Winter is coming!

Imagine waking up in a wooden chalet tucked into the snow-covered Rockies, the scent of pine and fresh coffee floating through the air. Outside, snowflakes drift lazily across your window like someone shook a snow globe just for you. That’s Breckenridge, Colorado — a mountain town that feels alive with the kind of winter wonder that makes adults giggle like kids on a snow day. Let’s go!
- Cris

Breckenridge is a storybook come to life, where locals wear beanies instead of suits and no one judges your snow boots at dinner. After making the loooonnnnnggggg drive up the mountain from Boulder (seriously - people can get stuck on the road for hours if too much ice or an avalanche happens that day, you want to stay someplace cozy.

The best way to stay here? Rent a chalet. Skip the generic hotels and find one of the timber-framed hideaways that dot the mountain roads. Many come with crackling fireplaces, outdoor hot tubs steaming in the cold air, and oversized windows framing views that look like they were painted for postcards. (Also huge kitchens where you can enjoy that pizza that was just delivered). After a day out, there’s nothing better than kicking off your boots, curling up under a blanket, and watching the world outside glow beneath the moonlight.

Once you’ve settled in, it’s time to explore. Breckenridge sits at over 9,600 feet above sea level, and if you think that number feels big, wait until you feel the air. The altitude is no joke. Thankfully, the locals have a solution that’s both quirky and surprisingly fun — oxygen bars. Step inside one of these cozy lounges and breathe in scented oxygen through a little tube, like a spa for your lungs. It’s part wellness, part novelty, and entirely Breckenridge. You’ll find flavors like eucalyptus, mint, or even vanilla swirling through the air, and within minutes, your head clears and your energy comes roaring back.

I thought the idea was pure nonsense until I tried it. My nausea disappeared. My headache went away. I felt so healthy again - and went back each day. It’s a real thing for people to carry personal oxygen canisters. Altitude sickness is no joke for someone such as myself that lives at sea level. And for goodness sake DO NOT CONSUME ALCOHOL. You will spend hours regretting your very bad decision.

Going Somewhere? Protect Your Trip (and Your Sanity)

Feeling invigorated, it’s time to trade comfort for adventure. Snowmobiling in Breckenridge is the kind of thrill that wakes every cell in your body. Imagine racing across a glittering meadow, snow spraying behind you like a comet’s tail, as you carve your own path through the backcountry. Guides lead you through forests of silent evergreens where the snow hangs thick and heavy, muffling every sound but the hum of your engine. Crest a ridge, and suddenly the whole world opens up — peaks stretching endlessly, sunlight glinting off untouched powder, the sky so clear it feels like a secret kept just for you. Soaring over a snowbank onto a frozen lake and gunning the engine to full speed is SO MUCH FUN!

Are you wondering why those snowmobiles are so big? Every group has at least one wipeout where someone misjudges their speed and crashes their snowmobile into a tree or another snowmobile. That person then gets to spend the remainder of the tour riding behind someone else on their snowmobile while their “driver” tells them in detail what an idiot they are. I have always been the driver, never the idiot (fingers crossed).

Isn’t snowmobiling crazy cold? Surprisingly no! You wear several layers of special clothing, have hand warmers in your gloves, and the engine is a powerful heater for your feet. You are far more likely to arrive overheated than cold.

After that kind of rush, the town itself feels like a reward. Breckenridge’s Main Street looks like it was built for holiday postcards — colorful Victorian buildings, warm lights in every window, and the smell of hot chocolate wafting from cafés. It’s the kind of place where you can wander aimlessly and still feel like you’ve discovered something. Duck into an art gallery, try a locally brewed beer, or wrap your hands around a cup of mulled wine while snow drifts past the window. Every storefront feels personal, every conversation friendly.

Lots of people swear by the outstanding skiing in Breckenridge. I have tried to ski: downhill, cross country, speed skiing…and I just can’t seem to get it. You will, however, see many ski bags in the Boulder airport when you pick up your luggage. If you are one of those magical creatures that can ski then definitely plan for it.

But if you want to see something truly magical, come during the International Snow Sculpture Championships. For one week each winter, artists from around the world turn 25-ton blocks of snow into sculptures that defy imagination. Dragons, castles, abstract designs — all carved by hand using simple tools. Walking through the display at night, with spotlights glowing on the icy white forms, feels like entering another world. The sculptures shimmer in the cold air, each one more intricate than the last. It’s impossible not to feel small and awestruck, the way you do standing under a cathedral ceiling or a sky full of stars. And yes, you will wonder if you have time to take a quick class that involves a chainsaw and ice. Maybe….

Breckenridge is the rare kind of destination that manages to be both exhilarating and peaceful. It’s where the wildness of nature meets the warmth of small-town life. You can chase adrenaline in the morning and serenity at night. You can live in the moment, one snowflake at a time. Thankfully, the town contains a Realty with ads in the window for homes for sale.

Anyplace that can be both peaceful and drenched in adrenaline is magical. Drop me a line if you own a home in Breckenridge with rentals available…I know a girl who might be interested 😃 

See you next Wednesday.

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