Breckenridge Ski Resort — Hotel in Breckenridge

TLDR; Breck gets a 4/5 from me, mostly because of the quality of snow and scenery... And admittedly perhaps an extra 0.5-1 star because it had been so long since I had been up (so maybe take that into account). Breck culture not necessarily my cup of tea, a little stuffier than I like, and didn't find a lot of friendly, fun, or helpful people in fact, a number of people were straight up rude. Wait time to run length ratio a little larger than I was hoping. Traffic up and back is no fun for a day trip, even just from Denver area, but definitely doable.

This is a beautiful mountain resort. The runs are pretty fun, but I was slightly disappointed in the length of the runs (though we didn't have a chance to explore the entire mountain in the 3/4 day we were on the mountain). The run length to ski lift wait-time was a little disappointing. It reminded me of Kirkwood in Tahoe on terms of the layout of the mountain, sort of wide and short. We were able to boogie down the mountain a little too quickly.

My other gripe was the atmosphere/culture. Most of the day, there was a bit of snobbery in the air, starting with a dude down at one of the mountain gear shops. He just wasn't super helpful or friendly. The resort was also quite crowded (we were there on a Saturday, so we were expecting this at one of the larger resorts). Also, on the mountain, people weren't super friendly, no fun banter on the lifts, people yelling at you on the runs if they thought you were going too fast (we weren't, and I can assure you we were totally safe and no one was in danger; and for a stuffy mountain, the person who shouted at us sure was vulgar in requesting that we please consider slowing it down a bit 😆). We had considered one of the "locals' mountains" like Loveland or Copper to avoid this type of stuff, but decided on Breck instead as we thought that there must be a reason for the price and the crowds. When we got off the slopes and into Lodge at the end of the day, we witnessed a brief moment of fun being had by our fellow skiers and riders, with a DJ and dancing..pretty funny and pretty cool, but didn't last long as they shut the bar and the gondolas down pretty soon after the lifts close. Not sure what the culture is like down in the village, and what kind of fun there is to be had after the slopes, but it did look like there could be stuff going on down in the village. In this regard, I have pretty high standards, as I am accustomed to mountains with pretty fun little towns at the bottom, like in South Lake Tahoe.

One more downside as you might guess, parking was pretty atrocious. We found that most of the lots were Full, including the one we ultimately parked in, thanks to one of the few friendly/helpful people we encountered, the parking lot attendant who let us in to look for a spot in the "full" lot.

All of that said, the drive from the Denver area was very doable, though the traffic got pretty nasty, especially at the end of the day (which we also were aware of going-in). The snow in Colorado is wonderful, as well as the scenery. The condos and apartments on Breck look incredible, and look like they'd be really fun to stay in. I had not had a chance to go up to any mountain in about 10 years, so I was pretty happy with anything I could get. Despite my few gripes, we had an awesome time. Next time in Colorado, would probably check out another mountains before going back to Breck. Copper looked really neat, and based off of the trail map, appeared skinnier and taller, which I'd personally prefer over short and wide. Definitely worth a try, but there may be much better mountains in the...

There are moments in life that you remember forever—those rare experiences that change you in ways you never expected. My journey with Larissa Galens has been nothing short of one of those moments.

It all started four years ago when I first set foot in Breckenridge. My dream was to ski the legendary Whale’s Tail and Horseshoe Bowl, but the reality was far from my vision. I had a solid base, sure, but I was stuck—mentally paralyzed by doubt and unable to break through the barriers I had built for myself. Enter Larissa. From the moment we began working together, I knew something extraordinary was about to happen. She didn’t just teach me how to ski better—she taught me how to believe better.

Larissa’s approach is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. She combined technical precision with an ability to unlock the mental blocks holding me back. I remember the first time she asked me to ski moguls—something I thought was beyond me. With her patient guidance, I slowly built the skills and confidence to tackle them. That was just the beginning.

Fast forward to our private lesson where I was ready to take on the Horseshoe Bowl. After conquering Stampede, Larissa saw the fire in my eyes and said, “Let’s do that.” She pointed to Outlaw. No hesitation, no second-guessing. With Larissa leading the way, I skied it, effortlessly. And then, as if it wasn’t enough, she suggested Whale’s Tail. In that moment, it felt like everything I had worked for—the years of doubts, struggles, and growth—had led me to that exact point. Dropping in, I was on top of the world.

Larissa didn’t just help me ski better; she helped me become the person I always wanted to be on the slopes. Confident. Bold. Unstoppable. My dreams became a reality, thanks to her unwavering support, expertise, and dedication. If you're lucky enough to have Larissa as your coach, trust me, you're in for an experience that will change your life. She is, without a doubt, the most exceptional coach I’ve ever...

One of my favorite ski resorts in North America! Here’s why: Denver is centrally located, it’s a short 3-3.5 hr flight from the east coast with plenty of direct flights, whereas Utah/Nevada/California is at least another hour of flying. And Breck is a short ~2hr drive from DEN airport. There are plenty of 4x4 SUV rentals, make sure you setup your rental profile in advance so you don’t stand in line for your car.

The resort offers lots of different terrain in the beautiful Colorado Rockies, from the black diamonds on the upper peaks to the family friendly greens on peak 9.

Kids - If you have little ones or learning yourself, head to the Quicksilver Super chair on peak 9 to access the gentle slopes of lower peak 9.

Altitude sickness - for some it takes a day or two to adjust to the high elevation. I recommend buying the oxygen canisters (it’s worth it) if you have headaches, and practice deep breathing (like using the app on the Apple Watch) to bring your oxygen levels up to 90+%. Drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol on your trip to feel your best.

Lodging - soo many options. My personal favorite ski-in is Beaver Run (building 4) for the convenience of being on the slope. I’m also a fan of the Doubletree across the parking lot from peak 9.

Food - pretty much anything you can want is available in town, from great sushi (Japanese) to savory Pho (Vietnamese), and the usual Americana cuisine.

Epic pass - a must. Save on lift tickets and up to 20% on shopping and rentals.

In town - it’s a quaint but modern town, it’s not too hectic even during peak holiday season, with plenty of shopping, dining, and pretty scenery and parks to enjoy. Covid restrictions are a bit more relaxed in early 2021 and there’s some indoor dining.

Overall Breck is very accessible, family and learner friendly, not overly crowded, and not overly expensive, plus the terrain is great and if you’re lucky you’ll experience...