Summer with Kids in Breckenridge, Colorado
Breckenridge is known as one of Colorado’s most touristy ski towns, but my favorite time to visit is actually the summer and fall! It’s gorgeous and there are so many fun summer activities with kids in Breckenridge, Colorado.
Here are just a few of our favorites!
Where to Stay with Kids in Breckenridge, Colorado
Before we talk about things to do in the summer with your kids in Breckenridge, let’s figure out where to stay! We have done a few different things. When we traveled with our whole family, we rented a home on the mountain so that everyone would have plenty of space. We were close to Epic Discovery Park and able to walk to the Gondola and head to town without needing a car!
You can search on AirBNB, Home Away or VRBO. We recommend staying on Peak 8 for the benefits I mentioned!
When I travel with just my kids, I love staying right in town to be close to all the actions. We stay at the Marriott Mountain Valley Lodge in Breckenridge because we love the pool and it’s nice and close!
Summer Hiking with Kids in Breckenridge, Colorado
One of our favorite things to do with kids in Breckenridge during the summer is hiking! The mountains are so gorgeous, there is a ton of wildlife and the weather is usually nice and cool! Here are a few of our favorite kid-friendly trails in Breckenridge.
Troll Hike to see Isaak Hearthstone
This is a really fun, short and flat hike that your kids will love! Isaak Hearthstone is a wooden troll built by Danish artist Thomas Dambo and is one of hundreds he has built around the world. Park at the Ice Rink parking lot and follow the sign and trail to see the troll!
Iowa Hill Mine Trail
The Iowa Hill Mine Trail is a really fun adventure with kids. You can hike through an old abandoned mine site and still see some of the tools and machinery used in the mine. Breckenridge is an old mining town, so it’s a really great way to get some fresh air and learn about the history of the area.
Snowflake Trail
The Snowflake Trail is by far my kids’ favorite trail in Breckenridge and we always see wildlife including moose and red foxes while hiking here!
Visit the Sawmill Reservoir and fish or take a break and enjoy the view. We once saw an entire family of moose swimming in the lake.
Nordic Center
The Nordic Center is a really fun place to explore during the summer. There are a lot of trails that wind through Cucumber Gulch. In the winter it’s a snowshoe and cross-country skiing area, but in the summer it’s a great place to hike and see wildlife.
For more Colorado hiking, check out this post.
Main Street with Kids in Breckenridge, Colorado
Main Street Breckenridge is super cute! It’s such a fun, picturesque slice of mountain town. You’ll definitely want to spend time walking, biking or scooting around. While in the winter, you’ll be cozying up with cocoa indoors, Main Street Breckenridge really shines in the summer when kids can roam outside!
Blue River Recreation Path
Take a bike ride or walk along the Blue River Recreation Path. It goes through town and along the river and offers lots of fun! You can rent bikes at several places in town if you can’t bring your own.
Riverwalk Center
The Riverwalk Center is a performing arts center at the heart of town. Whether you are attending an event at the Center or picnicking on the main lawn, it’s a great place to hang out.
Blue River Plaza
Across the river from the Riverwalk Center is the Blue River Plaza, a great place to play and eat! In the summer, kids will love cooling off in the river and climbing and playing on the rocks and boulders. And don’t miss the small play area and picnic benches! We love getting takeout and enjoying a meal at the plaza.
Window Shopping
There are so many cute shops along Main Street! Some of our favorites to window shop with the kids include Fuzziwig’s Breckenridge candy shop, Peak-A-Boo Toys, and Joy of Sox. You’ll also find tons of outdoor gear and clothing!
Gondola
One of very favorite things to do in Breckenridge is ride the free Gondola. You can ride the gondola from town to a couple of the hotels and resorts on the mountain, including Epic Discovery. You’ll have great views, even if you don’t have anywhere to go up on the mountain! The gondola is open in the winter and the summer but closes between seasons.
Downstairs at Eric’s
Downstairs at Eric’s is one of our favorite places to eat in Breckenridge. They sell delicious pizza. But they also have a really fun arcade and bar if you want to eat it and enjoy the atmosphere or play some games!
Crepes A La Cart
You can’t visit Breck without getting some crepes at Crepes A La Cart! There are two locations, and they offer the best hand crepes! My kids loves the S’mores crepes and I love a traditional nutella and strawberry crepe! It’s all delicious!
For more Colorado ski town summer fun, check out Crested Butte.
Places to Play with Kids During Summer in Breckenridge, Colorado
In addition to hiking and spending time on Main Street, there are a lot of places to take your kids for some summer fun in Breckenridge, Colorado!
Sawmill Museum
The Breckenridge Heritage Alliance has some great historical and educational spaces around Breckenridge. One of them is the Sawmill Museum. This is a free, outdoor “museum” where you can stop in and see a real sawmill that used to operate in Breckenridge. Kids will love checking out the mechanics of it all!
Red, White and Blue Fire Museum
Another one of the Heritage Alliance museums is the Red, White and Blue Fire Museum. This museum is also free and you can see old fire fighting equipment from the 1800s! You can even get a guided tour from a real firefighter. Your kids will love it!
Country Boy Mine Tour
As mentioned above, Breckenridge is an old mining town and you have to visit a mine to really appreciate that! The Country Boy Mine is an old gold mine that now offers tours and activities. Our kids loved traveling into the mine shaft to see how it all works and then panning for gold on the property!
Breckenridge Recreation Center
The Breckenridge Recreation Center is a great spot to spend a day in Breckenridge with kids. Particularly a rainy day! There is a great pool for kids to play complete with a water slide, a lap pool, rock climbing wall, tennis courts, gym equipment and more! There are day passes, punch passes and more available.
Ice Skating Rink
The Stephen C. West Ice Arena is open year-round and offers open skate, as well as private lessons. You can cool off during the summer and spend an hour or two skating! There are rentals available at the rink.
Make sure to see the Troll and visit the High Line Railroad Park afterward too!
High Line Railroad Park and Museum
The High Line Railroad Park and Museum is a fantastic park near the ice skating rink. There are historical steam engines and railcars, a small museum and a really fun train-themed playground! Kids of all ages will love it. The park has some shade and is great for a summer day.
Epic Discovery Park, Breckenridge’s Summer Adventure
The last thing we absolutely must recommend is spending a day at Epic Discovery Park! In the summer, Peak 8 transforms from a ski resort to an adventure park that is one of the best summer attractions for kids in Breckenridge. Spend a morning or a full day zip-lining, mountain biking, riding alpine slides, alpine coasters, tubing and more!
