All content & photos: Copyright© 2008,
Jan Hight. All rights reserved.
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This is definitely not an in-depth travelogue for Breckenridge or the Summit County area....that would take many more pages. I only wanted to share a few thoughts, photos and remembrances of one of our favorite places...as an introduction for those who haven't been there (and as a special greeting to our dear friends in Denver). There are countless things to do and see, many places to stay ranging from fine hotels to ski chalets, all sorts of choices for spending time in the most enjoyable way! With this article as a "sample", you can go on to explore the numerous options (and joys!) of Breckenridge for yourself. Colorado Resort Net's website at http://www.toski.com/ is one source for vacation planning information. A great source for Breckenridge condo and vacation home rentals may be found at http://www.skibreckenridgecolorado.net/. Once you've arrived, no matter what the season or what you've busily been doing and seeing, at the end the day you can relax and enjoy the alpenglow and a gorgeous Rocky Mountain night....if you're extra lucky (as we were), you'll have a full moon illuminating the unforgettable scene!!
Copyright © 1997 - 2008: Jan Hight
Published -- November 19, 1997 |
During the years when we lived in Denver, we spent innumerable pleasurable and
memorable hours in Breckenridge...in both winter (perfect skiing conditions with warmly
inviting aprés ski atmosphere) and summer (hiking, jazz festivals, jeep tours to ghostly
mines), as well as in the spring and autumn...a year-round delight! We watched its
transformation from a dozing mountain village, containing aging vestiges of its grand days
at the heart of a mining empire, to a vigorous resort known for its pristine slopes as
well as its array of shops, galleries and restaurants. The ski area itself has grown from
the 2 mountains we first traversed to 4 mountains today. Fortunately, with all of the
renovation and construction, the grace of its Victorian past has not been lost...elderly
"faded ladies" have been restored to their 1880s splendor, and new structures
are designed to fit into the historic environment. Perched at a lofty 9,600 feet in the
spectacular Rocky Mountains, Breckenridge continues to mine its hills for treasures of a
different type...pleasure, entertainment, and pure enjoyment!
In mid-October '97 we returned to
Breckenridge for a week spent happily relaxing in the quiet,
prior-to-slope-opening beauty of the mountains (the first snow of the season added to the
serene ambience), returning to our favorite special-spots, 
catching up on all of the
changes since our last visit 4 years ago, and...most importantly...getting
together with our best Denver~buddies (hi, gang!). We decided to
share with our "Jan's Journeys" readers some of John's photos, a few of my
words, and our enduring love for beautiful `Breck´ and the dazzling Rockies!!
Outdoor activities are
readily available
anytime of the year, and there is much more to do in the area as well. In addition to all
the fun that Breck has to offer, Lake Dillon is nearby and Vail is just over the next pass
to the west. 
After a day full of whatever the season and individual
interests (plus stamina!) dictate, there are many wonderful restaurants waiting in
Breckenridge. A few of our favorites are: Hearthstone (housed in a lovely Victorian built
in 1886), Cafe Alpine (which has the appeal of the old home it once was), the Swan
Mountain Inn (which is also a B&B), the Briar Rose (formerly a boarding house which
served the Briar Rose silver mine in the 1800s), and The Lodge at Breckenridge's Top of
the
World restaurant (with panoramic views from its nest on a hillside above town). The
long-standing
gathering place for our
crew-of-Colorado-chums has been the
Whale's Tail; it welcomed
(and withstood) us once again...and more fond memories were made within its walls! A
familiar site in Breck has been the old mining dredge abandoned in the Blue River, which
we discovered on this trip is now a restaurant called (surprise!) The Dredge. We'll have
to give it a try on our next visit.
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