Aspen

by Lizzy W   |   August 5, 2014   |   2 Comments

From the moment you touch down at the Aspen–Pitkin County Airport you can’t help but sit silent and stare at the beauty that is everything around you.  You step off the plane onto the tarmac, the mountains filling every direction you look… seriously, it’s heaven.  It’s about a ten minute ride until you reach probably the cleanest most quaint city you will ever see, and now the adventure begins :).  From hiking, to shopping, to eating, to gondola rides, there is so much to do.

Places to stay:

The Gant Condo Rentals (family friendly) $$$$ – This is where my family and I stay.  The rooms are gorgeous, spacious, living room and full kitchen – we always make our breakfast in the morning before the day starts.  There are so many different options bedroom wise so it’s great for families.  Among a ton of amenities are 2 sets of tennis courts, a pool, workout center, cafe, bike rental station, and free shuttle around town whenever you want!!  And.. it is walking distance from many of Aspens amazing hikes and 2 blocks from town!  I can’t imagine staying anywhere else!   It is a touch on the expensive side however, so there are a few other great options below.

The Little Nell $$$$ – Gorgeous 5-star hotel located right in the heart of downtown.  It also has a TON of amenities but less of a condo feel.  The rooms are beautiful, it is the only 5-star hotel in Aspen – so that pretty much says it all.  It is amazing, however I would recommend it for couples rather than families.

St. Moritz Lodge & Condominiums (Budget) $$ – There really aren’t many/if any great budget options when it comes to Aspen.  It’s a very expensive town – however this condo would def. be the top choice for the closest thing to budget-friendly.  The location is central, right downtown and near many hiking spots, the rooms are comfortable and nice, however it is a bit dated.  It is a great hotel however for families who are looking for a less expensive option.

Things to do:

Hiking – There are SO MANY different hiking options.

• The Ute – A favorite hike for most; difficulty level: hard
• Hunter Creek Trail – Gorgeous hike views of both the Elk Mountain Range and Aspen; difficulty level: moderate
• Smuggler Mountain – This hike will give you some of the most amazing views of Aspen.  There isn’t as much green as the other trails, but it’s worth it for the views!; difficulty level: moderate.
• SO MANY OPTIONS!!

Fly Fishing lessons – We had such an amazing guided fly fishing trip.  It was about a ten minute drive from downtown Aspen, about 10 minutes of instruction, and we were off!!  I recommend this for families or anyone who loves to be out on the water.

Bike, Vespa, Scooter, RZR rentals – We had a blast renting vespas and riding around Aspen for an afternoon.  You can also rent a RZR and ride up to the top of Aspen Mountain!

White Water Rafting – They have awesome guided trips down the Roaring Fork river.  This is great for families or anyone who loves rafting!

Shopping – Aspen has some unbelievable shopping.  I love Pitkin County Dry Goods (my favorite store there) for men and women- it has everything – jewelry, clothes, shoes, and more.

 Places to eat:

The one thing I was disappointed with in Aspen was the food.  You would think for such an expensive town with so much money floating around there would be unbelievable restaurants, but that wasn’t the case.  Here are a few of my favorite restaurants there, they were really good, but again, nothing really blew me away.

Steakhouse No. 316

Matsuhisa

Acquolina Aspen

 

Helpful links:

Home

http://www.thelittlenell.com/

http://www.stmoritzlodge.com/

http://www.gantaspen.com/about-aspen-colorado/recreation/hiking-and-biking

http://aspenbikerentals.com/

HOME

Home

http://www.pitkincountydrygoods.com/