Planning to spend Christmas in Colorado? Here is our Christmas in Colorado itinerary!
On this blog post, I break down activities, places to check out, and more. Hopefully you find this guide useful for your future travels to the beautiful state of Colorado.
Our Stay in Dillon, Colorado
In our research, we came across several beautiful homes in the area. As expected, due to the holiday season, many were out of our price range. That is, until we found THE cabin.
This incredible cabin (or single family residence) was spacious, cozy, and conveniently located near everything. Key features included five large bedrooms, washer/dryer, fireplace, backyard patio, and impeccable views.
Personally, I loved that a hiking trail ran behind the home. It was perfect for us adventure seekers who had the pleasure of even witnessing TWO freakin’ moose!!! It was a surreal experience witnessing wildlife in the wild.
(Thankfully, we were inside the home during this sightseeing experience, haha. I heard they can be aggressive.)
That said, I would highly recommend where we stayed. If you are interested in the home, I’ll link it HERE.
Winter Activities
Dillon Ice Castles
The Dillon Ice Castles offered a truly enchanting experience as we wandered through the expansive ice sculptures, complete with mesmerizing tunnels and slides, all aglow with a myriad of colors. It’s mind-boggling to think that skilled artists meticulously carved these frozen wonders, each ice castle boasting its own unique charm and size.
During our self-guided tour, we were fortunate to witness a delicate snowfall, adding an extra layer of magic to the experience. Trust me, it was nothing short of amazing! We got soooo lucky!
These incredible ice creations are typically open to the public from December to February, welcoming adults at a ticket price of $27 during peak days and season.
Dillon Dam Overlook
If you are familiar with old travel blog posts, you know I am a huge fan of pit stops. I love unplanned destinations, especially if it involves taking a moment to pause, breathe, and be still.
If you are onboard, then you will not regret your time at the Dillon Dam Overlook. It was a scenic spot we encountered on Summit County on I-70. In fact, you’ll come across a few pit stops along I-70, well worth stopping for, if you ask me.
Frisco Adventure Park
If you have an ounce of your inner child still within you, please do yourself a favor and book reservations for all (or some) of the activities available at Frisco Adventure Park. I promise you will have a grand time and enjoy what the park has to offer.
The family took part in the sleigh ride, which was the only reservation we were able to book, and we truly enjoyed the experience. It was something our parents felt comfortable participating in, and the sunny weather definitely helped in making the experience an enjoyable one.
Per our guide, they do not cancel any tours due to weather, which is kinda cool to know. Depends on who you ask, haha.
Breckenridge, Main Street
A couple of years ago, there was a video that went viral of an old charming town that had streets covered with inches of snow. The Christmas lights glowed throughout the bustling little town and it resembled something out of a vintage Christmas movie.
Well, this my friend, ended up being a video of Main Street in Breckenridge.
As soon as we discovered it was Breckenridge, we were sold on spending our Christmas there.
Lo and behold, it fulfilled every vision we had prior to the trip. It was a magical winter experience.
If you can stay in Breckenridge, do it. The houses are so darn cute and you cannot go wrong with booking something so close to all the fun.
(Definitely book a reservation at Giampietro Pasta & Pizzeria for an Italian fix. The chicken alfredo was DELISH.)
Parking is quite easy around the Main Street area. However, if you need an idea, we paid to park at the BreckConnect Gondola parking lot. The address is 170 Watson Avenue, Breckenridge, CO 80424.
Gondola Ride
You can find a few activities that are free for the family in, or near, Breckenridge. Two of those free activities include the gondola ride and sledding hill located at Carter Park. Due to limited time, we were only able to ride the gondola, which was a neat experience! After all, it was free and we had pretty cool views of the entire town.
Loveland Pass, A High Mountain Pass in Colorado
Do you love and appreciate adventurous pit stops? If you answered yes, I highly encourage you to add Loveland Pass to your agenda.
Loveland Pass was located about 30 minutes northeast of the Airbnb, which wasn’t a bad drive since we stopped at a different location first. Apparently, the road leading up to Loveland Pass is a dangerous one, especially during the winter. Thankfully, we didn’t know any better so my anxiety was NOT at an all-time high, lol.
The panoramic snowy views were something I hadn’t seen before. If you love a good thrill, take your sleds because you will find a few perfect hills for sledding. Us, kids, had a lot of fun sledding in this area. (One particular hill was friendlier than the other.)
Having said all of this, please do your own research and determine if Loveland Pass should be apart of your Colorado winter vacation.
Top Restaurant Recommendations
- Downstairs at Eric’s: Après-ski pub for the whole family, with HDTVs, casual comfort food & a long list of beers on tap.
- Location: 111 S Main St, Breckenridge, CO 80424
- Cuisine: American, Pizzeria, Pub
- Website linked here
- Briar Rose Chophouse & Saloon: Upscale choice for steaks, small plates, and a buzzy happy-hour scene in rustic-chic surrounds.
- Location: 109 Lincoln Ave, Breckenridge, CO 80424
- Cuisine: Steakhouse, American
- Website linked here
- Blue River Bistro: Upscale bistro dishing up rustic American classics & artisanal cocktails with live jazz & blues.
- Location: 305 N Main St, Breckenridge, CO 80424
- Cuisine: American
- Website linked here
- Instagram linked here
- Mi Casa Mexican Restaurant & Cantina: Craving Mexican? Enjoy delicious Mexican dishes at this quaint Mexican-inspired establishment.
- Location: 600 S Park Ave, Breckenridge, CO 80424
- Cuisine: Mexican
- Website linked here
- Twist: Eclectic American comfort food served in a cozy cottage eatery with a patio & mountain views.
- Location: 200 S Ridge St, Breckenridge, CO 80424
- Cuisine: American
- Website linked here
- Instagram linked here
- Kenosha Steakhouse: Casual steakhouse that also specializes in house-smoked BBQ, with craft beers & a spacious patio.
- Location: 301 S Main St, Breckenridge, CO 80424
- Cuisine: Steakhouse, American
- Website linked here
- Instagram linked here
- Motherloaded Tavern: Eclectic comfort food plus creative cocktails offered in homey tavern quarters.
- Location: 103 S Main St, Breckenridge, CO 80424
- Cuisine: American, Bar
- Website linked here
- Instagram linked here
- Empire Burger: Laid-back stop for burgers, sandwiches & classic American sides paired with shakes & beer.
- Location: 500 S Main St, Breckenridge, CO 80424
- Cuisine: American, Burgers
- Website linked here
- Instagram linked here
- Giampietro Pasta & Pizzeria: Cozy pizzeria drawing crowds with housemade pies, giant calzones & other Italian eats since 1963.
- Location: 100 N Main St, Breckenridge, CO 80424
- Cuisine: Italian, Pizza
- Website linked here
- Instagram linked here
- Hearthstone Restaurant
- Location: 130 S Ridge St, Breckenridge, CO 80424
- Cuisine: American
- Website linked here
- Instagram linked here
Final Thoughts
Well, that is a wrap for our Christmas in Colorado itinerary.
If you want to scratch off ‘A White Christmas’ from your bucket list, I highly suggest to consider Colorado. As always, if you have any questions, email me at sonia@mrsprofresh.com or send a DM on Instagram.
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Ps. If you want to see highlights from the trip, head over to my highlights on Instagram and scroll to find “colorado pt 1″ and “colorado pt2“.
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