ASPEN - Branded Article

With world-class arts, culture, and outdoor adventure, Aspen is A Year-Round Destination

People don’t come to Aspen simply to rest — they come to be awakened.

Cultural and Creative Epicenter

Aspen was a cultural oasis long before it was a resort town. During the silver rush of the late 1800s, mining brought railroads, which brought easterners to this booming mountain town — and they brought with them their art and entertainment. For instance, the Wheeler Opera House opened in 1889, with a rousing performance of The King’s Fool. More than a century later, The Wheeler still stands as a state-of-the-art venue for hosting the finest in dance, music, and the performing arts.

But The Wheeler is hardly alone. The Aspen Music Festival and School is one of the most popular classical music events in the country, and its centerpiece venue, the Michael Klein Music Tent on the Aspen Institute campus, hosts an additional 300-plus orchestra, chamber music, and opera events each summer. For more contemporary vibes, head to one of Jazz Aspen Snowmass (JAS)’s events, like JAS June Experience, JAS Café or the JAS Labor Day Experience. JAS is known for regularly hosting jazz, rock, pop, and other headliners, from Sheryl Crow to Stevie Wonder. Belly Up Aspen is an intimate scene for a concert that has attracted big-name touring acts like B.B. King and Widespread Panic.

Broaden your visual horizons with some of the world’s finest visual art at the Aspen Art Museum or the Anderson Ranch Arts Center, which facilitates workshops, lectures, residencies, and galleries. There are also many independent art galleries strewn throughout the city. And if your mind craves exhibits leaning more into history, The Aspen Historical Society has plenty of factual stories to tell. The Wheeler/Stallard Museum is based in a Queen Anne-style Victorian built around 1887. Or you can take a step back in time on a historical walking tour of the town, itself.

Launchpad to Nature

There’s no denying the allure of nature in Aspen — but it isn’t all about powder and hardpack snow. There are plenty of ways to explore and immerse yourself in the mountain wilderness, more than 1,100 acres of open space. Lace up your hiking boots to take on the city’s vast system of trails. There are paths for all ages and skill levels. The hike to Crater Lake begins at the majestic Maroon Bells viewpoint and proceeds 1.8 miles, through Aspen Groves for the perfect day hike. Steep mountain switchbacks challenge even experienced hikers on The Ute Trail; while more leisurely strollers can see the colorful wildflowers and birdwatching on Ajax Trail’s shorter route. And if you want to pick up the pace, there are also trails for runners and bikers.

Need a little more adrenaline? The crisp mountain streams and rivers that have sculpted this backdrop can also carry kayakers and paddleboarders. The 245-acre North Star Nature Preserve features Roaring Fork River, which cuts through wetlands and a fen that host dozens of species. This area also serves as a landing zone for paragliders, if you really want a special view.

Urban shopping, dining, and nightlife in the mountains

Despite the city’s relatively small size, Aspen’s shopping, dining, and nightlife rival the hottest scenes in the biggest metros in the world. Customize your vacation look with local fits, outer wear, and shoes. Window shop or peruse the jewelry cases of custom and artisan rings, necklaces, and earrings. Don’t forget to hit the antique shops, bookstores, and art galleries for that perfect gift or souvenir. You can also splurge on yourself, sit back, and pamper your body with spa treatments, hairstyling, cosmetics, and skin care.

And even in the summer, the Silver Queen gondola is running up and down Aspen Mountain, offering passengers top-of-the-world vistas en route to picnicking opportunities aplenty and an 18-hole disc golf course. No matter how you choose to enjoy the Aspen outdoors, you can do so with the comfort and confidence of knowing that it is being done in the most thoughtful way possible. This community understands that its natural bounty is its lifeblood, and therefore caring for and protecting the environment and sustainability is always of paramount importance. You can learn more about that here.

You’re going to need fuel for all this activity. No matter what you’re craving, Aspen has you covered. From fine dining to family friendly fare to fondue and alpine, there are farm-to-table restaurants serving just about every world cuisine. Asian, French, Italian, Mexican. Seafood, pizza, deli, or barbecue. Or if you want to eat in or host a private event, Aspen features a legion of catering companies and personal chefs ready to tailor the menu to your taste. Don’t forget the nightcap. Even though Aspen is an outdoor wonderland, that doesn’t mean it closes at sundown. In fact, that’s when things really heat up. Cocktails, wine, spirits, and craft beer await at a variety of pubs, taprooms, and lounges. Step up to the bar and make a toast to a summer day well spent in Aspen.

For more information or to plan your Aspen excursion, go to www.aspenchamber.org.

“There are a lot of other gorgeous places in the world,” says Elliot Gerson, Executive Vice President of the Aspen Institute. “But I don’t think there is any other place that combines such natural beauty with such incredible richness for cultural opportunity, exchange, and education.”

For decades, the slopes of Aspen, Colorado have brought in visitors from all over the world. But that same majestic splendor — the twin peaks of Maroon Bells, the pristine landscapes of White River National Forest, the jaw-dropping Rocky Mountains — that attracts skiers has also long been a draw for other types of adventurers, artists, and intellectuals. And through the years, they’ve created a vibrant community, a unique confluence of idyllic natural beauty and human sophistication, here mere miles from the Continental Divide. Today, visitors come to Aspen year-round to revel not just in its scenery but also in its history, art, cuisine, and culture — not to mention its clean mountain atmosphere. They come to rejuvenate their bodies but also expand their minds and stir their souls. They come to be inspired.

There are a lot of other gorgeous places in the world, but I don’t think there is any other place that combines such natural beauty with such incredible richness for cultural opportunity, exchange, and education.

Elliot Gerson

Executive Vice President of the Aspen Institute

Experience Aspen

There’s so much to see and do in Aspen, you really can’t go wrong. But here are 10 suggestions, mapped out for your perfect Aspen adventure.

Enter the Wheeler-Stallard Museum

This majestic Queen Anne-style Victorian is one of the gems of Aspen history. Operated by the Aspen Historical Society, this elegant 1880s residence has been renovated twice and is currently on the National Register of Historic Places.

Click on the map to explore

Witness History at Wheeler Opera House

State-of-the-art performance tech meets more than a century of history in this 1889 opera house. Be a part of that story by taking in a show on this legendary stage or simply by taking the free tour of this iconic building.

Feel the Music at Belly Up, Aspen

Live music in an intimate setting, Belly Up, Aspen’s calendar features concerts by world-renowned acts like The Killers, Widespread Panic, Dave Chappelle, John Legend, Jack White, and even Snoop Dogg himself.

Bike Up Smuggler & into the Hunter Creek Valley

The popular hiking trail and fire access road, Smuggler, is also the gateway to a network of single-track trails in the Hunter Creek Valley, that is pretty easy for hikers in search of fresh air and a tranquil look down on the city below, but more of a challenge for an adventurous mountain biker.

Take the Ute Trail

Switch back your way up the mountain to a panoramic overlook up 700 vertical feet, the beauty of which is only surpassed by what you’ll see if you continue to the summit of Aspen Mountain.

Get Inspired by the Aspen Art Museum

Ignite your imagination at this artist-founded institution that serves as both a platform and a forum for critical discourse on the ever-evolving world of art. The museum focuses on exhibitions instead of collections, so it can be nimble and responsive to change.

Drive Over Independence Pass

Part of Colorado State Highway 82, the 32-mile stretch of road passes over the Continental Divide — the summit is 12,095 feet above sea level. The way is steep, narrow, and twisty, but is completely safe for cautious drivers — and offers stunning scenery of peaks, Aspen groves, and the Roaring Fork River.

Capture the Maroon Bells

These majestic bell-shaped, wine-colored peaks tower some 14,000 feet above the shimmering Maroon Creek Valley, where you can take in the breathtaking views and take snapshots of the beautiful scenery.

Experience Aspen Music Festival and School

For eight weeks each summer, Aspen Music Festival and School hosts some of the world’s most talented instrumentalists and vocalists who come to perform for audiences and teach at this world-renowned institution.

Enjoy the North Star Nature Preserve

Spot birds and track land animals as you traverse lush terrain teeming with wildlife — mere minutes from downtown Aspen. The easy walking trail follows the Roaring Fork River and users can choose the length of their walk by turning around whenever it suits them.

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