Earlier this month, we were in Frisco, Colorado. It’s located in Summit County along Interstate 70, just a little over an hour west of Denver. An easy weekend escape for residents of the Front Range, it offers tons of outdoor activity, dining, shopping and best of all? Cooler weather. After all, the town is at 9,000 feet above sea level.
Where to Eat With the Dog in Frisco
On our first day in town, Frizi, our two-year-old German Shepherd was with us. That meant she got to go on a hike and visit to a brewery before we dropped her off at boarding in Dillon, 15 minutes away from Frisco.
Highside Brewing may look like it’s closed for construction at Main Street and Summit Blvd., but it’s not. We sat on Highside’s outdoor patio behind the restaurant. We were completely unbothered by the construction dust being kicked up at this busy intersection in downtown Frisco.
Highside has two patios, one upstairs and one under the trees near the parking lot. The entire business is dog friendly, and Frizi liked having grass and wood chips to sit on rather than concrete. Honestly, she’s a bit of a wimp when it comes to hard surfaces and this little thing, a grassy spot, was a big deal. It meant her puppy-like restlessness was kept at bay for a while.
This brewery serves up great beer and yummy barbecue, another reason Frizti was so patient—she got bits of meat from the table—something that never happens at home.
Where to Catch the Game in Frisco
Without a doubt, The Uptown on Main is the place to watch the game in Frisco. I’ve watched the Broncos’ games across the state, not to mention a myriad of sports including soccer, so I’m always on the lookout for sports friendly bars restaurants.
We arrived late one evening, and were happy to find a wall of flat screen televisions in the bar. We were there to watch the Nuggets playoff game. Too bad it didn’t end well. Hopefully, the next time I watch a game at Uptown, the results are better.
Where to Shop in Downtown Frisco
I almost entitled this section “Where to Find a Unique Gift in Frisco” but the fact of the matter is that we bought stuff for ourselves. In fact, Ryan, who wasn’t keen to shop, had a blast inside the tiny record store, Libby’s Old School Records.
The owner, Jers, had just brought in a huge collection of eighties records that Ryan, a discophile, hadn’t seen elsewhere. Ryan was all kinds of excited, and so of course, he happily browsed and bought.
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Like I wrote above, Libby’s Old School Records is little, but if you collect vinyl, or super cool record store paraphernalia, this is the place. Plus, Jers is super nice which isn’t always the case when it comes to record stores. Two thumbs way up for Libby’s Old School Records.
We weren’t looking to purchase any art, but after artist John Hudnut gave us a tour of his shop, GatherHouse, we were rather intrigued by glass art. Hudnut is a welcoming guy who seems to genuinely enjoy meeting the people who pop in the store at 2nd Avenue and Main Street.
While we were there, a “regular” stopped in to make a purchase for her parents. She is collecting blown glass balls that she installs above her bathtub. That must be the most glorious bathroom in Frisco!
GatherHouse has been here since 2004. It’s a plethora of swirling colors and shapes, and I’m not just talking about the completed projects for sale in the front. One work space is covered in a multitude of vibrant chips of glass
We ended up buying a drinking glass, still warm from being in the fire. Hudnut had created it the day before. He signed it for us by etching his name in the glass with a dremel. GatherHouse offers glass blowing classes, and Ryan is fascinated in the idea. Who knows, he may blow some glass with Hudnut one day.
Where to Enjoy a Cocktail (or two) in Frisco
We stopped in at the relatively new Rising Sun Distillery in Frisco. Opened in August 2020, the weather outside was perfect so we sat on the patio. However, the inside would be inviting during the cold weather months. There’s a sort of modern Victorian/speakeasy ambiance, and I imagine it will be popular next ski season. Breckenridge and Copper ski areas are both nearby.
Rising Sun makes a variety of liquors, some of the more interesting include a Lavender Hibiscus Liqueur, Chile Whiskey and Peach Brandy. And there’s food too. We had delicious Korean BBQ tacos, bacon wrapped bison and fondue with veggies, bread and fruit.
By the way, I highly recommend the John Daly (a vodka lemonade). It is perfect for a warm summer day.
Where to Eat Dinner in Frisco
This is not a town short on restaurants, and we’ve repeatedly stop at Frisco’s Deli Belly on our way into and out of the mountains. On this trip, we discovered Greco’s Pastaria, and we are glad we did.
The entire experience—the patio seating, the friendly service, the tasty food and people watching on a busy Friday night in Frisco—was delightful. Our pizza, the Pesto Bistro, hit the spot. The next night we stopped in for cannoli’s to-go and the place was hopping again. A huge family reunion sat at one table, and the atmosphere was like something out of a happy movie.
Where to Stay in Frisco
Charming, a bit romantic and classy, the Frisco Inn on Galena is right in town, near everywhere a guest wants to be. Even the Frisco Bay Marina, on the other side of downtown, can be reached on foot in 15 minutes.
A stay comes with a daily aperitivo hour which includes wine and appetizers, as well as a full breakfast. The inn has two hot tubs, one inside and one outside, and a strong coffee game. They roast their own and it goes perfectly with a cannoli from Greco’s. Available at all hours, the coffee here is top-notch.
The inn is not dog-friendly, but there are dog boarding facilities around Summit County. We kept Fritzi at The Dog Chalet in Dillon for $50 per night. Frisco Inn on Galena would be a cozy stay during ski season, but right now there are rooms for under $200 a night, so this is an excellent time to go.
Thank you to Visit Frisco, Colorado for hosting our weekend stay.
