Despite Colorado’s notoriously fickle summer weather, we still average 300-plus days of sun a year. Summer in Aspen generally means temps in the upper 70s to low 80s, not counting monsoonal deluges, but the altitude somehow makes it seem hotter. After you work up a sweat hiking, biking, or indulging in the multitude of other […]
It’s that time of year again, when Aspen is taken over by thousands of food n’ drink-loving tourists and industry folk, including the nation’s preeminent chefs, restaurateurs, Master Sommeliers, winemakers, brewers, distillers, and food and drink artisans. June 19-21 ushers in the 34th annual FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen. This is my 9th year […]
Colorado may be a beer-drinking state at heart, but we’ve got whiskey on the brain. Maybe it’s our mining heritage that gave us a taste for the hard stuff, but whatever the reason, Colorado is a contender for the craft spirits revolution, with 50 distilleries and counting. Note that not all distilleries actually make their […]
Spring break. Two words that mean different things to different demographics (if I’m generalizing, which I am). Right now, in Aspen, visiting spring breakers run the gamut from college kids hell-bent on experiencing the “perfect week” to families, couples, and solo travelers looking for late-season snow and deals on food, activities, and lodging. With that in […]
It’s the rare job where the objective is to not have to work, but for the four-footed employees of the Aspen-Snowmass Avalanche Rescue Dog team and their handlers, it’s the ideal scenario. Nine dogs work for the three main mountains– Aspen, Highlands, and Snowmass. Buttermilk uses a dog owned by a member of the volunteer […]
Dedicated skiers always have a list of things that are the equivalent of the Holy Grail when it comes to seeking snow: heli-skiing, making first tracks on a pow day, shredding with a pro. Even if you’re not a hardcore, some of these are still attainable, and thanks to a free, innovative, new ski program […]
About a lifetime ago, I lived in San Diego. Back then, the Belly Up in Solana Beach was the place to hear live music, and not much has changed in the two decades since. Michael Goldberg, inspired by the success of his brother Steve’s SoCal venue, opened the Aspen location in 2005, and things have […]
There are certain things one should expect from a high-end ski town hotel, like a ski valet and storage. The Limelight, of course, delivers on that front (they’ll even make arrangements to have your skis or board tuned and picked-up/delivered). But there are plenty of other great amenities offered by the hotel that set it […]
Spring break is a rite of passage in ski towns. Happily, it’s usually not the alpine version of Panama City, and is mercifully free of cruising, wet t-shirt contests (usually), and redux-MTV Beach House mentality. There are lots of families, high school kids on school-sanctioned getaways, and, admittedly, drunk college students behaving…like drunk college students. […]
Fact: Ski towns, regardless of locale, are expensive. They’re also very community-minded, which is why there’s always a diverse offering of free activities and events for locals and visitors alike. Aspen is no exception, and truth be told, the town has freebies on things many resorts charge for. Take our Nordic trail system (all 60 […]
Eating out with your family means juggling more appetites, taste buds, attention spans and mouths to feed. But whether your kids are picky chicken-nugget-purists or adventurous budding foodies, Aspen’s got you covered. Start with these five great family-friendly Aspen restaurants. CP Burger Fast food Aspen style. Burgers and dogs are staples, or add grilled tuna […]
Feeling a little tired from all that hiking? It’s time to saddle up and get in touch with Aspen’s Western roots. Just think: All that amazing scenery while your horse does the work. You can ride up Independence Pass like the original silver miners: Independence Pass Outfitting Company. Or try something the old-timers didn’t have—a […]
