Your Off-Season Aspen Guide
Welcome to Aspen. Soaring at 8,000 feet in the Roaring Fork Valley of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, summer wildflowers and green Aspen groves are seemingly everywhere. Head out for first-class art, rotating concerts and outdoor adventure. Later, check out the hot eateries and don’t miss the watering holes that once served the town’s thirsty hippies, artists and outlaws. Below, a few ideas on how to plan your off-season weekend in Aspen.
Music, Art, Culture
Set in a Victorian-era building, the Wheeler Opera House rotates dance performances, festivals and concerts (DanceAspen’s Solstice is performing in late August). Nearby, the Aspen Institute opened the Resnick Center for Herbert Bayer Studies, a museum dedicated to the life and times of Herbert Bayer, a former Bauhaus art school teacher who helped mold the town’s vibe.
Smack in the heart of town, Japanese architect Shigeru Ban’s Aspen Art Museum, is a modern, 3-story wood lattice-cubed marvel; a striking place to view contemporary art (German painter “Florian Krewer: everybody rise,” first-ever solo exhibition is running thru September 24th) and followed by lunch atop the rooftop café. Later, check the line-up at Belly Up, the famed live music venue, known to host acts like LCD Soundsystem and Lil Wayne.
Eating and Drinking
A table at chef Barclay Dodge’s creative, fine dining eatery Bosq ensures you’re eating the local bounty, thanks to artfully-arranged plates with foraged ingredients from the region. For fresh seafood, the timber-clad Clark’s Oyster Bar serves is your best bet. And Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s namesake eatery still reigns for tasty sushi, choice sake and come post-meal; a palate cleansing Komos (neat, please). In the mornings, drop by Poppycocks Café (est. 1971) for oatmeal buttermilk pancakes or hit the low-key Grateful Deli for lunchtime panini.
Brunch calling? Reserve a table at the laid-back Bear Den Aspen. Elsewhere, French Alpine Bistro serves crepes and bubbling pots of cheese fondue. You can also visit White House Tavern for a crispy chicken sandwich with Swiss cheese. For picnic provisions, Meat and Cheese, a restaurant-specialty food spot has you covered. Or, bypass food altogether and slip into the Tex-Mex flared Las Montanas for tequila and mezcal drinks. There’s also Plato, a cheery spot slinging hand-crafted cocktails with mountain views. For a feast of lobster cacio e pepe and wine, drop by Casa D'Angelo; while Duemani serves fresh crudos, tartares, and seafood towers. The locals like to conjure at Mi Chola, an unfussy Mexican spot doling out crunchy chips, fresh guacamole, queso fundido and spicy margaritas. Meanwhile, Campo De Fiori is beloved for their espresso martinis, while the W Aspen’s rooftop pool and bar, you’ll find soothing libations (and some made with Komos).
Cowboy Fixins’ and The Great Outdoors
Kemo Sabe, the creaky downtown storefront hawks cowboy boots, belts and iconic Stetson hats. They also make their own brims – and based on how you’d like to wear it on your head, they’ll mold it to your exact specifications using high-powered steam. And, while you wait – you can sip Komos compliments of the shop’s long wood-paneled, saloon-style bar. And because this is Aspen, you’ll also find high-end shops including Ralph Lauren, Prada and Gucci.
Need to stretch your legs? Smuggler Mountain Trail, Hunter Creek and Sunnyside Trail are all ideal options for moderate hikers. If horseback riding is your thing, enlist in a half-day ride on the Maroon Bells Creek with views that seem to have been plucked out of an old John Wayne Western. You can also take in sights from the comfort of your car; the ride to Ashcroft Ghost Town (it sure smacks of a Hollywood set) hosts sweeping views and Aspen groves.
Accommodations
Longtime ski-in, ski-out favorite, The Little Nell features 92-rooms, dolled up by designer Holly Hunt in a creamy palette with blue and gray shades. Ask the guest services team to organize a custom fly-fishing trip to Roaring Fork Valley or T-Lazy T Ranch. Later, pair your mountainside Komos drinks and crispy truffle fries at Ajax Tavern with some of the best people watching in all of town. Period. Or drop by Element 47 for a tasty supper (ask to sneak down to the famed, Kubrick-red-hued wine cellar).
Nearby, the historic Western-Victorian landmark, Hotel Jerome (est. 1889) has 99-rooms, gussied up with burnished bed frames, wooden deer heads and leather writing desks. Soak up the stellar views from the heated outdoor pool (or hot tub). Later, dip into J-Bar – the old wood-clad watering hole (and unofficial campaign HQ of gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson) still known for its hearty burgers and frosty pints. After you bag a “14’er” head to the spa for a recovery massage using CBD balm. Thirsty again? Bad Harriet, a swanky subterranean bar pours speakeasy style libations.
