BEST Things To Do In Breckenridge, Colorado When You Are On A Budget

BEST Things To Do In Breckenridge, Colorado When You Are On A Budget

by | Adventures, Colorado, Destinations, Hiking, Travel

Breckenridge, Colorado is a beautiful place to visit any time of the year.

However, the winter ski and snowboard season is the most popular time for families to vacation.

Whether you choose to visit in the summer or winter, there are some great budget-friendly activities the whole family can enjoy.

February 2021, my family and I went on a 5-day Ski/Snowboarding Trip to Breckenridge and enjoyed every moment!

The mountains are breathtaking with the highest peak of 12,998 ft.

best things to do in Breckenridge Colorado

We even got to experience a snowstorm that dropped over 12 inches of snow. As native Texans, it was a glorious sight to see!

During our trip, we were able to go sledding, hiking, Ski/Snowboard, and more. Therefore, based on our experience, I wanted to put together a list of some great things you can do in Breckenridge, Colorado when your family is on a budget.

1. Ride the Gondola – It’s FREE

Breckenridge Gondola

Image Credit: Max Robolox – Google Images

Riding the Gondola is the BEST way to see the gorgeous town from above. Usually, you must have a ski lift in order to experience the awesome views, but not in Breck.

The Gondola is the perfect family activity to enjoy the scenic area.

There are two mid-stations that drop off passengers between Shock Hill and the base of Peak 7. It rises 391 feet in elevation and has 121 cars total.

So take the family and enjoy the sights from above!

2. Take a hike

Things to do in Breckenridge

Anywhere you hike in the rocky mountainous terrain, you are bound to see some epic scenery.

The wilderness and views you could experience are memories waiting to be made.

Plus, It is a great activity to get outside, explore, and get a little bit of exercise as well, all for FREE!

There are so many hiking trails in Breckenridge, that I suggest checking out alltrails.com to find the best one for you. They rank them from easy to difficult depending on your hiking abilities.

3. Window Shop / Walk Around Main Street

Main Street Breckenridge is the perfect little place to stroll around and enjoy a relaxed walk-through town.

There are so many cute places to shop and to pick up some delicious coffee.

If you ever get a chance to visit, no matter what time of the year, take the time to walk around and support the local shops. Even if it is a simple t-shirt or coffee purchase.

 

4. Go Sledding (Free Winter Activity)

This is one FREE activity that is super fun for all ages!

Since we were there in the winter, we got a chance to go sledding down the town’s hill.

The location of this hill is behind the elementary school and next to an activity center with tennis courts and a dog park.

There are sleds that some leave behind, or you can pick some up at the local shops.

Our whole family enjoyed the free sledding so much that we went more than once!

5. Go Mountain Biking

If you happen to go to Breckenridge during the gorgeous Rocky Mountain Summers, biking is a great way to enjoy the area.

You can bring your own or rent a bike while you are there. (Check out Groupon for deals)

This is an inexpensive way to get some exercise, explore the outdoors, and enjoy the beauty of the Breckenridge Mountains.


6. Go Skiing / Snowboarding

Okay, so we all know Skiing or Snowboarding isn’t necessarily a budget-friendly activity.

The ski lift tickets alone are pricy!

However, budgeting at least one-day, if you are going during Ski Season to the Mountains, is recommended if you enjoy the activity.

We were on a budget and decided to do one day of snowboarding while we visited the town in February.

The cost was well worth the experience for us!

If you are renting your skis and/or snowboard gear (including a helmet, pants (if needed), or jacket) check out AMR Rental Ski and Board.

They provided us with great gear, all fitted to our liking and for half the price of other rental places.

7. Visit Local Museums 

Breckenridge, Colorado is historically a gold mining/sawmill town.

There are some great museums that the whole family can visit to get a piece of the history. Including a high line railroad museum with a Train engine and themed playground specifically created for kids to enjoy.

Here is a list of some of the museums that are available to visit.

Barney Ford Museum

Edwin Carter Discovery Center

Briggle House Museum

High Line Railroad Museum

Breckenridge Sawmill Museum

You can check out more museums and tours here: Gobreck.com

Please keep in mind hours may be subject to change. Most of these museums are free to discover and donations are accepted.


VRBO

8. Check out Groupon for Local Deals

One thing I love to check when I am in a new town to see what activities could be available on Groupon.

Sometimes you can find something really cool to do and for a cheaper price.

 

Final Thoughts

Visiting Breckenridge Colorado was a wonderful and memorable vacation.

If I ever get the chance to go back, I would in a heartbeat. There is so much to explore in the area, that our trip was not enough time.

So, if you love the outdoors, extreme sports, amazing coffee, and kind people then Breckenridge is a perfect vacation spot for you! Enjoy and explore the beautiful sights it has to offer!

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best things to do in Breckenridge Colorado
Best things to do in Breckenridge Colorado when you are on a budget.
Winter RV Living | Survive An Overnight Freeze in an RV

Winter RV Living | Survive An Overnight Freeze in an RV

by | Products We Love, RV Tips

Winter RV Living | Surviving an overnight freeze during the winter in an RV while also living full-time, was a first for us in November 2018.

We live in Fort Worth, Texas, so while we don’t experience the snow very often, we do get below 32 degrees.

I searched the internet on advice on how to prepare your RV for an overnight freeze, and I just couldn’t find much.

I did learn how to winterize your RV if you’re going to be storing, but not if you’re living in one.

So, I am writing this for those living Full-Time or staying in an RV during the winter who have the same questions I had the day we had a freeze warning.

Questions like:

  • What do I do?
  • How to keep my RV tanks and pipes from freezing?
  • Should I get more propane or space heaters or both?

1. Shut off the water and clear the pipes

Our freezes are usually just an overnight affair here in Fort Worth, Texas.

So, once it warms up the next day we don’t have to worry about our RV pipes or hoses freezing. Therefore, shutting the water off while we sleep isn’t a big issue.

We also made sure we had water bottles or jugged water in the fridge filled and ready to go.

So, the night before (since we did not have a heated hose) we completely shut off our water and detached the RV’s water hose.

We then make sure our lines and RV pipes are free of water by turning on the faucets inside to clear the lines.

We don’t worry about the water in the water heater because it’s electric and stays warm.

If you do turn off your water heater, the best suggestion is to release the water to prevent freezing and ruining your hot water tank.

Another option is to purchase a heated water hose and some styrofoam to cover your pipes for extra insulation.

A good practice is to keep your cabinets open in the kitchen and bathroom. This allows the RV’s sink pipes to stay warm.

If you don’t have a heated water hose, you can get one right here at Amazon! So worth it! 


2. Released the Black and Grey tanks

The next thing we did was released our RV’s tanks and kept our valves closed.

Now, if your tanks are 1/3 full, and have a heating element or heating pads that keep them from freezing then it’s okay if you don’t release them.

However, I always like to be safe then sorry so since we could release them, we did!

3. Stock up on Propane and Buy a Space Heater

After shutting off the water and releasing the tanks, next we checked our propane tanks.

(We actually ran out of propane right before the freeze and kind of freaked, so we learned this one the hard way.)

Luckily, my brother-in-law had an extra tank that we could use for the night. Therefore, we didn’t have to run to the store.

So, lesson learned, when it’s cold and your Winter RV Living you always want to have extra propane.

Another option if you don’t want to rack up a high bill of propane during the winter RV living is to buy a space heater or two.

Our RV has an electric fireplace, but even that doesn’t put off enough to heat the whole RV when it is below 32 degrees outside. So, having an extra space heater won’t hurt and will save you money on propane.

The best space heaters we have found are this Ontel Handy Heater and the Trustech Oscillating Ceramic Tower Heater.

The Ontel Handy Heater plugs right into the wall and is great for bedrooms or bathrooms. It saves so much space too!


4. Get a Dehumidifier

Another thing is the condensation!

With the cold air outside and the warm air inside, this causes condensation on the windows. Over time, if not properly dealt with can cause mold issues.

Therefore, purchasing a dehumidifier is very handy and helps prevent future mold issues. This is a must when your winter RV living.

Also, we love using the Arm & Hammer moisture absorbers.

We place these in the bedrooms, closet, bathroom, and can be put pretty much anywhere.




5. Insulate your RV windows

To keep the warm in and winter out, insulating your windows is recommended.

This can be done with bubble wrap, styrofoam, insulation boards, and some velcro or tape. This will also help with the condensation too that can accumulate on your windows.

For a quick buy, you can just check out the local hardware store like Lowes or Home Depot.


6. Purchase an RV Skirt

RV skirts are great, especially if you are going to experience snow or freezing temperatures.

These skirts provide protection from wind, snow, debris blowing underneath, and insulting the underbelly of your RV to help further prevent your tanks and pipes from freezing!


7. We Bundled Up!

And last, but not least…BLANKETS!

Stay bundled up with blankets, socks, warm clothes, and yes… even gloves! RV’s walls are thin and having extra blankets to stay warm during winter RV living is a must!

Our favorite blankets are wool blankets specifically because that is one of the warmest materials.

Wool blankets are great for indoor snuggles or outdoor sitting by the fire. 😊

Also, Don’t forget the Coffee, Hot Tea, or Hot Chocolate for extra warmth!!


Final Thoughts

So, let’s recap on what we did to keep our RV from freezing and how we stayed warm during our Texas Freeze.

  1. Turn the water off and clear water lines. (Unless you have a heated water hose. I don’t recommend keeping the water faucet dripping because it can fill up your grey tank)
  2. Release Tanks
  3. Purchase Extra Propane or a Space Heater
  4. Purchase a Dehumidifier
  5. Insulate your Windows
  6. Purchase an RV Skirt
  7. Bundle up! Wool Blankets, socks, warm clothes! Stay Warm!!

I hope you enjoyed reading and I hope this helps answer some questions on staying warm while winter RV living full-time.

While we make these suggestions, we are not responsible for any mishaps, freezing pipes, hoses, or fires.

We do recommend you use safety measures and read your RV’s owner’s manual.

If you have any other tips that have helped you during a Freeze, please leave us a comment!

Don’t forget to follow us on social media and sign up for our newsletter!

Pin For Later! 🙂

Winter RV Living fulltime (1)

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