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Off-season fun in Summit County: Get out and about during this quiet time of year

Kim Fuller
Special to the Daily
It’s the perfect time of year for the Breckenridge Haunted Tour through the Breckenridge Heritage Alliance, held on Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. Reservations are required by 5 p.m. the day of your tour, and it costs $15 for adults and $10 for children.
Liam Doran | Breckenridge Tourism Office |

The leaves are falling and the snow is about to fly, making it the perfect time to take advantage of the slower months in Summit County.

KEEP PLAYING

There’s still a few weeks to enjoy recreation without your winter gear on, with the Parks and Recreation Path still open, along with areas like Dillon’s Tenderfoot Trail and Nature Preserve.



The Dillon Marina’s launch ramp closes on Sunday, Oct. 18, but harbor master Bob Evans said it’s better to fish in the fall than it is in the summer.

“Earlier in the year and later in the year is the best time to fish because, in the middle of the summer the water gets too warm,” he said.



He recommends fishing from the shore at the inlets where the water comes into Dillon Reservoir.

“Don’t go out into the middle of the lake where it’s 200 feet of water and try to fish,” he said.

“And I recommend people use salmon eggs and power bait for rainbows,” he added, “and to make sure when they put the bait on there that they cover up the whole hook because these are really smart fishies, and if they see the hook they won’t bite.”

The Frisco Marina is still open and doing rentals through at least Thursday, Oct. 15. It may be longer, shares Vanessa Agee, town of Frisco marketing and communications director, if the weather stays temperate.

Get your sweat on indoors at Meta Yoga in Breckenridge, which is offering a $99 fall pass for locals. It’s effective now through Sunday, Nov. 15.

Don’t forget that Breckenridge Recreation Center has a swimming pool and climbing wall, and still has a full schedule of group fitness classes running through Summit’s off-season.

Get out to the new Lake Dillon Disc Golf Course, an 18-hole golf course located on a multi-use area adjacent to the Dillon Cemetery. Visit the Summit County Shooting Range, located between Dillon and Keystone on County Road 66. It’s open until 8 p.m. in October, and then until 5 p.m. starting in November.

There are nearly two dozen cooking classes running between mid-October and Thanksgiving at Colorado Mountain College in Breckenridge. The classes are three hours long, from 6 to 9 p.m., and are totally hands-on, with no more than 12 students per $44 session. The class price includes a buffet at the end.

“We do probably 1,500 registrations a year, so it’s a really busy, popular program,” said Doug Schwartz, Culinary Institute at Breckenridge director. “They are just a lot of fun, and they’re very social. We host a lot of couples — it’s a great date night.”

If you are really looking to learn, take a workshop, Schwartz said, like a soup class where you can make 12 soups in one night.

FALL FOR FUN

Eat out for less during the off-season, with great deals simmering all over Summit.

Head to Pug Ryan’s in Dillon during the month of October for their “2 for $28” deal (Monday through Thursday), which includes a choice of two entrees for $28. At Bagalis in Frisco, save up to $17 on a bottle of wine from their discounted list.

The Breckenridge Restaurant Association is now offering the fall Dining Passport — a discounted booklet with specials at more than 20 Breckenridge restaurants. Pick up your passport for a $10 donation at participating restaurants and at the Breckenridge Welcome Center.

In the days leading up to Halloween, Breckenridge Creative Arts will host a three-day celebration of Día de los Muertos from Friday, Oct. 23 through Sunday, Oct. 25, at the Breckenridge Arts District in downtown Breckenridge.

“Día de Los Muertos is a celebration of life, culture and creativity,” said Robb Woulfe, president of BreckCreate, “so we invite everyone to come out and experience the traditions of this colorful holiday, from Aztec dance workshops, to paper flower-making to helping build a celebratory alter to honor loved ones.”

The same weekend, Friday, Oct. 23 through Sunday, Oct. 25, Breckenridge Craft Spirits Festival will feature small-batch distillers, artisan spirit seminars and a lot of food and libation sampling.

It’s the perfect time of year for the Breckenridge Haunted Tour through the Breckenridge Heritage Alliance held on Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. Reservations are required by 5 p.m. the day of your tour. The tour begins at the Breckenridge Welcome Center at 203 South Main St. Participation costs $15 for adults and $10 for children.

Get all the goons ready for Frisco’s Haunted House at Historic Park, open from 6-10 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 29, Friday, Oct. 30 and Saturday, Oct. 31. Tickets are $5 for students, $7 for adults and $20 for a family four-pack — all sold at the door.

Here’s an artsy Halloween event that will keep kids out of the candy and into their crafts: On Friday, Oct. 30 from 4-6 p.m., kids can create their own spooky mask at the Quandary Antiques Cabin on South Ridge Street. It’s $25, and all the materials are included.

More information on Halloween events coming soon to the Summit Daily News.


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