Family Friendly Summer Vacation in Breckenridge Guide
Updated May 15, 2024 / Laurel Coffman
If you’re looking for a family-friendly summer vacation destination, look no further. Breckenridge is a summer paradise with mild temperatures, blue skies, high-alpine lakes and stunning mountain vistas. We know planning your next family vacation can be stressful, so we’ve taken the guess work out of what to do, where to eat and where to stay. Read on for our family-friendly guide to Breckenridge in the summer.
Outdoor Family-Friendly Activities
Being outside in and around Breckenridge is what it’s all about. The best part is you don’t have to go far to find an abundance of fun. From hiking and biking to water sports and alpine slides, you can pick and choose to create your perfect day.
Family-Friendly Hiking Trails
Trollstigen Trail: Stretch your legs and acclimate to the altitude on this popular path. This is less of a hike and more of a stroll through a pine forest before you reach the troll of Breckenridge, Isak Heartstone.
Sallie Barber Mine Trail: This 2.8-mile out and back trail is the perfect way to get outside and discover the rich mining history of Breckenridge.
Spruce Creek Loop: A perfect Colorado hike covered by forest, alpine meadows and mountain views. This is moderately challenging at 4.8 miles.
Sawmill Trail: Another short hike that is close to town but provides the perfect mountain experience: you’ll walk right under the Snowflake Lift through forest and along a creek before you reach a small reservoir.
Family-Friendly Biking
With hundreds of miles of mountain biking trails, the options are endless. Before you dive into more advanced riding, check out our recommendations for these family-friendly bike trails.
Wellington Bike Park: If you find your kiddos can’t get off their bikes, head to the Wellington Bike Park. This park is built on the remains of an old dredge and designed for riders of all abilities. Families can shred on pump tracks (plus a small pump track for tiny tots), wooden features and jump lines.
Blue River Rec Path: This popular paved path runs along the Blue River from Breckenridge to Frisco so you can go as far as you like before turning around. For an easy mountain biking experience, take the dirt single track that parallels the Rec Path and sticks close to the river.
Family Day at Lake Dillon
Lake Dillon provides a plethora of fun from paddleboard and kayak rentals to pontoon boat and sailboat rentals. The closest location to Breckenridge to access the lake would be the Frisco Marina, it has a bar & grill that serves up their classic Rum RUnners and often has live music on summer weekends. You can also find a sand beach area to kick back and soak in the summer sun.
One of my favorite things to do with my family during the summer is to head over to the Frisco Bay Marina for a fun and refreshing day at the beach! Pack up all your beach gear, bring plenty of sunscreen (the summer sun can be very intense at this elevation!), camping chairs, a canopy tent for shade, and a cooler with drinks and snacks to last the whole day. The beach is the perfect little spot to enjoy the cool, summer mountain breeze right by the water and build sandcastles with your little ones while you watch paddleboarders and kayakers take off from the marina. The Island Grill restaurant is located right behind the beach so you can enjoy a mid-day lunch break with the whole family (or a delicious “Island Cocktail” for mom and dad). Be sure to get to the Marina early, especially on the weekends—the parking lot fills up quickly! – Sandra, Marketing Specialist
Epic Discovery
A day at this mountain-top fun park is a match made in kid heaven and a popular activity for families in the summer. Adventurous little ones can take on the alpine slide, Gold Runner coaster, and even the Alpineer Challenge course. For more laid-back activities, enjoy scenic chairlift rides, gemstone panning, and mini golf. As adults, we can attest that we’ve had just as much fun as the kids!
Local Tip: Be sure to head to Epic Discovery early in the day to avoid the chance of afternoon storms. Check Breckenridge Ski Resort’s website for the most up-to-date activity availability.
Bonus Family-Friendly Adventures to Explore
Indoor Family-Friendly Activities
For the rainy day (or afternoon), it’s always a good idea to have some backup activity ideas under your belt. In addition to being a great outdoor town, Breckenridge also has a slew of indoor family fun so you can keep boredom at bay.
Escape Rooms: Adventure can still happen indoors. Check out Mountain Time Escape Rooms and Escape Room Breckenridge for a fun way to work as a family and use your brain power. Or you could try to solve the mystery of the sabotaged dredge boat at the Grand Colorado on Peak 8’s Gr8 Escape Room.
Ice Skating: It may be summer, but you can enjoy this winter activity all year round. The Stephen C. West Ice Arena offers indoor rentals and lessons daily so you can work on your triple axel, or maybe just stay upright.
Breckenridge Creative Arts: Take the time to learn something new! BreckCreate provides classes, workshops, and events to the community and our guests. Everything from toddler art and beginner wheel throwing to glass blowing and ring making is available.
Eclipse Theater: Kick back and enjoy a movie at Breckeridge’s only movie theater. This cozy spot serves up popcorn, beer & wine, and of course all the movie candy and snacks for a feature film. See showtimes here.
Arcades: You can find two arcades along Main Street! I Scream Arcade (attached to I Scream Gelato) has a selection of games including Angry Birds, MarioKart DX, King Kong VR, and Big Bass Wheel. Downstairs at Eric’s Arcade houses more classic arcade games like PacMan, Skee Ball, basketball hoops, and air hockey.
Mountain Top Explorium: This non profit children’s museum encourages the little ones to enhance their learning in new ways. Through inspiring creativity, curiosity, and new ways of thinking, Mountain Top offers a different avenue for children to learn AND play! They also have been hosting a summer camp since 2002, where you can send your little ones a week of mountain fun or just a single day to try it out. The camp runs all summer from Monday to Friday, 8:30am-5:30pm.
Family-Friendly Restaurants
Downstairs at Eric’s: This staple of Breckenridge is a whole load of fun for the family. In addition to a giant menu known best for delectable pizzas and baked wings, this local establishment also features an arcade.
Kenosha: Steaks, BBQ and burgers are the staple of Kenosha. In addition to having a large indoor dining space, they also boast a large west-facing outdoor patio so you can eat and enjoy the afternoon sunshine.
Fatty’s: Another Breckenridge staple best known for pizza, sandwiches and wings, this sports bar is the oldest pizzeria in Breckenridge. Fatty’s is a great space for hosting large groups and features hearty portions for all your hungry adventurers.
Mi Casa: Breckenridge has several fantastic Mexican restaurants and Mi Casa is no exception. This large, family-friendly restaurant is known for its homemade chips and salsa, and their large menu offers something for everyone–tacos, burritos and even gluten-free options.
Family-Friendly Accommodations
Grand Timber Lodge: One of our favorite family-friendly resorts in Breckenridge, Grand Timber Lodge boasts indoor and outdoor aquatic areas, a Family Fun Center, private movie theaters and even an activities hub. Only a short distance from Main Street you’ll find all the comforts of home within a relaxing and quiet mountain atmosphere.
Grand Lodge on Peak 7: Sitting on the mountain with gondola access, this resort is the epitome of mountain elegance. Much like Grand Timber Lodge, you’ll have access to family-friendly amenities like pools and hot tubs, movie theaters and a Family Fun Center. The adult-only grotto is a bonus for parents, and the convenient complimentary shuttle takes you to and from downtown Breckenridge.
