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Colorado's Breck is a top-notch place for winter fun, with great skiing and riding -- but it shines year-round with places to visit, play, and eat around town.

Breckenridge is among the most attractive winter resorts in North America, especially for families. Though not as chic and au courant as Aspen and Vail, it has abundant antique charm and a full array of activities and facilities. The town of nearly 3,000 was founded in 1859 and grew steadily.  On a mid-summer morning in 1909, the Masons proceeded through downtown Breckenridge on their way to the "Laying of the Cornerstone" for the new courthouse. Over the past century, the town has managed to hold onto much of its heritage, with 171 officially designated historical structures, including an abundance of quaint Victorian buildings and several interesting museums.

Breckenridge is easily seen on foot, bio-diesel shuttles make regular rounds of the town. Go now, while it's at its peak (though we expect the town's sustainability initiatives to keep it flourishing for many more centuries.)

Skiing & Summer Around Breck

Breckenridge Ski Resort (800/789-SNOW) stretches across four interconnected mountains - peaks 7, 8, 9 & 10 of the Ten Mile Range - with 146 trails totaling nearly a hundred miles over more than 2,000 acres of impressively diverse terrain. Besides skiing and snowboarding, the area offers ice skating, snowshoeing, snowmobiles, dogsled and mule-drawn rides. Younger kids will be especially delighted by a ride behind a sled drawn by Siberian huskies; for this experience, contact Good Times Adventures at 800/477-0144 or 970/453-7604.

They’ll also enjoy a mule-drawn sleigh ride through the snow to dinner - though you might want to reserve that for a more romantic interlude - with Breckenridge Sleigh Rides at Gold Run Nordic Center (970/453-4405 -- reservations required). We especially recommend the food and experience at Two Below Zero (800/571-MULE, 970/453-1520), which departs from the Frisco Nordic Center.

Hate snowsports? There are a lot of local festivals to keep you warm in winter. Holipalooza is Breckenridge’s Victorian holiday celebration begins with the lighting of the town Christmas tree on December 3, followed by a fireworks display and a choir concert. In the following days there are sporting competitions, activities for kids and strolling carolers. The Ullr Fest, the second week in January, is a more adult festival celebrating Ullr (Ooh-ler, think ooh-la-la!), the Norse God of Snow, that brings wild times, including a Main Street Parade, live entertainment, the Ullympics, a Nordic event and an ice skating party. The last week in January brings the Budweiser International Snow Sculpture Championships in which 20-ton blocks of snow are turned into works of art.

Closer to Spring, the town also celebrates Mardi Gras with a parade, king and queen, live music, Cajun food and beads. And you can be sure St. Patrick isn’t neglected. April Fool’s Day provides another opportunity to fool around and help inaugurate the Spring Massive, which brings more competitions, entertainment and family fun.