Five Small Mountain Towns
from Denver, by Lisa
Marie Mercer
Denver is an excellent example of a well-functioning
metropolis, and most people would agree that its neighboring
ski areas have more than earned their stellar reputations.
But this part of Colorado has some lesser-known and more charming
attractions in a group of small mountain towns just off Interstate
70. They make a good day trip or weekend getaway, singly or
as a circuit.
Georgetown, Colorado
Travel time: 75 Minutes from Denver
This Victorian mining town holds a special place
in my heart, as it marked the fourth day of my journey from
my former home in Boston, to my new home in Dillon, Colorado.
While stopping at the Georgetown Gateway Visitors Center to
use the restrooms, I found an interesting selection of mining
artifacts and history books. The center offers Internet access,
an interesting gift shop, complimentary beverages, and a video
about the Georgetown-Silver Plume National Historic Landmark
District. It's a good place to get your mountain bearings
and pick up brochures about Georgetown and other Colorado
towns.
The
Georgetown Loop Historic Mining and Railroad Park is Georgetown's
most popular attraction. The exciting 75-minute train ride
travels between Georgetown and the old mining town of Silver
Plume. Its tracks rise 640 feet over some spectacular Rocky
Mountain terrain. If you wish, you can take a walking tour
500 feet into the Lebanon Silver Mine, which is located at
the halfway point on the railroad.
My first ski run as a Colorado resident was in
Georgetown at the Loveland ski area, a classic old-time ski
area that is a local favorite. It was early October - yes,
October. Every year, the Loveland and Arapahoe Basin
ski areas compete to see which will be the first to open and
the last to close; October and July dates are not uncommon.
On Valentine's Day, Loveland holds an event called Mountain
Matrimony, where you can get married or renew your vows in
a mountain ceremony.
Silverthorne, Colorado
Travel time: 90 minutes from Denver; 20 Minutes from Georgetown
Silverthorne is synonymous with outlet shopping.
In fact, the Outlets
of Silverthorne often serve as bribery for non-sporty
significant others ("Just come with me on this trip,
honey. While I'm at the slopes, you can shop till you drop.")
The outlets consist of three villages and hundreds of shops.
After you park your car, a free shuttle will take you to your
desired destination. The stores are your usual suspects, including
Nike, Tommy Hilfiger, Jockey, Harry and David and more.
In warmer weather, ditch the shuttle and explore
by foot. The outlets are connected by a system of bridges,
which pass over the Blue River. The river is a gold-medal
trout stream, one of the best in Colorado. This makes it a
popular fly-fishing destination, and you can watch the anglers
from the bridge that connects the Silverthorne Pavilion with
the Silverthorne Recreation Center. The pavilion hosts a variety
of concerts and art shows, and the recreation center has a
huge water slide and swimming pool. Get your java fix at the
Steaming Bean, 286 Summit Place, where you'll find free Wi-Fi,
a book exchange, comfortable couches and a wide-screen TV.
Dillon
Travel time: 90 minutes from Denver; 5 Minutes from Silverthorne
The town of Dillon
has some miles on it; its current location is actually its
fourth. It was once located at the confluence of Ten Mile
Creek, Blue River and the Snake River, where it served the
mining and ranching communities in the lower Blue River Valley.
Today, many of the descendents of these same families still
operate ranches in the lower Blue River Valley area. The Denver
Water Board moved Dillon to its current location in the 1960s
when Lake Dillon was being constructed as a reservoir.
History buffs should head to 403 La Bonte St.,
where they'll find the 1883 Dillon Schoolhouse Museum. The
museum features such items as a kerosene slide projector,
a phonograph, hand-crocheted bookmarks, an old-fashioned typewriter,
baseball paraphernalia and other interesting remnants of days
gone by. The annex houses the historical archives for all
of Summit County. These include newspapers, books, brochures,
maps, photographs, governmental documents, clothing, correspondence
and other interesting artifacts of local mountain history.
You can tour the schoolhouse and other historic attractions
by contacting the Summit
Historical Society.
Water lovers will enjoy the Dillon Marina, which
is the launching point for some world-class sailing, boating
and trout fishing. Come summer, there are concerts at the
Dillon Amphitheater. As long as you're in the neighborhood,
check out Affordable Music. Located at 104 Village Place,
it's a great place to find old CDs, even vinyl. The retro
'60s ambiance is worth it, even if you don't plan to buy anything.
Frisco
Travel time: One hour and 40 minutes from Denver; 10 minutes
from Dillon
Like Dillon, the town of Frisco
has an active marina, but most of the action happens along
Main Street. Be sure to visit the charming historic park,
where you'll find an old schoolhouse, a trapper's cabin, a
jail and other mining-era buildings. During the summer, lunchtime
history lectures are presented in the park gazebo.
Frisco is also famous for its somewhat peculiar
events. In June, there's a barbecue challenge that features
pig racing. Visit in August and you'll see more than 500 vintage
Corvettes parading down Main Street in the annual "Vettes
on the Rockies" rally. While locals have a love/hate
relationship with some of these events, most of us love Frisco
for its consignment shops. The Funky Trunk and Rags to Riches,
located across the street from each other on Main Street,
feature designer clothes at very low prices. If there's room
in your car for furniture, you'll find great buys at Alpine
Accents, at 101 Main St.
For used ski and snowboard gear, head over to
Recycle Ski and Sports on Summit Boulevard. While you're there,
look across the street at the A&W sign. Underneath the
advertisement for its cheese curds or other specials, you'll
see a scripture quotation. The owners belong to the group
Jews for Jesus. The town wanted them to eliminate the scripture
quotes, but the owners had their day in court and won their
case.
Breckenridge
Travel time: 2 hours from Denver; 20 minutes from Frisco
Once upon a time, a careless cartographer neglected
to put Breckenridge on the map; it was known simply as "Colorado's
Kingdom." Now, in June of every year, Breckenridge celebrates
Kingdom Days, a festival filled with living-history events,
gun fights and -- would you believe? -- outhouse races.
In fact, Breckinridge is very serious about preserving
its history, and it offers a nice time-travel experience to
visitors. Begin on South Main Street at the Welcome
Center, which also serves as a museum. Here, you'll be
transported back to the days when Breckenridge was a quirky
Victorian mining town. Out back, there's a park along the
banks of the Blue River. In summer, it's an outdoor concert
venue; in winter, it's the site of a spectacular ice sculpture
competition.
Two free museums are worth a look. The Barney
Ford Museum, located across the street from the welcome center,
honors a slave who escaped via the Underground Railroad; he
made his way to Breckenridge, where he opened a successful
restaurant. The Edwin Carter Museum, which will reopen in
May 2009, memorializes a man who discovered that the chemicals
used in mining were causing bizarre mutations in the local
wildlife. Believing that these animals would one day be extinct,
he taught himself taxidermy to show future generations the
animals that once roamed our lands.
If you love Victorian homes, spend some time
walking along French and Harris streets. For a true Victorian
experience, contact the Breckenridge
Heritage Alliance to arrange for a tea party at the Briggle
House.
Getting There and Back
Interstate 70 is a modern, clearly marked highway
passable in all seasons, though it sometimes closes in blizzard
conditions and is famous for its multi-car accidents in winter.
These usually occur because people are either driving without
proper tires, or because they don't know how
to drive in winter conditions. From Denver to Silverthorne,
the road gains about 4,000 feet in elevation. One of the highlights
of the drive is the Eisenhower Memorial Tunnel, 60 miles west
of Denver. Located at 11,013 feet, it is the highest vehicular
tunnel in the world.
Throughout the entire drive, you might see deer
and bighorn sheep. If you're fascinated by our favorite neighbors,
stop at Georgetown's Bighorn Sheep Viewing Area, where you'll
find coin-operated viewing binoculars and interpretive signs.
It's a classic Rocky Mountain experience.
Lisa
Marie Mercer
7/23/08
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