Breckenridge (Summer)

Of all the Colorado ski towns, Breckenridge has perhaps the greatest variety of summer-sports activities. It's on the Colorado River, and the facilities here for horseback-riding, fishing, kayaking, white-water rafting, golf, sailing, hiking and cycling are superb. Dillon Reservoir isn't far, and hundreds of miles of trails wind between Breck and nearby Dillon, Silverthorne and Frisco; try the half-mile Sapphire Point Overlook, on Swan Mountain Road between Breckenridge and Keystone. Less athletically inclined visitors can relax with summer festivals such as Genuine Jazz, the Breckenridge Music Festival and the Toast of Breckenridge. Without ...

Of all the Colorado ski towns, Breckenridge has perhaps the greatest variety of summer-sports activities. It's on the Colorado River, and the facilities here for horseback-riding, fishing, kayaking, white-water rafting, golf, sailing, hiking and cycling are superb. Dillon Reservoir isn't far, and hundreds of miles of trails wind between Breck and nearby Dillon, Silverthorne and Frisco; try the half-mile Sapphire Point Overlook, on Swan Mountain Road between Breckenridge and Keystone. Less athletically inclined visitors can relax with summer festivals such as Genuine Jazz, the Breckenridge Music Festival and the Toast of Breckenridge. Without the winter crowds, the town has a relaxed, inviting quality, with just enough high-end restaurants to impress the out-of-towners and plenty of relaxed bars and live-music nightclubs to attract townies from Denver and Boulder. Of all the Summit County ski towns, Breckenridge, an Old West mining town, has the most historical riches — 350 such structures, including 250 in the National Register of Historic Places. Plus, there's a golf club.

About the Expert

Steve Knopper is the Denver-based author of Moon Handbooks Colorado as well as a contributor to numerous Fodor's city guides.