Western wear and accessories at Kemo Sabe. Image credit: Shutterstock
Pull up to the horse hitching rail outside Kemo Sabe Western wear store on Galena Street and take home the ultimate Aspen souvenir by crafting a custom cowboy hat. Make it one of a kind by choosing personal accessories, including diamond hatbands, peacock feathers, and your branded initials. Be sure to try some local whiskey at VIP bar before checking out. Clients include Rihanna, Kevin Costner, and Jeff Bezos, and hats range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. kemosabe.com
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Shareable plates at West End Social are perfect for après-ski or hike. Image credit: Aspen Meadows
Simple, but extraordinary, is the ethos behind Meat & Cheese, where the global food vibe is always innovative and fun with consistent delivery. A staple on Aspen’s lunch and dinner dining scene, try the decadent signature free-range, rotisserie chicken board with roasted potatoes, or the platter of Korean pork belly with butter lettuce, pickled cucumber, and ginger scallion sauce. No reservations are accepted, so be prepared to wait, but its street-side location is perfect for people watching along Aspen’s “Restaurant Row.” meatandcheeseaspen.com
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Hiking trail in the Hunter-Fryingpan Wilderness Colorado. Image credit: Shutterstock
What sets Aspen apart from other famous ski towns is the access it provides to high-quality art, with approximately 20 art galleries and two free art museums. The Aspen Art Museum is an exhibition-focused modern art institute in a landmark Shigeru Ban-designed building, while Aspen’s newest museum, The Resnick Center for Herbert Bayer Studies, is dedicated to the prolific modern artist and designer who called Aspen home for three decades. aspenartmuseum.org
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One of the finest examples of a Rails to Trails project in the United States, the Rio Grande Trail is a paved, 42-mile path that runs the length of the Roaring Fork Valley, from Aspen to Glenwood Springs. Rent an e-bike or pick up a WE-Cycle bikeshare (the first 30 minutes are free) and ride “downvalley” away from traffic, searching for bald eagles and red-tailed hawks, and stopping at beautiful viewpoints, restaurants, and the towns of Basalt and Carbondale along the way. rfta.com/trail-information
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POMPEII: TOURING THE RUINS
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Cape Cod easily evokes memories of years gone by for many visitors, with its classic clam shacks, roadside ice cream stands, and village vibes. Lean in to the nostalgia at the Wellfleet Drive-In Theatre, which has been screening flicks since 1957. It’s a definite throwback to another era and loads of fun. In addition to its massive movie screen, the site is home to the Cape’s biggest flea market by day, where some 150 vendors sell their wares. There’s also a playground, a vintage 18-hole miniature golf course, and an outdoor bar.
LOCAL CELEBRITY
YOU’RE SURROUNDED
WORTH THE WAIT
GATHERING PLACE
GEMS OF ASPEN
HATS OFF
NEW SKI TRAILS
BACKYARD PLAYGROUND
FOR ART’S SAKE
Aspen’s most perfect patio dining is found at West End Social. With its unobstructed 270-degree mountain views, this newly renovated restaurant and bar in the picturesque West End neighborhood offers a menu of sharable plates perfect for après-ski or hike. Signature menu items include dry-aged maple leaf duck and a unique vegan dish combining salt-roasted celery with toasted lemon meringue, garnished with oregano and peanuts. aspenmeadows.com/dining
While Aspen is known for attracting celebrities, the restaurant BOSQ may be its most famous current resident. The first and only Michelin-Starred restaurant in town, BOSQ is family-owned and helmed by local chef Barclay Dodge. Focused on showcasing locally sourced ingredients with imaginative presentation, BOSQ dishes are both a feast for the eyes and palate, providing a taste and dining experience in Aspen that is as unique as its high Alpine locale. bosqaspen.com
Pierre/Famille in downtown Aspen is one of the most sought-after sellers of estate jewelry in the United States. Specializing in signed period pieces from the Edwardian to Art Deco eras, the store curates antique rings, bracelets, and necklaces made with the highest-quality gemstones, including unique pieces by Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Tiffany. Browsing the cases at Pierre/Famille is akin to exploring a small museum of history’s finest jewels from around the globe. pierrefamille.com
Explore Booksellers is an independent bookstore located in a historic mining cabin on Aspen’s Main Street. Known as a gathering place for those who love books, ideas, and conversation, this bookstore has been hosting its free, salon-style literary gatherings, workshops, and educational events for Aspen readers since 1975. It sells a variety of regional titles by local authors, has a room dedicated to children’s literature, and sells giftable items such as cards, journals, and vinyl. explorebooksellers.com
The Hunter-Fryingpan Wilderness is considered “Aspen’s backyard,” offering miles of single track and trails on which to bike and hike. From downtown Aspen, access this vast area via the Hunter Creek Trail. The open meadow of the Hunter Creek Valley floor – where an abandoned mining shack still stands – is about as close to Rocky Mountain nirvana as it gets. Throw down a picnic blanket and enjoy the wildflowers, views of local ski areas, and 12,965-foot Mount Sopris in the distance. fs.usda.gov
Aspen Skiing Co. is home to four world-class ski areas, of which Aspen Mountain is a must-visit in ski season. Try Ruthie’s Run and the trails along Gentleman’s Ridge, and when it’s time to take a break, try the apple strudel at Bonnie’s Restaurant. This year, Aspen became host to a new section of trails called Hero’s, which added 153 acres of terrain to the upper, eastern area of Aspen Mountain. This was Aspen’s first significant addition since 1985, when the Silver Queen Gondola opened. aspensnowmass.com
The open meadow of the Hunter Creek Valley floor – where an abandoned mining shack still stands – is about as close to Rocky Mountain nirvana as it gets
The open meadow of the Hunter Creek Valley floor – where an abandoned mining shack still stands – is about as close to Rocky Mountain nirvana as it gets
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Maroon Bells and Maroon Lake are roughly ten miles from Aspen. Image credit: Shutterstock
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