Location: Denver
Day 1 - 3 Feb 2022
Denver International Airport
Content: I arrived at Denver International Airport in the morning and spent most of the day working remotely out of a Panera Bread in the city! I took the train from the airport to Denver Union Station, and then walked around the area until I found a place to sit. Eventually, I took the Bustang from Denver to Frisco, where my friend picked me up before driving us back to her place in Breckenridge! The scenery from Denver to Frisco/Breck was beautiful! I’d highly recommend bringing your camera and/or drone or GoPro for the shots of the mountains. If you want cheap transportation to Frisco, I’d book the Bustang in advance (only $12 per person - you can take the westbound line to get there within two hours) Also, if you want to get used to the elevation quickly, drink lots of water, Advil or ibuprofen, as well as electrolytes! Don’t exhaust yourself on the first day and get plenty of rest so you can adapt to the elevation even quicker!
Location: Breckenridge
Day 2 - 4 Feb 2022
Breckenridge
Content: Today was still a work day for my friends (and a study day for me), so we spent the morning finishing up meetings and/or working on homework! They graciously let me stay in their beautiful attic overlooking the surrounding trees. It was easy to see the mountains overhead, and drink hot tea while finishing up my work. The cottage itself was out of a storybook - think cute cabin in the woods/mountains, thick snow surrounding the area, beautiful brick floors, antique memorabilia hanging on the walls, and the cozy feel of a fireplace blazing in the living room
Hoosier pass
Content: After working for a bit, we drove up to Hoosier pass! It was a beautiful hike up to see an amazing view of the mountains! I was a bit breathless at first (again, you’ll have to take some time to get used to the elevation). But it was well worth the trek!
Aurum Food & Wine Breckenridge
Content: Next, we went to Aurum for snack (dinner)! They had the BEST crispy curried cauliflower and candied Brussel sprouts 😍 there were a ton of skiers and snowboarders at the restaurant as we entered.. so, if you want to be sure to get a table, definitely call ahead of time to either reserve a spot or see if it’s busy already. Afterwards, we drove around and picked up another friend from the bus stop! The plan was to go skiing the next day, so we were all prepping for a long and fun Saturday morning! Key tip: if you’re planning on going skiing (this was “basically” my first time), be sure to rent out boots/skis/poles/helmets ahead of time! If it’s busy that weekend, it can be difficult to find rentals. Also, if you don’t have a day pass already, try to Google day passes at the resort you plan to go to. For example, I tagged along as a buddy on the icon pass and paid a bit less for the day at Copper Mountain!
Location: Copper Mountain
Day 3 - 5 Feb 2022
Copper Mountain
Content: Today, we went skiing! This was one of my first times skiing, and it was phenomenal! My hosts helped out a ton as there’s lot of gear you have to take into consideration before going. Don’t forget to bring (or rent) your skis, poles, helmet, goggles, boots, snow pants, mittens, hat, and bring some snacks as well! Later up if it’s cold outside - thankfully, it was a balmy 40 degrees F that day!
Copper Mountain
Content: I fell… a LOT! 😂 if it’s your first time skiing, I’d recommend bringing someone who already knows how to ski or just paying for an instructor. I definitely couldn’t have done it solo, so I’m really grateful my friends were there to teach me the ropes! If you don’t know what pizza and French fry are… I’d suggest learning fast! We went down the green (easy) slopes quite a few times, and the views were astounding! It was great to cruise down the hill with the mountains in the background!
Location: Breckenridge
Day 3 - 5 Feb 2022
Mountain Flying Fish
Content: That same night, we decided to grab sushi at Mountain Flying fish! The food was delicious, and there were still quite a few people there despite us arriving fairly late at night. We had a variety of sushi and miso soup to top off the days events !
Location: Breckenridge
Day 4 - 6 Feb 2022
Breckenridge
Content: We had a slow and relaxing morning since we were a bit exhausted from the day before. We hung out around my friends’ place and drank tea/ate breakfast while deciding what to do next! It was so cozy to hang out in their cabin! If you’re interested in renting a place in Breckenridge, I’d check out Zillow to see if any rentals are available! The scenery if beautiful both during the summer and winter!
Location: Summit County
Day 4 - 6 Feb 2022
Loveland Pass
Content: We decided to take a quick jaunt up to Loveland pass to take photos / drone footage! It was such a warm day - although also a bit slushy/icy from the wind and sun. We walked a bit and then stopped at an overlook to take in the views 😆
Location: Aurora
Day 4 - 6 Feb 2022
A Basin Avenue
Content: Then, we drove closer to A-basin to take some pictures after hiking a bit up the side of the mountain! This was the perfect place for drone footage as well (Check out the last video!) We were jumping up for joy and we struggled stay warm and take semi-aesthetically pleasing photos! I’d highly recommend wearing lots of layers if you decide to go hiking up here - don’t forget to cover your face as well!
Location: Park County
Day 4 - 6 Feb 2022
Hoosier Pass
Content: We finally went back to Hoosier Pass to watch the sunset! And man, was it a beautiful sunset! We walked a bit along the edge of the path and even climbed up on the snow a bit as well! Afterwards, we went back and had a yummy Japanese dinner (prepared by my friend and her partner!) it was delicious! Especially the tempura shrimp! If you want to cook any sort of Asian food here, I’d recommend doing a quick run to the Asian stores in Denver as there aren’t as many options in Breck! The next morning (2:30 am) my friend drove me back to the airport to say goodbye! It was a great trip and a very fun adventure overall!