It may be known for its ski slopes but Breckenridge, Colorado, has plenty to keep busy in the summer months

Breckenridge was built for winter. The ski resort opened in 1961, using its plentiful snow to attract the masses. But over the past decade it has begun targeting a summer audience too.

The f a mi ly- r u n S n ow Ca p s d o gsledding centre sums up this trend in a nutshell. The 200 Siberian huskies are made for the winter — they can survive temperatures as loww as minus 20C. But their eagernessness to run means they are more than happy t o p uu ll ll guests on c ar ts and d scooters through the thick woods of Swan Valley in the summer months too — even if t h e y h av e to stop more frequently to catch their breath andd sip the fresh mineralral water flowing from the mountains.

As we approached the kennels along a six-mile bumpy dirt track, the howls became louder and louder. We took a tour, and with our clothes muddy f ro m exc i t e d hu sk i e s , we jumped in a seven-seater cart before being pulled away by the nine dogs chosen for the morning’s 75-minute tour of the surrounding woods. The power generated by such a small group of huskies took me by surprise — and their knowledge of the trails put Google Maps to shame.

Further t e s t a me n t t o h o w we l l Breckenridge has adapted to being a year-round resort i s evident in its immaculate golf course. With an alpine background, surrounded by tall pine trees and bright blue skies, all reflected in dozens of ponds dotted around the course, I felt my usual frustration at my poor game melt away. By the end of 18 holes we were in need of refreshment so we s t o pp e d o f f a t the h igh ly rerecommended BBreckenridge Brewery. Located on an industrial eestate on a back roroad outside the towtown (one of several new businesses popping up on BreckenBreckenridge’s fringes), the microbrewerymicrobr also uses fresh mineral water from the Tenmiles to produce its craft ales and stouts.

The bar has lots of board games to keep guests entertained, and after a par ticularly engrossing g a me o f Bananagrams we realised we’d drunk far too much of the rich, delicious ale... So we had to abandon the car and walk back along the highway. Along the way, we passed a recreational marijuana store. The state became the first to legalise the recreational sale of the drug i n 2 01 2 , a n d it c an be bought in regulated, small amounts at licensed stores. We carried on walking though – the high altitude and local booze were enough of a buzz for us.

As it’s a ski resort, Breckenridge has plenty of places serving hearty meals — from fondue at the Swiss Haven to a taste of contemporary Colorado at the more upmarket Modis restaurant. My favourite was the Mexican Mi Casa, with its view of the stream trickling through the centre of the town, and tast y di sh e s such as mango duck quesadilla, which I washed down with shots from the list of more than 100 tequilas.

We were staying at the DoubleTree by Hilton, and in between exploring we enjoyed downtime in the hotel’s outdoor hot tubs, sipped G&Ts and enjoyed being quizzed by the other guests on all things “European” — we seemed to be the only non-Americans staying at the hotel (and seemingly in the whole town). Thankfully, our trip was pre-EU referendum so we didn’t have to talk Brexit over the bubbles of the Jacuzzi.

Having soothed our muscles, we decided to attempt the highest peak of t he Tenmile r a nge — t he 14 , 2 70f t Quandary Peak. We ditched the car halfway up the road to the car park, eager to get out into the fresh air.

Despite being early August, and being at altitude, the temperature was a pleasant 20-25C — perfect for getting active outdoors. We trekked through woods a nd a c ro s s s mall s t re a ms, finding several tents and campfires in the middle of nowhere. In Summit County it is legal to set up camp in the open for up to two weeks at a time.

We were paranoid about encountering a bear so we moved quickly and stayed alert, though in reality the chances of bumping into one were very slim in broad daylight.

We did, however, come across a beautiful mountain goat that was looking out over the Rockies before we disturbed him. We stole his spot for a bite to eat and to catch our breath — and to shake off a spot of altitude-related dizziness.

The higher we climbed the slower we went and we soon realised that we wouldn’t be able to reach the top and get down before dusk, so we descended again — a massive relief to our lungs. It also gave us a chance to savour our surroundings without panting — scores of colourful wild flowers, beavers darting between trickling streams and the odd goat.

On our last day there was just enough time for a paddle-board yoga session on Maggie Pond, followed by coffee and cake and an open-air nap. It felt like we’d really embraced summer in Colorado. After all, who needs snow when you can snooze in the sun?