Country Boy Mine - Breckenridge, Colorado

Colorado was a mining state for many years. A great historical vacation spot, and a great addition to any itinerary, is the visit to one of the great old mine sites in Breckenridge, most notably the Country Boy Mine. Claimed in 1887 by Gustav Myers and E.A. Rubasso, the Country Boy Mine was a heavy producer of gold, lead, silver, and zinc. The mine worked into the World War II era, when it finally played out. Today it is a historical and tourist attraction, open to families and history buffs.

The mine is open for a guided tour, going 1,000 feet into the only authentic mine tour in Summit Country. It has been left much as it was over 100 years ago, with the exception of safety features which have been added to prevent accidents. The tour operators will provide you with a hard hat for your journey, and they even have the sound of drills inside the mine. The tour lasts about 45 minutes, and they start every hour, on the hour. A great activity for the kids is the explore the mine adventure, where they can climb on a steam shovel, and even slide down an ore chute!

If you are claustrophobic, and perhaps the mine isn�t for you, try panning for gold. Eureka Creek still contains gold, though usually small specks. These make great souvenirs. If you find a larger nugget, it is yours to keep, though I wouldn�t recommend it as a get-rich-quick plan. When you�ve found your weight in gold, or tire of trying, go pet the burros to soothe your gold fever. The kids will love these gentle animals.