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HIGH - ALTITUDE LIFESTYLE

Felix Roasting Co. at Hotel Jerome, Auberge Collection.

ASP E N E VER AFT E R

Where to eat, shop, play, and stay in Colorado’s perennial high-altitude hot spot.

In the pantheon of the world’s best-loved mountain towns, few places can hold a candle to Aspen.

An icon of the American West, it’s a rare destination that delivers as much in powder-spun slopes, sublime autumn vistas, and varied hiking terrain as it o ers in world-class cultural highlights, all wrapped in the Victorian-era charm of Colorado’s storybook setting.

Come summer and fall, long days in the great outdoors segue seamlessly into forays into art, music, lm, and ne dining. Begin your morning gently rising with the sun from the Roaring Fork Valley in a hot air balloon, then spend the a ernoon hiking through the autumnal glow of an aspen grove along the Maroon Lake Scenic Loop. A erward, retreat back to town to enjoy a Michelin-starred restaurant or an independent lm screening at a historic theater.

RISE & SHINE

Any energetic Aspen day starts with something strong, and preferably artfully rendered in the cup, too, from one of the town’s talented baristas. Tucked inside the historic Hotel Jerome, Auberge Collection (auberge.com/ hotel-jerome), the design-forward Felix Roasting Co. (felixroastingco.com) transports those in need of ca eine to the ambiance of a turn-ofthe-century co eehouse. Floral wall coverings, vintage Murano glass chandeliers, pressed-tin ceilings, and velvet-clad chairs are the backdrop for espresso drinks brewed from beans predominantly sourced from farms in the highlands of Ethiopia and Central and South America. For something delightful and surprising, consider the honeycomb lavender latte made with raw cacao and espresso-infused steamed sweet cream and garnished with lavender from the hotel’s garden.

Stick around for a leisurely breakfast at Michelin-recommended Prospect, where breakfast favorites tap seasonal ingredients in dishes like the huckleberry skillet cake—a decadent pancake-style cake cooked in a cast iron skillet, topped with Meyer lemon butter and candied pine nuts.

For a grab-and-go option before a day on the trails, Silvers (silversaspen.com) puts an elevated spin on the bagel bar. Everything is baked on-site, with artisanal spreads as toppers. Among the chef-prepared sandwiches is the caviar bagel, served open-faced with herbed cream cheese and lashings of the decadent black pearls.

ADVENTURE IS CALLING

Aspen draws tness fanatics keen to pedal on their own power to gain 1,300 feet of elevation along the seven-mile route from Highlands to Maroon Lake—as well as those who prefer to tackle this iconic route on an e-bike. A pleasure to cycle either way, Maroon Creek Road stays mostly empty of vehicles, putting the joy entirely in the journey during peak cycling season, which runs from late May into October. You’ll nd pedal-assist e-bikes, kids’ bikes, road bikes, and more at locally owned Aspen Bikes (aspenbikes.com), which boasts Aspen’s largest rental eet.

A natural high—with little e ort required— awaits when ascend with Blazing Adventures (blazingadventures.com) for a sunrise hot air balloon ride, followed by a delightful Champagne brunch back on the ground. Expect incredible views of the Elk Mountains and Roaring Fork Valley, whether the region is donned in a coat of many colors for autumn or at peak emerald in summer.

Guided horseback-riding adventures through the high country with family-owned T-Lazy-7 Ranch (tlazy7.com) are another intrepid option for immersing in Aspen’s unparalleled landscapes as you follow your guide along trails within the White River National Forest. Overnight trips take things up a notch with gourmet meals served under a canopy of stars and plenty of story swapping around the camp re.

WIND DOWN

Wellness comes in as many forms in Aspen as there are humans seeking to channel it. For highly intuitive Pilates and yoga instruction in a boutique tness space, register well in advance for classes like candlelit restorative yoga and somatic freedom (a blend of intentional breath and realignment work) at O2 (o2life.com). Soundbath sessions with crystal healing bowls, heated Vinyasa ow, and gentle stretch and meditation classes are among the additional ways to relax here and tap into your inner zen.

To reap the bene ts of sauna and cold plunge in a private and luxurious setting, Base State Longevity (basestatelongevity.com) o ers private suites—and everything you could desire to detoxify, ward o in ammation, and improve circulation. Among the available biohacks are IV drips, red-light therapy to combat jet lag, Normatec leg compression, lymphatic drainage sessions, and concentrated oxygen that’s delivered while you relax.

Above: Maroon Lake, one of Aspen’s most iconic sites on the Maroon Bells network of hiking and biking trails.

SHOP

ere’s a retail experience for every shopper ready to indulge along the streets of Aspen. And the best part is that shopping here is as much about the immersive moments as it is the one-of-a-kind goods on the shelves.

For starters, you can browse some of the world’s most sought-a er luxury brands in a cozy small-town setting, including Ralph Lauren, Hermès, and Moncler. Morgenthal Frederics (morgenthalfrederics.com), a ne eyewear purveyor from New York, is known for its handcra ed artistry, with frames from sought-a er brands like Sabyasachi and its hand-painted enamel ourishes.

lets and huggies earrings among the many solid-gold and gold-plated options.

In recent seasons, Goop, travel-inspired women’s lifestyle shop LoveShackFancy, Revolve, Veronica Beard, and a new, two-story Chanel “seasonal boutique” have opened brick-andmortar shops downtown.

Coveted jewelry brands beckon with all things that glitter within Aspen’s beautiful Victorian buildings in and around Main Street, among them Anna Zuckerman (annazuckerman.com) and Milan’s Buccellati (buccellati.com).

A contemporary jewelry standout is Gorjana (gorjana.com), on the more a ordable end of the spectrum, with delicate birthstone brace-

Azzedine Alaïa and Inès & Maréchal are among the carefully curated international labels to browse at beautiful indie boutique Nuages (nuagesaspen.com). And Aspen’s most beloved consignment shop, where regular nds might include such lightly loved treasures as Céline bags and Louboutin heels, is e Little Bird (thelittlebirdinc.com).

If you’re shopping for items you won’t nd just anywhere, roughly a dozen walkable blocks in downtown Aspen deliver with more than 50 locally owned shops and boutiques to peruse.

Above, from left: A sauna at Base State Longevity; pearl earrings from Buccellati.

Bonpoint • Chloe Kids • Fendi Kids • Pucci Kids • Stella McCartney Kids • Tartine & Chocolat

Camilla

Max & Moi Paris

MM by Max Mara

Rocco Ragni

Rudsak

SOH Cashmere & more

DESTINATION DINING

A lunch date takes an intrepid spin when you book Pine Creek Cookhouse (pinecreek cookhouse.com). Inaccessible by car, the log cabin can be reached via a three-mile round trip adventure from Ashcro ghost town as you follow a Colorado cowboy atop your own horse along a trail lined with quaking aspens. Hearty dishes like hickory-smoked venison French dip and ruby-red rainbow trout with kimchi fried rice are on the menu once you dismount and settle in.

Writer Hunter S. ompson was a regular at Woody Creek Tavern (woodycreektavern.com), a favorite Roaring Fork Valley watering hole that still inspires pilgrimages by plenty of the journalist’s fans. Restored and updated in 2021, the nearly 50-year-old restaurant is open for lunch and dinner and serves up comfort in the form of bison burgers, chorizo chili, and fried chicken. e restaurant is open all year and getting here is half the fun, since you can pedal a bike along the eight-mile stretch of paved Rio Grande Trail from Aspen right to the tavern’s door (you certainly will have earned the house favorite chocolate brownie dessert by then).

SEE

When Walter Paepcke co-founded the Aspen Ski Corporation in 1946, he envisioned a town where sports and culture each found a place at the table for residents and visitors. Paepcke and his wife, Elizabeth, turned to one of the leading gures of the Bauhaus movement, Herbert Bayer, to de ne Aspen’s unique aesthetics. Bayer’s most notable projects here

included a restoration of the Wheeler Opera House (wheeleroperahouse.com), which hosts comedy, theater, musical performances, and more, as well as Hotel Jerome. Dive deeper into Bayer’s pioneering designs at the Resnick Center for Herbert Bayer Studies (thebayercenter.org). Upcoming exhibits preserve the designer’s legacy and include Double Take: Recurrent Dialogues in the Art of Herbert Bayer (June 9, 2026, through April 3, 2027).

Art browsers and admirers as well as serious collectors can easily nd artist-owned spaces, exhibitions, and galleries all over Aspen and the greater Roaring Fork Valley, with something for nearly every a nity. Head to Christopher Martin Gallery (christophermartingallery.com) and Meuse Gallery (meusegallery.com). e latter

Above; Pine Creek Cookhouse elevates hearty dishes like locally sourced rubyred rainbow trout.

showcases the works of renowned British-born artist Simon Bull, whose bold paintings are a joyful expression of life itself.

For world-class art programming, the Shigeru Ban–designed Aspen Art Museum (aspenartmuseum.org) is the town’s preeminent instution—especially come summer when the annual Art Crush welcomes major international artists and presents a glittering gala where donated original works are o ered via live auction.

LISTEN

Aspen’s most legendary live music venue is Belly Up (bellyupaspen.com), which opened its doors in 2005 and continues to host the biggest names in the industry, from Jack White to John Legend. Last year, its owners teamed up with the co-founder of C3 Presents (the production company behind Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits) to open Am7 (am7aspen.com), a live music, private dining, and social club just upstairs from Belly Up, with stunning mountain views.

For a jazz experience that’s world class and accessible to everyone, Jazz Aspen Snowmass

debuted its rst permanent space, the Paul JAS Center (jazzaspensnowmass.org), in late 2025. Overlooking the Cooper Avenue Mall, the 175-seat club allowed the nonpro t to turn its existing cafe series into a de facto supper club, with events showcasing jazz, blues, soul, and funk, among myriad other music genres.

ESSENTIAL RESERVATIONS

No other North American mountain town delivers as diverse a dining landscape as Aspen. You’ll feel transported to Bali at Wayan (wayanaspen.com), chef Cedric Vongerichten’s award-winning French Indonesian restaurant lled with custom Indonesian masks and artwork. Also relatively new on the scene, Zigzag (zigzagaspen.com), conjures a Parisian bistro in the mountains with dishes such as French onion soup, moules frites, and baby beet and goat cheese salad. Summer 2025 newcomer Yuki Aspen (yukiaspen.com), by chef Nobu Matsuhisa, serves up Aspen’s nest sushi as well as Wagyu-topped pizzas.

DISCOVER

Aspen’s good life goes all year round. at said, it’s worth noting two kinds of uno cial social calendars here: one based around what

Above, from left: The galleries at the Resnick Center for Herbert Bayer Studies; the Aspen Art Museum.

Mother Nature brings to the table each season (summer and fall mean lake dips, wild owers, and spectacular foliage), and the other centered on events such as sports, festivals, and cultural programming.

In spring, Aspen Film (aspen lm.org) hosts one of North America’s premier short- lm festivals spotlighting fresh talent during Shortsfest, an Oscar-qualifying event.

If you love books and writers, and wouldn’t mind trying the cra yourself, plan a trip around Summer Words (aspenwords.org), an annual writing conference held for six days in June, with fellowships for emerging writers as well as panels, readings, and workshops.

Also in June, culinary extravaganza Food & Wine Classic (classic.foodandwine.com, June 19–21), lures legends along the lines of chef Jacques Pépin and master sommelier Bobby Stuckey to Aspen Mountain for one of the most hyped food events in the country, complete with cooking demonstrations and private tastings.

Late July’s marquee art event is the Intersect Aspen Art + Design Fair (intersectaspen.com), drawing crowds to the Aspen Ice Garden for an open-air forum showcasing works from bluechip galleries all over the world.

And runners who relish the chance to challenge a dirt trail might consider planning a trip around the Aspen Backcountry Marathon and Heavy Half-Marathon (aravaiparunning.com, August 1) which includes a festival brimming with live music, food trucks, and cra beers.

WHERE TO STAY

Built in 1889, Hotel Jerome, Auberge Collection is deeply woven into the fabric of the Aspen community. e hotel’s latest refresh came from the talented hands of Dallas-based design rm Swoon, which reimagined 93 guest rooms and suites for the 21st century with modern touches like black-and-white, kilim-patterned settees and cashmere drapery. New original art pieces—including works from Adam Eddy and Jordan Wright Patterson—are displayed throughout the rooms. Guests tune in to a game over burgers and beers at the hotel’s historic J-Bar; pamper their sore muscles with a soak in the outdoor hot tub or a massage in Yarrow, Wellbeing by Auberge; and sip cra cocktails next door at the hotel’s subterranean speakeasy, Bad Harriet.