Hidden In The Colorado Rockies Is A Celeb-Ridden Alpine Playground With Luxe Charm And Year-Round Fun

Located about 160 miles southwest of Denver, the city of Aspen is nestled within a landscape of snow-capped peaks, valley floors, and meandering forested trails. At the city's heart, tree-lined streets wind through a collection of holiday chalets and high-end ski resorts. The resorts stretch across a steadily sloping perimeter, with dense clusters surrounding Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands Ski Resort, and the Aspen Recreation Center to the southeast. 

Aside from America's largest ski resort and Utah-based gem, Powder Mountain, Aspen has rightfully earned a reputation in Colorado's Rocky Mountains as both a premier ski town and a year-round haven for outdoor enthusiasts. The city's roughly 7,000 full-time residents share the destination with an influx of up to 25,000 peak seasonal visitors, from partygoers and skiers to socialites and celebrities drawn to its pristine aesthetic and year-round fun.

The town's various hubs deliver a picturesque convergence of alpine adventure, luxury dining, curated fashion moments, and some of the finest accommodations in the region. Behind Aspen's polished façade are discreet private clubs and event organizers who maintain Aspen's coveted air of exclusivity and privacy. Convenient access is part of the appeal, too, with Aspen/Pitkin County Airport just four miles north of the city via State Highway 82, and the secluded, high-profile alpine playground of Snowmass Village mere minutes away.

With the highs and lows of a huge sprawling ski resort town laid out before you, and the landscape shifting into a raucous hive of neon-lit activity every night, it's hard to know where to start when arriving in Aspen. But most people head to Aspen Snowmass as it lies at the heart of the action, providing access to four separate ski areas: Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk, and Snowmass, covering a total of 363 trails across more than 5,500 acres of terrain.

Families are always well-catered for, with sightseeing and gondola adventures open year-round. In the cold winter months, everyone can experience skiing and snowboarding, with slopes of varying difficulty available for all skill levels. Other popular pastimes like ice skating and snowmobiling are on offer as well. By summer, the action around the slopes melts away, replaced by meadows of wildflowers, and activities shift to mountain biking, hiking, sightseeing, ziplines, ropes courses, and more, all concentrated on Snowmass and Aspen Mountain.

Aspen is a perennial magnet for the arts and culture, anchored by a year-round lineup of music, comedy, theater, and film at the revered Wheeler Opera House. At the heart of its visual arts scene is the Aspen Art Museum, a striking glass cube wrapped in a wooden lattice, designed by Japanese architect Shigeru Ban. In the past, the museum has showcased contemporary works from talents like Sanya Kantarovsky, Julian Schnabel, and Issy Wood. From jazz nights at The Little Nell to the X Games, Audi FIS Ski World Cup, and signature events like the Aspen New Year's Eve and Old Fashioned July 4th Celebrations, the town pulses with creative energy. There's rarely a quiet moment on its cultural calendar.

When the sun sets, join the throngs of people who leave behind the smaller Colorado town of Snowmass to descend upon the ski capital's dynamic nightlife scene. Aspen boasts a gastronomic reputation of serious acclaim, with a mix of stylish bars, bustling sun decks, boutique shops, and a stretch of galleries from Royal Street Fine Art on S Mill Street to Casterline|Goodman Gallery on E Cooper Avenue. High-profile haunts like Matsuhisa Aspen, Casa Tua Aspen, Caribou Club, and Belly Up Aspen are often buzzing with celebrities during peak season. 

For a more low-key experience, the Aspen Brewing Company delivers a relaxed atmosphere perfect for casual drinks and comfort food, complete with indoor and outdoor seating. Just a short stroll away, Clark's Oyster Bar – Aspen offers a decadent raw bar and a lengthy menu, merging New England charm with European sophistication and a coveted two-hour weekday happy hour. For a quicker bite, the Grateful Deli is your go-to spot for grab-and-go. And for those craving a classic American sports bar experience, head to the White House Tavern, just around the corner.