Four Perfect Days: Vacations for Seniors

Stroll down to Main Street and grab an espresso and raspberry muffin at Clint's Coffee House before making your way to one of Breckenridge Sports' convenient slopeside locations to pick up your gear. To save time and money, be sure to get your rentals lined up in advance. Get acquainted with the mountain and take a free mountain tour. Tours are open to intermediate skiers and above and depart daily at 10:00 AM from the Beaver Run and Peak 8 base areas.

After enjoying lunch on the heated deck at Ten Mile Station, explore the mountain on your own. Take advantage of the cruisers on Peaks 8 & 9 or if you're feeling adventurous, try the steeps and bumps on the south side of Peak 10. Advanced skiers should check out The Burn for legendary tree skiing. Or, journey into the heart and soul of skiing with Breckenridge Ski & Snowboard School. Private lessons offer one-on-one ski & ride instruction customized to meet your needs.

Sleep in and let your muscles recover from your first day in Breckenridge. High altitude can make you dehydrated so don't forget to drink plenty of water. A hearty dose of carbohydrates is also a good prescription for making the most out of a vacation at 9600 feet. Stop by Columbine Cafe, where breakfast is served all day and you can order an over-the-top cinnamon roll or pancake as big as your head! Then, wear a hard hat and hear the drills as you venture 1,000 feet into a century old, authentic gold mine—the Country Boy Mine. Tours are approximately 45 minutes long every hour on the hour. Be sure to meet one of the friendly burros that roam the mine site.

Spend the afternoon checking out the Breckenridge Nordic Center. Venture into 32Km of cross country ski trails through spruce forest and open meadows and 16Km of snowshoeing on scenic nature trails. Breckenridge has a new skier bridge and two nordic skier tunnels for a continuous looped trail system with no road crossings. Or perhaps you'd rather not brave the elements. What's a trip to Breckenridge without a souvenir? Paint a mountain memory on the pottery of your choice at Ready, Paint, Fire at the north end of Main Street. You pick your colors and then paint, splash, doogle, dab, stamp, dribble, stencil, or dot your design on your piece!

After a hearty breakfast at the Blue Moose, dig into the town's history as you take a self-guided historical walking tour through Victorian Breckenridge. Be sure to visit the recently restored Barney Ford Museum, on Washington Avenue, or the 1875 Edwin Carter Museum, the state's second oldest museum!

Have a light lunch at Crepes a la Carte on Main Street, serving up freshly made crepes before spending an afternoon at the spa. Visit Sacred Tree on Ridge Street, where guests can indulge in an array of massages, try alternative forms of therapy or take part in a workshop or class.

Get up early and grab a pastry and coffee from Cool River Coffee House to get your motor running your last day in Breckenridge. It's located on Main Street, but 'hidden' behind the Swiss Haven along the riverwalk. After your early rise, hit the slopes and make fresh tracks in our legendary Colorado powder. Be sure to check out the new Peak 7; six intermediate cruisers, the Peak 7 glades, and a high-speed six-passenger superchair are just a few of the hidden treasures.

An active morning in the high country leads to one thing; a good appetite! Serving a variety of healthy soups and fresh baked bread and cookies, Soupz On, located in the City Market shopping center is sure to hit the spot for lunch. What's a vacation without a souvenir? Shirt Off My Back on Main Street quite possibly has the best selection of silk-screened and embroidered t-shirts, sweatshirts, garments and goods anywhere in Breckenridge, so make sure that's on your agenda for the day.