AndiWe planned a girl scout trip to Breckenridge in the summer and we found plenty of things to do! This was my first visit to this charming Colorado town and it’s the cutest place ever! Breckenridge is known for its ski resort, but there are a plethora of things you can do here that make it a great summer getaway.
Do-
Hiking
There are endless hiking possibilities in the surrounding area, not to mention Colorado in general. These are the shorter hikes in the area.
Sapphire Point Trail- views of Lake Dillon
McCullough Gulch Trail- 2.7 miles round trip from the trail head
Sawmill Creek- 1.5 mile loop that leads to a beautiful reservoir
Whitewater Rafting
This trip was my first time whitewater rafting and it certainly won’t be my last. We chose the Brown’s Canyon area with Performance Tours. They gave us a great discount since it was for a girl scout trip.
I had a little anxiety about this, since it was six females (two adults and four teens) who have never rafted before on an intermediate river. There was no need to worry, our guide was awesome! She showed us how to raft before taking off and coached us through each rapid. Lexi did fly out of the raft during one of the rapids, but they quickly rescued her and got her back in the boat. She walked away ready for more!
Towards the end, we had the chance to jump in the river willingly if we wanted…too cold for me, even in a wetsuit! I mean the water had just been snow! Speaking of wetsuits, that’s an adventure in itself getting one of those things on!
Anyways, it was such a thrilling experience and the scenery was beautiful! Highly recommend! There are a few different areas within an hour or so drive from Breckenridge.
Horseback Riding
Many ranches nearby offer two hour to full day excursions.
Rusty Spur Ranch
Breckenridge Stables
Biking
Mountain biking- have not personally tried it, but the trails here are supposed to be some of the best. Fat biking is a thing here too.
Water Activities
Kayaking and Stand Up Paddle Boarding- water activities galore in nearby lakes
Ziplining
There’s one long zipline in Breckenridge with a line going down the mountain.
The better places are within an hour or so away. We chose AVA in the Buena Vista area. Thrilling time! Nothing like flying through the air in the trees with mountains in the background.
Shopping
Shopping on Main Street- Breck is a walkable town that has the cutest little shops on the main strip! Unique souvenirs that you can’t find anywhere else. You can spend the whole day roaming through the shops.
Gondola
Free scenic ride up to the top of the mountain. Phenomenal views!
Country Boy Mine Tour
I have not done this, but it sounds kind of cool. I mean a mine tour!
Epic Discovery-
Mini golf, alpine coaster, largest human maze, scenic chair lifts, and more on top of a mountain.
Eat-
La Francaise Bakery- YUM! Pastries were good and the hot chocolate even better!
Eric’s Downstairs- pizza, can be a little stuffy in the summer with no air conditioning.
Crepes A La Cart- YUM!
Duggan’s Deli- great sub sandwiches
Empire Burger- good burgers
Mi Casa Mexican-only Mexican food place
Cabin Coffee- good reviews
Starbucks- I don’t usually do chains on trips, but I was with teenagers and they made me. It does have one of the best views I’ve seen at a Starbucks.
Stay-
We stayed in a condo rental through AirBNB. The Village at Breckenridge condos are perfectly located by a ski lift and walking distance to restaurants and shops on the main strip. Great location for summer and winter vacations. This had heated garages which I’m sure is a plus in the winter.
Renting a cabin up higher in the mountains would be a treat as well.
Tips-
- Drink plenty of water!! Start drinking before arriving here….like a gallon at least! And then keep drinking lots of water until you adjust to the altitude. The high elevation can cause headaches and even altitude sickness. Take a couple days to adjust before going on any strenuous hikes. I heard you can take ibuprofen as a precaution.
- Breckenridge does have oxygen bars which are supposed to help with altitude sickness. None of us developed any symptoms, so fortunately we didn’t have to deal with this.
- Breck is VERY casual, which is perfect for this jean loving, sweatshirt wearing, ponytail girl.
- A lot of establishments do not have air conditioning here. That’s unheard of for this Texas girl, but it honestly wasn’t bad at all. We opened the windows to the condo when it got to stuffy and were fine. A couple of the restaurants were a little warm, but nothing unbearable. All the little shops had their doors propped open and a nice breeze always cooled down the area. Plus one of the residents told me it very rarely gets above the high 70’s here.
- This town is VERY dog friendly. Almost every shop had a dog in it. Sometimes there would even be a sign on the door of a shop that said “Be back in a minute, taking the dog for a quick walk.” CRAZY! The girls loved it! They would pet every dog they came in contact with.
Summary
Breckenridge was perfect trip for the girls summer vacation. They were seeking adventure, trying new activities and a place to have some down time and Breck provided all of that and more! So many activities to choose from, plus tons of shopping within walking distance to the condo.
Speaking of condo, the girls had a great time cooking together and just hanging out playing games. They wished they had a little bit more time to enjoy the pool and hot tub.
Breckenridge is a great hub since there are some epic adventures within an hours drive in each direction. Fun was had by all! Breckenridge is a great adventure family destination for your summer vacation.
