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Ultimate Guide to Family-Friendly Activities in Breckenridge

Ultimate Guide to Family-Friendly Activities in Breckenridge

Picture this: you're paddling down a scenic river, surrounded by Colorado's stunning scenery, creating one of the happiest days ever with your family. The kids are giggling, parents are smiling, and you know this will be one of your greatest memories together.

For families seeking the perfect vacation destination, Breckenridge, CO, is a top choice. With unique activities like gold mine tours and dog sledding, plus adventurous options like hiking, biking, and whitewater rafting, there's no shortage of family-friendly fun in Breckenridge.

The Top Outdoor Activities for Families in Breckenridge

Lace up your hiking boots, buckle your helmet, and get ready to explore some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world. Okay we might be a little biased, but we think Breckenridge has some of the best outdoor family attractions and activities and one of the most beautiful places for families to visit in Colorado. Here are our top recommendations for kid-friendly outdoor adventures in Breckenridge:

Family hiking at Sawmill Reservoir in Breckenridge, CO with mountain views of Breckenridge Ski Resort

Breckenridge has many family-friendly hiking trails.

Breckenridge offers a variety of family-friendly hiking trails. Whether you're looking for an easy stroll or a more exciting adventure, there's no shortage of great trails suitable for kids.

The Sawmill Trail, easily accessed from downtown, is a gentle hike with excellent views of the ski area and a loop around a beautiful reservoir. For a slightly more challenging experience, try the Burro Trail, which starts at the base of Peak 9 and winds along a creek with a gently sloping trail for several miles. This out-and-back trail lets you turn around and retrace your steps to the trailhead.

Don't miss Isak Heartstone, a 15-foot wooden troll sculpture tucked into the forest and accessed via the Trollstigen Trail. B Like Breckenridge Travel Tip: Trollstigen Trail is one of the most popular trails in Breckenridge. Plan your visit before 10 am or after 5 pm to enjoy some one-on-one time with this famous sculpture! Learn more tips at gobreck.com.

We know the best family biking trails in Breckenridge.

There are hundreds of miles of biking trails in Breckenridge, and many of those trails are great for biking with kids. The Blue River Rec Path is a paved trail that starts in downtown Breckenridge, follows the Blue River north towards Frisco, and is great for road bikes and e-bikes. Boreas Pass Road is a well-maintained dirt road that can be great for the whole family to bike together and take in the stunning mountain views above Breckenridge.

Don’t worry about bringing the bikes because Breckenridge has lots of easy bike rental options. Check out Alpine Sports for e-bikes rentals, mountain bike rentals, road bike rentals and gravel bike rentals in Breckenridge. Local’s Tip: Alpine Sports can also rent a trailer or “kid caboose” to tow the younger kids on longer rides!

Experience High Altitude Thrills at the Breckenridge Adventure Park

During the summer months once the snow melts at Breckenridge Ski Resort, the resort transitions to summer operations and opens up the Epic Discovery Adventure Park. Breckenridge Adventure Park summer activities include the alpine slides, gold runner coaster, ropes course, climbing walls, mountain biking, scenic chairlift rides and more.

Local’s Tip: The Epic Discovery Adventure Park can be accessed from town on the (free!) scenic BreckConnect Gondola. Don’t forget to look down over the Cucumber Gulch Wildlife Preserve, a 188-acre nature preserve less than a mile from Breckenridge’s downtown Main Street.

Snowboarding and Skiing in Breckenridge with Kids is Pure Winter Fun.

Breckenridge is known for its great high alpine skiing, but it is also known for being an excellent winter vacation destination to go skiing with kids. Breckenridge Ski Resort offers a great ski school program for children of all ages and all abilities. Whether your kids have never put on a pair of ski boots or they’re ready to rip down their first black diamond trail, Breckenridge ski school offers small groups and private guided ski school options for kids and families. 

Peak 9 is a top choice for easy kid-friendly skiing trails in Breckenridge. It’s a bonus that the peak 9 base area is also the closest chairlifts from downtown Breckenridge, making it a convenient location for getting on and off the ski slopes with the whole family.

Best Breckenridge Indoor Activities for Families

Family Fun at the Breckenridge Recreation Center

From the pool and aquatics center to the indoor climbing wall, the Breckenridge Rec Center is an excellent option for kid friendly indoor activities in Breckenridge. Families can also go ice skating in the year-round Stephen C. West Ice Arena, where open skate sessions and rentals are available every day.

Interactive Activities for Toddlers in Breckenridge

The Mountain Top Explorium is also an excellent option when it comes to indoor activities for young children. This colorful children’s museum is interactive and offers various exhibits and building activities for toddlers in Breckenridge.

Art Classes and Historical Tours in Breckenridge

Breckenridge is so much more than an outdoor destination and local organizations like BreckCreate and Breckenridge History have created lots of cultural activities for families in Breckenridge. 

BreckCreate offers a variety of affordable and interactive art classes for kids, including Terrific Textiles, Clay Sculpting, Mixed Media and Toddler Art. Breckenridge History provides more family-friendly cultural activities in Breckenridge, with museums, exhibits, gold panning tours and more. 

Breckenridge Summer Activities Offer Family Fun All Day Long

A family stand up paddle boarding in Breckenridge
Photo Credit: Elaine Collins / Breckenridge Tourism Office

Once the snow melts on the mountainsides, Breckenridge truly comes alive with lots of family friendly summer activities. Breckenridge summer events keep visitors entertained with live music and outdoor concerts, art festivals, food festivals and so much more. 

Whitewater rafting is one of the most popular summer activities for families in Breckenridge. Rafting trips are available for families of all ages, from scenic family float river trips for kids as young as 4 years old, to more exciting, moderate whitewater for children at least 7 years old. Performance Tours Rafting has been offering the best colorado rafting trips in Breckenridge since 1986, and has been voted #1 rafting company for 13 years. 

Top Kid-Approved Winter Activities in Breckenridge

One of our favorite places to explore in Breckenridge in the winter is the Breckenridge Nordic Center. Between their nordic ski lessons, gorgeous snowshoe trails and scenic snowcat private tours in a  state-of-the-art heated snowcat, the Breckenridge Nordic Center offers lots of winter activities for families with young children and older adults. 

Grab a sled and check out one of Breckenridge’s two sledding hills at Carter Park or the Runway on Airport Road. Pick up a sled in town or borrow one from the sled shed, where visitors often leave the sleds they don’t want to travel with and other families can use them. 

Family-Friendly Restaurants in Breckenridge

Breckenridge boasts a variety of family-friendly restaurants where both kids and adults can enjoy delicious meals. Check out Fatty’s Pizzeria & Sports Bar for some of the best pizza in town, Downstairs at Eric’s for a fun atmosphere with arcade games, and Ollie’s Pub & Grub for great burgers and a welcoming vibe on a historic dredge boat.

The Best Breckenridge Family Lodging and Hotels for Kids

When it comes to family-friendly lodging, Breckenridge has plenty of options to ensure a comfortable stay for everyone. If you're looking for a Breckenridge rental house or condo, Summit Mountain Rentals has many options for residential complex properties in Breckenridge. For family-friendly amenities, Breckenridge Grand Vacations - Grand Timber Lodge offers several pools, outdoor and indoor games, an arcade, movie theater, and more. One Ski Hill Place features a bowling alley for extra fun, and Beaver Run has a pool, hot tubs, an arcade, and hosts many summer events and festivals.

Experience one of the most family-friendly destinations for yourself!

Breckenridge, CO, is a treasure trove of family-friendly activities, offering something for everyone, from outdoor adventures to cultural experiences. Whether you're visiting in the summer or winter, Breckenridge promises a memorable and fun-filled vacation for the whole family. So pack your bags, gather the kids, and get ready to create lifelong memories in this beautiful Colorado mountain town.

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