Aspen, Colorado, emerged quietly as a mountain-locked town in 1879. It rose to become one of the world's largest silver producers at the time before the silver market crash in 1893. The town then reverted back to its quiet state until Walter Paepcke arrived and built the town's first ski resort. Since the 1940s, Aspen has continued to grow as a renowned ski town with world-class slopes. Many of the theaters, residential mansions, and historic hotels in Aspen, CO, that emptied after the silver bust were restored by adventurous entrepreneurs. Modern Aspen hotels inspired by Scandinavian style emerged throughout the town.
Today, many hotels Aspen boasts can be found online at Travelocity. If you are searching for cheap vacation packages but don't want to sacrifice on quality, check out Travelocity to find great deals on Aspen lodging. Aspen provides the ideal atmosphere for relaxing vacations or mountain adventures. Book your hotel today and enjoy the trip of a lifetime!
Attractions in Aspen
Aspen, Colorado, boasts many seasonal attractions that visitors can enjoy. As a renowned ski town, Aspen boasts four different mountains that winter sports enthusiasts can use as their snowy playground. Buttermilk, Snowmass, Aspen Mountain, and Aspen Highlands are the four mountains that skiers can access. The best part about the variety of terrain is that you only need one lift ticket for all four mountains. Furthermore, many Aspen, Colorado, hotels are ski-in/ski-out, which allows their visitors to basically walk out the door and hop on the gondola.
Although the town crowds with people during the winter, the fall, spring, and summer months can also provide the perfect setting for enjoying the Colorado Rockies and Aspen's attractions from one of the sophisticated Aspen hotels. Catch a show at the Wheeler Opera House, Aspen's premier venue for the performing arts. Explore the town's history by visiting the Holden-Marolt Mining and Ranching Museum or by touring the town on one of Aspen's many guided walking tours. The Smuggler Mine is one of the town's most famous silver mines: It produced a nugget of nearly pure silver that weighed close to a ton. Today, you can tour the mine on a historic guided tour.
In addition to the historical attractions, the culture and arts scene in Aspen thrives with multiple events and festivals throughout the year. The Aspen Ideas Festival provokes the brightest minds in the world to gather in this Colorado mountain town. The Aspen Food & Wine Classic brings together the world's most accomplished chefs, winemakers, brewers, and culinary masters for a marvelous event attracting foodies and wine connoisseurs from around the globe. The internationally recognized Aspen Santa Fe Ballet brings dance to the town throughout the year. With plenty of cultural and historical attractions on top of the incredible beauty and legendary entertainment provided of Aspen's landscape, one will always be able to find enjoyment in this ski town.
Things to Do in Aspen: Adventure
For the adventurous spirit who enjoys the great outdoors and high excitement, Aspen has a large selection of exhilarating activities for the thrill-seeking visitor. As previously mentioned, this ski town has world-class slopes. If you are looking for a deal on lift tickets, purchase them in advance and enjoy more time on the slopes with less stress on your wallet. With only a few exceptions, the lifts will be your main form of transportation for long days on the slopes.
For beginners, learn the basics on Snowmass Mountain or Buttermilk Mountain before tackling the more difficult slopes. For the most experienced skiers, feel the thrill while you zoom down the Aspen Highlands, with uncrowded terrain, intense 2,500-vertical-foot descents, and pitches up to 45 degrees. With around 5,285 acres, 336 marked trails, and 46 ski lifts, Aspen can satisfy the most avid skier.
In the off season, the ski slopes are transformed into mountain-biking and hiking trails. Ride the gondola up and experience a wild ride speeding down the mountain on a fat-tire bike. Hike the many beautiful trails and see beautiful groves of aspen trees. Take a horseback-riding tour along the mountain ranges like the original silver miners traveling to Aspen in the 1800s. With skiing, hiking, biking, horseback riding, zip-lines, and balloon rides, Aspen has an exceptional variety of adventurous activities for the active individual or family.
Things to Do in Aspen: Relax
Although Aspen is an amazing winter playground, it is also a relaxing getaway from the everyday routine. Don't worry if skiing or mountain-biking isn't for you. Aspen has plenty of excellent restaurants, spas, shops, and cultural sights that will allow you to unwind and simply experience your stay in Aspen. Enjoy soothing massages and rejuvenating treatments at one of Aspen's spas. Before allowing a spa to melt away your worries, walk through the pedestrian mall in Aspen. Plenty of shops can be found here to fit any budget. After the spa, see a show at the theater, or with every kind of restaurant, from fast food to five-star, let your taste buds explore and indulge each night.
Whether you are visiting Aspen for the ski slopes, renowned events, summer tranquility, or relaxing luxuries, make sure to research a variety of hotels in Aspen, Colorado, before booking your stay. Travelocity offers an effective platform for researching travel dates and hotels. Find the right hotel to fit your needs and have the most amazing vacation in Aspen, Colorado!
When to Visit Aspen
The best time to visit Aspen depends on your favorite attractions and activities. If you love to ski, there is no doubt that the best time to visit is during the winter. Because of Aspen's popularity during the ski season, however, the prices you pay for hotels will likely be higher than they would be during the off season. If you aren't looking to participate in winter sports, summer will allow you to soak up the sun and mountain air in Aspen. Enjoy a quieter atmosphere in the spring after the skiers have left for the season, or see the glorious colors of the leaves when visiting in the fall. Every season in Aspen has something for you. It depends completely on your tastes and what you want to do on your ideal vacation.
Traveling to Aspen
The nearest international airport to Aspen is in Denver, Colorado. However, Aspen/Pitkin County Airport is only minutes away from Aspen and is serviced by a few major airlines. If you don't want to pay extra to fly into the local airport, you will be looking forward to a four-hour drive through the beautiful Rocky Mountains. Be careful in the winter, as the roads could be icy or subject to snowstorms.
Travelocity lets you search for flights, hotels, rental cars, and vacation packages all in one place. The earlier you book, the more you will save. Find flights into Denver, a rental car to get to Aspen, and the perfect hotel in Aspen. Use Travelocity and find the best Aspen, Colorado, hotels for your next vacation.