Breckenridge, Colorado

Breckenridge, Colorado 

Getting There:

About a week before our trip, Sam decided he really wanted to go skiing in Colorado and we realized we would be driving right through it, so why not! Only problem was that because I am teacher, I could not take off the Friday before spring break or the Monday after. We had already booked all our hotels and we couldn't change our plans. So instead, we squeezed it in by sacrificing sleep and our sanity! We embarked on our no sleep adventure late Friday afternoon around 1PM. Then we drove straight through the night arriving in Breckenridge, Colorado (16 hours later) around 5AM. After "recharging our batters" by sleeping in the car for a whole 2 hours, we woke up at 7AM to get our rental gear for skiing all day!

**Note: I do not suggest doing it this way! Had we not decided this last minute, we definitely would have timed things out differently! But sometimes to see great things you have to make some sacrifices! 

Skiing in Breckenridge

We rented our gear in advance from Blue River Sports and got there right at 8AM to pick it up so we could hit the slopes! I highly recommend Blue River Sports. Their gear was perfect for inexperienced non-skiers like ourselves. They were also very understanding when we returned our gear with my skiing poles missing! While eating lunch, someone accidentally took my poles mistaking them for their own. Therefore when I returned my gear, I had different poles than what I had rented. They were very understanding and didn't charge me for the missing poles! WHEW! I would highly suggest renting your gear online in advance. Spring break is a busy time for them and things go fast! I would also suggest arriving early to pick it up if you want to maximize your time on the slopes!

Though we both have had some experience skiing before, we would not consider ourselves expert skiers, especially on Colorado sized mountains (Wisconsin mountains are hills compared to CO)! Luckily, Breckenridge is the perfect place for people of all skill levels. We started on a smaller bunny hill to get acquainted with our gear and skiing. There were adults and children on these hills and I didn't feel embarrassed at all by starting here! I would recommend this for anyone not experienced with skiing! 

After doing the bunny hill a few times, we graduated to a harder green hill. This one was easy but also packed with people and long! There was a spot half way down the hill to stop and catch your breath or rest your legs if needed (I appreciated that)! Personally, I found this hill to be a perfect match for my skill and comfort level. Being a non-skier and a nervous nelly, I stuck on this hill for the remainder of the day! My husband Sam however, adventured out to a few harder blue hills. He found these hills to be more challenging than the green hills, but not outside his skill level. They were longer and steeper than the green hills, but had less people and were more enjoyable for him!

While he tried out harder hills, I relaxed in the lodge with some tasty food and a gorgeous mountain view!

Tips and Suggestions for Non-Skiers

• If you are not used to high altitudes, BEWARE! Being from Wisconsin I had never experienced true high altitudes and I definitely felt it. Bring Tylenol or Ibuprofen, it will help!
• Start early! The slopes get busy fast! It is easier to ski when there are less people, so the earlier you go the better.
• Depending on when you go, dress in layers. We wore a lot of layers and became very warm! It can get hot on the slopes with the sun and we were glad we could shed a few layers. I ended up skiing in just light gloves and a long sleeved shirt. 
• If you are driving, rent the snow pants. They aren't expensive and it saves room in your car. 
• Buy ski goggles, they do not rent them, and it does wonders for blocking the sun.
• WEAR SUNSCREEN! Believe it or not, you can get burned! Our faces were a lovely shade of red complete with a great goggles tan, by the time we finished skiing.
• Bring a backpack. You have to take a gondola to even get to the ski hill and with all your gear you don't want to have to worry about carrying extra jackets, medicine, money, etc. Just bring a backpack!
• Rent a locker when you get there it is worth the money to have a place for all your stuff!
• If you have never skied before, take lessons! There is no better place to learn than in Colorado with experienced teachers! And there are many adults taking lessons so you won't feel alone or embarrassed. 

I do not have any advice on hotels or places to stay in Breckenridge. Because we like to save money and push our bodies as far as they can go, we decided not to spend the night in Breckenridge and instead trek on to our next destination - Moab, Utah. After no sleep and skiing all day, driving what turned into 6 hours to Moab may have not been our best decision. However, it saved us a buck and we managed to survive! 

We LOVED skiing all day at Breckenridge and even though we were very sleep deprived and a little loopy from the altitude, it was worth squeezing it in!