So far this summer, it has felt like every weekend has been filled with a large, extravagant event. From Food & Wine, Fourth of July, Aspen Ideas and more, it’s been hard to find time to breathe during it all. With a relatively quiet weekend on the horizon, we want to share some events that don’t garner attention from the whole town of Aspen and are repeatable throughout the rest of summer on slower weekends.
Fridays:
Historic Downtown Walking Tour (10:30 am, Wheeler Opera House)
A guided walking tour of historical buildings in downtown Aspen, with interesting stories around every corner. This tour begins in front of the Wheeler Opera House and ends at the historic Hotel Jerome. This tour lasts 1.5 hours, register here.
Garden Tours at The Little Nell (4:00 pm, The Little Nell)
Join a weekly garden tour from 4 – 4:30 pm led by The Little Nell’s head gardener Arabella of Busy Beavers Gardening. Recognized for being both beautiful and sustainable, The Nell Gardens include Aspen’s only living wall, an herb garden, a cutting garden and more. Learn about high altitude gardening plus pick up tips for maintaining your own garden at home. This complimentary tour is open to all; no need to register.
Aspen Chamber Symphony (5:30 pm, Benedict Music Tent)
Discover an exciting new artist in a piano tour de force and hear an enigmatic symphonic swan song in this concert conducted by AMFS Music Director Robert Spano. Click here for more information.
Saturdays:
Community Bike Ride Series (9:00 am, AspenX Store)
ASPENX and Ventum are pleased to announce a community bike ride series this summer. Join every Saturday at 9:00 AM at the ASPENX store in gondola plaza. A ride leader will then take you on a ride of your choice, spirited or no drop, with a different route each day. This event is free to all who join. Ride duration is about 2 hours total. Routes will be posted each week on Instagram @ASPENX.
Saturday Classical Music atop Aspen Mountain (1:00 pm, Sundeck)
Relax at 11,000 feet in a glorious meadow overlooking Mount Hayden and take in the beauty as students of the world-renowned Aspen Music Festival & School perform a repertoire of their own choosing. Bring a picnic (or build one at the Sundeck) and a lawn chair and enjoy. Located just a short walk out Richmond Ridge from the top of the gondola.
Sundays:
Live Bluegrass Music (12:00 pm, Sundeck)
Sunday's this summer season locals and tourists alike get down to some of Colorado's best bluegrass bands on the top of Aspen Mountain. With the Elk Mountain Range as a backdrop, great drinks and great food from the Sundeck and lots of activities for the kids, this is a perfect way to relax, unwind and spend an afternoon with friends and family.
Sunday Sunset Dance Party at AAM (5:00 pm, Aspen Art Museum)
Join the Aspen Art Museum Sundays from 5–9 PM for their new weekly Sunday Sunset Dance Party on the Aspen Art Museum’s rooftop! They will be featuring cocktails from The Slippery Slope, snacks from the Rooftop Café, and music by Golden, the resident DJ for the summer. Expect parties weekly, so mark your calendars!
Happy New Year from Klug Properties in Aspen, Colorado! We hope you had a fantastic holiday and got to enjoy some of the 100 inches of snow we received in December. With that much snowfall, all winter activities are in full-swing. We would like to share some of our favorite ways to experience the world-renowned beauty that is winter in Aspen.
If skiing untouched powder is at the top of your priority list during your time here, then you won’t want to miss out on booking an Aspen Mountain Powder Tour via snowcat. These tours allow pow-seekers to indulge in some of the best stashes in Colorado on the backside of Aspen Mountain as well as a gourmet lunch with breathtaking views. The tours are meant for experienced skiers/riders who are ready to tackle the backcountry, so make sure you and your crew are prepared! Both SkiCo and the Little Nell offer tours starting early in the morning. SkiCo tours fit 10 individuals at a rate of $625/person and Little Nell tours fit 12 individuals at a rate of $750/person. Both options offer group packages for a discounted rate. To book your tour, see contact information and websites below.
SkiCo Tour: PowderTours@aspensnowmass.com or 970.920.0720
https://www.aspensnowmass.com/visit/activities/winter/aspen-powder-tours
Little Nell Tour: SkiConcierge@thelittlenell.com or 970.920.6315
If you are looking for more of a family-friendly outing that will have all ages entertained for a full day, look no further than the snowmobile tours at T-Lazy 7 Ranch! They do offer a half-day tour, which takes you to a scenic view of the Maroon Bells after winding through mature Aspen groves, but the real magic is in the full-day lunch tours. Choose from exploring either Independence Pass or even more terrain below Maroon Bells on the Klondike Cabin tour with an expert guide who will point out impressive features in the landscape and wildlife romping through the snow. Elk sightings are very common out there! Our favorite part of the excursion has to be enjoying a T-Lazy 7 raised, grass-fed burger in the Klondike Cabin tucked away in the trees with views of 14,000 ft. Pyramid Peak. For more information, see contact information and website below.
https://www.tlazy7.com/snowmobile-tours/
Looking for more of a romantic experience with your significant other? Aspen Carriage and Sleigh can take care of that! You have the option of booking three different types of tours including the Town Tour, West End Tour, or Historic Tour. In each tour, the carriage driver will provide fun and/or historic facts about our beloved mountain town that you won’t be privy to outside of this experience. The tours always start right across the street from the legendary Paradise Bakery, allowing riders to enjoy a warm beverage during the tour. Aspen Carriage and Sleigh can also be booked for private events such as engagements, weddings, birthdays, portrait backdrops, and many more. For more information, see contact info and website below.
970.925.3394
https://www.aspencarriage.com/carriagerides.htm
Finally, if entertaining the kids is of the upmost importance, these two options at Elk Camp on Snowmass Mountain will have them reminiscing for years to come! The “Breathtaker Alpine Coaster” and tubing carved into The Meadows at Elk Camp. On the coaster, riders will wind their way through over a mile of forest on an elevated track at speeds of up to 28mph. Located adjacent to the Elk Camp Restaurant, riders and passengers will be able to experience the thrilling ride during the day and during special “Ullr Nights”. For tubing, the multiple lanes are lift-served and offer endless fun for children, with lighting facilities to illuminate the runs at night during Ullr Nights festivities. For booking information, see contact information and websites below.
Alpine Coaster: 866.857.8769
https://www.aspensnowmass.com/visit/activities/summer/lost-forest/breathtaker-alpine-coaster/winter
Tubing: 866.857.8769
https://www.aspensnowmass.com/visit/activities/winter/tubing
Whatever you decide to do with your time in this one-of-a-kind valley, we sincerely hope you have some of the most memorable experiences to look back on for years to come! Please feel free to reach out for more recommendations or if you have any sort of real estate questions, big or small. We would be happy to help! Hope to see you on the slopes.
Aspen is an adventurous place with incredible surroundings and an active community. Our alpine community is chock-full of wilderness, world class hiking, and biking. However, every so often you need some motivation for that last trek up the mountain or push up the hill. If conveniently placed, local taverns and restaurants can be the perfect source of that motivation. Here are a few hideaways to help you earn that greasy burger and ice-cold brew.
Hike to the top of Aspen Mountain. Take switchbacks or the steep face up to find incredible views, giant chess, frisbee golf, ping-pong, and the famous Sundeck. Feed camp robber birds french fries from your hand, while surrounded by a beautiful mountainous view. It is a somewhat challenging hike that can take up to 3 hours, but the spectacular views, games, cold drinks, music and good food make it worthwhile. Don't miss live music on the weekends.
For the cyclists, there is a simple ride to the Woody Creek Tavern. A bar made famous by the legendary local writer Hunter S. Thompson, and his mad run for Mayor of Aspen. It is a simple casual ride that is about 4 miles down the Rio Grand Trail. Today, the restaurant offers a mix of American and Mexican influenced dishes and is ideal for an icy margarita on a sunny day.
Lastly for those looking for a challenge, consider riding the distance to the Pine Creek Cook House at Ashcroft. A stunning mountain dining experience complete with spectacular views of the Elk Mountain Ridge, and gourmet lunches and dinners.
Enjoy our beautiful summer while it lasts and take advantage of the plethora of outdoor activities, refreshing drinks, and fantastic food.
