Aspen is truly a small town that has it all—and then some. There’s everything you’d ever want from a charming mountain retreat when you just want to become one with nature. But it also offers all the chicness a city slicker needs, with a level of service to match. And while the winter sports are truly best in class, there’s so much more to Aspen than skiing and snowboarding in the winter and spring. During the summer, the hiking, biking, and gondola rides are also absolutely majestic. Aside from the warm and fuzzy feeling it evokes inside me, my favorite thing about Aspen may actually be it’s surprising versatility.
So… whether you’re planning your trip in summer, winter, or any season in between, I’ve compiled a list of my very favorite places to stay, eat, shop, and play.
Pro Tips
Drink up!
Aspen sits at an elevation of 8,000 feet, so you will definitely be feeling the effects of the altitude. After all, there’s way less oxygen up there than your body is used to! I’ve found that the only way to truly acclimate without feeling sick from the elevation is to basically drink your body weight in water before you get there. Seriously. You can skip those gimmicky little oxygen canisters that are marketed to help… just chug, chug, chug. Oh, and remember: your body metabolizes alcohol differently with less oxygen in the air, so your tolerance may be lower and you may find yourself slipping on that pesky black ice after just one drink!
Getting there
The Aspen Snowmass airport (ASE) is incredibly small and quaint (much like Aspen itself!), which makes flying in a breeze. It’s just three miles from the heart of town and only has a handful of gates and minimal security hangups. It’s a bit pricier to fly into Aspen than it is to fly into Denver, but it’s honestly so worth it. A car ride from Denver to Aspen takes about 3.5 hours, and trust me, you’d much rather use that time doing something fun. And if you’re staying at a hotel, all have free shuttles to get you back and forth.
Getting around
While there are Ubers and Lyfts in Aspen, they are scarce and take forever. I found that taxis are honestly the most reliable and efficient mode of transportation once you're in Aspen. Simply call (970) 925-TAXI and your taxi will typically be there within 5 minutes! They will also send you a text with tracking info so you can see exactly when your taxi will arrive (and stay toasty inside until they're actually there!). I was highly impressed with High Mountain Taxi Service.
Après Ski
Aspen is ALL about the après ski. What is “après ski” you ask? The direct translation from French is simply “after skiing” but in Aspen, and other ski towns around the world, it is a daily social event that has taken on a life of its own. Technically, après ski is just a gathering in the afternoon after you’re done on the slopes where you eat and drink (heavy on the drink), but in Aspen, it really is the epicenter of the social scene because it’s the only time of the day when everyone clears the slopes and hangs in town. Though it does get busy, it is one of my personal favorite little Aspen traditions because it allows you to catch up with friends who may have been split up on different mountains all day. Don’t worry, if hitting the slopes isn’t in your wheelhouse, the best part about après ski is that you don’t actually have to ski to après ski.
Prep work
Once you arrive in Aspen, everything is more or less at your fingertips. But it’s a travel destination that requires a bit of prep work. If you plan to ski or snowboard, you’ll definitely want to book your lift tickets ahead of time (you’ll get a considerable discount versus buying on the mountain, especially for multi-day tickets). Aspen makes it super easy because you only have to buy one pass for Aspen Snowmass and you’re good to get on all four mountains. So good news for serious snow bunnies… you can start your day taking it easy on Buttermilk and end your day shredding black diamonds on Aspen Highlands.
Hitting the slopes
No ski or snowboard gear (or just don’t want to lug it all on the plane)? No problem. Aspen makes it incredibly easy to rent your stuff. Packages start at around $18 per day for basic gear and rise to about $40 a day for the latest and greatest. Plus, you’ll get custom fitted to make sure you’re in the right equipment.
A note on the mountain itself: Aspen is really four ski areas rolled into one. A free shuttle connects them, and your lift ticket gets you on all four, so feel free to explore! All four offer instructor lessons, in case you’re new to the sport or just need a refresh (but again, book this before you arrive). Here’s a quick breakdown, so you know which ones are best for you:
Aspen Highlands—This area is essentially one long ridge with trails dropping off on either side, and it’s one of the best places to be on a good powder day. Steeplechase and Highland Bowl are it’s most popular expert runs, and there’s one called Thunder that’s great for intermediate levels. Aspen Highlands also offers a trip to the summit of Aspen, which has spectacular views.
Aspen Mountain (aka Ajax)—Novices beware, there are no “easy” runs on this one. More than half of the runs are “advanced” or “expert,” but it offers some of the best mogul skiing, if you’re into bumps. There’s an amazing mid-mountain restaurant called Bonnie’s here, which supplies some of the very best people-watching in the world of skiing. For the truly courageous, Aspen Mountain offers snowcat skiing on the backside after especially heavy storms.
Snowmass—While the other three ski areas are clustered close to downtown Aspen, Snowmass is down in the valley, near Snowmass Village. It’s pretty huge—you could spend your entire trip skiing or snowboarding here and never cover the same ground twice. It has a good mix of beginning, intermediate, and expert runs and also has an ice rink.
Buttermilk—The best bet for beginners. It’s definitely the most low-key of all four areas, and has only a handful of expert runs. Definitely a slower pace (literally and figuratively) than the others.
The best part? Once the snow and ice melts, typically starting in June, all the mountains reveal breathtaking trails for hiking and biking, and create lakes for a variety of water activities from white water rafting to flyfishing! Summer in Aspen is a favorite for those in the know… and now you know.
Where to Stay
Aspen attracts some major A-listers from around the globe, and its lodging accommodations certainly reflect that. For such a small town, there are a number of luxury hotels. Here are a few of my favorites:
When staying in Aspen, I prefer staying at one of the larger hotels listed above since they take a lot of the hassle out of travel. There’s no need to rent a car since they provide airport transport and a free shuttle anywhere you want to go. However, there are some incredible Airbnb options available which are certainly worth a look, especially if you’re with a very large group.
Where to Shop
When outdoor activities start to get old, it’s time for a little retail therapy. Thanks to its clientele, Aspen is also home to world-class shopping. From rustic (i.e. Kemosabe for top-quality Westernwear, boots, and hats) to runway (Prada, Gucci, and the like), Aspen is as well-known for its shopping as it is for its snow. A few of my other favorite spots to visit are:
Where to Eat
Chances are, whatever you’re doing in Aspen, you’ll be working up an appetite. Here are a few of my must-dine options while you’re there. And remember, planning is everything in during the busy season in Aspen—so book your reservations early!
Where to Play
Regardless of what time of year you visit, Aspen has so much to offer in terms of activities. There is truly never a dull moment in this town (check out their official events calendar here).
