My family (myself, husband and 3.5 year old son) will be visiting Breckenridge December 15-20 of this year and we are looking for suggestions of things to do. My husband and I have been to Keystone a couple times as a couple but have never traveled with our son. My husband skis and I do not, so I will be spending most days with my son. I am not interested in enrolling him in a daycare type situation, I would like him to experience many different things and have a great time. I have scheduled a Dinner Sleigh Ride to the Miner's camp and I am planning the Fondue Dinner (any tips or suggestions on these activities would be appreciated). I am also looking into tubing and dog sledding. Any suggestions for other activities would be greatly appreciated. We also like nice restaurants and our son is very well behaved usually and we would like to have some dinner suggestions that we would all enjoy. Thank you in advance for your help.

Tracey - It may not sound exciting but when my guys were little, they liked riding the trolley around town. There is a playground in town if it's not covered with snow. There used to be a sledding hill but I don't know if its still there. The Rec Center is very nice if you don't have a pool where you are staying. For dinner, we like Bubba Gumps, Mi Casa (although last time there the service was not great.)My strongest advice is to eat early or be prepared to wait if you cannot get a reservation. Have a great trip!

My daughter really enjoyed the ice rink when she was younger - still talks about it (and the pool at the condos, where you could swim both inside and outside) years later. I'm in the same boat as you - DH skis and I don't. Dog sledding would be great. And I second Bubba Gump's for dinner - very entertaining. There was another place we ate twice - very casual, with good pizza and video games - which was really fun for our girl. I think it was Eric's Downstairs. The Columbine Cafe for breakfast will hold you for most of the day!

PUT HIM ON SKIS!

Just because you don't ski, doesn't mean your son shouldn't.

Both my daughters started when they were 3.5 years old, and they both loved it then, and they still do now.

Check with the ski school at Breck. A half day lesson for 2 or 3 of the days you are there would be great.

Besides, your husband will have someone to ski with in 5 years.


Eric's Downstairs is a nice, kid friendly place. The Recreation Center is nice too.

Take him snowshoeing. Breckenridge has two nordic centers and Frisco just down the road also has an excellent one. They rent snowshoes and cross country skis on site and there are snowshoes for little people. If you cross country, you could pull him behind you in one of those little sleds, which they also rent. Another option would be ice skating.

I forgot to tell you about Clint's Bakery - would be good for lunch, great cookies & other treats, coffe, etc.

Go to fatty's Pizza for lunch!

Now is the best time for your son to start to ski not mention its never too late for you to start.

Lots of great ideas so far. At 3 1/2, he's old enough to start the ski experience! The ski resort does a great, fun job of getting the little ones started. (And I agree - you should give it a try, too. The lessons/sky rentals for "Never Evers" are offered at a discount price, and the teachers are very good.)

The ice rink is great fun. They have bars, kind of like walkers but for on the ice, that the kids can hold onto when they're learning to skate.

The sledding hill is still there. It's at Carter Park.

Breckenridge Nordic Center can be a great experience for you both. I don't know if, at that age, he'd enjoy snowshoeing, but you can rent cross-country skis and pull him in one of the sleds behind you.

Dog-sledding can involve a lot of waiting around for your turn to be on the sled. Consider a short snowmobile ride - my kids loved it and still do.

I agree with the dumb trolley that goes through town - kids love it.

Mi Casa has good pseudo-Mexican food. I love their corn chowder. The other Mexican restuarant, Fiesta Jalisco, is more authentic, which people prefer and some don't.

Eric's is great, a family-oriented sports bar with a video arcade right outside, but it can be crowded.

Clint's has great pastries. Best donuts are at Daylight Donuts.

For another casual choice, My Thai is a favorite. Nearby is Empire Burger, with great burgers and ever better fries, with a selection of about 18 different sauces to dip the fries in.

For nicer restaurants, The Hearthstone is in a beautiful old Victorian, but I've never been real impressed by the food. Locals love South Ridge Seafood, but something about seafood in the mountains just doesn't click with me. My favorite in Breck is Cafe Alpine. They do not have a kids menu, though we always found something our kids would like. The Cellar is also in an old Victorian, but modern inside. I've only been once; the menu (IMHO) is rather limited, but friends have gone and really enjoyed it.

Thank you so much for your help. I have looked into the ski school for him and I am sure he will love it. I will post a trip report when we return. Thanks again.

I am so happy to read that you are going to put him in ski school! It's so important to start skiing as soon as possible, and I also agree that it's not too late for you to learn. When your son is older, skiing will be a great father-son activity that they can do together, and if you also learn, you can enjoy the experience, too, rather than sitting in the lodge reading as I've seen so many mothers do. Even if you learn to ski and wind up staying on the tamer slopes, you will love it!

Jane