Aspen

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Aspen [1] is a ski resort in the state of Colorado in the Rocky Mountains region of the United States of America. Its little sister is Snowmass Village, which is about 10 miles from downtown Aspen.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By air

  • Aspen-Pitkin County Airport, (also known as Sardy Field) (IATA: ASE) (ICAO: KASE)), [2]. Major carriers to Aspen include United, US Airways, Delta Airlines, and Frontier Airlines. ASE is a small airport for small planes only, and traffic tends to stop in any inclement weather. Flying into Denver Airport and driving up to Aspen is more reliable and often cheaper.

[edit] By car

The drive to Aspen is about 4 hours from Denver. There are two major routes from Denver - through Glenwood Springs or through Independence Pass. Independence Pass is only open in the summer months, but provides spectacular views and can be a bit faster than the longer route through Glenwood. To take this route, travel south from Copper Mountain exit off I70 through Leadville.

Altitude Sickness

For those prone to altitude sickness, it is recommended that you fly into Denver and spend a day or so getting used to being mile-high and then driving the next 3,500 or so feet up.

[edit] Getting Around

Most major car-rental firms are located in Denver and Aspen airports.

Limo/Van Service:
Scheduled and chartered services are available from Denver International Airport and Eagle County Regional Airport:

  • Colorado Mountain Express, Toll Free: 800-525-6363 or Phone: +1 970 926-9800.
  • High Mountain Taxi/Limousine, Toll Free: 800-528-8294 or Phone: +1 970 925-8294. www.hmtaxi.com
  • Lightning Limousine Service, Toll Free: 888-925-7505 or Phone: +1 970 925-7505.
  • Ute City Limousine Limited, Toll Free: 800-754-5466 or Phone: +1 970 925-2674.

Free buses operate within the cities of Aspen and Snowmass Village and many hotels have shuttle service to/from the airport for free.

It's all about getting around on skis in the winter and mountain bikes or your own two feet in the summer!

[edit][add listing] See

John Denver Park
John Denver Park

John Denver Park - this Aspen park is a pleasant place to take your dog or your kids for a splash in the creek in summertime. The park is named after the famous Country and Folk singer who resided in Aspen. Lyrics from his most popular songs are inscribed in the creekside boulders. John Denver Park is on the creek trail on the north side of Aspen, near the Rio Grande Ball Field and park at N. Mill St. and Rio Grande Pl.

Maroon Bells - a short drive outside of Aspen, the Maroon Bells are one of the most photographed mountain scenes in Colorado. The lake and views of the 14,000 ft range are spectacular. A very short trail leads to the lake from the parking lot, and continues onwards approximately a mile to a 2nd higher lake and then through a u-shaped glacier carved valley. To get to the Maroon Bells, turn south on Maroon Creek Rd from Hwy 82 approximately 8 miles. In summer, it is not always possible to drive directly to the parking lot during daytime hours (8am-5pm) and visitors must take a shuttle bus from Aspen.

[edit][add listing] Do

Winter

  • Ski - four ski areas in the area: Aspen Mountain, Snowmass, Highlands, and Buttermilk.
  • Hobnob with the jetsetters.. or not.
  • Sleigh rides
  • Sledding
  • Snowshoeing
  • Snowmobiling

Summer

  • Mountain bike
  • Hike
  • Golf
  • Take chair lifts for scenic views
  • White water rafting
  • Fly fishing
  • Mine exploration
  • Hot air ballooning
  • Rodeo
  • Paint ball
  • Paragliding
  • Outdoor concerts

Music

  • Belly Up - Small venue hosting some impressive artists, downtown Aspen [3]
  • Jazz Aspen Snowmass - Thursdays 6-8 p.m. Fanny Hill Snowmass Village [4]
  • June Festival - June 22nd - 25th, 2006
  • Labor Day Festival - September 1st - 4th, 2006, Snowmass Town Park

Golf

  • Snowmass Golf Course, Phone: +1 970 923-5600, [5]. Ten minutes downvalley of Aspen in Snowmass. The Snowmass Club's new 18-hole, par-72 Snowmass Club Golf Course. The 6,986-yard semi-private course designed by award-winning golf course architect Jim Engh includes a learning center, practice area and new golf clubhouse with Black Saddle Bar & Grille, a full-service restaurant and bar. With five sets of tee boxes at each hole and a truly unique design, golfers of all abilities will enjoy play that is as fun as it is challenging
  • River Valley Ranch Golf Club, Phone: +1 970 963-3625, [6]. Eighteen holes, slope 73.2, rating 125, 7,348 yards. 30 minutes downvalley in Carbondale,River Valley Ranch Golf Club. Good bang for buck.

[edit][add listing] Buy

Downtown Aspen has a lot of quaint shops for unique and upscale shopping. Snowmass Village also has a multi-tiered outdoor shopping center where you can buy sporting goods, clothes, art and any number of knicknacks. There are regular open-air markets in each of these towns.

Health Spa, the Aspen Club and Spa offers massages, fitness classes, facials, pedicures and much more check it out at http://aspenclub.com

Real Estate is big business in Aspen. Many a ski bum has later settled here and bought a quaint Victorian in the 60's just to find out he is now sitting on a "Gold Mine".

[edit][add listing] Eat

  • The Artisan Restaurant in Snowmass in the Stone Bridge Inn has a fresh menu [7] and many off-menu options.
  • Have lunch at Woody Creek Tavern, in "downtown" Woody Creek. This is the former haunt of the late great Hunter S. Thompson. It's about 15 miles from Aspen. Go Slumming.
  • A la Car of Aspen, [8]. A lifesaver! They deliver great meals all over town -- even Snowmass. Delivery from the finest restaurants of Aspen and Snowmass. Grocery delivery also available.
  • Crystal Palace Theatre Restaurant, [9]. Well worth a visit. They serve a gourmet dinner followed by cabaret revue of political satire which is quite a hoot. The Cabaret is fun, even for Dinner Theater Skeptics. Closes forever on April 12th 2008.
  • The Pine Creek Cookhouse, 20 minutes south of Aspen on Castle Creek Road, [10]. It is worth the trip down a beautiful valley to the elegant log cabinesque building. Their food is very fresh, on the gourmet side, and not overly expensive. Reservations recommended. Highly recommended to stop in for lunch after a morning hike to one of the many great trails in the area such as Cathedral Lake.
  • The Hickory House, just south of the dreaded "entrance to Aspen," on Main Street. (It's the one with the plastic bear on the roof.) Tourists are often crowded out by the locals, drawn by fabulous barbecue and huge, hearty breakfasts. If you're lucky enough to be in Aspen for Thanksgiving, turn out for annual Hickory House freebie: turkey, with all the trimmings, and all gratis.

[edit][add listing] Drink

Head mid way up Snowmass mountain (on the 2-seater chairlifts that go from the bottom of the mtn) to the ski resort's cafe for a beer or soda. Great view of the valleys and nearby mountaintops.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

  • Aspen Square, 617 East Cooper Avenue, [11]. Boutique condominium hotel located right next to Gondola.
  • Aspen Land & Homes, 315 S. Galena, Phone: +1 800 695-3955, [12] Offering a wide selection of homes, townhomes and condominiums for nightly, weekly or long term rental.
  • Destination Resorts Snowmass, PO Box 5629, Snowmass Village, Phone: 800-961-9088, [13]. The 2nd largest ski resort in Colorado is located 9 miles from downtown Aspen. This four- season luxury resort features condominium rentals, ski-in/ski-out accommodations, ski services, fine dining options, and meeting and wedding facilities.
  • The Gant, 610 West End, Toll free: +1 800 549-0530, [14]. An upscale condominium resort, The Gant offers 2-4 bedroom condominium rentals with a variety of resort features and a convenient location near downtown Aspen.
  • Liitle Red Ski Haus, Phone: 866-630-6119. Turn of the Century Victorian Inn on 118 East Cooper Avenue with Apres-ski speicals and a fun little wine bar.
  • Silvertree Hotel, Phone: +1 970 923-3520, [15]. Downtown Snowmass Village hotel and conference center. Self-contained and central in Snowmass.
  • St. Regis, Phone (970) 920-3300, [16]. Outstanding luxury hotel in the heart of Aspen from which you can directly debark Ajax lifts. Some find it preferable to the more chichi, Little Nell.
  • Sky Hotel, 709 East Durant Avenue, Phone: +1 970 925-6760, [17].

[edit] Get out

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!

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