Omayra Acevedo, Peak to Peak.   Winter is slowly approaching, the fire in the corner is quietly roaring and my fingertips gently strike the keys on the computer keyboard creating a perfect unison of subtle musical ambiance. I love Colorado. If you read any of my columns, I’m sure that has become very obvious. It’s also no secret as to why so many of us love our home. The seasons, the endless outdoor/indoor activities, the quaint and charming mountain towns, and even the people who help make Colorado so incredible. What’s there not to love, or at least enjoy?

Here’s one town I think most people will fancy. Known for its skiing, Gold Rush history and year-round alpine activities, Breckenridge, a once mining town, sits along the Rocky Mountain Range at 9,600 feet above sea level. Breckenridge, or Breck, as some call it, prides itself for the amount of snow they receive between late Autumn and late Spring. More than almost any other place in Colorado, and boy, do they take advantage of it in the best way possible.

Breckenridge Ski Resort has been operating since 1961. Breck has five peaks that offer 187 trails to bike, hike, ski, snowboard or snowshoe, depending on the season. It has 34 lifts that can accommodate 46,800 people per hour and 2,908 acres of skiable terrain. The longest trail is three and a half miles long.
Not a fan or winter sport

s? Enjoy one of many winter festivities, like the Lighting of Breckenridge and Race of the Santas, on December 8. It is the kickoff to the town’s annual transformation into a winter wonderland and picturesque holiday season celebration. You can make your own ornaments, listen to music, indulge in some seasonal delights and even meet the big guy himself.

You can come back a few days later for the December 11 - 17 Dew Tour. Support and watch as the world’s best skiers and snowboarders compete in individual Halfpipe and Slopestyle competitions. It’s free and open to the public. You can always wait until January 9 to visit Breckenridge for the Ullr Fest. For four days you can partake in a parade and glide down main street in a hot tub, people-watch as they strut their Viking gear and warm up by the town’s biggest bonfire.

Last, but not least, let’s not forget about the International Snow Sculpture Championships from January 21 -30. Watch in amazement as sculpture artists from around the world carve masterpieces out of massive ice blocks using only hand tools. Don’t forget your camera. This is a spectacle that’s not to be missed.

Want more to do? You can always stop in the town of Frisco on your way to or out of Breck. Plenty of shopping, hiking, museum visiting and eating can be done there as well. It won’t be difficult to spend all day in Frisco and Breckenridge. Whether you want to jump in fresh powder stashes, zip over the Rockies, sled downhill or spend some time celebrating life in general, Breckenridge is a great place to find your winter paradise, and it’s only 90 minutes from Denver.