Winters in Aspen

Aspen, Colorado has always been a second home to me, literally and figuratively. My family owns a house out there and I’ve spent almost every birthday, holiday break and summer out there that I can remember. That being said, I have practically been to every restaurant and done every tourist attraction you can think of. The only thing I haven’t done was skied every run of all four mountains Aspen has to offer!

I consider Aspen to be the best ski town to visit for any traveler; I would recommend it even if you don’t ski! Before we dive in to the ins and outs and hidden gems, let’s talk about how to get there. Aspen Airport is the smallest airport I have ever been to in my life with it having only seven gates (of which I have only ever seen three max being used). Since the airport is so small, flights only come in from a select few major cities so you will more than likely have a connecting flight with a layover [1].

Now that we have gotten you to your destination, let’s talk hotels. If you are into a historic stay, the Hotel Jerome is perfect for you. Since its opening in 1889, it survived Aspen’s quiet years and developed into the hot place to be, hosting many famous writers, actors and artists. It’s famous “J-Bar” and view of the slopes makes it a top choice among visitors [2]. If you are interested in a more contemporary lodge feel, then book a room at the Hotel Aspen right in the center of town. This is a perfect place to stay for the skier in all of us, given that it is only a few blocks away from the gondola stop that takes you all the way to the top of Aspen Mountain. Want a lodge feel but don’t want to break the bank? The Aspen Mountain lodge is located towards the outer parts of town but is a quick walk away from the free shuttles provided by the town that have many stops and can take you to the bottom of the gondola.

Skiing the four mountains Aspen has to offer is great, but there are plenty of other activities to do around town during the winter. There are concerts nightly at Belly Up Aspen, daily rides on a dog sled at Krabloonik, hot springs down the way in Carbondale, and don’t forget morning mountain yoga! My personal favorite is taking a trip with the Aspen Mountain grooming crew and hitching a ride in the back of a Sno-Cat to view the sunset and enjoy dinner at Cloud Nine Alpine Bistro. Speaking of food, visiting The Stew Pot in Snowmass is a must after a long, cold day on the slopes. Some other low-cost, casual choices include Big Wrap or 520 Grill. Want to splurge? Try checking out Rustique or Il Poggio. If you don’t feel like indulging on all the delicious food Aspen has to offer, there is a Clark’s Market right in town for all of your grocery needs. One last secret for the road is if you’re able to time your trip right, The X Games are hosted in Aspen on Buttermilk Mountain every year. I went in 2012 and got a high five from Shaun White!

[1] “Aspen Snowmass Air Transportation Information.” Aspen Snowmass Air Travel Information, http://www.stayaspensnowmass.com/vacation/transportation/airport.
[2] “Hotel Jerome, an Auberge Resort in Aspen, Colorado.” Hotel Jerome, hoteljerome.aubergeresorts.com/.