Aspen

The entirety of Aspen is stunning. These seven areas are particularly popular among locals and visitors alike:

Aspen Downtown

The downtown area of Aspen is full of luxurious, high-end shops like Gucci and Prada. It’s also replete with restaurants, art galleries, quaint cafes all fronting beautiful red and black brick sidewalks. Spend a lovely afternoon in some of the most exclusive shops in the country. Aspen is also a great place to hike up the Smuggler Mountain Mine Trail. With all this going for it, the downtown area is the ideal place to lay down roots while in Aspen. The contemporary and grand Villa Maggie leaves no stone unturned when it comes to opulent living and spectacular vistas: Views of Independence Pass, Ajax Mountain, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk Mountain. Clearly, Villa Maggie is one of LVH’s loveliest Aspen luxury vacation homes.

Aspen East End

Aspen’s East End neighborhood is a smorgasbord of new huge homes, scattered housing for locals, and older condos. The views of Aspen Mountain from the East End are impeccable and Snyder Park, in the heart of the neighborhood, is a veritable paradise for kids and picnickers, complete with waterfalls and a tiny jungle gym. If you enjoy riding a bike, it's just a quick spin away from downtown.

Aspen Highlands

Aspen Highlands is actually a range of mountains. The Highlands has some of Colorado's best steep, big-mountain skiing in the Highland Bowl, Olympic Bowl and Steeplechase. Visitors love the sense of discovery at every turn: uncrowded cruisers, long and challenging steeps, and untracked sections in the bowls. The Highlands isn’t just for expert skiers. Check out the mid-mountain beginner and intermediate terrain and the lower mountain steeps.

Aspen West End

The west end of Aspen is full of beauty and charm. Victorian homes sit on perfectly manicured lawns. At one time it was alive with kids, parents mowing lawns, cocktail parties and picnics. Today, most homes are owned by those who live there only a few weeks a year. The west end is also home to the Aspen Institute and the Aspen Music Festival and School. The institute holds a world-renowned Ideas Fest every July, attracting a plethora of dignitaries and royalty, and the music festival is a nine-week classical program each summer attracting music lovers of all ages.

Red Mountain

Red Mountain is an island of mansions perched on a hill above the town. Red Mountain Road winds up the mountain, with roads leading off the main drag to gated communities of palatial estates with jaw-dropping views of Aspen. Some homes on Red Mountain list for $7-8 million, while others homes can command more than $20 million. A truly elegant neighborhood.

Snowmass

With air as clear as fine crystal, perfect temperatures and incomparable beauty, it’s no wonder people keep returning to Snowmass. It’s one of those mountain towns that not only heartily receives visitors in the winter months, but also in summer; especially for those seeking rugged-but-luxe experiences like hiking, mountain biking, fly fishing, horseback riding and water rafting. Luxury travelers will have all the comforts and more of a five-star resort while staying at Villa Dominica and they will be near all Snowmass has to offer. With 18,000 square feet of living space, there is room for 16 guests. Not only does the villa have every amenity imaginable, but also has a stunning 20x60-foot indoor/outdoor saltwater pool. Other top-notch amenities include a chromotherapy tub, vitamin D-infused sauna and steam room, theater room, and a well-equipped gym.

Starwood

Starwood is one of the only private home developments in Aspen offering 24-hour gated security. Spread out across a high mesa just under three miles northwest of Aspen, Starwood encompasses 960 acres of some of the most stunning Colorado ranchland ever to be bought, subdivided, and sold. Starwood residents have run the gamut from well-known public figures to successful business people. Today, the mix also includes second homeowners, retirees, a few longtime locals, young families, newcomers to the valley, and even some returnees who grew up in Aspen but settled elsewhere after college.

Aspen has something for everyone’s culinary tastes. Fine dining is heartily available. These five establishments are among the best Aspen has to offer:

Chefs Club Aspen

Chefs Club at The St. Regis Aspen Resort is a beautifully-appointed space dominated by an open kitchen and an air of winter-wonderland chic. Chefs Club is a restaurant group featuring some of the world’s best chefs in four iconic locations. Chefs spend between three and six months at each restaurant, completely taking over the space and menu. Chefs Club is a culinary infrastructure provider offering chefs the opportunity to operate their own restaurant without any of the usual obstacles, so menus continually change.

Clarks Aspen

Clark’s Aspen is open year-round offering the country’s very best oyster and caviar selections from its marble raw bar, freshly baked sourdough, overflowing lobster rolls, delicious burgers, steaming bowls of chowder and cioppino. Clark’s is one of the go-to places for a bite and a martini after a day on the slopes.

French Alpine Bistro

The romantic ambiance of French Alpine Bistro has put the restaurant into the top five best romantic restaurants in the US as voted by the Food Network. Family heirlooms adorn the walls, while soft sheepskins cover the comfy chairs. A heated patio and a street-level lounge invite you to relax with a glass of wine while taking in the spectacular mountain views. Signature dishes include a version of Steak Tartare and Terrine de Foie Gras.

Matsuhisa

Those who love sushi are particular about its freshness and presentation. Those who want the best, head to Matsuhisa. Everything is top-notch from the wonderfully delicate sashimi, fluffy crab tempura to the spicy tuna cut roll. The main dining room downstairs is complete with a natural walnut cocktail bar, bamboo wrapped ceilings and a sushi bar that spans half of the length of the room.

Steakhouse No. 316

This swanky, centrally-located steakhouse, has been described as decadent in the most positive way. Enjoy a scrumptious meal sitting on the finest leather chairs, below teardrop crystal chandeliers and gazing into ornate gilded mirrors. Steakhouse No. 316 is known for serving monolith steaks like the 20-ounce cowboy rib eye or 24-ounce porterhouse chops. The 14-ounce New York strip smothered in a cognac peppercorn demi glace is a favorite.

If you are a collector of fine contemporary art you will want to visit Aspen for more than just skiing. Aspen has some stellar galleries, some which offer works for sale. These four are among Aspen’s finest arts venues:

Aspen Art Museum

The Aspen Art Museum (AAM) was founded in 1979. It’s a non-collecting museum and presents the newest offerings in international contemporary art. AAM’s mission is to offer timely exhibitions, education and public programs, and immersive activities to engage audiences in thought-provoking experiences of art, culture and society. AAM has a café for guests to grab a bite and a beverage after pondering all those works of art.

Baldwin Gallery

The Baldwin Gallery has been touted as one of the finest galleries in Aspen and is on par with the most esteemed galleries and museums in major cities such as New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco and is also very well-respected in international art circles. Located in downtown Aspen, the gallery represents artists like Will Cotton, Eric Fischl, Robert Mapplethorpe, Mariyln Minter, Tom Sachs, and James Turrell. It is a favorite spot for skiers, socialites, and art aficionados alike.

Holden/Marolt Mining and Ranching Museum

Before Aspen became well-known for its skiing, people flocked to the mountains here to mine silver; before it was filled with trendy shops, luxury hotels and expensive homes, the Roaring Fork Valley was riddled with ranches. Both mines and ranches have all but disappeared, but you can get a glimpse of those eras at the Holden/Marolt Mining and Ranching Museum.

Marianne Boesky Gallery

The Marianne Boesky Gallery (Marianne Boesky is a well-known art dealer) represents and supports the work of contemporary international artists of all media. Among those artists whose early careers were supported by the gallery are Lisa Yuskavage, Sarah Sze, Takashi Murakami, Yoshitomo Nara, and Barnaby Furnas. With galleries already established in New York, the gallery opened a 3,000-square-foot space in Aspen in 2017. Art lovers are sure to find just the right piece to add to their collections from this gallery.

After a day of skiing, many like to wind down and relax with a cocktail or a glass of wine. Luckily, Aspen has a number of places to be able to do just that.

The five here are among the most popular:

Belly Up Aspen

Listed as one of Rolling Stone Magazine's "Best Clubs in America," Belly Up Aspen is a 450-capacity music venue at the base of Aspen Mountain with concerts and events from the most well-known performers in the world. Some top names include: The Chainsmokers, John Legend, Snoop Dog, Kygo, Kacey Musgraves and Twenty One Pilots. Belly Up has a VIP reserved seating section option for every show.

Cloud Nine Alpine Bistro

For those with après ski in mind, Cloud Nine Alpine Bistro is a favorite place to pop champagne after a day on the slopes. Enjoy the stunning views of the Maroon Bells in the background while sipping bubbly and dining on Swiss fare like raclette and apple strudel. In the winter, Cloud Nine is filled with happy skiers ready to party! For a deeper dive on this happening venue, and similar ones, click here.

Hooch Craft Cocktail Bar

With a distinct speakeasy vibe, Hooch Craft and Cocktail Bar serves some of the most delicious cocktails in Aspen. Highly recommended are “sweep the legs” and “pear necessities.” The dark ambiance and no-flash-allowed environment beckons romance. These guys know their cocktails and it shows. Step away from the Aspen luxury chalet for the evening and experience the sultry energy of Hooch.

Jimmy’s

If you ask Aspen regulars where they go, it’s probably Jimmy’s. This restaurant and bar has been open since 1997, and over the years, it has barely changed. Guests feel right at home every time they visit, and Jimmy’s list of craft cocktails is always impressive. You can sign the famous autograph wall to make the visit official.

Monarch Aspen

Whether you are to have a romantic dinner, a new experience or looking for epic fare, you will find it all at The Monarch. From world class cocktails, classic aperitifs, exquisite prime steaks, and an extensive wine list, The Monarch is ready to delight, seduce and satisfy. With a gorgeous mahogany bar, high-back leather seats and cocktails like beluga and caviar, Violet Beauregarde, and 1944 Mai Tai, how could it not seduce?

These six events are among Aspen’s finest and most well-attended. There is always something for everyone in this town:

Annual Aspen Film Fest

Since 1979, Aspen Film Fest has been enlightening, enriching, educating and entertaining through film. The festival has been creating meaningful experiences for serious cinephiles and casual film lovers alike. Every year, about 30,000 people participate in the event’s education programs and special presentations. Film-goers have the opportunity of viewing more than 200 films screened annually, many of which are regional debuts and which might not be available to audiences otherwise. In fact, the film festival hosts more than 100 artists and special guests each year.

The Meeting

Organizers of The Meeting say, “It's not your typical "conference." The Meeting is a gathering designed to inspire an interactive atmosphere of do-ers, think-outside-the-box-ers, creatives, influencers, strategists, entrepreneurs and leaders who want to network in an environment that ignites new ideas and cultivates old ones. The Meeting has evolved from what started as a small, open forum conversation to a carefully curated conference that actively creates unique opportunities for attendees to network, share and be inspired by new ideas.

Aspen Music Festival and School

The Aspen Music Festival and School is regarded as one of the top classical music festivals in the United States, noted both for its concert programming and its musical training of mostly young-adult music students. The eight-week summer season includes more than 400 classical music events, including concerts by five orchestras, solo and chamber music performances, fully-staged opera productions, master classes, lectures, and children’s programming, and brings in 100,000 audience members.

Aspen Shortsfest

Aspen Shortsfest is an Oscar-qualifying film festival recognized as one of the premier short film festivals in North America. Every April enthusiastic audiences, filmmakers and special guests from around the globe gather to participate in public screenings, panels, workshops, and other festivities spotlighting the art and craft of short moviemaking.

Aspen Snowmass Freeskiing Open

The Rev Tour at the Snowmass Open focuses on freeskiing athletes between the ages of 13-19. Top competitors are invited to compete in the U.S. Grand Prix, Junior Worlds and in Project Gold camps. This event is open to pre-qualified athletes, but there are additional ways to earn a chance to compete. The open is a dual-sanctioned event, falling under the umbrella of both the Association of Freeskiing Professionals and the International Ski Federation.

X Games Aspen

As the top winter sports event of the year, X Games Aspen showcases the talents of nearly 100 of the world’s top winter athletes to take center stage to compete in the biggest snow sport event of the year. X Games Aspen has live coverage of the event on ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC. These top-flight athletes compete for medals and major cash purses. Skiing fans can now cuddle up in their Aspen luxury home rentals to watch the action virtually with a glass of wine or a steaming cup of decadent cocoa.

Although one of the main reasons visitors make the trip to Aspen is for skiing, there is much more to the town. Have a look at these six activities that might spark an interest:

Hiking and exploring Maroon Bells

Heaven must look this way since there are no words to accurately describe the beauty of this area. The towering snow-tipped mountains of Maroon Peak and North Maroon peak are reflected in the crystal clear lake anchored by a symphony of color that changes with the seasons. Hiking is nothing less than amazing here. Dogs are welcome on the trails, but must be kept on leash. There are three trails to choose from, each with a varying degree of difficulty.

Paragliding above Aspen and Snowmass

Take a tandem paragliding flight to see Aspen and Snowmass like never before! This is a wonderful on-the-edge adventure that is a mix of thrill and tranquility. This is the ideal quest for anyone who wants to leave the cell phone behind and forget technology altogether for a little while. It’s disconnecting to re-connect. There is no experience necessary to savor the freedom of free flight when flying with a certified tandem pilot.

Paddleboarding at Roaring Fork

The Stillwater, North Star Nature Preserve and Lazy River sections of the Roaring Fork River through the preserve is the perfect gentle paddling destination. Put in is at the Wildwood School, just a few minutes out of town off Highway 82 toward Independence Pass. Groups of locals trade off float and shuttle laps between the school and the bridge downriver, while savvy visitors rent standup paddleboards (SUPs), including a life jacket and dry bag, from local outfitters that provide a guide and ride for a stress-free experience. Pack a picnic in a dry bag to enjoy at “the beach,” and be on the lookout for great blue herons, mule deer, and muskrats along the way.

Silver Queen Gondola

The highest point of Aspen Mountain is 11,212 feet. A trip to the top riding the Silver Queen Gondola provides spectacular views and delicious food. It’s a must if you're looking for a new perspective of the landscape. In winter, skiers ride the gondola to the top to access more than 75 trails. Non-skiers can purchase a foot pass and enjoy the sunshine and lunch in the restaurant at the peak.

Snowmass Rodeo

The Snowmass Rodeo is the longest running rodeo in Colorado. This authentic western event takes place Wednesday evenings in the summers through mid-August. You can check out exciting competitions like saddle bronc and bull riding, team roping, and barrel racing. Children can participate in the Calf Scramble and Mutton Busting. Enjoy a BBQ dinner and cocktails from the full bar or stroll around vendor booths and watch the live entertainment. After the rodeo, a campfire sing-a-long and marshmallow roast complete the perfect Colorado evening.

Theater Performances in Aspen

Visitors who enjoy attending live theater performances are in luck since Theater Aspen always has a production on the go. This theater company rekindles a sense of discovery in audiences by producing big theater in a small space. Each season brings world-class theater dramatically closer, with innovative and imaginative productions of both plays and musicals, complemented by an assortment of community events including late-night cabarets, educational programs and performances, collaborations with other Aspen arts organizations, and presentations of new works.