Lifestyle:
big town choices in a small town

Why did President Ford, movie stars Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell buy homes in the Colorado Mountains? Our rural resorts are an incredible place to live and that's why I sell real estate here.

I've lived in Breckenridge for more than 20 years, year-round, and haven't found a better place to be. Why?

The lifestyle. Small town friendliness makes Breckenridge easy to get around and take care of business. Easy access to skiing, bike paths and hiking trails help me and my family stay fit and involved in healthy activities all year long. The schools are top-notch. The services provided by towns and counties are among the best in the country. In fact, Summit County citizens, collective, have one of the highest overall education levels in the nation.

Quality markets, specialty shops and a few big-box stores make it easy to get whatever you want or need. From a great muffin to French bread and pastries, from a burger to tapas, steak to filet mignon, beer to Bordeaux, great times are available in Summit County restaurants.

Festivals and music play all year in Breckenridge, Frisco, Keystone, Copper Mountain, Dillon and Silverthorne. For example, from June to August, nearly every night, the Riverwalk Center, or smaller venues hosts a classical concert performed by the Breckenridge Music Festival, a chamber group, or the 88-piece National Repertory Orchestra.

Probably my favorite event is the Breckenridge International Snow Sculpture Competition held every January. More than a dozen teams of snow sculptors come to town and produce works of art from their assigned bits of real estate: a 10 x 10 x 12-foot block of snow. Our snow is some of the finest in the world for skiing and snow carving and most years I devote a week to this event, making a sculpture with the Breckenridge team. My teammates regularly laugh at me, juggling phone calls from clients and making snowballs.

Two theater companies have had year-round residence in the county for more than thirty years. One, the Backstage Theater has an expanded new home in the area Breckenridge is developing called the Arts District. The town is restoring buildings from the mining area and relocating them in this district where they offer classes and artist residencies. The towns and other nonprofit organization maintain several historical museums throughout the county, including the Barney Ford House on Main Street Breckenridge.

And then there's skiing. Within an 80-mile radius, there are more than eight lift-serviced ski resort. The county has seven cross-country ski centers, several snowmobile rental and guide companies, dog-sled hires and sports shops that will rent you the gear or a pair of snowshoes so you can trek on your own.

Find more about options available with Breckenridge real estate:
Winter Sports:
Summer Sports:
Year-Round Activities:
Restaurants:
Schools:
Breckenridge Resort Chamber: