Neighborhoods and Towns

Breckenridge

Any town that can get away with hosting a winter Ullr Fest parade — which has been known to include streakers — and a high-class summer orchestral series clearly has it “Goin’ on!”

Main Street is a souvenir-lovers dream for tourists and a great place for locals and tourists alike to eat and enjoy themselves. The choice of restaurants, not just on Main Street but throughout the historic mining and ski town, is extensive and sure to satisfy any palate. In the summer, the Riverwalk Center provides a variety of entertainment — from the National Repertory Orchestra (made up of some of the best up-and–coming musicians in the world) and the professional Breckenridge Music Festival to dance companies and blues, rock and jam bands.

Breckenridge is becoming an artists’ Mecca, too, with its many galleries and the Art District, the latter of which provides classes for kids and adults. For nature lovers, the Breckenridge Nature Center is upping its schedule of winter activities — from stargazing to snowshoe treks.

History buffs should check out houses full of artifacts, such as Barney Ford, Edwin Carter and the Main Street Historical museums. Each have fascinating stories about the towns, which originated during the 19th-century gold rush.

And how can you beat a town nestled below four peaks offering world-class skiing: Peaks 7, 8, 9 and 10.

And good news: Traffic flow in Breck has improved as the town has completed its re-routing of traffic.

Breckenridge facts:

Elevation: 9,603

Resident population: 2,500

Website: http://www.townofbreckenridge.com/

Dillon

When other towns bustle with winter activity, Dillon offers a quiet shelter from the storm of tourists. It houses snow enthusiasts who want to be centrally located to all of the ski areas, rather than live in one.

In the summer, condo owners can’t beat their views: Mountains and blue waters. (By the way, professional reporters will call it Dillon Reservoir, but locals prefer to call it Lake Dillon and forget that the Denver Water Board owns it). Sailboats dot the lake, giving anyone who gazes out a feeling of serenity. Kayakers and other paddlers take advantage of the numerous coves and smooth early-morning waters.

A few motor boats zip across the lake, but because people aren’t allowed in the water (that means no waterskiing — not that you’d want to — it’s a very cold mountain lake), most motor-bound boats head to other reservoirs. If you want to amble on a beautiful path, check out the one just above the shoreline.

The Lake Dillon Amphitheatre is the place to be on an early summer Saturday night. Thousands of people flock to the lakeside outdoor facility to dance at the free shows, which range from country or rock to funk and blues. The amphitheater also hosts free, weekly nature nights.

Lake Dillon Theatre offers cultural flair with its dramas, comedies and musical revues throughout the year.

Dillon facts:

Elevation: 9,156 feet

Resident population: 2,766

Website: www.townofdillon.com

Frisco

Frisco is at the center of it all. It’s a short drive to Breckenridge, Keystone and Copper Mountain ski resorts, and the beautiful drive over the Dam Road to Dillon regularly causes tourists to putter along.

The town blends old-fashioned charm with a bustling Main Street dotted with restaurants, shops, historic buildings, bars and real estate offices.

At the west end of town, once a base for fur trappers and miners, is a modern-day goldmine for mountain recreation lovers: the North Tenmile Trailhead. The trailhead is the primary gateway to the magnificent Eagles Nest Wilderness.

At the southeast corner of town, the Frisco Nordic Center and Peninsula Recreation Area offers dozens of trails on more than 800 acres for Nordic skiing, showshoeing, mountain biking, hiking, sledding and disc golf.

Frisco kicks off the summer with the Colorado BBQ Challenge, which draws more than 50 competing teams from across the country. On the Fourth of July, a parade, music and fireworks make Frisco’s festivities a must-see. Bike tours, Music on Main (which provide musical trips to past decades) and Oktoberfest keep feet tapping ’til the frost comes.

A stroll through the downtown core proves that old and new can coexist: Turn-of-the-century homes and schoolhouses stand side by side with brand-new, high-end condos. The Frisco Historic Museum and Park, near the gazebo, display 10 structures from the 1800s.

The Frisco area is also a service hub of Summit County. Less than a mile from Main Street stands the County Commons, home to the Community and Senior Center, animal shelter, DMV office, main library, recycling drop-off and other county government offices. Just up the hill, you’ll find a gorgeous hospital (we’re not kidding; it almost makes us want to be sick) and a new medical center, which includes mental health and community care clinic services.

Summit Boulevard can meet all of your day-to-day needs, including groceries, paint, hardware, auto repair, dry-cleaning, Mexican food, fast food, photocopying, chicken chow mein and ski gear.

Frisco facts:

Elevation: 9,100 feet

Year-round population: 2,400

Website: www.townoffrisco.com