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0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Jun 10, 2007

Kingdom of Breck

Did you know a miner named Tom Groves thrust Breckenridge into the spotlight in 1887 when he discovered a 131/2-pound gold nugget - - the largest found in Colorado?

Did you know that Breckenridge was home to Edwin G. Carter, a brilliant naturalist who assembled more than 15,000 stuffed birds and animals, which became the core of what is now the Denver Museum of Nature and Science?

Breckenridge celebrates the past in the spirit of today with Kingdom Days on Saturday and June 17. Relive its fascinating history and heritage with a robust lineup of events and activities in and around the Victorian mountain town, including historic mine tours, museum exhibits, gunfights, live music, oldtime arts and crafts, storytelling, historic hikes and plenty of kids activities all weekend long.

Festivities kick off at 8 a.m. Saturday with the National Repertory Orchestra's 5K race, 2K run/walk and Kids' Dash across the Riverwalk Center Lawn.

Activities wrap up Sunday with the town's inaugural outhouse race and a free barbecue from 4 to 6 p.m. at Carter Park, with live music from Spring Creek Bluegrass Band.

For a full schedule of Kingdom Days events and lodging information, visit gobreck.com, or call 1-970-453-6018.

Adventures for dad

This Father's Day, treat dad to a Colorado adventure -- fly- fishing, river rafting, a dude ranch getaway. Check out this selection of Father's Day packages:

"Channel Dad's Inner Cowboy" -- June 17-24, Vista Verde Ranch, Steamboat Springs, includes seven nights' lodging, horseback riding, mountain biking, hiking and a hot air balloon ride, www.vistaverde.com or 1-800-526-7433.

"King of the Rapids" -- Through June 22, includes a half-day whitewater rafting trip with family through Glenwood Canyon on the Colorado River. Dads raft free when a family of three or more books, www.coloradowhitewaterrafting.com or 1-800-993-7238.

"Ol' Blue Eyes Tribute" -- June 17, sing along with Frank Sinatra Jr. and the Colorado Symphony Orchestra in a concert dedicated to his father's all-time hits, 2:30 p.m., Denver Performing Arts Complex, www.coloradosymphony.org or 1-303-623-7876.

"Tell Dad to Take a Hike" -- June 16, fathers get a $10 savings on an all-day field seminar with Rocky Mountain National Park's naturalist expert Kevin Cook, including a five-mile guided hike through the Rockies, www.rmna.org, 1-970-586-3262.

COMPILED BY JOY HARPER.

TO SUBMIT ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION: 636-0392 or joy.harper@gazette.com.