BRECKENRIDGE FOR YOUR NEXT SKI VACATION - BRECKENRIDGE REAL ESTATE

If fur coats, neon martinis, or imported European techno DJs are an important element of your ski vacation, you should probably look elsewhere. But if great skiing, lodging, dining and shopping are the cornerstones, Breck has you covered. And it does not hurt that it offers some of the best values of any ski resort and ski town this big. This winter is Breckenridge’s 50th anniversary, and it has come a long way. I’ve been many times since my first visit in 1987, and have personally seen it expand and improve dramatically. I’ve also been to every other major resort in Colorado, and in comparison, there is simply no rational reason to leave it out when considering a ski destination. It certainly does not lack for terrain, with a mind boggling array of slopes for very ability. The town is not “quaint” or “charming,” it is big time, shocking novice visitors with its depth of offerings, simply one of the best ski towns anywhere. The meals I had on my most recent visit could go toe to toe with any US ski destination – and were better than most. It’s also relatively easy to get to. If Breck had one long term weakness, it was the absence of a luxury hotel, and while it still might not be the Four Seasons or Ritz Carlton, the new ski-in/ski-out One Ski Hill Place has filled that void well. Extra-curriculars run the gamut from dog sledding to spas, snowmobiling to extensive Nordic terrain. In short, it is the complete package.

So here are ten good reasons you might want to visit Breckenridge:

1. The Skiing: This is a huge world-class mountain with 155 trails served by a network of 31 lifts – including the highest one in North America. We’re talking everything from corduroy groomers to double black chutes and hike-to terrain. And because so much of the resort is above tree line, overnight winds typically redistribute the snow, making for “fresh tracks” conditions even when there is no new accumulation, a huge natural advantage – especially in low snow years like this one. For park lovers, they have multiple pipes and parks, including the world’s longest super pipe – which may explain why Shaun White, easily the world’s greatest snowboarder, owns a place here.

2. The Town: Lots of western resorts boast old mining towns, but few rival Breckenridge – its downtown is the largest historic district in Colorado. If you can’t buy it, eat it or rent it easily along these quaint streets, you probably don’t need it.

When One Ski Hill Place opened last winter, it helped fill the one gap in the resort's resume: upscale lodging.

3. One Ski Hill Place: Part of the RockResorts group, this condo hotel opened last season at the base of Peak 8, with large and luxurious rental residential-style accommodations, several dining options, pool, steam, sauna, indoor and outdoor hot tubs – and even bowling alleys. It has a great ski-in/ski-out location and it is home to…

4. The T-Bar: Popular and frenetic since it opened last season, this new spot has indoor and outdoor seating, drinking and dining, live music and a skiing-themed name (get it?). Part of One Ski Hill Place, it has quickly become one of the top après spots in skiing.