A Winter Holiday in Breckenridge

I’ll come right out and admit it. I’m a warm weather gal. Would I prefer to live by the beach or mountains? Beach. I don’t hesitate or think twice when I answer. Maybe it’s because I’m a California native making me a “California girl” in the truest sense of the words. My idea of a relaxing time in a beautiful holiday setting is lounging on the beach or by the pool, cocktail in hand with the warm sun pouring over me. Many of our holidays over the past few years have been tropical, like Bali or the Maldives. I love the Singapore climate where it’s summer 365 days per year which some say is just crazy. So when Ozdane and I started planning our trip to the States for the holidays this past Christmas I knew I had to “buck up” and get excited about a snow holiday in Breckenridge, Colorado.

To be honest I think I was more concerned about learning to snowboard than anything. How did that work out you ask? Well, read on my friends. I knew Breckenridge itself was meant to be a beautiful place and I’d heard many great things so it wasn’t that hard to convince myself I could rock the snow and freezing cold weather thing! Besides what better excuse to revamp my winter wardrobe and splurge on some snow clothes?

Truth be told I did really enjoy Breckenridge for a number of reasons despite the fact my attempt at learning to snowboard was cut very short with a fractured elbow during day 2 of my lessons. Yes, I wasn’t even on the bunny slope when it happened. I was literally in the “learning area” with the kids who were zooming past me with no fear. That was only three days into our trip with five to go. I quickly came to terms with the fact I’m more of a snow bunny than a snow sports gal and I’m completely fine with it. I’ve never been the Sporty Spice type anyways. So having injured myself early in our stay I had plenty of free time to check out the town of Breckenridge, wander around and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.

Breckenridge is a truly beautiful place. Almost the entire time we were there the sun was shining which took the chill away a bit. There really is nothing like breathing that fresh mountain air into your lungs. It’s so refreshing. The picturesque setting with the snow covered mountains and the quaint town itself is like something out of a book. It really is one of those places you want to be for a winter holiday that truly makes it feel like the holiday season. The town of Breckenridge is large enough to keep you entertained with non-snow sport activities like shopping, dining or day spas for a massage but small enough that it still has that quaint village feel to it. I enjoyed strolling up and down Main Street popping in and out of the local shops.

My absolute favorite was a delightful travel shop, The Worldly Traveller. Surprise, surprise! The moment I walked into this shop I was like a kid in a candy store. The lovely owner, Jennifer, opened the shop in November last year and her passion for travel is evident as you look around her shop. In addition to carrying a range of the practical items like travel accessories, luggage and bags she also has a variety of travel themed home decor, books and gifts. I was very happy to get some travel themed prints and words of travel inspiration to hang in my writing space here at home. If you’re in Breckenridge look for Jennifer’s shop located on South Main Street. You can also find The Worldly Traveller on Facebook.

Chalet Chloe was where we called home the week we were in Breckenridge. We were fortunate enough to stay in this luxurious chalet, centrally located to town and the mountain. Having been to Lake Tahoe a number of times I was expecting more of a cabin but this chalet was far beyond a cabin. Beautifully decorated, huge but still cozy, a lovely fireplace, balconies, big kitchen and yes of course, a jacuzzi. To top it off you didn’t have to lift a finger during your stay with chefs preparing your breakfast, dinner and afternoon tea for you daily. Of course the cleaning was taken care of as well. This is perfect for those looking for a truly relaxing escape. How did we find this gem you ask? Lucky for us a friend of Ozdane’s runs a ski chalet business, Kokopelli, in Breckenridge and Chalet Chloe is one of their luxury chalet rentals. Look out for the contact details at the end of this post.

We indulged in some delicious meals at some restaurants in town during our stay. Being the Mexican food lovers we are I’ll admit we hit up Mi Casa multiple times for their delicious margaritas, enormous burritos and scrumptious fish tacos. Perfect way to warm up after a day on the slopes or walking out in the chilly weather. Twist is a fantastic choice for dinner and very cozy set in a little house off Main Street. They are all about a “twist on classic comfort food.” If you’re a mac and cheese lover like me, don’t miss their Carr Valley Mac and Cheese! Modis is another great choice for casual dinner and/or drinks with American cuisine in a nice ambiance.

Aside from my little injury we had an excellent time in Breckenridge and guess what, I survived the freezing cold temperatures just fine and truly enjoyed myself. We will definitely be going back to Breckenridge and I wouldn’t be surprised if we make an annual trip out of it when we are living in that part of the world. I never thought those words would come out of this beach babe’s mouth! A big thank you to our mate James for making our trip so memorable!

If you’re planning a trip to Breckenridge check out Kokopelli for chalet rentals in the area and Ski Bundle for great ski holiday packages in North America. You can also find them on Facebook.