There’s nothing like catching an early morning flight that’s in the opposite direction of your final destination! Yes, I am a Delta loyal member, so I take the extra layover! However, if this doesn’t suit you, United is the only airline that offers a non-stop flight from Little Rock to Denver. When traveling, you have to determine what airline(s) you will establish your loyalty. For me, size matters! Yes, I prefer larger aircrafts! I’m usually guaranteed a larger aircraft with Delta or Southwest from Little Rock! One must understand that leaving from Little Rock and heading to Atlanta is a different beast! You must be prepared to navigate through one of the world’s largest airports! It’s safe to say that there is a ton of running through Hartsfield-Jackson to catch connections. Early morning flights haven’t been so bad from my travels. I wanted to spend some time in Denver and then head to Breckenridge! You can expect a 58 minute flight from Little Rock to Atlanta and a 2 hour and 53 minute flight from Atlanta to Denver (depending) on weather and air traffic control.

Once you have arrived in Denver, you can expect a 30-minute drive from the airport to the downtown area. On this trip, I wanted my lodging to be in a very centralized area! My Hilton Honors points led me to the Curtis downtown! It was very modern and the cutest boutique hotel. Staying downtown in any city has its pros and cons! Most activities are in walking distance, but parking can be very expensive and sometimes unavailable. In the heart of Downtown Denver, you have several parking options including: self-park, metered parking and valet. After checking in, it’s then time to indulge!

The Welton Street Cafe did not disappoint!  From jerk chicken to home style catfish, there is something to satisfy everyone’s taste for southern cuisine!

For Beautiful Breckenridge, we decided to rent a car and drive to Breckenridge. On average, it takes about 1 hour and 34 minutes, but traffic and weather are an unpredictable factor! The forecast was clear when we departed from Denver, but halfway into our drive it began to snow. This slows traffic down and added an extra hour to our commute! The drive is very scenic and beautiful! Beware and be prepared for your body’s potential reaction to the change in altitude. You are at an altitude of 9,600 ft in Breckenridge. Spending the first night in Denver usually allows me enough time to adjust to the change. Once you arrive in Breckenridge, you will totally forget about the drive over. It’s breath taking  and welcoming!

As a first-time skier, I decided to rent my gear from Blue River Sports Ski! The staff members were very helpful, knowledgeable and accommodating!  Now here comes the fun part- skiing. If it is your first-time skiing, I would totally RECOMMEND ski school as it can be dangerous if you do not understand the fundamentals. Once you rent or purchase your gear, you are ready to utilize the Lift. The Lift will transport you to your peak of choice! You can purchase these tickets online at a discounted rate. Peak 8 or 9 are the most beginner friendly! I would recommend staying in Breckenridge for your entire stay as it’s such a unique and admirable town!

There are diverse restaurants and tons of coffee shops! The town is filled with great activities such as: snowboarding, dog sledding, tours and shopping! Due to the weather, we didn’t stay as long as we anticipated, but will definitely return soon!

Recommended Activities for Denver : Denver Mint, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Cherry Creek Shopping Center, Colorado Symphony, Pepsi Center

Recommended Restaurants: Earls Kitchen + Bar, Steubens Denver Uptown and Arvada, Denver Biscuit Company, Snooze an AM Eatery, Jelly Café,  Root Down Denver, Millers & Rossi, Beatrice & Woodsley, Vesta Denver, 9th Door Capitol Hill and the Welton Street Cafe.