Most people picture snowy mountain tops and eagerly clad skiers when thinking about Aspen and Snowmass, but these mountainous locations have a great deal more to offer, discovers
After an early start, a long-haul flight and a rather bumpy connecting flight into the mountains, I was relieved to finally touch down in Aspen, Colorado. The sun was shining as we stepped off the plane and into the quaint little airport – complete with carved wooden bears holding welcome signs – before heading to downtown Aspen, just three miles away.
ARRIVING IN ASPEN
As the historic mountain town came into view, I immediately fell in love with the perfectly cosy and authentic small-town vibe it radiated. While Aspen is often pictured alongside snow, there was something about the infinitely bright sunshine that made the town come alive.
We checked into the most luxurious hotel I’ve ever set foot in, The Little Nell (thelittlenell. com), before setting off on a guided tour with Dean’s Aspen Walking Tours (aspenwalkingtours.com) to learn about Aspen’s proud history, while wandering through the jubilant streets – which feel like they’ve been plucked from a faultless movie set – complete with talented musicians on every corner and bright floral gardens lining the pavements.
HITTING THE TR AILS
The next day, after a nourishing breakfast, we donned our hiking boots and headed to the gondola (conveniently located right next to the hotel) to ascend Aspen Mountain – a journey complete with picturesque views over the town, which sits perfectly nestled among surrounding mountains. Upon reaching the top, we met with our guide from the ACES (Aspen Center for Environmental Studies; aspennature.org) for a guided hike, during which we explored shaded forests, admired wildflower meadows and gazed at the most unreal ‘pinch-me’ views I have ever seen.
After the guided portion of our hike, we continued to explore at our leisure, unable to peel our eyes away from the picture-perfect landscape. Then we descended the mountain and enjoyed a hearty lunch at The Little Nell’s Ajax Tavern – featuring the renowned truffle fries, which we were told we had to try – followed by a relaxing afternoon of culture and classical music at Aspen Art Museum (aspenartmuseum.org) and the Aspen Music Festival (aspenmusicfestival.com).
BIKING TO THE BELLS
The next morning, we hopped on some e-bikes for a visit to the most photographed mountains in North America: the Maroon Bells. Having never ridden an e-bike before, the initial propulsion caught me by surprise, but once I managed to balance out my pedalling with the motor, the extra oomph was greatly appreciated during the uphill
