In Breckenridge, Colorado, we met up with others from Utah for a week of dedicated family time. Our rented cabin was just outside of the ski town along the beaver ponds that line the Blue River. It was a wonderful week of fun and relaxation. The weather was practically perfect, and the company even more so. Throughout the week we did many things. We played games, went on walks, explored the town, watched the wildlife, had a dance party, and so much more.
Wildlife
Our cabin was right on the edge of some beaver ponds. As soon as we arrived, I walked over to look at the view, and I saw a beaver swimming by. This was the first beaver I have ever seen in the wild, possibly ever. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one in a zoo, at least that I can remember. It wasn’t the last time I would see one swim through the ponds. We also had a moose run through the backyard to the ponds as it was chased by a neighborhood dog. A moose family photobombed our family pictures. And, I learned that thousands of white pelicans summer in the alpine lakes of Colorado after I saw one of these birds swimming in a reservoir.
Epic Discovery
When one thinks of Breckenridge, Colorado or just about any small town in the Rocky Mountains that is anything today, it is because of skiing. This historic mining town nearly became a ghost town until slopes were introduced to the nearby mountains. Of course, we were there in the summer, so no snow or skiing was found. However, during the summer, the slopes of the main Breckenridge resort host some epic activities for thrill seekers.
Epic Discovery consists of alpine slides, an alpine coaster, ropes courses, mini golf, chairlifts, kid activities, and more. We got an all-day pass that let us do any of the activities as many times as we wanted that day. It was a fun time had by all!
Ready, Paint, Fire
One of the most unexpected highlights of our week was a few hours at Ready, Paint, Fire. This art studio is like many others out there where you can go and complete an art project to take home. It can be painting on a canvas or painting ceramics or one of a few other things. None of us had ever done anything like it before and we had a blast. Almost everyone chose a ceramic piece to paint. The glazes go on kind of pastel looking not giving a great idea of what it will look like, but then, after they’re fired, they are brilliant. Now, we all have a keepsake from the reunion that is unique to us and that experience.
Iowa Hill Mine Trail
Breckenridge only became anything because of mining. All throughout the mountains around the town were several mines. The site of one of them, the Iowa Hill Mine, has been turned into a simple interpretive trail by the city. Not only is it a lovely hike through the woods on the side of the mountain, it is educational, sharing the history of mining in Breckenridge.
I enjoyed learning about a method of mining I hadn’t been familiar with before. Basically, they took hoses or pipes and sprayed it on the hillside. This would cause the dirt and anything else to then flow down and into their sluices where the heavier gold would get trapped. I was familiar with sluicing, but not the method used at Iowa Hill for getting the dirt from the hillside to the sluice channels. Note: the trail isn’t very long, but it does include some steep inclines.
Denver Temple
After our week of games, activities, dancing, and more, we drove back to Dallas via Denver, so we could stop at the Denver Colorado Temple. I had seen this temple from the outside at night more 15 years ago, but this time I got to go in and perform some temple service. I love the feeling I have in these sacred buildings. The peace is palpable.
