Family ski
With a diverse range of terrain and attractive main street, Breckenridge has plenty to offer families, and works well for parents hitting the slopes with their kids. Here, you’ll find swift lifts and excellent snow coverage, minimal lift queues and a massive range of learner-friendly slopes to choose from. Ski schools in Breckenridge have an outstanding reputation for quality, and there’s a great range of restaurants with child-friendly menus to sample. The resort gets quite heavy traffic, so parents are advised to choose accommodation off the main drag.
Parents in search of childcare options in Breckenridge can turn to a number of different services, depending on location and budget. Around peak 8 and peak 9, services such as the Village Child Care and Beaver Run welcome little ones from two months to four years old, and run from half past eight in the morning through to four pm, all weel long. Parents can choose hourly programmes or gull-day services, depending on the kids of childcare they want, and advanced booking is advised as the services are in high demand. For kids ready to hit the snowy slopes, the Lil’ Rippers program is the perfect introduction for youngsters on skis or snowboard.
Most of the family-friendly terrain in Breck can be found around peaks 8 and 9 (along with the childcare services to match). For children mastering their first turns, peak 9 is where you’ll find the majority of the gently learner-friendly terrain, but there’s plenty of scope here for gentle progress onto more challenging ground too. Also on peak and peak 9, the dedicated Family Leaning Zones are the perfect place for parents to enjoy a little quality time with the kids on the snow. Here, the slopes are cordoned off to advanced skiers and boarders and the terrain is given over to parents with youngsters. For parents in search of slightly more challenging slopes to ski with the kids, peak 7 also offers plenty of scope for further progression.
We can’t talk of family-friendly facilities in Breck without mentioning the wonderful Kids Adventure Zones. You’ll find them across the peaks and valleys of the resort, and they offer the perfect opportunities to just have fun with the kids on the slopes. There are speed traps to check your pace and plenty of challenging hits hidden among the trees – all you need to test the kids and make progress on the snow. Two of the best ones can be found around peak 9 - Riperoo’s Forest and the Haunted Forest – offering beautiful terrain rolling down through the glades. Dragon Tail on peak 8 is another great place to ski as a family, with an exciting castle, and others to look out for during your ski holiday in Breckenridge include CJ’s Cabin and Rip’s Ravine – where a whole load of child-friendly terrain and adventure await.
Away from the groomed pistes, there’s plenty to do for families in Breckenridge if the kids need a change of scenery or if bad weather closes in. The Gold Run Alpine Coaster is a coaster trail running down the mountainside, where parents and kids alike can enjoy high-speed thrills on the snow. You can ride single or in tandem with a friend or parent, and control your speed to enjoy the ride to the full. Also worthy of note, the Breck Flyer Zipline at the foot of Peak 8 is another perfectly family-oriented activity to keep the kids amused and entertained off their skis.
Down in town, further family facilities to explore include the adventurous walking tours which take you through the colourful history of Breckenridge before the skiers and snowboarders arrived. Alternatively, the Mountain Top Children’s Museum below peak 9 offers a whole range of engaging arts, crafts and fancy dress activities. For older children and teens, head over to Downstairs at Eric’s on Main Street. This family-friendly sports bar and arcade offers everything you need to while away a few hours off the groomed slopes. You’ll find a long child-friendly menu, and amusements like pinball machines and arcade games for the kids to have fun with.
Group Ski
Breckenridge, or ‘Breck’, as it’s often known, has plenty to offer large groups of skiers and snowboarders in search of adventure on the snowy slopes. This US ski resort offers groomed pistes soaring to a mighty four thousand metres above sea-level, and altitude sickness can pose a problem. One solution for groups hoping to avoid the issue is to hit a few lower-level resorts first, and Vail and Steamboat fit the bill perfectly. Once safely arrived in Breckenridge, however, you’ll soon settle in – with swift lifts and an exceptional snow record making Breckenridge one of the Unites States’ must-ski destinations.
Breckenridge’s terrain parks are widely considered among the finest in the States, with hits and kickers to suit even the most advanced freestylers. Away from the groomed terrain parks, Breckenridge’s pistes are perhaps most ideally suited to beginner and intermediate-level skiers and snowboarders – the amount of groomed runs is a little limited for eager experts keen to cover the miles. It’s a very family-friendly resort, too, with a wide range of services and amenities aimed at groups of families with youngsters in tow.
Groups of families hit Breckenridge for the gentle terrain and spectacular Rocky Mountain scenery, and the resort’s infrastructure is well set up for kids. You’ll find specially set-aside nursery slopes where kids can learn in comfort, family zones and adventure parks for children mastering their first turns on the slopes. The lower and mid-mountain areas offer rolling boulevarded pistes with plenty of space, and a range of terrain parks with hits and kickers for all levels. The ski schools here are also excellent, and you’ll find classes and clinics in everything from the basic pizza shape to moguls, park and powder skiing and snowboarding.
For eager diners and thirsty après skiers, Breckenridge works wonderfully well. Here, groups can enjoy a wide range of cuisine, with eclectic and welcoming après ski venues for a well-earned drink at the end of a hard day on the snow!
Childcare
Breckenridge is home to some excellent childcare providers, including three great childcare centers that offer fun indoor and outdoor activities for the little ones.
The Peak 8 Center is located behind the top gondola terminal at the base of Peak 8 and comprises four classrooms for children aged 8 weeks to 5-years-old.
The Village Center lies in the Village Plaza near the Quicksilver chairlift, with three classrooms for kids aged 8 weeks to 5-years-old.
The Beaver Run Center resides next to the Beaver Run Superchair and provides top-notch care for little ones aged 8 weeks to 3-years-old.