KeyLargoBrent:
I'll be in Breckenridge for a week starting tomorrow, while my better half attends a Healing Touch conference there. I haven't seen the Rockies in WAY TOO LONG!
If you guys and gals know of anything that shouldn't be missed... outdoor activities, museums, attractions, restaurants, microbrews, etc... please advise.
Do you have a car, or RU just staying in the Breck area?
Hot Air Ballooning is a real cool way to see a view of the mountains that most don't see, but it ain't cheap!
http://www.coloradoballoonrides.com/pages/301287/index.htm
White Water rafting is always a blast. This is not the best time of year for it, but it can still be fun.
http://www.coloradorafting.net/
http://www.americanadventure.com/
If you are into Fly fishing, CO has some great spots. You can just rent stuff, and try it out for yourself, or if you want to have a better chance of catching stuff, you can use an outfitter.
http://www.blueriveranglers.com/
http://www.mountainangler.com/
A great way to cover some ground, and get to places that are a bit far on foot is to take a ride. If you hate horses, I'd not recommend this.
http://colorado-horses.com/kingdom.html
Mountain Biking is awesome in CO.
http://www.breckenridgesports.com/section_display.cfm?section_id=1050&top=269&level=2
I've used the Lifts to Mtn. Bike at Keystone (you can shuttle there), Vail, and WinterPark. I'm not sure if Breck offers lifts to the top for Bikers or not, but I'm guessing they may.
IMO a day spent seeing Estes Park and Rocky Mtn National Park is really worth while. You will likely see large herds of Elk, and if you lucky Big Horn Sheep and Moose. This would require a car rental, but you could just do a day. IF your SO (better half) has a day off, this is a wonderful drive. Trail Ridge Road takes one to some of the highest passes in NAmerica, and the views are awesome.
http://www.rockymountainnp.com/
Another one of my favorite drives is to hit Independance pass outside of Aspen. You could do a big loop from Breck in a day, and see Glenwood Springs (you may want to take a dip!) Aspen, and hit independance pass.
http://www.robertbody.com/colorado/independence-pass.html
http://www.pbase.com/rfrank999/image/26141389
http://www.pbase.com/rfrank999/image/26142226/original
Hiking is awesome in the Rocky Mtns, and you can do a LOT of hiking just from Breck.
Just over Hoosier pass is the town of FairPlay. Inside the town of Fairplay is the old Mining town of South Park. It's kinda small town, but is very interesting, and the drive over the pass is very worthwhile. Fairplay is 30 minutes drive or less from Breck, so not far. Here are some shots of that area:
http://www.pbase.com/rfrank999/goldtowns
You will have a great time. PM if you have specific questions.
