![]() ![]() Meanwhile, the intimate Belly Up is one of the best places to hear live music in Aspen. What started as a jazz fest now hosts an array of musicians like recent headliners Jimmy Buffett and Sheryl Crow. Twice a year, Aspen puts on the JAS Aspen Snowmass Festival, once in June and again on Labor Day weekend. ![]() Turns out all those celebrity regulars contribute to funding some big art exhibits, including an Andy Warhol collection to debut in December. And though you could gaze at the outside of the building for a while, going inside gets even better. The building seems to sit inside a lattice box, looking like a giant woven basket that allows light to percolate through. The Aspen Art Museum is worth visiting for the architecture alone. Alternatively, Smugglers Mountain offers an easy hike, while the more advanced Ute Trail traces a steep, 6.2-mile path once used by indigenous peoples for hunting.īut that’s just scratching the surface of the incredible trails and things to see near Aspen: Check out out full hiking guide to the Aspen area.Ĭatch some art, music, or a local festival These twin peaks require a parking and shuttle reservation, unless you’re riding a bike. Maroon Bells is the most popular hiking trail in Aspen, and one of the most photographed mountains in North America. If you’re not into skiing but still want to experience outdoor Aspen in the winter, you could explore the Colorado backcountry with a Krabloonik Dog Sled Tour, where riders get pulled by 8-10 Alaskan Husky sled dogs through quieter snowscapes.ĭuring the rest of the year, hiking or mountain biking will lead you into the gorgeous peaks surrounding the city. You can get your bunny hills, greens, blues, and triple diamond trails on Aspen’s four major ski mountains: Aspen Highlands, Snowmass, Buttermilk, and Aspen Mountain (also known as Ajax). The free app is a service similar to Uber and Lyft that offers complimentary rides within the town just make sure to tip your driver in cash.īreathe in the thin refreshing alpine air There is also a free Aspen shuttle called the RFTA, which takes you to neighboring ski towns like Snowmass and Buttermilk Mountain.ĭuring the peak winter season, hotel cars and rideshare services are limited (and hard to snag), so the Downtowner app will be your best friend. Regis Aspen Resort, where you can reserve a BMW X7 for up to four hours to explore the surrounding areas. Many of the hotels offer complimentary car services like The St. You could also do as some of the locals do and fly private with a new, semi-private airline called Aero, which launched in 2020 and offers direct flights from LA in a snazzy, all-black luxury jet.ĭowntown Aspen is only a few blocks long, so you can pretty much walk everywhere. But you could skip all the inbetween and fly directly to Aspen’s smaller, pricier airport. To get to Aspen, many drive four hours from the airport in Denver or take a scenic shuttle or bus over mountain passes. Big name art exhibits, hot air balloon rides, literary competitions, and four main mountains crisscrossed with trails sustain the locals throughout the rest of the year.Įither way, whether you want to go all out with fancy hotels and restaurants or get earthy with arts and hiking, Aspen is truly a year-round outdoor playground no matter the season. In spring and autumn, Aspen returns to its local, small-town vibes that remind us the lofty destination has fewer than 8,000 residences. And summer brings the renowned Food & Wine festival and the chefy throngs.īut the low season brings you back down to the valley. Throughout the coldest months, “Billionaire Mountain” fills up with fancy apres-ski parties and Jeff Bezos-level celebrities. The high season in these Colorado peaks can get dizzyingly high with ritzy crowds and lavish expenses. With mountains carpeted in wildflowers in the spring and practically glowing gold in the fall, some would argue (including yours truly) that the off-season is even better than the winter. You don’t have to ski to fall in love with Aspen. ![]()
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