, cross over and walk all the way back. It’s probably 8 blocks each way and so many quaint stores to see. I love that many of the stores are old homes. In summer, you can find AMAZING deals on winter items. I found a hooded Patagonia coat for my son for just $20! In winter, find great deals on summer items! Tip – shop at more than one store for items you are looking for. Stores off Main Street tend to sell similar things for better prices.

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6. Ride the trolley

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Breckenridge provides a free trolley for you and your family. It will take you from one side of town to another. Just stay on and do a loop to enjoy Breckenridge from another point of view. My kids enjoy this unique experience.

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7. Visit the Breckenridge Sunday Market

If you come on a Sunday (from June 17 to September 2) don’t miss the Farmer’s Market! You’ll hear band’s playing music, taste local food, and see/experience some of what makes Breckenridge so special.

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8. Bike Ride

Bring your bikes and enjoy a bike ride along the river. (Bikes are available to rent as well)

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9. Riverwalk Concerts

Throughout the summer, you can enjoy a free concert from the lawn on the Riverwalk!

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10. Find the Fairy Forest

This is a hidden gem found at the base of the Snowflake lift. Hike the Sawmill Trail that follows alongside the river. Once you get to the top of the trail, hike around

the corner to the right, and you’ll see a rocky path headed up towards Four O’Clock. Don’t step off the trail just yet, or you’ll miss the magic. Stay on the lower part of the trail that leads behind a few beautiful homes off Four O’Clock Road.

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11. Go Sledding!

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In the winter, we bring our sleds to Breck. There is a FREE sledding hill in Carter Park, which is located at the south end of High Street adjacent to the Breckenridge Elementary School. My kids and I have so much fun sledding this large hill!

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12. The Breckenridge Snow Sculpture Championship

Towards the end of January people from around the world come together to compete at making snow sculptures. Just like the World Championship of Sand Sculpting, the snow sculptures are works of art and take hours to complete. If you would like to look at these marvelous works of art in the flesh, check your calendar and make sure that your trip aligns with the snow sculpture dates. This is one of the BEST things to do in Breckenridge during the winter months.

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Four fun things to do that are not free:

1. Epic Discovery – If you ride the Gondola up to Peak 8 you will find an extremely fun place to play. There’s an alpine slide, a zip line, a roller coaster.  The park is not free (its about $60 a person) and I have not done it yet, but it’s on my list of things I want to do!
2. Ski – it’s beautiful, but gets crowded and is quite expensive for a beginner like me.
3. Children’s Museum – This museum has good reviews and is reasonably priced (Kids $6) but we have yet to visit. There’s so much to do for free, we haven’t made time for this museum yet.
4. Walking History Tour – Enjoy a two hour walk around town while learning about the history of this charming place from an expert.

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CLICK HERE for the best places to EAT in Breckenridge!

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Have you been to Breck? What do you love about this town? Leave me a comment!