Breckenridge Family Fun
Mar 19th, 2004, 04:53 PM
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Breckenridge Family Fun
Hi Everybody,
We've just booked flights & a time-share (French Ridge Condos--2 BR) for July 4th week in Breckenridge, CO.
We have 2 girls, ages 9 & 13 years old, who like new experiences & adventures.
What is fun & interesting to do in the Breckenridge & surrounding area?
Is Breckenridge a good central location for fun in the Rockies & in that whole general area?
Our girls like short hikes (they don't enjoy all-day hikes), rafting, biking, canoeing, kayaking, gondola rides, etc.
I imagine it's possible to rent bikes.
Is Estes Park within an hour drive?
THANKS very much for your help!!!
Sunflower
We've just booked flights & a time-share (French Ridge Condos--2 BR) for July 4th week in Breckenridge, CO.
We have 2 girls, ages 9 & 13 years old, who like new experiences & adventures.
What is fun & interesting to do in the Breckenridge & surrounding area?
Is Breckenridge a good central location for fun in the Rockies & in that whole general area?
Our girls like short hikes (they don't enjoy all-day hikes), rafting, biking, canoeing, kayaking, gondola rides, etc.
I imagine it's possible to rent bikes.
Is Estes Park within an hour drive?
THANKS very much for your help!!!
Sunflower
Mar 20th, 2004, 05:24 AM
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Well, sunflower I have some good news for you and some bad news. Let's get the bad news over with first... Breckenridge is in the mountains, so you won't be able to make the same driving time as you do on the plains. A Mapquest address search would give you more accurate information, but generally speaking your accommodations are located about six hours driving time from Estes Park with RMNP via Trail Ridge Road as your travel route.
Now for the good news... RMNP is a scenic wonderland and you would not have to go all the way to Estes Park to enjoy some of the sights or tourist attractions that it offers. Grand Lake, which is located on the western side of RMNP, is a great spot for your girls to play on the beach, although the water will be too cold for much swimming even in the summer. The community of Grand Lake which is at the eastern side of the lake has many touristy offerings that would probably be of interest to your family. Other closer places of interest might include the YMCA facility, Snow Mountain Ranch near Granby and the old western towns of Empire and Central City.
Breckenridge is a ski town which tries its best to draw tourists in the summer. It will offer many of the activities you mentioned including bike rentals, canoeing, kayaking, and gondola rides. There are also jeep tours to frontier ghost towns and white water rafting within a couple of hours distance. There is an outdoor concert stage in Breckenridge which should have some decent entertainment at that time of year and the town offers many shopping options. Both the Vail and Aspen ski resort communities are within a couple of hours driving time to the west which would offer more of the same as in Breckenridge. For a different experience, go to Leadville which is an old mining town made famous by a 1960's movie entitled "The Unsinkable Molly Brown".
Now for the good news... RMNP is a scenic wonderland and you would not have to go all the way to Estes Park to enjoy some of the sights or tourist attractions that it offers. Grand Lake, which is located on the western side of RMNP, is a great spot for your girls to play on the beach, although the water will be too cold for much swimming even in the summer. The community of Grand Lake which is at the eastern side of the lake has many touristy offerings that would probably be of interest to your family. Other closer places of interest might include the YMCA facility, Snow Mountain Ranch near Granby and the old western towns of Empire and Central City.
Breckenridge is a ski town which tries its best to draw tourists in the summer. It will offer many of the activities you mentioned including bike rentals, canoeing, kayaking, and gondola rides. There are also jeep tours to frontier ghost towns and white water rafting within a couple of hours distance. There is an outdoor concert stage in Breckenridge which should have some decent entertainment at that time of year and the town offers many shopping options. Both the Vail and Aspen ski resort communities are within a couple of hours driving time to the west which would offer more of the same as in Breckenridge. For a different experience, go to Leadville which is an old mining town made famous by a 1960's movie entitled "The Unsinkable Molly Brown".
Mar 20th, 2004, 08:24 AM
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Sunflower, there is MORE than enough to keep you happy for a week in Breck and close by. There are great hikes right outside your backdoor. Every one of the activities you are looking for (except Estes Park) can be found in Summit County. If the views and panoramas don't delight and hold your view, I will be gobsmacked! I have had a home there for a year and a half and still can't stop being overwhelmed everytime I walk outside.
If you want to take a day trip to RMNP you can certainly do it (and it will take most of the day) but if your want to be content with Summit and Eagle Counties, you WON'T be bored.
A fun bike ride suggestion... catch a ride to the top of Vail Pass and ride back to Breck. The first half is all downhill (stop in Copper and take the ski lift up the mountain for views). The rest is relatively flat with a gradual uphill grade.
If you want to take a day trip to RMNP you can certainly do it (and it will take most of the day) but if your want to be content with Summit and Eagle Counties, you WON'T be bored.
A fun bike ride suggestion... catch a ride to the top of Vail Pass and ride back to Breck. The first half is all downhill (stop in Copper and take the ski lift up the mountain for views). The rest is relatively flat with a gradual uphill grade.
Mar 20th, 2004, 08:27 AM
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Oh, just thought of something else... go down to Georgetown and take the combination steamtrain/mine tour!
And head over to Glenwood Canyon for hotsprings, waterslides and the incredible canyon views.
And head over to Glenwood Canyon for hotsprings, waterslides and the incredible canyon views.
Mar 20th, 2004, 10:54 AM
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Thanks Grasshopper & Mona!!
I'm VERY APPRECIATIVE of your comments since I wasn't sure if Breckenridge would have enough of what we love to do, and the area sounds perfect!!
I'm not actually that interested in Estes Park---just enjoyed that area when I was a kid, so being far away from Estes is just fine.
I'm so happy that there are nice mountain experiences (short hikes, beautiful scenery, gondola fun!)in the Breck area.
And I'm quite happy with staying in Summit County, so it sounds like we'll be quite content w/ this area.
The bike ride suggestion that the top of Vail Pass to Breck sounds perfect, Grasshopper. Is that an all day trip? Is Vail Pass easy to find & get to?
We all would LOVE that kind of bike ride, and taking in the views along the way & at Cooper will be GREAT!
Glenwood Canyons & Georgetown also sound perfect!! Are they both within an hour or two of Breck?
Where would you recommend doing horseback riding? Our kids would love doing that.
Does Breck have an Alpine Slide? Sounds good, also.
I'm so relieved that Breck sounds like an excellent choice for us-----I was getting worried about whether I had made the right choice, so THANKS VERY MUCH for your input!
And, grasshopper, by the way, I think you're the same person who was incredibly helpful to me & our family with our San Fran & Monterrey trip. Are you a Calif person, too?!
THANKS AGAIN for your great ideas!
Sunflower
I'm VERY APPRECIATIVE of your comments since I wasn't sure if Breckenridge would have enough of what we love to do, and the area sounds perfect!!
I'm not actually that interested in Estes Park---just enjoyed that area when I was a kid, so being far away from Estes is just fine.
I'm so happy that there are nice mountain experiences (short hikes, beautiful scenery, gondola fun!)in the Breck area.
And I'm quite happy with staying in Summit County, so it sounds like we'll be quite content w/ this area.
The bike ride suggestion that the top of Vail Pass to Breck sounds perfect, Grasshopper. Is that an all day trip? Is Vail Pass easy to find & get to?
We all would LOVE that kind of bike ride, and taking in the views along the way & at Cooper will be GREAT!
Glenwood Canyons & Georgetown also sound perfect!! Are they both within an hour or two of Breck?
Where would you recommend doing horseback riding? Our kids would love doing that.
Does Breck have an Alpine Slide? Sounds good, also.
I'm so relieved that Breck sounds like an excellent choice for us-----I was getting worried about whether I had made the right choice, so THANKS VERY MUCH for your input!
And, grasshopper, by the way, I think you're the same person who was incredibly helpful to me & our family with our San Fran & Monterrey trip. Are you a Calif person, too?!
THANKS AGAIN for your great ideas!
Sunflower
Mar 20th, 2004, 12:21 PM
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Hi Sunflower, Our kids loved the Glenwood Springs pool. Its huge, and they had tons of fun.
Georgetown is a lovely little mountain town with great shoppes and places for lunch. We had an excellent soup, salad and quiche lunch somewhere (name escapes me) and awesome cookies for dessert from a local bakery. Maybe someone else will know the name...??
Anyway, both places are good for an afternoon or so. And we also LOVED Rocky Mountain Nat'l Park.
Have fun, sounds like a great trip!
Georgetown is a lovely little mountain town with great shoppes and places for lunch. We had an excellent soup, salad and quiche lunch somewhere (name escapes me) and awesome cookies for dessert from a local bakery. Maybe someone else will know the name...??
Anyway, both places are good for an afternoon or so. And we also LOVED Rocky Mountain Nat'l Park.
Have fun, sounds like a great trip!
Mar 20th, 2004, 02:52 PM
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Hi Sunflower,
Yes, I am really really lucky. I work out of my home office(s), so I get to divide my time between SF and Keystone.
The bike ride, should you choose to do it all the way back to Breckenridge would pretty much be an all day thing. If you have a driver who can take you to the top, just exit at the Rest Stop. You might want to quit in Frisco, in which case, you have to arrange to have someone pick you up. I had a Bike Shop (in Keystone) give me a ride up and then rode back to Keystone.
Glenwood Springs is not more than an hour, Vail probably half an hour, Georgetown less than an hour. If you want to take another day trip, consider Steamboat Springs, which is less than 2 hours.
On July 4th there is also a parade in Frisco.
Have a great time!
Yes, I am really really lucky. I work out of my home office(s), so I get to divide my time between SF and Keystone.
The bike ride, should you choose to do it all the way back to Breckenridge would pretty much be an all day thing. If you have a driver who can take you to the top, just exit at the Rest Stop. You might want to quit in Frisco, in which case, you have to arrange to have someone pick you up. I had a Bike Shop (in Keystone) give me a ride up and then rode back to Keystone.
Glenwood Springs is not more than an hour, Vail probably half an hour, Georgetown less than an hour. If you want to take another day trip, consider Steamboat Springs, which is less than 2 hours.
On July 4th there is also a parade in Frisco.
Have a great time!
Mar 22nd, 2004, 06:44 AM
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Sunflower, we like grasshopper have a place in Summit County, Keystone. We spend about 100 days a year in Summit and have yet to be bored! There are all the activites you want. Be sure to bike around Lake Dillon, have lunch at the Tiki Bar at the Dillon Marina. Dillon ampatheatre also has free concerts in summer. You will see many locals and their families there. For a list of summer activities look at www.summitnet.com and check out www.snow.com for events at the resorts, many of them free. Summer is a great time to vacation in Summit County, you can easily find a 2 bedroom condo for under 100.000 a night, the same ones that for 300.00 in ski season. We have gone horseback riding at Tbar outfitters, north of Silverthorne about 35 min from Breck.
It is easy to rent bikes, though prices vary widely.
The Alpine slide will be a hit! For hikes be sure to do part of the Colorado Trail. The easist way to get there from Breck is to take Tiger Rd, by the golf course, go a couple of miles watch for the "dredge boat" trailhead on the left, if you get to dirt rd you have missed it. At the parking lot go to the trail away from the rd, walk about 1/4 mile to where the path splits, look for the colorado trail head sign. It is a small post, it will be to the right.
Have a great time!
It is easy to rent bikes, though prices vary widely.
The Alpine slide will be a hit! For hikes be sure to do part of the Colorado Trail. The easist way to get there from Breck is to take Tiger Rd, by the golf course, go a couple of miles watch for the "dredge boat" trailhead on the left, if you get to dirt rd you have missed it. At the parking lot go to the trail away from the rd, walk about 1/4 mile to where the path splits, look for the colorado trail head sign. It is a small post, it will be to the right.
Have a great time!
Mar 22nd, 2004, 06:48 AM
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Mar 22nd, 2004, 07:16 AM
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one more hike suggestion...In Keystone take the ski lift up and take the 11/7 hike, it is posted or ask at the top. Its an easy hike with amazing views. The view at the top of the lift will knock you out. Nice thing about this hike is it is relatively flat as most of the elevation gain is taken care of on the lift. Have lunch at River Run village at Fritz Alpine Bistro. To get to Keystone from Breck take Swan Mtn rd. Stop at Sapphire Point take the foot path to the "View" about a 7 min walk.
Mar 22nd, 2004, 09:52 AM
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You will have plenty to do in Summit County, as you can tell. Find the local web site (Summit.net?) and check the activities calendar for the week you will be there and make your plans from that. We go to the Vail - Beaver Creek area every summer and the Vail website has a good activity calendar that tells about concerts and other activities. I suggest you plan your daily activities for the week to take advantage of all there is to do, otherwise it's easy to find your week is gone and you missed an activity you really wanted to do. I imagine that week will be very busy. You may need to make reservations for horseback rides, river rafting, etc. You might also check into those bike rentals before you arrive. See if the place you are staying has a rack you can lock bikes on or other storage so you can rent for more than a day.
The Alpine slide is one activity that you cannot do when it's raining at all. They will close the slide during periods of rain and re-open when it stops. If you purchase a mulit-ride ticket, it can be used later if the slide closes, or even if you just decide to go back another day.
I purchased a book I love severaly years ago called "Hiking (or Hikes) with Children in Colorado". It gives several hikes for all the different areas of Colorado. Or you can purchase a book of hikes for Summit County. They rate the hikes based on distance, elevation gain and difficulty.
There are many places for horseback riding. We went to a place south of Breckenridge near Fairplay that was pretty good. We didn't like the ride we took at the Breckenridge Mountain a few years ago. I prefer more of the open range ride to a mountain trail ride.
The Alpine slide is one activity that you cannot do when it's raining at all. They will close the slide during periods of rain and re-open when it stops. If you purchase a mulit-ride ticket, it can be used later if the slide closes, or even if you just decide to go back another day.
I purchased a book I love severaly years ago called "Hiking (or Hikes) with Children in Colorado". It gives several hikes for all the different areas of Colorado. Or you can purchase a book of hikes for Summit County. They rate the hikes based on distance, elevation gain and difficulty.
There are many places for horseback riding. We went to a place south of Breckenridge near Fairplay that was pretty good. We didn't like the ride we took at the Breckenridge Mountain a few years ago. I prefer more of the open range ride to a mountain trail ride.
Mar 24th, 2004, 10:11 AM
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We are staying in Breckenridge with our two daughters during 4th of July week also...just preparing to ask some similar questions.
Can anyone recommend a good rafting company, I hear that the Buena Vista area is good? We are looking for something a bit more challenging than a float, but not serious rapids (something appropriate for an 8 year old). Ideally, only a half day trip.
Also, what do you recommend for activities on the 4th of July? Are there any "must see" activities, and if so, what part of town should we focus on? We staying at Main St. Station, so I'm told we can walk to just about everything (hope that's true!)
Can anyone recommend a good rafting company, I hear that the Buena Vista area is good? We are looking for something a bit more challenging than a float, but not serious rapids (something appropriate for an 8 year old). Ideally, only a half day trip.
Also, what do you recommend for activities on the 4th of July? Are there any "must see" activities, and if so, what part of town should we focus on? We staying at Main St. Station, so I'm told we can walk to just about everything (hope that's true!)
Mar 24th, 2004, 10:48 AM
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Tasha look at http://www.coloradorafting.net again, look at www.summitnet.com for summer events and activities. When you get here pick up a copy of the free newspaper, Summit Daily News they will have all the 4th events listed.
Mar 24th, 2004, 02:22 PM
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Just a correction on drive times - Breck is about 45 minutes from Vail, Glenwood is another 45 minutes, all along i-70.
I-70 goes over Vail Pass with a bike path that roughly parallels it. I imagine most bike rental shops do tours that would drive the family up with a guide and back down. (They do from the Vail side of the pass). You don't really need a guide, but you will need someone to drive!
Remember the altitude - you may need a day to relax and acclimate, lots of sunscreen and water! Also, its been known to be 75 degrees or snow on the 4th of July. Be prepared for anything. Bring a rain jacket and water for even a short hike or ride.
Buena Vista is a town about 1.5hrs from Breck that is a popular put in place for rafting the Arkansas. Depending on water level usually class 3. There is rafting closer on the Eagle, Colorado and Clear Creek. You'll have to discuss the trips with the rafting companies to determine the best trip for kids.
Kids love the steam train and gold mines in Georgetown. There will probably be brochures in the lobby of the condos for these.
Pick up the free daily paper, Summit Daily News. It will have a listing of events in town. Vail has a goofy small town parade that starts around 9am on the 4th with fireworks in Avon (10 minutes West) on I-70. I'm sure Breck and Frisco probably both have something similar going on.
I-70 goes over Vail Pass with a bike path that roughly parallels it. I imagine most bike rental shops do tours that would drive the family up with a guide and back down. (They do from the Vail side of the pass). You don't really need a guide, but you will need someone to drive!
Remember the altitude - you may need a day to relax and acclimate, lots of sunscreen and water! Also, its been known to be 75 degrees or snow on the 4th of July. Be prepared for anything. Bring a rain jacket and water for even a short hike or ride.
Buena Vista is a town about 1.5hrs from Breck that is a popular put in place for rafting the Arkansas. Depending on water level usually class 3. There is rafting closer on the Eagle, Colorado and Clear Creek. You'll have to discuss the trips with the rafting companies to determine the best trip for kids.
Kids love the steam train and gold mines in Georgetown. There will probably be brochures in the lobby of the condos for these.
Pick up the free daily paper, Summit Daily News. It will have a listing of events in town. Vail has a goofy small town parade that starts around 9am on the 4th with fireworks in Avon (10 minutes West) on I-70. I'm sure Breck and Frisco probably both have something similar going on.
