5 Favorite things about visiting Breckenridge in the Summer

When most people think of Breckenridge Colorado, they probably think of amazing ski slopes, loads of snow and cold winters. And while those things are true, my favorite time to visit Breckenridge is in the summer. Why? Because it's more affordable than during prime ski season, and there's plenty to do and see all wrapped up with great weather, views, and that quintessential small mountain town feel.

So here's my favorite things about visiting Breckenridge in the summer:

1. The weather.

Summer weather in Breckenridge is heavenly. Or at least it’s what I imagine heaven will be like. 😊 The highs are in the seventies, and the sun rays will feel warm when they hit you. (You might want to pack sunscreen—our sun is intense.) And then, at night, it cools down enough to make you feel like you’re sleeping inside of a refrigerator just because you left your window open with a fan blowing the cool mountain air inside. The evenings are that perfect temperature that slides along your skin and feels just right. A sweatshirt or sweater might be necessary depending on how cold you get. We live in the state of Colorado, and Breckenridge is almost always cooler than our city. It’s the perfect escape from the summer heat.

2. Lots of lodging options.

Whether you want a hotel room, a condo or a house, Breckenridge has all the options. Look for a place that you can walk into town from or that has a free shuttle. Many of the lodges and hotels have their own shuttles, and there’s also a free city bus that you can hop on. Take advantage of these offers because parking can be tough in town. If you do decide to stay off the beaten path, it will save you some money, but just know you’ll have the trade-off of having to find parking when you do meander into town.

We recently stayed at the Wedgewood Lodge, and it was a favorite for our family. It’s a little older but very clean, and some of the rooms have large (shared) patios. We could still walk into town easily with our kids, or we could jump on the bus for free. They have rooms ranging from studio up to three bedrooms—a great option if you’re traveling with family or friends. The unit we stayed in was a one bedroom with a loft for the kids. They loved it, and the spiral staircase up to the loft was a hit. It also had a full kitchen, so we could prepare food in the room if we wanted to. The price was very good—equal to what we might have paid for a hotel room on Main Street. I’d definitely stay at the Wedgewood Lodge again. Just a note—The Wedgewood Lodge is quietly run in the summer, meaning the staff are not on all night. They’ll leave you your key if you’re going to be arriving after hours. Overall, this didn’t pose a problem for us.

Many lodging places in Breckenridge have heated pools and hot tubs, so even if the weather dips and gets chilly, you'll still have that built in family activity. Most lodging will not, however, have air conditioning. During a warm day, this might cause you to worry. But once the temperatures drop in the evening, you'll see that it cools down enough at night and that a cross breeze and a fan create the perfect sleeping temperature.

3. Lake Dillon.

What’s not to love about a lake nestled in the mountains? Lake Dillon is gorgeous, but it’s not a swimming lake due to the chilly year-round temps. You can, however, rent a boat or bring your own. Kayaks or canoes are available for rent at the Frisco marina. We have an inflatable kayak, and the kids and I enjoyed taking a few trips out on the water. The marina has a playground for those with kiddos, and on the other side of the lake—at the Dillon marina—there’s a playground on top of the hill with fantastic views of the whole lake and the mountains. It’s really gorgeous and our kids always ask to stop at it.

There’s also a Summit shuttle water taxi that comes and goes from one marina to the other. We’ve biked from Frisco over to Dillon before and then loaded our bikes onto the water shuttle for a quick trip back to our car. It’s a fun way to take a little boat ride without having to rent one.

4. Now let’s move on to eating—my favorite pastime! 😊 

I would honestly drive to Breckenridge just for the baked wings at Downstairs at Eric’s. They’re amazing. Truly. My mouth is watering just writing about them! And the pizza is fabulous too. Whether you're in town in the winter or the summer, this is a great place to go with the kids because there's an arcade downstairs. You can sit and have a drink and the kids can spend their pocket full of quarters. It's a win-win. Especially if it’s freezing outside or raining like it was when we were last there.

Treats are another favorite of mine. Crepes A La Cart is a famous stop in Breck. The line is always super long, but they recently opened a new location on South Ridge Street. So check that out if you want to avoid the lines.

Kava Café makes fresh mini donuts, and they offer a variety of sugary toppings. They’re only open until 1 p.m., so if you don’t make it in time for breakfast, pop in and grab a bag or two as a treat. Your taste buds will thank you.

5. Free things to do.

Breckenridge is full of free things to do. There is a river that runs parallel to Main Street. It’s nicely maintained, and kids love to climb on the rocks and check out the water. Breckenridge Alpine Garden is also right along the water—definitely worth a walk through. There’s a bridge across the river where you can put in a quarter and grab a handful of fish food, then watch them vie for it as you toss it into the water. There’s also a famous rock in the plaza—families have been poking their heads through and taking photos for years, and we’re no exception.

On Main Street they have various historical places—homes and other buildings/remnants that are on the historical registry. It's fun to wander around and see some of those or happen upon them.

Riding the Gondola is also free. It takes you up the mountain and back down, offering gorgeous views.

Hiking is plentiful in Breckenridge. For an easy family hike check out Sawmill Reservoir Trail. It’s roughly 1.5 miles, follows along a mountain stream and leads to a reservoir. Our ten year old son did this one with us and didn’t complain once. 

Ah, Breckenridge! I love the beauty and the small town feel combined with plenty of options for things to do. It’s one of my top picks for Colorado mountain towns. What’s yours?

Jill Lynn Buteyn is a co-author of Just Show Up with Kara Tippetts, and she also writes small-town happily ever afters filled with humor, grace and faith. She lives near the beautiful Rocky Mountains with her husband and two children and can be found online at Jill-Lynn.com or on Facebook and Instagram @JillLynnAuthor. Her latest release, The Rancher’s Surprise Daughter, is available now.

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A HUGE thank you to Jill for sharing today on the blog!! After reading this post I have added Breckenridge as a place to visit in the summer!! Thank you again Jill for sharing! As I mentioned on Wednesday Jill is the author of the  The Rancher's Surprise Daughter and she is giving a SPECIAL giveaway to one lucky winner: a SIGNED copy of this book! It is so easy to enter the giveaway and it will let you connect with Jill in a variety of social media ways! Go enter now - the giveaway will be live through Sunday Evening at 11pm EST (and come back each day as you can earn entries each day!) Good Luck!!

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