Breckenridge Ski Resort is one of the most visited and beloved ski resorts in the United States. You can’t go wrong taking your family to Breckenridge for a ski vacation, but it can be overwhelming figuring out where to stay, how to book your lessons, and what to do après ski at this large ski destination. That’s why our tips for families visiting Breckenridge Ski Resort will come in handy. We learned a lot during our recent visit and I look forward to sharing the best tips for families visiting Breckenridge Ski Resort.
Tips for Families Visiting Breckenridge Ski Resort
Covid Regulations
This season, there are certain regulations to be aware of regarding covid.
Face Coverings — Face coverings are required in indoor settings, including in restaurants, lodging properties, restrooms, and retail and rental locations, and on buses. Face coverings will not be required outdoors, in lift lines, or on chairlifts or gondolas, unless required by local public health authorities.
Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination — You do NOT need proof of vaccination to ski. But anyone 12 and up does need proof of vaccination to enter or dine in indoor, on-mountain quick-service restaurants this season. That means kids 12 and up in an all-day lesson with a lunch must be vaccinated. There are no pick-up or outdoor options, so if your teen or tween has not been vaccinated, book half-day lessons. You can show the actual card a photo of the card or an official vaccination mobile app every time you enter a quick-service mountain restaurant. A negative COVID-19 test will not be accepted.
Dining Reservations — Like last season, guests will be required to book a reservation to eat at many of the on-mountain restaurants using the Time to Dine reservation service.
Cashless Transactions — For guest and employee safety, all transactions are cashless unless otherwise required by local law. This includes at hotels, restaurants, ski and ride school, and all other points of sale. For the best experience, book and pay online in advance.
Buy Lift Tickets in Advance
Families visiting Breckenridge Ski Resort should make sure they purchase their lift tickets in advance. It’s the easiest way to skip the lines, save time and money, and make sure you can ski on the days that best fit your schedule. Lift tickets will be limited during popular holiday periods this season: Dec. 25 – Jan. 2, Jan. 14-17, and Feb. 18-27.
For the best rates, buy tickets seven days or more in advance and the tickets will be mailed to you.
If you forget to book in advance, you can still buy tickets online up until midnight the day before and head to the express window to pick up your ticket.
One of the best ways to save money on lift tickets when skiing at Breckenridge is to buy multi-day passes and purchase lift tickets in advance.
Whether you are skiing Breckenridge for one day, seven days or the whole season, you can find lift ticket deals that work for your plans.
Take Part in a Ski Lesson
We are strong advocates for ski lessons. Your kids will progress faster and more efficiently if they take at least a day of lessons. The ski and snowboard instructors are trained in how to teach you and your family as quickly and easily as possible.
Even if you or your kids already know the basics, instructors will help kids progress and they know the best terrain to suit their ability. If skiing is your thing and you want to make it a regular experience that your whole family will enjoy, lessons are the best way to achieve this.
Breckenridge Ski Resort offers lessons for everyone from the all-inclusive Family Private Lesson to children’s lessons and advanced adult lessons. Book lessons at least 48 hours in advance to save money and ensure your spot.
Athena had a full-day private lesson to refresh her skills and she was ready to ski all of the green slopes with me by the end of the day. It made our entire trip better with just one lesson.
Family Terrain
There are a variety of learning areas, family green trails, and Kid Adventure Zones at Breckenridge Resort. The majority of the beginner learning areas are located at the bases of Peak 8, accessible by the BreckConnect Gondola, and Peak 9, accessible by foot.
The base of Peak 8 is a beginner ski area, equipped with a ski school. On Peak 8, there are magic carpets, surface lifts, and learning chairlifts. These green runs are renowned for their gentle and gradual slope.
Though Peak 9 may be a bit busier than Peak 8, it is one of the best places to learn to ski and ride. The green runs accessed from Peak 9 are ideal for young beginner skiers and snowboarders. The lower half of Peak 9 offers mellow learning terrain and family-friendly zones, while the upper half offers wide-open intermediate terrain that fosters progression.
If your family feels comfortable and in control of these popular green trails, you are ready to explore more of Breckenridge’s terrain offerings.
Beginner tip – if you go when the mountain opens, there are usually fewer people on the slopes. This makes it easier to get on the lifts and less likely to run into other skiers. It’s not just your ability that you need to think about on the mountain. It can get busy in the beginner areas and out-of-control skiers can be dangerous. Try to avoid stopping in the middle of the mountain. Always wear your helmet and be aware of your surroundings.
Lodging
Breckenridge has luxury on-mountain ski lodging, including the Mountain Thunder Lodge, Timber, Beaver Run, Valdoro Mountain Lodge, plus a Marriot, a Double Tree, Hilton, and Hyatt, ski condos, and ski chalets for rent.
To stay on the slopes, we recommend One Ski Hill Place at the base of Peak 8. One Ski Hill Place offers luxury apartments or condos on the slopes with ski lockers, valet for your car and skies, and even a two-lane bowling alley.
It is the only true ski in/ski out accommodations on the mountain. Guests are steps from the BreckConnect Gondola, which offers easy access to the charming town of Breckenridge. Amenities include a sunny slope-side skiers’ plaza, skier restaurant, lively après-ski bar, two indoor pools, an outdoor hot tub, free local shuttle, and full-service restaurant.
Ski gear is inconvenient, heavy, and difficult to maneuver. It doesn’t deter us from skiing but it’s a fact. Additionally, skiing isn’t cheap. You have gear to rent, lift tickets to purchase, and other activities to think about. All of that becomes easier and more accessible when you stay at One Ski Hill Place. With kitchens in your accommodations, you can plan to have all of your meals there. You don’t need to worry about finding parking or transportation to and from the mountain. Storing your skies is easy because there is a valet on site. When your kids are tired, you can go back to the hotel for a nap. If you forgot something, it’s right there. You can come and go on your schedule.
One day, Athena forgot her goggles. It was windy and snowing. If that happened and we were staying somewhere off-site, we would have needed to leave, losing a big part of our ski day. Similarly, Max has naps during the day. We could easily and conveniently take him back to the room without losing any more time from our day.
We ate all of our breakfasts in the room and were the first ones on the slopes every day because we just had to walk out of the building and the lift was out our doorstep.
It isn’t cheap to stay at One Ski Hill Place, but if you’re traveling with kids, it’s worth it!
Après ski
When the skis and boots come off, there is still plenty of family fun to be had at Breckenridge.
On the mountain, take a ride on the Gold Run Alpine Coaster. This 2,500-foot coaster track is situated right on the mountain. Single or double riders control their own personal speed for dips and twists down the mountainside. Kids can ride with a parent or by themselves. You can purchase coaster tickets at the Gondola Ticket Office and the Peak 8 Ticket Office. We opted for the all-day ticket. The ride is pretty fast and you can get in a lot of runs in a short period of time.
If you’re looking to relax after family-fun skiing, The Rejuvenation Spa is the place for you. Featured Services include an Oxygen Massage. This customized massage is paired with oxygen and is designed to loosen stiff muscles, relieve altitude discomfort, calm your mind, and induce a more restful sleep. The Blueberry Slimming Body Wrap is also a popular service. This rejuvenating treatment begins with a blueberry sugar scrub followed by an application of our blueberry soy-slimming mask, which drenches your skin in antioxidants and skin-firming herbs and spices. After a blissful scalp and neck massage, a blueberry shimmer lotion is gently applied leaving your skin refined with a warm glow. The Rejuvenation Spa also has a full list of other services.
Breckenridge offers a variety of other family-friendly activities from the Mountain Top Children’s Museum to Historic Tours. You can find a full list of winter activities here.
Where to Eat in Breckenridge
Breckenridge offers all kinds of dining, from local favorites from bars and pubs to typical ski lodge fare.
On the mountain, you’ll find lodge dining, as well as full-service restaurants. We had lunch at the Ski Hill Grill at Base 8. It is a cafeteria-style typical ski lodge restaurant. While the food is tasty, it is expensive. Be prepared to spend about $25 per person for a bowl of chili or soup and a drink.
Also on the mountain, we dined at Sevens. Sevens is a full-service dining experience in a relaxed yet refined environment. You can hop on the free gondola and access the restaurant at Peak 7. If you’re looking for a full-service experience on the mountain, Sevens is your best option.
Our absolute favorite spots in the village include Tin Plate and Breckenridge Brewery and Pub.
Located in a 138-year-old mining cabin in Breckenridge’s prized Historic District, Tin Plate is an upscale pizza restaurant specializing in quality ingredients, elevated spirits, and local beers. I highly recommend the Mushroom Pizza. It comes with roasted mushrooms, caciocavallo, mozzarella, pecorino, oregano, hazelnut, and lemon zest. It was one of the best-tasting pizzas I ever ate. I would have never thought to put hazelnut on pizza but this combination really works well together.
Dessert Tip – Part of the Tin Plate building is a small bakery for the most delicious cookies. I don’t know what it’s called, but make sure not to miss it when you visit Tin Plate!
Our other favorite spot is Breckenridge Brewpub. It’s the original ski town brewery, 30 years and counting. They were just a few ski-bums who wanted something that tasted great after a long day on the slopes. Breckenridge Brewery began as a humble operation on Main Street in 1990. Now, as one of the nation’s top craft breweries, Breckenridge brews can be found in 42 states and under the parent label of Anheuser-Busch. The Breckenridge flagship location serves at the mad scientist lab with brewers creating and experimenting on what could be the next big brew, but can only found in Breckenridge while it’s being created. Combining delicious beer with tasty foods gives everyone in the family a reason to visit.
