Born as a mining camp when gold was discovered along the Blue River in 1859, modern Breckenridge wears its rough-and-tumble past like a badge. With 350 historic structures, the town is the largest historic district in Colorado. The population peaked at near 10,000 in the 1880s but dwindled to less than 400 in 1960, the year before the town’s ski resort opened. The downslide ended, and Breckenridge, thanks to its proximity to Denver, now sees more than 1 million skier-visits annually. Located on four interconnected mountains named Peaks 7, 8, 9, and 10, the ski terrain is revered by skiers but is especially popular with snowboarders. Modern Breckenridge may be a step down the luxury ladder from Vail and Aspen, but it is more affordable--and rowdier--than its ritzier peers.