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ASPEN VACATION RENTALS, COLORADO |
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Why Vacation in Aspen |
| Regarded as one of the finest ski resorts, the beautiful town of Aspen in Colorado is also a delightful mix of cultural events, art programs and a sophisticated nightlife. |
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Aspen Vacation Rental Information |
Aspen, the biggest city and county seat of Pitkin County in Colorado, is a charming destination featuring a wide range of Aspen vacation rentals including ski in ski out chalets, houses, duplexes, town homes, villas, mountain cabins, chateaux, cottages, studio apartments and condos. Came into existence as a mining camp and got its name from the abundance of aspen trees in this region, Aspen has now
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become a popular ski resort and a cultural hotspot. Aspen is an ideal choice for a vacation rental home as it offers a lot of facilities for skiing and is situated at a short destination from Snowmass, Crested Butte, Redstone, Leadville, Bachelor Gulch and Avon. A vacation rental home in Aspen is perfect as it gives you the opportunity to unwind and relax and feel at home unlike a hotel room that has quite a few constraints attached to it.
In Aspen, you will find fully decked 2 to 5 bedrooms that would accommodate somewhere between 2 to 12 people. Most of the vacation homes offer spectacular views of the snow-capped mountains and are minutes from the lifts that take you up to your favorite slope. The common amenities you can find in vacation rentals here may include wood-burning fireplace, large outdoor deck, hot tub, wet bar, cable TV, CD/DVD player, wireless internet access, BBQ grill and garage. Some of the vacation rentals even offer you facilities for group meetings. |
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Special Information for Booking Vacation Rentals in Aspen |
| While booking vacation rentals in Aspen, you have to take in consideration a few things. You may be required to make an advance payment of 50% at time of booking. Usually vacation rental owners allow you to make payment through various modes including cashier’s check, wire transfer or credit card. The cancellation procedure may vary and you would need to check with the vacation rental owner. Most of the rentals may include a 9.6% state and local tax and a 2.4% service fee. You may also be required to pay a security deposit and a cleaning fee. The minimum night stay may vary depending on the season. Usually during peak season, the minimum night stay can go up to seven nights and in lean months it can be as low as two nights. Some rentals may require you to stay from Sunday to Sunday or Saturday to Saturday. The check-in check-out time may vary from owner to owner. Most of the vacation homes in Aspen do not allow pets, however it is best to check with the vacation rental owner. |
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Must See in Aspen |
Situated at an elevation of 7,908 feet, Aspen is one of the most enchanted skiing resorts in the world. Besides being a hotspot for celebrities and people from the glamour world, Aspen is also a town bathed in the rich shades of culture and tradition. Skiing is definitely the predominant activity for most and the slopes of Ajax, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk will surely exceed your expectations. When not
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| skiing, enjoy a dog sledding ride, marvel at Aspen’s pristine beauty aboard a hot air balloon or immerse yourself in a potpourri of cultural events and festivals. |
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Sights and Attractions in Aspen |
| When not on the slopes, get a glimpse into Aspen’s colorful culture and heritage through its myriad monuments, museums and galleries.
• Wheeler Stallard House Museum
• Aspen Art Museum
• Huntsman Gallery
• Wheeler Opera House
• Aspen Fountain |
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Outdoor Recreation in Aspen |
| Besides being a haven for skiers, Aspen is also ideal for outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, fly fishing, rafting etc. While winters is perfect for skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, summers present to you the opportunity to enjoy fishing, hiking, biking etc.
• Skiing
• Hiking and Biking
• Fly Fishing | |
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Golfing in Aspen |
Golfers will enjoy practicing their shots at the various beautiful golf courses in Aspen that overlook some of the most spectacular vistas.
• River Valley Ranch Golf Club
• Aspen Golf and Tennis Club
• Lakota Canyon Ranch Golf Club
• Snowmass Club | |
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Aspen Fairs and Festivals |
| Aspen is also home to year round fairs and festivals that truly represent the character and spirit of this glamorous ski resort.
• Aspen Arts Festival
• Aspen Music Festival and School
• Winterskol |
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Dining and Nightlife in Aspen |
Aspen offers a variety of wonderful dining and nightlife opportunities. The options for dining are extensive, ranging from elegant restaurants and lively sushi bars to family eateries and affordable but excellent local diners. One such place that deserves a mention is the Little Annie’s Eating House, one of the oldest and local favorite that serves wonderful home cooked meals including diner classics and steaks. Relish world famous barbecue at the Hickory House that has won top prize in 43 national competitions for its barbecue dishes. From smoke pork to pit-smoked ham and baby back ribs, you are sure to leave satiated and eager to return for more once you step out of this excellent local diner.
Those with a little more chic and refined taste can head to Kenichi that has also been voted as Aspen’s ‘best place to see and be seen’. Here you can sample exotic seafood delicacies such as Bamboo Salmon or even choose from over 30 items of Sushi. If you have a craving for Mexican grub, then head to Su Casa which is known for its specialty dishes like Carnitas, Camorones and Chillies Rellenos. Those with a fetish for Italian will savor the pastas and the risottos against a warm and a lively ambience at the Campo De Fiori. And we all know no dining experience is complete without French cuisine and Aspen has one of the finest French restaurants – Cache Cache that boasts a delectable mix of seafood, meat and vegetarian dishes and it is recommended you opt for the outdoor patio if you visiting Aspen in the summers.
Besides dining, Aspen is also known for one other thing and that is its eclectic nightlife as it has something for everyone from billiards to jazz clubs, discos, theatre to pubs, bars and coffee houses. Dating back to 1890s, Red Onion, Aspen’s oldest bar and restaurant is worth a visit as it still has the ambience and the look of an old mining saloon and one of the best places to mix around with the locals. Hip and swanky, Mezzaluna is perfect if you want to be spotted with who’s who of the tinsel town while you enjoy the benefits of happy hours at its sassy horseshoe shaped bar and savor sumptuous delicacies. For those who can’t get enough of tequila shots, can head to Jimmy’s which boasts of having the largest tequila menu in the country and is also popular for its Salsa Night every Saturday. Imagine sipping a martini that is garnished with a Gummy Bear – strange yet exciting – enjoy this and many more unique concoctions at Club Chelsea that lets you choose from an extensive selection of single marts, ports and cognacs and yes martinis of course.
Bars, clubs and pubs are not the only way to unwind after a day on the slopes; you can also opt for other kinds of entertainment such as cultural events, after all Aspen isn’t called the cultural hub for nothing. Since its inception in 1889, the Wheeler Opera House has been a major contributor to Aspen’s thriving cultural scene and even now it’s a perfect venue to catch a live concert, musical, a theatre performance or a screening of a foreign movie. Treat yourself and your family to a live ballet performance at Aspen Santa Fe Ballet that has also been pivotal in contributing to Aspen’s cultural fame through teaching and conducting ballet and jazz concerts. |
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Shopping in Aspen |
Expensive and classy, shopping in Aspen is definitely an experience. Big brands, ritzy labels, exclusive stores and galleries – Aspen is a shopper’s delight. Pick up a hand-crafted souvenir at Aspen Potters that specializes in selling a variety of handicrafts made by the local artisans. For more authentic gifts, Curious George Collectibles is another great shop, where you can pick up handmade jewelry, belt buckles, ornate turquoise rings or even sterling horse head buckles. If this doesn’t catch your fancy, why not buy a rare Zuni doll, Native American peace pipes or better still an antique knife, a rifle or a gun.
If you are one of those who don’t find Wild West charming enough, you can always visit the many art galleries that Aspen has to offer. Browse through an extensive collection of works of some of the nationally renowned artists at the Baldwin Gallery or be the first one to know about upcoming artists through their works displayed at the David Florida Gallery. Whether you plan to buy or not a visit to Fetzer Antiques is a must that specializes in 18th and 19th century English and European items. Those with a fetish for books must drop by at the Explore Booksellers and Bistro, a place where book worms can spend hours musing through the varied collection while munching on delectable snacks. Last but definitely not the least; Ute Mountain is a store where you can shop for all your ski clothes and equipment, after all you are in Aspen to ski, right? |
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Best Times to Visit Aspen |
If you don't mind the unpredictable weather of Colorado, then spring and fall are the best seasons to visit Aspen. It is the time when rates are low and crowds are less. Spring offers excellent opportunity to enjoy outdoors with innumerable recreation activities such as fishing, river rafting on snow and viewing wildlife and birds. In the fall, the environs look beautiful as the aspen trees cover the mountains with their gold like leaves. The ski resorts of Aspen keep buzzing from the months of December to early April and particularly in the times of Christmas and other holidays.
In summers, starting in late June or July, days are generally warm. The maximum temperatures go up to 80°F during day time, though the night time temperatures easily come down to 40°F or 50°F. You can face thunderstorms in the afternoon that are quite usual to happen on the high peaks. Winter comes around November month and one can see thick snow by December. Temperatures in winter reach freezing point during the days and at night it can get as low as -60° F. |
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Time Zone for Aspen |
Mountain Standard Time. | |
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Getting To and Around Aspen |
| Aspen is located in the beautiful Roaring Fork Valley. The nearest airport is Aspen/Pitkin County Airport which is also known as Sandy Field. It is located three miles from downtown. Here, you will find the round trip daily services between Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Minneapolis, Memphis and Phoenix. To drive into Aspen, you should drive from Aspen Airport and turn right on Highway 82 in West. The Eagle County Regional Airport is located 70 miles from Aspen, and is served by six airlines. You can avail the nonstop flight service from 13 cities. The Colorado Mountain Express offers shuttle service that connects Aspen, Denver, Summit County, Vail, Steamboat Springs and other areas. For some busy destinations, such as the resorts and Denver International Airport, you can be benefited with door to door service. |
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