Best Sleigh Rides in Breckenridge- Top Picks For the Perfect Dinner Sleigh Ride

“Just hear those sleigh bells ring-a-ling ding-a-ling-a-ling too…come on it’s lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you…”
Nothing says “Colorado” better than an unbelievable sleigh ride outdoors in Summit County.  Whether you are taking a brisk ride during the day through the picturesque national forests here in the high country, or bundling up in the evening, watching falling stars on a dinner sleigh ride, you surely will be making a marvelous memory.

Top Picks for the Best Sleigh Rides:

Two Below Sleigh Rides

Two Below Zero Dinner Sleigh Ride:  Two Below took us out for an old fashioned journey through breath-taking mountain views at 9,000 feet. The trip departed from the Frisco Nordic Center and travelled through the Peninsula Recreation Area down scenic trails.  At night, the open space of the Peninsula afforded us amazing, unobstructed views of the constellations, as well as slow moving satellites and a falling star! The ride ended in a warm dinner cabin where live music was performed and a fabulous dinner was served.  The musician did a great job of playing songs we could all sing along to.  Two Below allows you to bring your own bottle of wine or liquor and bring some to share! (We brought peppermint schnapps and added it to our endless cup of hot chocolate the folks over at the sleigh ride made!) Two Below website

Nordic Dinner Sleigh Rides

Nordic Dinner Sleigh Rides: The Nordic rides are a bit different and just as enjoyable.  They are located deep in the national forest about 6 miles behind the Breckenridge Golf Course.  The drive at night was fun for the family as we had never been back in the forest that far before.  Once we arrived at the center, Al, the owner greeted us and handed us a warm blanket.  The ride through the forest at night was fantastic. In the distance we could hear the howls of the coyotes, which disturbed the sled dogs housed on site.  Lots of howling made for an even more fun journey.   The sleigh traversed in and out of tree lined paths until we came upon our dinner cabin.  Dinner is homemade on site, we especially enjoyed the outstanding steaks they served.  The dinner was – delicious!  We were entertained, before dinner was served, by Mountain Man, who told stories about the old days of Breckenridge.  If you decide to go to the late show, be sure to eat something small before your journey as it is a while before dinner is served.  AND bring you own bottle!    

Breckenridge Stables Sleigh Rides

Breckenridge Stables also offers an incredible sleigh ride with colorful custom built sleighs drawn by a team of Belgian, Clydesdale or Percheron draft horses.  Inside the sleigh, wrapped in a warm blanket we could hear the sleigh bells in the crisp mountain air.  The horses take you up through the paths of the National Forest of Peak Nine in Breckenridge, a picturesque journey.  Halfway through our sleigh ride, we were dropped off mid mountain in a yurt to dine, listen to great music, and enjoy the beautiful view extending from downtown Breckenridge to the Continental Divide.  The yurt is a permanent, heated building decorated in twinkling lights and western decor — the restrooms were heated, too!  The dinner is buffet style and delicious.  Once again, bring your own bottle! Website.

All of the sleigh rides offer menu choices, which you pick when you reserve your trip. Sleigh Ride Tips:  dress warmly – although they all give you warm woolen blankets, you are outdoors at night in the forest – it is a bit nippy!  And bring your camera. All of the rides let you take pictures with these fabulous and gentle animals – we especially enjoyed meeting the Clydesdales and were fascinated by their size.   Contact our concierge who is happy to book the perfect sleigh ride for you! Also ask about the RSVP free coupons you receive when you book your stay with ResortQuest Breckenridge! See our lodging Deals!

Blog written by Karin B. one of our ResortQuest specialists! Contact us today!

Keystone Mardi Gras Celebrations- Get Fat Tuesday in Keystone 2011

Celebrate Mardi Gras Keystone Style! From a whole day of skiing to a free concert, gumbo tastings and after parties you'll see Mardi Gras in a whole new light on March 8th, 2011!

Head to River Run Village after your day of skiing to start off Fat Tuesday with the Gumbo Tasting competition.  From 3-6pm a $10 dollar wrist band will get you entry to the unlimited tasting. Drinks are sold separately.

After you have eaten all the Gumbo you can get, dance it off with the Free River Run Rocks Concert- Mardi Gras style featuring the Dirty Dozen Brass Band. Beverages, alcohol and food sold á la carte, along with a kids play area to keep the little ones celebrating Mardi Gras too! 

 

The Dirty Dozen Brass Band is a world famous music machine, whose name is synonymous with genre-bending romps and high-octane performances. They have revitalized the brass band in New Orleans and around the world, progressing from local parties, clubs, baseball games and festivals in their early years to touring nearly constantly in the U.S. and in over 30 other countries on five continents. The Dirty Dozen have been featured guests on albums by artists including David Bowie, Elvis Costello, Dr. John and the Black Crowes.

Then really get the Party started with the After Party at Warren Station with the Otones Brass Band!  The concert is at Warren Station. Doors open at 8:30, show begins at 9pm. Tickets available at the door. The Otones original compositions are full of happy, high energy joy...You'll be smilin' when you hear them! “High energy dance happiness” describes the Otones Brass Band! Where else can you hear original Funk, Latin, and Soul, mixed with a serious helping of New Orleans groove, ALL IN ONE BAND?!?!

Get to Keystone for Mardi Gras to ensure you have a unique and fun Mardi Gras celebration!  Book now and save on lodging plus stay right at the center of all the fun in Keystone's River Run lodging!

Mardi Gras at High Altitude in Breckenridge, CO 2011 Celebrations

Get to Breckenridge to celebrate your Fat Tuesday Mardi Gras debauchery!  Breckenridge may be no New Orleans but  Breckenridge hosts a killer 3 days of Mardi Gras fun!   Breckenridge Mardi Gras adds some mountain flavor to southern traditions- you can't ski and celebrate Mardi Gras down south!

Book today and get to celebrate Mardi Gras Mountain style and save on your lodging!

So what are all these fabulous Mardi Gras events?

• March 5, 2011: Breckenridge Bacchus Ball:
  Grab your masks for a New Orleans style masquerade ball at 9,600 feet. Enjoy delicious Cajun food and drink, live music by Hazel Miller, dancing and the crowning of Breckenridge’s Mardi Gras Rex and Queen. All are encouraged to participate in the fun with masks and costumes but, if you did’t pack your masquerade outfit, boas, beads and masks will be sold at the event. Contact our concierge to buy your tickets!  See location and time.
  
• March 7, 2011: Free Lundi Gras Concert: Riverwalk Center 6:00pm
  This Monday night concert keeps the carnival spirit alive with a free performance by Beau Soleil avec Michael Doucet. Since their inception in 1975, the Louisiana-based musicians have blazed trails to become one of the most well-known Cajun bands around. Read more...
  
• Mardi Gras Fat Tuesday Celebration: March 8, 2011: Main Street n, Breckenridge 4:30 pm participation is Free!
  Watch out Main Street, here comes Bourbon Street! Join us for an awesome parade through Main Street with festive floats, traditional costumes and lots and lots of beads! Prizes this year include cash prizes: 1st $500, 2nd $300, and 3rd $200. Head to the local bars and restaurants for post procession parties with drink specials, music and more. Kick off the night with Breckenridge’s Mountain Mardi Gras style. 

Get to Breckenridge for your Mardi Gras adventure and stay right where all the action is in Main Street Station or close by at any of our other Breckenridge lodging!  Book now and save money on your reservation!- that means more money to play!

Top 3 Breckenridge Wedding Photographers

Every bride and groom wants the moments from their wedding day captured perfectly in photos for a life time of reflection and memories of that very special day.  Wedding Photographers are abundant all with different pricing, photo packages and talents.  So how do you pick?  Our group sales manager Brigitte has put together her top 3 picks of Breckenridge Wedding Photographers to help you narrow your search.  View our wedding venues and lodging deals for your wedding!

Best Breckenridge Wedding Photographers

Timothy Faust photography

1. Timothy Faust Photography: Timothy is a longtime local and knows Summit County really well – he always has great ideas as to where to take clients to get the best backdrop for awesome pictures. He is a top award winning member of Wedding & Portrait Photographers International. He is also featured in National Geographic Adventure, Outdoor Magazine and contributing editor of the Rocky Mountain Magazine.  He also offers great workshops. Get a sample of his amazing work at www.timothyfaust.com
   
   
2. Studio Kiva Photography:  Have a true professional take pictures of the most important day of your life.  Katie Girtman is a truly gifted photographer who is able to capture your true emotions.  Kiva Photography can create life long memories that you will cherish forever. Check out the portfolios at www.studiokivawedding.com
   
   



Studio Kiva Photography

3.  Story Lens Photo: Lisa is a native Coloradoan with a huge passion for the outdoors and photography.  Story Lens Photo is a premier wedding and portrait photography company, specializing in lifestyle portraits and wedding photography.  Lisa only commits to a select number of events each year to ensure commitment and quality.  You can look at Lisa’s work at www.storylesic.com

 ResortQuest Breckenridge is proud to host a beautiful array of wedding venues and lodging that will be perfect for your special day! We also offer great wedding deals along with a free honeymoon suite for the bride and groom.  View our wedding venues and contact our group sales manager Brigitte to help you with your wedding planning and accommodations!

View our Top Reasons to Get Married at Main Street Station

Best Breckenridge Lodging for Large Groups- Save Money and Fit Under One Roof

Group Ski Trips or Group winter vacations host a ton of fun being with all your favorite friends and family,  but it can also be difficult planning for so many people.  At ResortQuest Breckenridge we are happy to help you plan for your large group accommodations and have incredible lodging that will make every one of your group members happy campers or happy skiers to be exact!

Here are some suggestions for ResortQuest lodging for large groups! These homes will ensure all your buddies or co-workers are under the same roof.  If you have groups larger than 20 people, contact Brigitte, our group sales manager, to help you with any questions you may have.

Private Riverwood Home:  This beautiful private home is spacious and perfect for two or three families to stay together or a small business group or a large group of powder hounds!  With 6395 square feet, five bedrooms and 5 ½ baths – this fabulous home can sleep 16 people!   Enjoy spacious rooms with beautiful custom woodwork, vaulted ceilings and multiple balconies and decks hosting amazing scenery. The five fireplaces throughout the home offer both comfort and ambiance. With flat-screen TV’s in every bedroom, no luxury is forgotten in this home.  For some good together time, watch your favorite family movie in the home theatre. Or enjoy some adult time with a game of poker at the poker table in the spacious living room while the kids go downstairs in the game room to play Foosball or air hockey.  Later, step outside to enjoy the private hot tub and fire pit to keep you warm during late night star gazing – make sure you look for the satellites and shooting stars!

Westridge Lodge: Another choice for traveling groups to stay under one roof would be the absolutely amazing Westridge Lodge at 5,044 square feet.  With 6 bedrooms and 6 1/5 baths – you can sleep 20 people comfortably.  A large mud room off of the garage has plenty of space for storing all of you ski equipment and gear.  There is a spectacular great room with a huge fireplace and stone hearth, two large couches perfectly situated right in front of the fireplace and the new large flat screen TV, along with other cozy nooks for relaxing and enjoying the views.  The custom kitchen with stainless steel appliances is a treat for the gourmet cook or cooks – (but don’t put too many in the kitchen!)  There are two large dining room tables both seating ten as well as extra seating at the kitchen bar top - plenty of room for a feast.  Step out onto the back patio leading to an eight-person hot tub, or fire up the outdoor grill off the front patio overlooking town.  If you decide to have some fun without going into town, there is a recreation area located on the lowest floor with a pool table, large flat screen TV and a mini bar!

There are many other luxury homes for rent in Breckenridge, like the Lodgepole at Boulder Ridge, 4 bedroom 3 bath, gorgeous log home in the forest but close to everything – complete with a jukebox!  Or Snowflake Chalet, 4 bedrooms 4 baths which can sleep 12 people and has views of the ski run.

Not all groups want to be with each other 24/7 so simply stay next door to one another.   The Saddlewood Townhomes are perfect for just this! You can rent the units side by side, each have three bedrooms and each can sleep up to 11 people.  They are located right on the Snowflake Run, so they are truly ski in and ski out.  They are large, bright and spacious, have outdoor decks and private hot tubs.  And, at the end of the evening, everyone has their own unit to relax and spread out. 

The snowfall in Breckenridge has been epic.  We already have more snow now than we usually get in an entire year!  See our lodging deals and book your perfect unit online- Don’t hesitate to contact us if you are not finding what you need! Have fun traveling with your family and friends and we look forward to seeing you this winter!

Blog written by Karin B. one of our ResortQuest specialists! Contact us today!

Romantic Breckenridge- Dining With the One You Love

Winter in Breckenridge is truly romantic.  Everywhere you look, couples are holding hands and wandering the streets, window shopping, in this picturesque Victorian town.  The snow covered street lamps and trees look like something out of a Norman Rockwell painting.  The brisk mountain air invites you to warm up next to the one you love. 

The restaurants in Breckenridge seem to be made for rekindling or building a new fire for love.  

  

Ember, one of the newest eateries in town is warm and inviting.  Their motto is “Put a Spark in your Night” and they do just that with unique appetizers and culinary cocktails.  For Valentines day they have a three course meal filled with aphrodisiacs.  Call the Breckenridge Concierge now 877-225-1162 to book your reservation.

The Hearthstone is a local’s favorite because of its fine food and vintage décor.  It is in a historic home built in 1886 and has a rustic, yet elegant interior. The food is five star with items on the menu like house smoked trout, ginger crusted scallops and blackberry elk.  The views of the ski hill from the upstairs lounge are incredible.  Try to get a window seat.

The contemporary cuisine and the relaxed fun atmosphere of the Blue River Bistro make date night here irresistible.   The crab cakes are a must-have as well are the signature martinis.  There is nightly live music featuring acoustic blues and mountain jazz.  There is a nice combination here of singles looking for love and couples celebrating theirs.  If you are a ResortQuest guest you will receive a free coupon for a signature martini!

Spend your Valentine's Day in Breckenridge for an extra special get away with the one you love! Our ResortQuest accommodations are made for romance! View photos and video of each unit so you can pick the perfect one!  View our lodging deals for Valentines!

Super Bowl in Breckenridge- Best Places to Watch the Game!

Blog is written by Karin Bearnarth, ResortQuest's event planner and sports enthusiast!

It’s time once again for the best time of the television year – Super Bowl!  Whether you are just about the Football or you love the commercials, here is what you need to know about the Superbowl and the BEST places to watch the game in Breckenridge!

Super Bowl XLV will be the 45th annual edition of the Super Bowl in American Football, and the 41st annual championship game of the modern-era National Football League (NFL). The game, to be played on February 6, 2011, will pit the AFC champion Pittsburgh Steelers against the NFC champion Green Bay Packers to decide the NFL champion for the 2010 season. The game will be held at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Kickoff time is approximately 6:25pm EST. This will be the eighth appearance in the Super Bowl for the Steelers (who hold the record with 6 Super Bowl wins) and the fifth for the Packers (who hold the record with 12 overall NFL titles, including 3 Super Bowl wins and 9 league titles prior to the Super Bowl-era).

Ok, now the hard part – where to watch the big game, or in my case the commercials!  Luckily, Breckenridge offers many, many places to watch the game (commercials) from.  And more fortunate is that the game will begin about 4:25pm Mountain Standard time, so you can get a great day of skiing in beforehand! 
Now, every bar in town will be offering a beer or drink special, and seating will be first come first served, so get off the slope and find your seat early.  And of course, pregame fanfare will be broadcasting at least three hours before kick-off. 

• Downstairs at Eric’s if you want to bring the family.  The kids will not get bored with the huge arcade in the lobby.  The prices are reasonable, the food is homemade and  the portions are hearty.  Eric’s is Steelers country – as the owner Eric is a fanatic – so be prepared in your green and gold.  
  
• Napper Tandy’s is a spacious Irish Pub with no particular allegiance to either team.  This is, after all, American Football! The Guinness will pour, and the crowd will gather not only in the pub, but also downstairs at the Salt Creek restaurant for delicious BBQ food.  Napper Tandy’s also has a giant outdoor deck for those who want to grab a breath of fresh air. 
  
• Mi Casa Mexican Restaurant, overlooking the Blue River, has been hosting the NFL football pool all year and is a likely stop for locals to gather.  The giant gold margaritas will surely put everyone in the celebratory mood!  No team allegiance here either so wear your team colors.  Located right in the Der Steiermark Condos!  Book a room in the Der Steiermark now!

Whether you try one of my suggestions or visit one of the other 61 bars or restaurants in town, make sure you get there early to get a good seat.  The commercials begin before kick-off…

Get to Breckenridge for an awesome day of skiing then some good ol' mountain town parties for the Super Bowl! Enjoy beautiful accommodations with ResortQuest that are right downtown!

2011 International Snow Sculpture Contests Breckenridge, Colorado!

Imagine 20 ton blocks of snow come to life over 65 hours to become incredible works of art! That is what the 21st Annual Budweiser International Snow Sculpture Competition is all about! During 1/25/2011 – 1/30/2011 the teams of artists will be working round the clock to free their creations from the ice. Or join us 1/30/2011 – 2/6/2011 for the final viewing week.

These international teams are coming to Breckenridge from all over the world to see who can produce the best work of snowy art!   This year we have 15 teams from eight different countries (United States, Canada, Mexico, Germany, Sweden, China, Austria and Australia) will participate in the 21st Annual Budweiser Snow Sculpture Championships at the Riverwalk Center.

When the sculptures are finished on Saturday, January 29, a panel of well-known artists and patrons of the arts serve as judges. Awards are presented to the first, second and third place sculptures on Sunday, January 31. Awards are also given for People's Choice, Kids' Choice and Artists' Choice.  

Get to Breckenridge to be amazed by incredible art work that is so perfect in it's snow white medium.  But hurry before mother nature melts them away!  Stay with ResortQuest Breckenridge at Main Street Station and be just a few block from all the activity and save big! See our lodging deals!

EpicMix Ski Pass- Map Your Runs & Get Your Pins! Breckenridge Experience

So the Epic Mix Pass has been out now for about half a ski season at Breckenridge Ski Resort and Keystone Ski Resort and we’ve been hearing that not only does our office love the new pass features but a lot of other people do to. 

Lowdown: Epic Mix pass allows for you to be checked in at different Vail Resorts and check all of your skiing statistics online. Because of the handy RF scanning system in season passes as well as Peaks tickets, collecting data is easy: every scan of your pass registers data.  Learn how to get discounted lift tickets with ResortQuest Breckenridge.

EpicMix will calculate your vertical feet, days skied, and lifts ridden. A very fun and interactive part of the EpicMix is the pins feature. For different accomplishments on the hill, such as skiing in less than 5 degree weather to checking in a day late for a powder day, EpicMix will award you many different pins.
It’s all about Vertical: Many pass holders in Breckenridge have challenged each other to see who can get in the most runs, vertical feet or lift rides in a month.  One of our lovely RQ members has reached over well over 20,000 vertical feet in January- that is alot of ski runs!

Get Your Flair!  The EpicMix Pins are like Flair (think the movie Office Space) the more you have the cooler you are – it also means you love to search out and discover new territory, and you love to check in for an après drink on the mountain etc.

Here are just a sampling of the available Breckenridge Pins:  These 13 pins present a little bit more of a challenge to receive all of them than some of the other Vail Resorts….
•    Brecken in - Earned for your first visit to Breckenridge
•    Opening Day Breckenridge - Earned for attending Breckenridge's opening day
•    Breckenridge: Peak 7 - Earned for 5 runs on Peak 7
•    Breckenridge: Peak 10 - Earned for five runs on Peak 10
•    6 pack - Earned for five rides on 6 Chair
•    Mr. T - Earned for checking in at least five times on the T bar
•    Imperial Palace - Earned for riding the Imperial Express Lift five times
•    Ullr - Earned for attending the Ullr Festival
•    Dew Tour - Earned for attending the Dew Tour
•    Breck Pow - Earned for hitting Breckenridge with a 6 inch snow check in
•    Breck Dancer - Earned for 10 days in one season at Breckenridge

•    Breckinator - Earned for 25 days in one season at Breckenridge
•    Tom's Baby - Earned for 50 days in one season at Breckenridge

Come ski in Breckenridge and find out just how cool the EpicMix is – it’s a great way to further involve the whole gang while skiing and on vacation- a little friendly competition for the most pins makes the vacation even more exciting!!!

Book with ResortQuest Breckenridge today and save big on lodging, discounted lift tickets and discounted ski rentals. Book today!

Keep Up With New Year's Resolutions While on Vacation in Breckenridge

This blog is written by Karin Bearnarth, events coordinator for ResortQuest Breckenridge.

Did you know that 90% of Americans who propose a New Year’s resolution decide to get in better shape?  If you are one of those people - did you know that only 1% actually follow through? So to keep this new goal,  I decided to research ways to make the Exercise word a bit more fun and they are perfect activities to do while in Breckenridge.

Here are great workouts that take place around Breckenridge that you can do while on vacation!

On Monday, in Frisco at the Alpine Dance Academy, dance teacher extraordinaire Kelly Monohan taught myself and a few other brave moms Hip Hop for one hour. We basically learned  about 1 minute of dance moves in those 60 minutes…to the top 40 hit remake of the Dirty Dancing super song - “I Had the Time of My Life“,  - new version by Flo Rida.  By the end of the hour - we had really worked up a sweat and didn’t even realize we were…exercising.  The bonus?  I sound very cool around my 11 and 12 year old when the song plays on Sirius Top 40 - sing out loud because  I obviously already know all of the words from the past version and proclaim that I “dance to this song in Hip Hop class“.

On Tuesday, I took advantage of public skating time at the Steve C West Ice Arena   during lunch.  I suppose we all fell in love with the beauty of figure skating when Dorothy Hamill was introduced to the world in 1976 as an Olympic skating star, but then as the spokes person for “Short and Sassy” shampoo - with her super cute haircut that we all decided to try.  So I hit the skating rink with some friends for lunch and a funny thing happened - we all worked so hard at not falling that we were basically strengthening our core in order to stay upright.  Yes, we did indeed fall  - a lot, but between giggling around the rink for and hour or so and eventually trying to spin and skate backwards, we really worked up a glow.

Wednesday I thought I should get outside and enjoy some nice weather, so I headed up to the Nordic Center on Peak 8,  strapped on some 165 cross country skis (with edges) and headed out to what can only be described as a winter wonderland.  If the beauty doesn’t take your breath away, the workout will.  Just be sure to watch the path and direction  others are taking, as I drifted into the wrong lane going the wrong way was scolded at by obvious regulars.  Afterwards I enjoyed a nice warm drink and a granola bar inside the hut - a reward for a very good work out. See other outdoor winter activities.

Thursday , I headed back indoors to Body Pump.  Now it sounds hard , because it is, however there are a couple of girls in the office that have dropped at least two dress sizes by going once or twice a week for their lunch hour.  In these intense 60 minutes, you work out to loud music in a pre-choreographed barbell class.  So I headed into class and tried my best to keep up and I was soon comfortable and delightfully challenged.  Did I just say delightfully?  During exercise?  After the class I was remarkably renewed and focused for the rest of the day at work.  Remember to bring a change of clothes and save time to rinse off - whew!

Friday, I decided to drop in to the newly formed Curling League over at Steve C West Ice Arena.  The game, affectionately called Ice Chess,  seemed so much fun this past Winter Olympics in Vancouver as it was televised in prime time daily.  Whether I was “throwing” or casting  the stone or feverishly working my broom,  it was a good workout and very competitive and, I must say, our team won three to two.  We named our team Curls Gone Wild…

So do your best to keep your New Year’s Resolution, become the 1% that sticks to it -  and stay fit and happy while doing it- and you'll be enjoying your vacation even more! Book your vacation to Breckenridge and receive awesome lodging discounts so you can spend your money on all the fun things you'll be trying!