Breckenridge is another one of Colorado's gems.  It offers fun for the whole family all year round and is slightly, if not much, less expensive than some of the other tourist areas that Colorado harbors.   In the winter Breckenridge is known for, you guessed it, skiing.  It is located about an hour and a half outside of the Denver area (give or take some of the more "exotic" mountain road traffic) and is therefore a definate hotspot for locals and tourists alike.  It is beginner friendly, offering a wide range of slopes and skiing adventures.  For those out there who prefer a gentler experience, Breckenridge hosts a multitude of shops, restaurants, bars and cafes.  Shopping is prime, if a bit expensive, and the shops in the area are known to offer everything from Prada and Donna Karen to some of the more practical application items, such as ski's, boots, bindings, jackets for the notoriously crisp mountain air and a selection of other winter and fall stylings.

Breckenridge is a great way to spend a weekend or an afternoon, enjoying the scenary and beauty of the Colorado mountains.  One of the little known gems about Breckenridge are the trails and wonderfully high mountain passes that one can take either in or out of the main town itself.  One of my personal favorites is Borneous Pass, a trail of derring-do that will take it's trespassers eye to eye with some of Colorado's lovingly dubbed 14ers (fourteeners) or mountains which reach 14,000 feet and higher above sea level.  The view is truly amazing and you're not likely to run into much traffic aside from the occassional elk or deer.  The last time I went there was no guard rail so caution is highly recommended but it's definately worth the drive. 

The area surrounding Breckenridge, including but not limited to, Guanella and Kenosah pass is also a great place to stop and catch some of the fall excitement as the Aspen trees begin to turn.  There are forests of gold awaiting, but you have to move quickly and pay attention to the local TV stations ( I recommend Chanel 9 for some of the most accurate information of the changing of the leaves) to see what the weather is expected to do.  Once it gets too cold the leaves on the Aspen trees turn black and fall off, making easy target for the rapid approaching Colorado early frosts.  If you get a chance to see Mother Nature in her prime, however, it is not an image you will soon forget.  Definately camera and day trip worthy.

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