Taking the Kids: An outdoor adventure in Breckenridge
It was a day of firsts in Breckenridge, Colorado. It was the first time 4-year-old twins from Minneapolis saw mountains. "Just that is exciting," said their mom, Sarah Fessler.
The first time seeing a bear in the wild for 10-year-old Sadie Maraster from Dallas, who explained excitedly, "Near our cabin. That was an once-in-a-lifetime thing!"
First time on a long hike, Sadie's cousins from Oklahoma City added. (There are more than 50 miles included in Breckenridge's interconnected trail system.)
First time bungee jumping -- at the top of a mountain no less. "You jump higher than on a trampoline," explained Cooper Jenkins, 9, from Kansas. "And you stay up in the air longer."
First time on a chair lift and a climbing wall at the top of a mountain. "It's a challenge but a good challenge," said Emiliano Betz, 11, from Austin, Texas.
This was a day of firsts for our dog Trooper, too -- her first time on a gondola and at such high altitude (more than 10,000 feet above sea level. (Both the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Breckenridge where we stayed and the Beaver Run Resort across the road offer dog- and kid-friendly condos of varying sizes and free shuttles around town. (Check out the video starring Trooper!)
There has always been plenty to give families and their pets vacation bragging rights in Breckenridge, the historic mountain town and ski resort located about a 90-minute drive from Denver. But now, with Breckenridge Resort's first full summer season of Epic Discovery, there is more to do than ever for all ages -- everything from three zip lines, the Little Flyer coaster, designed for the littlest adventure-seekers, to the Goldrunner Coaster, Silver Summit Climbing Wall, Alpine Slide, Mineshaft Maze, Lil Climber Ropes Course and Tom's Nugget Tubing at the top of the gondola at Peak 8.
For older and grown-up adventure-seekers, there is whitewater rafting, challenging hikes and bike rides and at the top of the mountain, the 40-foot-high Gold Summit Climbing Wall, an Alpiner Challenge Course with 15 different high alpine features and the half-day Expedition Zip Line Tour -- over a mile on eight zip lines between 10 towers and a 200-foot-long aerial bridge walk. Gulp!
And with the exception of the Expedition Zip Line, the top of the mountain activities are considerably less than a winter lift ticket. (A Pioneer Pack offers three activities at $49 for those 54 inches and taller; $39 for those who are shorter.)
Even better, there are plenty of free activities -- like hiking and biking. "I like to just explore," said Amelia Kiedrowski, 11, from Michigan. She's here with her cousins visiting her grandparents who were leading their gang on a hike through what's known as the ever-changing "Fairy Forest Trail," with fairy homes one after another. (Riding up the gondola to access that trail and others is free.)
...continued
(c) 2018 DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.
