Colorado-- Breckenridge and Copper?

What non-moguled lines are nice, steep, and safe?   Also, where to ski in the backcountry nearby?  And finally, where to stay for quiet and low price?  I hope to visit for a few days at the end of February, spend one night at Francie's Hut.  Any tips on where to tour there?  Thanks in advance.

Lots of questions, some answers:

1. Steep, non-moguled skiing? Are you talking about lift serviced? I found the back bowls of Copper to be the best terrain of the two Ski areas you mentioned.

2. Where to ski in the BC near Breck - now you're talking. Lots and lots - if it's safe. If it is - Go get yourself a 14'er, Mt Quandary is just down the road from Breck and has a great North Bowl for powder and an even better south facing Cristo Couloir for early season corn. The skiing off Vail pass down the road from Copper is good, note that the west side of the road suffers from lots of sledheads, but the east side you can find more solitude. There's also a couple of good shots right above and next to Breckenridge (Baldy bowl I think it's called to the East and 13,600' or something like that - it's the iron-looking mtn next in the chain of mtns south on the Breckenridge skyline). If the avy danger isn't good, or big snow appens (oh my!)- go where everyone else does and take in the scene on Loveland Pass. No trip to Summit County would be complete w/o a ride in the back of a pick-up on rt 6. This is a manditory stop coming and going from the airport. And in the moonlight. Anytime, really.

Never been to Francies, love to hear about it.

I've not skied much in CO, but have been up past Breckenridge quite some time ago, and seem to recall both Quandary and further along at Hoosier Pass some name like Northstar Peak (a mere 13-er) being pretty visitor-friendly destinations at least in the springtime. I also recall having fantastic views and a little altitude headache at Arapahoe Basin (and a distinct Baker-like lack of overblown base area amenities, which I happen to appreciate).

Silas - if I see you before you go, remind me and I can loan you an old guidebook that has details on a few of the local tours.

Silas, I spent a good day in the bc right at Breckenridge about 10 years ago, but I wish my memory of details was better.  I drove up a windy residential road in the south part of Breckenridge, on the east side of town, opposite to the ski area.  Looking at Google Maps, it might have been Baldy road. The road just ended near a few houses.  I parked on the street and skinned up from there to a nice bowl.  Who knows how much development has happened since then, but it was a nice day 10 years ago, and close to town...