- Feb 8

4-Day Itinerary for Exploring Colorado

Day One

We began our trip in Denver to reach Breckenridge, and we rented a car at the airport. Renting a car in Colorado is essential if you plan to explore. After settling into the rental, we hit the road and made our first stop at Georgetown Lake. The lake was frozen, and many people were driving and fishing on the lake. It's a very scenic stop to add to your road trip.

During our journey, we made several stops including Georgetown Lake, Georgetown Loop Railroad, Griffin Monument, West Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnel, and Scenic View on East Bound I-70.

Georgetown Loop Railroad

If you're planning to stay in Breckenridge and cook your own meals, it's best to purchase your groceries outside of Breckenridge or Frisco. Instead, consider stopping at either Silverthorne or Georgetown. Groceries tend to be about 30% more expensive in Breckenridge or Frisco.

After a lovely two-hour drive, we reached Breckenridge. We parked our rental car and began strolling through the charming shops on Main Street. We explored the area for a bit before heading to our Airbnb to check in. We stayed at a lodge in the Motherlode Condominiums by Ski Country Resorts.

Day Two

We started our morning early with a delicious breakfast at BreckFast on Main St. There's nothing like a wholesome breakfast to kickstart your day and warm you up. Next, we hit the road for Vail!

Vail is about a 40-minute drive from Breckenridge and boasts beautiful scenery. Upon arrival, we parked at Vail Village Parking and began exploring the area. Vail is a European-style village that offers a lot of shopping options and serves fantastic food. We had lunch at Pazzo's Pizza and Brew and tried slices of pizza, garden pasta, and a calzone. They were all delicious, and the pizza was particularly impressive!

The next stop is Lionshead Village! We took the in-town bus, free of charge, to the bus stop at Lionshead Village. We then started walking to the center of the village to begin our exploration. During our visit, we enjoyed a fun ice skating experience at The Arrabelle at Vail Square. We also grabbed some delicious ice cream and hot cocoa!

After much exploring, we returned to our rental in Vail Village to return to Breck.

Day Three

It's time to hit the slopes!!!

Our lodge was situated at the base of Peak 9, providing us with easy access to the rental shop and chairlift. We rented our ski gear from Breck Sports - The Maggie and highly recommend them for your next ski trip. They make everything incredibly easy for you, and your rental includes a helmet, boots, and skis/snowboard.

For first-time skiers, starting on Peak 9 is a good idea. This is also where the training section is located if you'd like to take lessons. Peak 8 is the primary resort and high-traffic area.

We went to the learning area since this was our first time snowboarding. We got on the board and started learning. This was a different experience for me and one that took patience, but we got the hang of it after a while. We practiced for over an hour, then took a break for lunch.

We had lunch at Maggie's, and the food was just what we needed to fuel ourselves for the big slopes. After lunch, we queued up for the Quicksilver Chair Lift and rode to Ten-mile. The Quicksilver stops at one point, allowing you to choose which slope you want to ski down. Since it was our first time, we took it easy. We had a few wipeouts, but we eventually made it down the mountain and back to Base 9. Overall, it was a fun experience with great memories.

The Gondola

During our trip, we stopped by the Breckenridge Resort, which is located at Peak 8 base. We parked our car at the parking garage and then rode the Gondola. It was a completely free and fun experience that offered beautiful views. The Gondola made three stops before returning back to the resort, and we were able to see all three peaks from a good distance. This made for great pictures and an overall enjoyable and cost-free experience.

Frisco Adventure Park

After a long day on the mountain, we returned to our Airbnb to rest for a while. I had made reservations for us to go tubing at the Frisco Adventure Park at 4:30 pm, so after getting some rest, we headed over to Frisco. It was a fantastic experience! If you plan a trip to Breckenridge, Colorado, I recommend adding the Frisco Adventure Park to your itinerary. It was a fun and affordable adventure for us.

One important thing to remember is that a reservation is required to go tubing at the park. Walk-ins are not welcome, so make sure to book in advance.

When you arrive, you'll begin by watching a safety video and then grab your tube. There is a lift that takes you to the top, so you don't have to worry about walking up each time. You can go down the slope alone or in a group of four. Wear eye protection from the snow to see where you're going if it is snowing. Also, don't forget to wear a snow jacket – it can get pretty chilly out there! You can easily fit six rides into an hour, so grab a tube and have fun!

Day Four

Time to pack up and head back to Denver as our flight is scheduled at 11:20 am. We began our drive back to Denver at around 6:30 am. We made one last stop in Idaho Springs before returning our rental car. I wanted to try out my new drone, so we searched for an ice-free bridge and filmed a gorgeous video of the river and mountains.

It's important to note that if you have an early flight, it's best to give yourself extra time. The roads can still be icy in the mornings, and there may be road closures due to sun glare. Overall, it is a beautiful drive from Denver to Breckenridge, with plenty of scenic stops along the way. Be sure to have your camera ready and a good playlist!