Aspen

Beauty is often subjective, but anyone who has ever visited Aspen, Colorado would agree unanimously, without any reservations, that the small mountain town situated in the United States is definitely one of the most beautiful locales in the world both during summer and winter. This travel guide introduces you to the breathtaking city of Aspen and gives you a comprehensive idea of what to do, where to go, and how to have the time of your life.


1. Welcome to Aspen

Those who prefer to arrive at Aspen with minimum time consumption and maximum comfort choose to travel by plane. Travelers that fall under the category of business people, and those who desire a journey that's least exhausting and taxing, always choose to travel by air.

The flight to Aspen from Denver International Airport lasts merely thirty minutes and makes for a swift hassle free journey with absolutely no possibility of giving you jetlag. Regular flights during summer and winter months go in and out of Sardy Field, which is just three miles from Aspen. The United Express offers consistent jet service from Denver, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Those who wish to travel to Aspen from Minneapolis or Memphis are able to utilize the services of Northwest Airlines. The travelers also have the choice of disembarking at the Eagle County Regional Airport, which has flight services from eleven different US cities.

For the more adventurous ones who don't mind taking their time enjoying the picturesque views along the roadside, traveling by car or bus from Denver is always an option. Aspen is approximately two hundred and twenty miles from Denver. The ride to Aspen by road or rail, slightly longer than the journey by air, can be equally pleasurable with the added bonus of the wonderful view outside.

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2. Finding a place to stay in Aspen

There are a variety of options open for a traveler seeking accommodation in Aspen. Placing a call to the lodging of your economic range and making last minute bookings is possible, making the stay in Aspen rather smooth. Traditional hotels and motels are available in plenty, beginning from the cheap ones to the fully equipped luxury hotels that come with a swimming pool, sauna, gym, and grandiose rooms. There are also several Bed and Breakfasts available in Aspen, which are private homes and buildings converted into lodges. There are usually no more than twenty rooms at a Bed and Breakfast, and those who want to enjoy solitude and quiet usually prefer this arrangement.

Some people also choose to arrange their accommodations at resorts where there will be absolutely no shortage of activities and sights. Staying at a resort is a richer experience than staying at a hotel or a Bed and Breakfast, because most resorts in Aspen come with their own pools, golf courses, tennis courts, and skiing packages. More often than not, spending time at a good resort can be a whole vacation in itself. There are also several vacation homes, cottages, and inns all across Aspen that are available for rent and provide a warm homely ambience.

Corporate travelers would not miss a thing if they decide to choose a conference accommodation, which is basically hotels that come fully equipped with everything that a businessperson might require including conference rooms, wireless Internet access, podiums, projectors, microphones, and so on.

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3. Getting around Aspen

The smallness of the wonderful town of Aspen makes traveling by foot the most popular means of transportation amongst visitors. Taking a walk not only gives you a chance to experience the numerous shops and sights at your own time, but also makes for a wiser choice since most of the key places in Aspen are quite close to each other. Getting around by foot also helps travelers enjoy the refreshing and rejuvenating air of Aspen.

For those who have reached Aspen by car, or the ones who enjoy driving around, it would do them good to understand that navigation, and especially parking in the small city of Aspen, which is often thronged by several hundred tourists any time, can be quite tricky. However, if you wish to get from one mountain to the other, you have a handful of options available at your disposal starting with the free shuttle service. The free shuttle takes travelers across downtown, West End, and East End.

The Roaring Fork Transit Authority Bus is another popular choice amongst tourists when it comes to getting around Aspen. You can also approach the Ruby Park Transportation Center to get a ride anywhere in the valley.

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4. Dining out in Aspen

Dining out in Aspen, especially during nighttime, can be quite an exhilarating experience. There are almost eighty restaurants in the gorgeous mountain town of Aspen. Travelers often choose the places of dining according to their budget, and the great thing about Aspen is that there are places that are affordable for all pockets.

From burger joints to romantic settings to places that define grand elegance, Aspen is the home of all kinds of restaurants. The interesting thing about the cuisine in Aspen is that in addition to international cuisines several restaurants boast creative cuisines that are worked on by world-class chefs. There are several cuisines that feature Colorado specialties like game and local produce.

The more expensive restaurants are so for good reason. In addition to exquisite food and unbeatable ambience, diners are also provided with stunning views that would definitely further enrich the experience of dining.
Business travelers can often be found in these restaurants where they get the perfect ambience to discuss work in a relaxing atmosphere. However, it would wise to make reservations prior to showing up at these restaurants since enthusiastic diners often arrive at these places in droves. The best thing about dining in Aspen is that most travelers can have an uninhibitedly hearty meal knowing very well that they are most likely to burn out those calories the next day by skiing and other activities in Aspen.

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5. Winter Adventures in Aspen

The sport of skiing is perhaps synonymous with the mountain town of Aspen. With spectacular snow covered mountains offering the perfect playing ground for skiers of all levels-amateurs, experts, and professionals-it wouldn't be unfair to describe Aspen as the home of skiing. Cross-country skiing is a must-participate activity for anyone spending time in Aspen. From breathtaking trails through the Elk Mountain Range to small mountains, skiers are pampered with a whole lot to select from. For a corporate traveler, relaxing with a pair of skis can be the ultimate stress buster after an exhausting session of conducting business.

Most hotels, cabins, and inns have the facility to rent skis to the residents. On the other hand, if you wish to own a pair of skis, the ski shops selling everything from skiing gear to skiing equipments are a dime a dozen in Aspen. None of the visitors in Aspen have to feel left out in case they have never skied before. Most skiing ranges come with skiing instructors who will train you in the basics that would be enough to guarantee you a great time in the snow. Those who don't prefer to ski, but still wish to enjoy the scenic beauty, can choose to take rides in the ski lift, which is a unique experience.

Some of the other winter activities include ice-skating, ice climbing, sleigh rides, snowboarding, balloon rides, dog sledding, riding snowmobiles, fly-fishing, and backcountry skiing.

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6. Summer Activities in Aspen

Although Aspen is often talked about for its tremendously exciting winter programs, spending one's summer in Aspen can be equally exhilarating. Aspen during summer presents a different kind of beauty, while simultaneously retaining the core essence of Aspen, which is a perfect mixture of relaxation and adventure. Whether it's climbing the breathtaking mountains, or merely taking a walk in a beautiful field of wild flowers, Aspen is capable of providing a traveler with nothing short of a wonderful summer adventure.

Aspen during summer is also considered as the camping Mecca amongst avid campers all across the United States and the rest of the world. Campers are capable of having enormous amounts of fun adventuring in the visually pleasing mountains during the morning and sleeping in tents under the beautiful sky during the night. For travelers making their journey in a group, there's nothing quite like spending time outdoors during summertime in Aspen. Several tourists also rent bikes and ride through the mountain trails, enjoying at the same time the magnificently unique view presented by Aspen.

Some of the other summer activities include horseback riding, paragliding, rafting, target shooting, swimming, tennis, 4-Wheeling, golf, rafting, hiking, and balloon rides. However, summer doesn't mean completely eliminating snow-based activities. Activities like ice-skating are possible during the summer as well as inside skating rinks.

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7. Shopping in Aspen

Being recognized as primarily a mountain town renowned in adventure sports and providing relaxation doesn't mean that Aspen is far removed from the world of today. Anyone who requires just about anything-be it books, cosmetics, or clothing-does not have to worry about going outside of Aspen to get it.

Walking from one street to the other in Aspen's central business district, one can see several shops just walking distances away from each other. If you have a passion for shopping for antiques, then the antique shops in Aspen can be quite a paradise for you. From Italian-crafted stilettos to antler chandeliers, several stunning antiques are available at different prices in Aspen.

There are several authentic clothing shops in Aspen that offer all varieties of clothes. From hip and trendy western wear to kids wear, from ski wear to cozy sweaters, everything you need can be found in these shops.

The ski shops selling ski gear and skiing accessories often attract shoppers. One can get excellent skis in different colors and designs according to their taste and skill level. If you're a fashion conscious skier, you can get matching skiing outfits as well. There are also several beauty salons, jewelry shops, music stores, and bookstores in the serene mountain town of Aspen.

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8. Nightlife in Aspen

Perhaps, the most astonishing fact about Aspen is that despite being renowned for its spectacular snow activities and adventures, it is just as much famous, if not more, for its stupendous nightlife. Most visitors who have had the good fortune of experiencing the nightlife in Aspen agree without any contention that it is quite an incredible and extraordinary feeling. In fact, it is Aspen's wonderful nightlife that persuades tourists to revisit the mountain town time and again.

Aspen, quite well known as the hangout of several Hollywood celebrities like Jack Nicholson, Goldie Hawn, Kevin Costner et al, comes alive at night, ready to entertain its lucky inhabitants all through the night. The many restaurants, several exciting comedy clubs, and hippest bars all make the nightlife of Aspen one of the liveliest in the world. There are billiard bars open thorough the night, live jazz clubs, magic shows, performance arts, and dance clubs that breathe fresh energy into the nightlife of Aspen every single night.

For those who might want to get away from the hustle and bustle of these popular clubs, just a simple walk outdoors enjoying the beautiful night sky above Aspen is enough to leave you with ineffaceably pleasant memories.

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9. Annual Events in Aspen

There's much truth to the statement that Aspen anytime any day is pure unbridled fun and excitement. But there's more truth to the statement that if you plan your Aspen trip well in accordance with the several number of events that take place every year in Aspen, your fun can be doubled or even trebled. Be it the corporate traveler who wants to incorporate just the right blend of business and pleasure, the holidaying family, or the newly weds starting their lives, the Aspen events can turn out to be loads of classic entertainment for each and every person.

The Aspen Dance and Film festivals attract not just tourists looking for a goodtime in Aspen, but also passionate culture lovers from all across the globe. The Janus Aspen Jazz Snowmass June Festival is quite the treat for music lovers, culture lovers, and just about anyone who appreciates quality entertainment. The scintillating performances delivered during these festivals are not by amateurs or unknowns, but rather from the best in the business.

The Food and Wine Magazine Classic is the ultimate event for food lovers, no matter which nation you're hailing from. The event is enriched by the participation of world-renowned chefs, and the activities include wine tasting, food sampling, and joyous feasting. Sports lovers are not ignored as well in Aspen. With skiing competitions, snowboarding tournaments, and other similar races, the sporting events in Aspen are sure to bring out the athlete in you.

Need Transportation? Call 800-984-4303
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