5 Best Sights in Summit County, Colorado

When gold was discovered here in 1887, the Country Boy Mine became one of the region's top producers---lead and zinc, which were vital for U.S. efforts in World War I and World War II, were big here, too. The gold mine tour takes visitors more than 1,000 feet deep into the mountain. Visitors can pet the donkeys that roam the area, pan for keepable gold, or go on a treasure hunt with a metal detector. The mine has a 55-foot ore-chute slide, historic buildings, and plenty of mining artifacts.

Dedicated to the 19th-century miner turned environmentalist who helped create Denver's Museum of Nature and Science, this museum hosts realistic stuffed animals and interactive exhibits like the hands-on taxidermy workbench.

This sprawling museum re-creates Frisco's boom days. Stroll through 11 buildings dating from the 1880s, including a fully outfitted one-room schoolhouse, a trapper's cabin with snowshoes and pelts, the town's original log chapel, and a jail with an exhibit on mining.

Still chugging along is the Leadville Railroad, which can take you on a breathtaking 2½-hour trip with views of wildflowers, fall foliage, or holiday lights depending on the time of year. Combo rides include zip-lining or rafting adventures. The train leaves from Leadville's century-old depot and travels beside the Arkansas River with views of Mt. Elbert, Colorado's highest peak.

This museum covers virtually every aspect of mining, from the discovery of precious ore to fashioning it into coins and other items. Dioramas in the beautiful brick building explain extraction processes.