When you think of Colorado ski vacations, you probably think of Aspen. You’re not alone – more than 3 million people visit this swanky mountain town each year. But don’t worry; Aspen is home to four resorts — all of which offer a range of terrains, difficulties and amenities, so there’s plenty of room for everyone on the slopes. Skiers and snowboarders of all levels will find the perfect trails in Aspen’s four mountains: Buttermilk, Snowmass, Aspen Mountains and Aspen Highlands.
Aspen hosts a range of world-class events, from the World Cup ski races to the ESPN Winter X Games. With a vertical drop of 4,406-feet – the largest in the U.S. — Snowmass challenges intermediate to advanced skiers, while Aspen Highlands offers miles of back-country, in-bounds trails for the adventurous. Buttermilk is perfect for beginning to intermediate skiers and snowboarders, with a vertical drop that’s just above 2,000 feet, and Aspen Mountain offers a range of black-diamond runs.
Book your lodging, car rental, ground transfers, lift tickets, ski or snowboarding lessons, equipment rentals, all in one place: The Aspen Snowmass Central Reservation Office. Choose from lodging in hotels, condos or vacation homes; many Aspen accommodations are ski-in, ski-out. You can also schedule a variety of attractions and activities, from hot air balloon rides to snowmobile tours, dog sledding to snowshoeing.
One of the best things about travel is — you guessed it — eating. Aspen is packed with don’t miss restaurants, from the elegant, New American cuisine at Syzygy to the farm-to-table Italian fare at Montagna in The Little Nell. For an unforgettable dining experience that combines dog sledding, wine and a world-class menu based on fresh, local game, seafood and smoked meats, visit Krablooknik. Set in a rustic log cabin with stunning mountain views, diners can enjoy watching sled dog teams come and go as they dine.
Though Aspen provides lots of fun for grown ups, don’t leave the little ones at home. Kids under six ski for free on all the Aspen resorts. Plus, you can sign them up for lessons through the Camp Aspen ski school. Organized by age and ability, the school accepts kids from five to 12 and offers lessons for all ranges of abilities, including specialty classes such as freestyle, park and half-pipe. The school will even pickup and drop off your children on the purple Max the Moose bus. If the kids are too small to ski or snowboard, drop them off at the Treehouse Kids Club, which provides child care for infants to four-year-olds.
Aspen Snowmass Central Reservations
Aspen Chamber of Commerce
Aspen Snowmass
Syzygy
The Little Nell
Krablooknik