Besides the excellent skiing and snowboarding there are plenty of activities both during the winter and summer that cater for the whole family: ice skating, sleigh rides, dog sledding, snow-mobiling, as well as cross country skiing and snow-shoeing make the most of the snow, while mountain biking, fly fishing, golf, hiking, horse riding, rock climbing and white water rafting are possible during the summer months. Hot air balloon rides are possible throughout the year, as well as activities such as historical and mine tours in the Victoria era town.

English is the most common language but Spanish is often spoken in south-western states.

The US Dollar (USD) is the unit of currency and is divided into 100 cents. Only major banks exchange foreign currency. ATMs are widespread and credit cards and travellers cheques are widely accepted. Travellers cheques should be taken in US Dollars to avoid hassles. Banking hours are Monday to Friday 9am to 3pm.

Because of the high elevation of the resort and its mountains, ranging from 9, 603ft to 12, 999ft (2, 927m to 3, 962m), some people may suffer from the effects of altitude sickness and require a few days of inactivity to acclimatise. The north and east facing slopes are prone to high wind-chill factors.

Après-ski in Breckenridge is a feast of fun, the evening kicking off in one of the many lively bars and restaurants, which offer happy hour. Try sangria by the litre at Mi Casa, or down a frothy cold one at the Breckenridge Brewery. A hot favourite is Base 9 in Beaver Run, which hums until the early morning hours. After dinner the town heats up with live music and dancing at hot spots like Sherpa and Yeti's or the Liquid Lounge. For a change of pace visitors can enjoy a production at the Backstage Theatre, which offers a programme of live shows through the season.

Holiday visitors will find that eating out is essential in Breckenridge because there are just so many good options to choose from. Expensive, but worth it for the panoramic view, is the Top of The World restaurant, serving up delicious native American dishes like grilled buffalo ribs and Rocky Mountain trout. The locals out for fine dining favour the Café Alpine, which has an eclectic menu and a highly reputable Tapas Bar. Those craving Alpine fare will enjoy the fondue and rosti potatoes at the Swiss Haven, while any sweet tooth will be well satisfied with the delicious desserts for which The Hearthstone is renowned. One of the quaint historic buildings on Ridge Street, The Cellar, offers modern cuisine paired with fine wines. Cheap meals can be grabbed at spots like Angel's Hollow, serving up burritos and burgers, or try Mi Zuppa for soup and fresh bread. There are also several pizzerias that deliver.

Avid shoppers are extremely well catered for in the historic town of Breckenridge and holiday makers with a view to spend won't be disapponited. Although downtown is fairly small with the main street less than a mile long, there are more than 250 shops and boutiques offering a vast array of goods, from log furniture to wigs! A good percentage of the stores offer sports goods and outdoor clothing, so visitors have a wide choice from which to equip themselves for the slopes. Specialty, jewellery and gift shops also abound, along with a crop of galleries, pure pleasure for browsing if you want to take home a genuine Stetson, Navajo rug or one of hundreds of trinkets, novelties, paintings or pots.