I have never been much of a “mountain girl.” I grew up at the coast and I can’t get enough ocean and sunshine, so I was a bit hesitant when my husband planned a long weekend to Aspen. I was definitely wrong! Aspen is one of the most beautiful towns I have been to and the nearly-fall weather was so dreamy.
Most people think of Aspen as a skiing/snow-town but there are no shortage of things to do in the summer. I will caution you about altitude sickness though, it completely wiped me out for 24 hours. Rescue Lounge was a total lifesaver… they gave me an IV and oxygen and I was good to go! There is also preventative medicine you can take, which I would highly recommend and in hindsight should have taken beforehand.
We rented bikes from Aspen Bikes across and so enjoyed having them. We took the Rio Grande Trail which is a gorgeous scenic cruise! The best part was a stop at Woody Creek Tavern for tacos and margaritas! It is must-do on my Aspen list!!
We stayed at The Little Nell and you cannot beat the location! It is right in the middle of this picturesque town, so you can walk anywhere you want. A great start to the morning is to grab a cup of coffee from Locals and then get tickets for the Gondola. *Be sure to take a red one and you can stream music for the most beautiful ride and views. While at the top you can take in breathtaking scenery and do some hiking. They also have games if you’re traveling with kids.
Then there is the shopping, oh the shopping! You can do some serious damage pretty quickly in Aspen. They have every high end store you can imagine along with some great mid-range boutiques. My favorites were Intermix and Pitkin County Drygoods. Your trip won’t be complete without a personalized branded cowboy hat from KemoSabe. It is an experience you will not forget, and the staff is incredibly helpful and friendly!
Now for the food! You really can’t go wrong anywhere but these were my highlights: Casa Tua, Matsihisu Sushi, Aqualina and Cache Cache. Cache Cache was great spot for drinks as well.
If you happen to be in town over Labor Day then JAS Aspen Snowmass is a must! It is a 3-day music festival with first class bands, vendors and FUN!!! This year John Mayer and Sting were the headliners. It is outdoors in the dreamiest setting and aside from the obvious musical talent, the people watching is second to none. You can see first hand all the latest fashion trends walk right by you, forget NYFW.
This is definitely a trip worth repeating! It is for everyone and anyone- couples, girls getaway or families. You will not be disappointed!