Aspen = Style & Adventure plus Culture & Beauty

Spring, summer, and fall in Aspen are when this mountain paradise really struts its stuff, showcasing the myriad adventures—outdoor, indoor, in the sky, on the water—that make this town the ultimate destination, whatever your passions. An Aspen vacation is an enriching experience —whether learning a new skill, listening to lectures or simply absorbing the spirit that the nearby mountains exude.

What adventure is in Aspen changes by how one defines it. It could be paddling raging rapids by day and taking in an opera by night. Or a morning of mountaintop yoga followed by an Indian cooking class.  Or it could be mountain biking, bluegrass with a breathtaking view, a gourmet dinner, and a martini nightcap. No matter what adventure one chooses, you can find it in Aspen.

Rich History
Aspen is intriguing today, but picture it circa 1885. Home to over 12,000 (nearly twice as many people as live here today), Aspen boasted one of the largest silver veins the world has ever known and the largest nugget of pure silver ever mined (2,350 lbs) was extracted from the Smuggler Mine in Aspen. Rugged miners spent their days scouring the insides of the surrounding hills and their nights bellied up to the Hotel Jerome bar (which is still here today).  When the U.S. government demonetized silver in 1893, Aspen’s boom years ended abruptly. By 1935, an estimated 700 residents lived in Aspen.

Skiing revitalized Aspen. After World War II, intrepid and entrepreneurial vets of the Tenth Mountain Division (the U.S. Army’s mountain-fighting group) translated their experience in the Alps into an infant resort in the Rockies. At the same time, Chicago industrialist Walter Paepcke envisioned Aspen as a summer cultural and intellectual center and put his plan into action, founding the Aspen Music Festival and the Aspen Institute.

Modern Culture Capital
Today, Aspen is a revered destination for those who love music, visual and performing arts, dance, opera, and theatre. The unique and spectacular Bayer Benedict Music tent is an architectural and acoustic masterpiece. Internationally-renowned artists make summer shows in Aspen or workshops at Snowmass’ Anderson Ranch art colony a habit. Aspen’s cultural icons, visiting artists and local up-and-comers help create a mountain town like no other.

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