Are you looking for a great place to go before school starts in a few weeks? Put Breckenridge on your list of places to consider! In mid-July we drove a short two hours to Breckenridge for a long weekend. We had not been there since our daughter was small so we were looking forward to the adventure! Accompanying us were out-of-town family who had never been to Colorado (except my nephew) so we were anxious to share the mountain experience! To make it authentic, we rented a lovely cabin home about 9 miles south of downtown Breck. I say "cabin" loosely because it was very modern with all the conveniences you might need, including a fire pit, hot tub, privacy, and even a Moose, which strolled through the yard our first night!
Breckenridge is well-known as a family-friendly ski resort and has a lot to offer during the Summer months as well. It's elevation is higher than other resorts such as Vail so be sure to prepare and drink lots of water (our cabin was at 10,000 feet).
Places to Stay
We rented our cabin through VRBO and would highly recommend this method of finding a vacation rental to others. We've even decided to utilize VRBO for future trips whenever possible. It has a slew of options to meet all of your needs from cost to accommodations to personal preferences.
As is typical for many areas of Colorado, you can also rent a condo, camp under the stars in a tent or RV, or find a chateau.
Things to Do
- Country Boy Mine - A highlight of our trip was a tour through the Country Boy Mine, a former Gold Mine on the outskirts of Breck. Our tour went deep into the mine and included a historical account of what it was like to work there and the deplorable conditions experienced each day. Men (and children, too) chose this line of work because it paid so well. However, it took a toll on one's health. A couple burros roamed the property and we also had the opportunity to pan for gold. Our tour guide said flicks of gold are found every day although we were not successful! This attraction is not to be missed! Children 3 and under are free, 4-12 $19.95, and it's $25.95 for 12 and above.
- Breckenridge Stables. A trip to the mountains is not complete without horses! We opted for a Dinner Trail Ride which included a 1-1/2 ride followed by an old-fashioned cowboy dinner. Children 6 and older can have their own horse or pony, which made the night complete for my son! The folks who led our ride were knowledgeable and very friendly, and the horses appeared to be well treated. Dinner was tasty and included guitar entertainment from a cowboy! Adults are $99, ages 4-12 $80, and under 4 are $30. Remember this includes dinner; you can also choose just the trail ride at a lower cost. I heard that Groupon sometimes offers a deal.
- Two Below Zero. Another option involving horses is a Chuck Wagon dinner. We did not go with this outfit but they have received great reviews. The evening includes a horse-drawn ride and authentic western dinner, along with cowboy entertainment and music. In the winter they offer sleigh rides.
- Summer Fun Park. On our last morning we headed to the Summer Fun Park at Peak 8. It offers a slew of fun activities including zip lining, Apine Super Slide, Gold Coast Runner, and activities specially designed for younger children (under 7). An all-day pass can be purchase online in advance at a discounted rate of $71 (normally $76). Because we didn't have time to experience everything, as well as the cost, we chose to just do the Alpine Super Slide. It includes 3 tracks of 2,600 feet each, accessible via a chair lift ride up the mountain. Kiddos over 6 can ride their own sled down while younger kiddos need to be accompanied by an adult. It was a lot of fun! I would love to go back and try the zip line, too!
- Hiking and Biking. Trails for hiking and biking can be found all over town. Most are paved and great for all levels. My husband found a single track trail that took him to the Breckenridge Stables where he met us for dinner. Another great place to hike is around Mohawk Lake.
- Rafting. We did not have the opportunity to raft but there are several trips accessible in Breck, including the Blue River. The flow in this river is manually controlled so they are able to maintain Class III rapids.
Where to Eat
We primarily ate meals at our cabin, which was about 15 minutes from town. We brought our own food and enjoyed breakfast in, as well as S'mores over the fire pit and adult beverages in the evening while watching the kids soak in the hot tub. It was quite relaxing and beat driving up the road. However, Breck does offer a nice selection of eateries for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Reservations recommended on busy weekend nights.
- Beau Jo's. Located in Idaho Springs and easily accessible from I-70, we stopped here on our way to Breck and highly recommend it. It's menu is awesome, particularly the Mountain Pie, a Colorado legend!
- Salt Creek Steakhouse. Despite service that was a tad slow, we enjoyed breakfast on the upper deck on a cool but sunny morning. The menu was diverse and our meals were very good.
- Northside Pizza and Wings. On our first night we stopped in here as there wasn't any wait. It is very small and cramped, and after placing our order at the bar, meals were brought out slowly one by one, so some of us were finished eating by the time everyone was served. It also provides carry-out which may be the main focus of their business.
DISCLOSURE: No compensation was given for this review. The opinions expressed are 100% my own.
