Hey. So you're thinking about heading to the mountains. You've probably heard a million things about this place, mostly about celebrities in fur coats and ridiculously expensive coffee. And yeah, you will definitely see some of that. But if you look past the glitz, you'll find a legitimate, hardcore ski town that just happens to have really good restaurants. I put together this aspen colorado travel guide to help you figure it out, because honestly? It can be pretty confusing your first time. Let's get straight to it. People always ask me about the best time to visit aspen colorado. There isn't just one right answer. It totally depends on what you want to do. If you're coming for the snow, you want to aim for January or February. The powder is super light and dry (locals call it champagne powder). But if you hate the cold? Summer is incredible. Like, honestly better than winter in some ways. July and August give you warm days around 75°F and cool nights where you need a light jacket. Let's talk about the snow first, since that's what made the town famous. When you start looking at aspen colorado winter activities, and exploring the different aspen ski resorts, you'll realize it's not just one mountain. It's actually four completely different ski areas, and they're all on the same lift ticket. First, there's Aspen Mountain. Locals just call it Ajax. It goes right down into the town. You can literally ski down and walk across the street to get a beer. But here's the catch—there are no beginner runs on Ajax. None. If it's your first time on skis, do not go up there. Your legs will hate you. Instead, head over to Buttermilk or Snowmass. Buttermilk is super mellow. It's where the X Games happen every January, but the rest of the mountain is basically a massive, gentle slope. Snowmass is huge. It's bigger than the other three hill station (mountains) combined. You could spend a week just skiing Snowmass and never hit the same run twice. Then there's Aspen Highlands. This is where the locals go. If you want a serious workout, hike up to the Highland Bowl. It takes about 45 minutes of walking uphill in your ski boots, but the ride down is something you'll never forget. Not into skiing? That's fine. There are still plenty of things to do in aspen colorado when it's freezing out. You can rent snowshoes and hike up to the ghost town of Ashcroft. Or go snowmobiling up to the Maroon Bells. Honestly, just sitting by a fire with a $15 cocktail while watching people wipe out on the slopes is a pretty solid afternoon. But what if you come when there's no snow? People usually overlook the warmer months, which is a massive mistake. The aspen colorado summer activities are off the charts. Seriously. There are some amazing hiking trails near aspen, but the first thing you have to do is see the Maroon Bells. They're these two giant, jagged mountain peaks that reflect perfectly in a lake. You've probably seen a picture of them on a calendar or a computer screensaver. You can't just drive up there during the day in the summer, though. You have to book a shuttle bus from Aspen Highlands. It costs around $16, and you need to book it weeks in advance because it sells out fast. Once you're up there, take the Crater Lake hike. It's about 3.6 miles round trip. It's rocky, and you're at 10,000 feet of elevation, so you'll probably be breathing hard. Bring plenty of water. Other things to do in aspen during the summer include renting a bike and riding the Rio Grande Trail. It's paved, mostly flat, and runs for 42 miles all the way to Glenwood Springs. You don't have to do the whole thing. Just ride out a few miles, find a spot by the Roaring Fork River, and eat a sandwich. Speaking of food. We need to talk about your budget. It's notoriously expensive here. I'm talking $50 for a basic plate of pasta at some places. But you don't have to spend like a billionaire. If you're hunting for cheap places to eat in aspen, there's a spot called New York Pizza tucked away on the second floor of a building in the outdoor mall. Slices are huge and cost about $5. It's where all the ski instructors and bartenders eat. You also have to check out the White House Tavern. It gets super crowded, so put your name in early. Get the crispy chicken sandwich. It's $22, which sounds like a lot for a sandwich, but it's massive and easily the best thing you'll eat all trip. Also, getting here can be an adventure. You have two choices. You can fly directly into the Aspen/Pitkin County Airport (ASE). Getting from the aspen airport to downtown is ridiculously easy—literally a three-mile drive. But the flights are expensive, and they get canceled constantly because of the weather. The runway is stuck right in a valley. If there's a bad crosswind, your plane is going back to Denver. Option two is flying into Denver International Airport (DEN) and driving. It's about a 200-mile drive. Without traffic, it takes four hours. But be warned, Interstate 70 can turn into a parking lot on weekends. If it's snowing, you'll need a 4WD vehicle or chains, and they will fine you if you don't have them and cause a crash. If you're wondering how to get around once you actually arrive, I have great news. You don't need a car. Please, do not rent a car if you're just staying in town. The public transit system here (called RFTA) is amazing, and a lot of the buses are 100% free. They run constantly between all the ski areas and downtown. Plus, parking in town is a nightmare and costs a fortune. Let's round out a few more things to do in aspen colorado that won't break the bank. Go check out the John Denver Sanctuary. Yeah, the guy who sang 'Rocky Mountain High.' They built this really cool park right next to the river with his lyrics carved into these massive boulders. It costs nothing to walk through, and it's super peaceful. You can also swing by the Aspen Art Museum. The building itself looks like a giant woven basket, and admission is completely free. Go up to the rooftop cafe for a really great view of Ajax mountain. Look, I get it. Planning a trip here feels intimidating. The price tags alone scare a lot of people off. But it doesn't have to be that way. Whether you're dropping in for the winter powder or showing up in July for the hiking, this place kind of gets under your skin. You'll catch yourself looking at real estate you can't afford, dreaming about moving here. Wait, I almost forgot to mention the shopping situation. Downtown is basically an outdoor mall. You'll see Prada, Gucci, and Dior sitting right next to local ski shops. It's wild to just walk around and people-watch. Even if you're not buying a $3,000 handbag (and I'm definitely not), window shopping here is a sport in itself. Just grab a coffee at Local Coffee House—get their matcha, it's seriously good—and sit on a bench. You'll see guys in muddy hiking boots walking right next to women in floor-length fur coats. It's a weird, hilarious mix of extremes. Just pack lots of layers. The weather changes every five minutes. One second you're sweating in a t-shirt, the next it's hailing. That's just how the mountains work. Drink twice as much water as you think you need, too. The altitude is no joke, and a hangover at 8,000 feet feels like death. Anyway, book the trip. You're going to have an incredible time.
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