If you are looking for a fun and easy weekend trip, Colorado has no shortage of mountain towns that are well-known for their ski slopes and resorts, and are only a few hours away from Fort Collins. Breckenridge, CO, is no exception and has more than just skiing.
Breckenridge is roughly a 2-hour drive from Fort Collins. It is located in the Rocky Mountains and was formerly a mining town. Now, the small town
has embraced the skiing industry and has many condos, resorts, and hotels where skiers can stay while they enjoy winter sports on the five peaks in Breckenridge.
Though the town is no longer centered around mining, you can still see its history in the Barney Ford Museum–the former home of the escaped slave and civil rights activist Barney Ford who moved to Breckenridge and opened a restaurant. Or you can enjoy the free museum connected to the Breckenridge Welcome Center, which offers an insight into the life of the miners who lived in Breckenridge during the Gold Rush and Silver Rush.
Other pieces of history can be found around the town, such as the more than 100-year-old mining dredge that still sits in a small stream near the piles of rocks left by the dredges as they mined through the mountain rivers. Or you can stop by the old sawmill museum. Though small, this outdoor historic site still has the old blades and machines that would have once been used to cut trees. Near the sawmill museum is another site dedicated to the town’s history. The Highline Railroad Park is both a cute stop for kids to play and a place to see two of the old trains that once ran through Breckenridge.
However, history may not be everyone’s idea of a good time. No worries! Breckenridge provides plenty of other ways to pass the time.
If you wish to go sightseeing, then the Troll in the forest will be a fun stop. Built by Danish activist Thomas Dambo, the troll is one of many made from scrap wood and twigs. Dambo’s trolls are located all across the world, from Main to Denmark, to Korea. Dambo’s wooden troll can be found at the end of a short path off of Boreas Pass Road.
Sapphire Point Overlook is a great spot to go if you want a good vantage point of the beautiful view the mountains offer, and does not require any hiking to get to. However, if you do wish for some hiking, there are also many amazing hiking trails around Breckenridge, such as the Blue River Trail, Warriors Mark Trail, and the Sallie Barber Mine Trail.
Other activities available to you in Breckenridge are snowshoeing, fly fishing, golf, rafting, and more. However, you shouldn’t forget to make time to walk along Main Street. The Main Street of Breckenridge displays charming buildings and unique stores, restaurants, and shops. Much like Old Town in Fort Collins, you can spend hours walking along Main Street and stopping into stores full of knick-knacks, candy, souvenirs, rocks, hats, skiing apparel, artwork, and more.
Colorado mountain towns are especially known for their skiing and snowboarding, and Breckenridge is no doubt one of them, but there are a myriad of other activities that one can enjoy and is only a short drive into the mountains, the town is a wonderful option if you are looking for a weekend away.
Rolston • Jan 25, 2024 at 10:48 am
Fuzziwig’s is the best part of Breckenridge in my opinion.