Best Things to do in Breckenridge Colorado in the Summer with Kids

Last Updated on August 23, 2021 by Leslie Stroud

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Breckenridge, Colorado is well known for its world-class ski slopes and breathtaking terrain. Often overlooked is the beauty of Breckenridge in the summer.

Breckenridge holds a special place in our hearts.  I visitied often growing up, we spent our honeymoon there, and it was our first vacation spot as a family of three with baby Lucy.  My parents have a timeshare there, so we usually go there yearly for a week or more at a time.

For me, it is the quintessential Colorado mountain town.  Charming, fun, friendly, and leaves you wanting to look at real estate!

The natural beauty and mild resort-town temperatures lead to the perfect Colorado family vacation. Here are our top picks for Breckenridge summer activities for kids.

How to Get To Breckenridge, Colorado

You’ll need to drive here as there is no airport in Breckenridge.  The closest airport would probably be Aspen, which is still two hours away.  Denver to Breckenridge is a four-hour drive and Salt Lake City is about a five-hour drive from Breckenridge.

(Our favorite entertainment on long road trips is definitely listening to audiobooks. Click here for our 21 favorite audiobooks for family road trips.)

Driving up I-70 in Colorado can be a little intense.  Be careful and alert; driving is best during the day. Afternoon and evenings can mean heavy traffic.  If returning to Denver on a Sunday night, plan an extra 1-3 hours for traffic.  

If you’d like a meal and a break while driving up from Denver, be sure to visit Beau Joe’s Pizza.  It’s a classic for Colorado natives and the original location in Idaho Springs is the best to visit.  They serve up pizzas with a large, bready crust that you can fill with honey as a dessert!

Where to Stay in Breckenridge with Kids

There are many options for lodging in Breckenridge.  Classic, old home Airbnbs can be super fun on Main Street.  Head up the mountain a bit for killer views!  We typically stay up on Baldy Mountain Road, which has tons of condos, timeshares, and homes.  Click here to explore great rental homes in the area. Click here to explore great hotels in the area.

Other mountain towns are close enough for a visit to Breckenridge also, including Keystone, Beaver Creek, Copper Mountain and Dillon.  Silverthorne and Frisco are nearly blended together with Breckenridge and are other great options to look at for places to stay.

If you are a fan of Hyatt or Marriott, both have properties at the end of Main Street in Breckenridge.  Stay here to enjoy walking to dinner, by the river, or visiting the local attractions such as the gondola.

What to Do in Breckenridge with Kids

Breckenridge Colorado summer activities with kids are easy to come by.  The second you arrive, you’ll be face-to-face with the incredible outdoor activities.  Skiing in the winter is magical and biking and hiking in the summer are gorgeous.

One of our favorite activities is mountain biking in Breckenridge. We love renting electric bikes on Main Street and taking a long ride as a family. (We typically rent ours here, but there are several rental companies.) They can usually outfit you with a trailer and/or trainer bike attachment for the littles.  Just be sure to reserve in advance!  They go quickly.

Nothing boosts your confidence like zooming up a steep bike path with the e-bike!  Haha. Our favorite trail is to bike from Breckenridge Main Street to Frisco and back. (Blue River Bikeway)  A fabulous bike trail awaits you the entire journey and you’ll meet lots of new bike friends.

Take the Dillion Lake Trail around the lake for some extra beauty.

Other Activities with Kids in Breckenridge

• Breckenridge Escape Room.  We tried this on our last visit and had a hoot!  We did the Yeti experience and my boys still talk about solving the puzzle.  It is a bit expensive, but a super fun time.

• Shopping on Main Street.  Free (unless you buy something!) and fun to window shop.  A wonderful blend of shops are available from the expensive to the cheap, touristy t-shirts.  Grab a cookie for us!  

• Hikes.  The number one summer activity in Breckenridge is definitely hiking. There are WAY too many hikes available to list here.  I love using the AllTrails App for recent reviews and info.  We like hiking around Dillon Lake so the kids can throw rocks in; it’s relatively flat as well. With thousands of mountain land acres in Breckenridge, you are guaranteed to find some amazing views.

• Breck Adventure Park and Gondola.  Another activity on the speedy side, but full of fun.  Head up the Gondola (free) to the Adventure Park.  Here you can do the alpine slide, “mine” for gems, do a ropes course, and more.  This place shuts down often in the afternoon for lightning, so it’s best to go in the morning.  If you can stay all day, the combo ticket is best, but if the weather will be a problem, go a-la-carte. Learn more about this here.

• Sawmill Museum.  We pass this on the way to the timeshare each year and finally stopped to check it out this last year.  It’s small and self-guided, but fascinating.  There are some lovely trails leading from this spot as well.  We packed a picnic lunch and went as far as the kids wanted to.

• Breckenridge Children’s Museum.  A family favorite for us, this darling little museum is best for toddlers and early elementary age.  Plenty to occupy them for hours and perfect for a rainy day.  It’s right off Main Street so chances are good that you can bus there as well. Be sure to check here for COVID updates and closures before visiting.

• Breckenridge Recreation Center.  The timeshare we use includes tickets to the rec center and we try to always take some time to visit.   The pool has a fantastic slide that kids and adults can all enjoy.  They often have a time slot for a rope swing over the pool and a climbing wall, so plan accordingly.

• Breckenridge Troll.  Only about five minutes from the parking lot, this wooden statue is worth the stop!  A stream runs by here and lots of trail options so you can make this into a quick or long adventure.

• Train Playground.  In the same parking lot as the ice skating rink, this playground is perfect for the little ones.

Where to Eat in Breckenridge, CO

We’ve never gotten to all the restaurants in Breck, so this is not an exhaustive list!  The restaurant scene is fairly competitive which weeds out a lot of the worst restaurants.    We also like to cook in with our kids when we travel. Click here for some tips on how to cook while traveling.

Some of our go-to favorites:

• Giampietros.  Fabulous pizza and we always get it to go.  The eat-in area is quite small, so takeout is much more popular with kids.

• Saltwater Creek.  A great breakfast option!

• Crepes on Main.  The line can be long, but for good reason.  Maybe the best thing to eat in Breck!  Savory and sweet options, this can easily be a meal.

• Mountain Top Cookies.  Huge, delicious cookies with fun flavor combos and GF options.  This is a must when visiting Breckenridge.

Other Things to Know About Breckenridge, CO

1. Taxes are high.  This translates to your taxes on food and lodging.
2. Things are expensive.  These mountain towns come with a premium price tag.  While you can find free and cheap options, know that like many touristy places, things are just more expensive up here.
3. Buy your groceries elsewhere.  For the reason above, we bring the bulk of our groceries from Denver.  Hit up Costco on your way up.  There is a Walmart in Frisco and a couple of grocery options, but it’s best to use those options for the things you forgot to bring instead of all of your groceries.
4. Road construction is constant.  We’ve never been to Breck when there wasn’t some kind of construction.  Seriously.  They are always improving, expanding, and repairing.  The severe weather shifts mean the roads need lots of TLC over the summer.
5. Masks have been required everywhere.  On our last visit, mask policies were strictly enforced, even outside.  All of Main Street was blocked off to allow outdoor dining and masks were required in all parts, indoor and out. *update: I think this has FINALLY relaxed! Woo hoo! See COVID updates here.*
6. Main Street parking. Parking at 505 S. Main is the best for exploring downtown.  It’s under the complex with the escape room and is a great starting point.  You can also park in the large ski lots near the gondola.

Things To Do Near Breckenridge

The towns of Frisco Silverthorne and Dillon are all close enough to Breckenridge we often thing of them as the same.  Other options within these areas:

• Shopping.  There is an outlet mall in Silverthorne that can entertain for a few hours for all ages.  We did our back-to-school shopping there one year.  We often replace shoes for adults and kids, grab baby clothes, and check out “at-home” options.
• Bike trails galore!  These mountain towns are famous for bikers and there is no shortage of trails.  My parents and I often bike Vail Pass, a good challenge!
• Frisco Adventure Park.  Frisco has its own version of an adventure park.  We’ve never been, but it looks like it also has lots of dirt bike trails for kids.
• 2 Below Zero Wagon.  I haven’t been enough of a planner to get into this activity either but would love to.  Enjoy a wagon ride and dinner!
• Movie theater.  If you are in the mood for the movie, the Dillon Move Theater usually boasts some retro movies at a cheap price.
• Hiking the ski slopes.  All of these towns are fed by the ski season.  You can try many resorts all within an hour’s drive.  

Summertime in Breckenridge is a relaxing and great family vacation! Leave a comment below and let me know what your favorite activity is. Enjoy!

Additional Reading

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