Things To Do in Breckenridge and Summit County
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Breckenridge and Summit County Attractions
Families traveling with kids might want to stop at the Mountain Top Children's Museum, 605 S. Park Ave. (tel. 970/453-7878; www.mtntopmuseum.org), which has a number of exhibits open daily in summer and winter; children may also want to ride the kiddie train by Breckenridge Train Company at Main Street Station, 505 S. Main St. (tel. 970/453-2806).
The Arts District of Breckenridge, Ridge Street and Washington Avenue, is a reclaimed series of old structures that offers workshops, programs, and a glimpse into working studios of visiting artists. Visit the town website at www.townofbreckenridge.com for further information.
The Festival Scene
The Breckenridge Music Festival presents dozens of classical and nonclassical music performances, with concerts in the Riverwalk Center from mid-June through mid-August. Adult tickets cost from $22 to $32; they're only $7 for students under 18. Contact the Breckenridge Music Festival, P.O. Box 1254, Breckenridge, CO 80424 (tel. 970/453-9142 or 970/547-3100 for the box office; www.breckenridgemusicfestival.com).
Genuine Jazz in Breckenridge, on the last weekend of June, showcases Colorado jazz ensembles with styles ranging from Dixieland to bebop to New Age. Local bars and nightclubs host Friday and Saturday night performances, and there are also free outdoor concerts. Contact Peak Performances, Box 57, Breckenridge, CO 80424 (tel. 866/464-2626 for tickets; www.genuinejazz.com).
The Breckenridge Festival of Film, held in early September, attracts Hollywood directors and actors to town to discuss some two dozen films in all genres. Films that have premiered here include American Beauty, The Shawshank Redemption, Shark Tale, and L.A. Confidential. For more information, contact the Breckenridge Festival of Film, P.O. Box 718, Breckenridge, CO 80424 (tel. 970/453-6200; www.breckfilmfest.com).
- Neighborhood
Breckenridge National Historic District
The entire Victorian core of this 19th-century mining town has been carefully preserved, and you can see it on your own (stop by the Breckenridge Welcome Center for more info), or, during the summer, on guided tours conducted by Breckenridge History. Colorfully painted shops and… - Tour
Country Boy Mine
At this 100-year-old mine, you can take a guided tour 1,000 feet underground, pan for gold in Eureka Creek, explore the mining exhibit and the five-story 75-year-old mill, and listen to the legends. The mine is a constant 45°F (7°C) year-round, so take a jacket even in August. There… - Historic Site
Frisco Historic Park
Ten historic buildings -- including the town's original 1881 jail, a one-room schoolhouse, a log chapel, and homes dating from the 1880s -- make up this beautifully maintained historic park. The schoolhouse contains displays and artifacts from Frisco's early days, and a trapper's…
Breckenridge and Summit County Shopping
Breckenridge is the place to shop in Summit County, with a variety of shops and galleries in the historic buildings along Main Street.
For vintage snowboards, ski art, ski sweaters, and ski-themed home decor, check out Vintage Snow, 226 S. Main St. (tel. 970/453-2447). Original Western paintings and bronzes, plus historic Navajo weavings and cowboy and Indian collectibles, can be found at Paint Horse Gallery, 226 S. Main St. (tel. 970/453-6813). A cooperative managed by the Summit Arts Council, Hamlet's, 306 S. Main St. (tel. 970/453-8033), is a fine bookstore in an old Victorian. If you're in the market for a unique hat -- including some really hilarious ones -- try the Breckenridge Hat Company, 411 S. Main St. (tel. 970/453-2737). The Silverthorne Factory Stores (tel. 970/468-9440) has about 80 outlet shops -- from fashion and athletic wear to home accessories; take I-70 to exit 205. For all your outdoor gear needs, Mountain Outfitters, 112 S. Ridge St. (tel. 970/453-2201; www.mtnoutfitters.com), is the place.
Breckenridge and Summit County Nightlife
Though every community has its watering holes, Breckenridge has the best nightlife in the area.
In the Arts District of Breckenridge, the Backstage Theatre, 121 S. Ridge St., Breckenridge (tel. 970/453-0199; www.backstagetheatre.org), has been presenting a variety of live theater since 1974. Recent productions have included Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, The Vagina Monologues, The Hobbit, Cannibal! The Musical, and Reefer Madness. Ticket prices vary, but most are $18 for adults and $10 for children under 12; reservations are strongly recommended.
Popular bars in Breckenridge include the Breckenridge Brewery and Pub, 600 S. Main St. (tel. 970/453-1550), where the microbrews include Avalanche Ale, a full-bodied amber ale, and my favorite, Trademark Pale, an American-style pale ale loaded with hops. The Salt Creek Restaurant and Saloon, 1101 E. Lincoln Ave. (tel. 970/453-4949), is a popular live-music dance club where you'll hear practically everything but country. For everything from live blues to reggae, try three20south (formerly Sherpa & Yeti's), 320 S. Main St. (tel. 970/547-5320; www.three20south.com); and the young, hip Downstairs at Eric's, a lively bar and restaurant at 111 S. Main St. (tel. 970/453-1401; www.downstairsaterics.com) that is popular with locals and the après-ski crowd alike and boasts 120 types of beer, including 22 on tap. The Cellar, 200 S. Ridge St. (tel. 970/453-4777), is a slick wine and tapas bar with contemporary art and an attractive red granite bar. Established in the 1870s and said to be the longest continually operating bar west of the Mississippi (local lawmen were afraid to shut it down during Prohibition), the Gold Pan, 103 N. Main St. (tel. 970/453-5499), is a rough-and-tumble, ornery place that's hard not to like.
