Friday, October 29, 2010

Aspen’s Ski Resorts Top Ten of 2010 by Ski Magazine

Ski Magazine has released the best 30 ski resorts in North America for 2010 and Aspen’s infamous “power of four” mountains have taken the cake!

Snowmass Ski Resort ranked #6, Aspen made #7 and Aspen Highlands #10- 3 out of 4 in the top ten! Ya Aspen! And even though sweet & spicy Buttermilk didn’t make the “list” we all know it’s a super cool mountain that hosts the very best in terrain park action and is home to the Winter X GAMES!

Book your winter ski vacation at the Inn at Aspen Now! If you book before Nhttp://www.eataspen.com/blog/?p=2101ov. 12 you can receive free nights on your stay!

So what are they saying about these infamous resorts?

Snowmass’s Glory and Gripes according to readers, “We love this place.” Stellar natural snow and widespread snowmaking, along with “Great weather—lots of bluebird days,” also help make it “an overall fun place to be.” But it always comes back to the skiing. With one of the longest verticals in America, one of the country’s biggest superpipes, blockbuster powder, plus Lifts, Grooming, Terrain Parks, Terrain Variety, On-Mountain Food, Lodging and Family Programs all ranked in the top 11, Snowmass has legitimate claims to being what readers often call it: the “world’s best ski area.” Read full article

Aspen’s Glory and Gripes according to Ski Magazine readers, The key to under-standing Aspen is counter-intuitive. It’s not about the glitz, though there is plenty. The key to appreciating Aspen is to visit with a less-is-more attitude. The place still feels like a small town. An incredibly glamorous small town, but small nonetheless. And its pleasures are, well, quite simple. You ski. You drink. You dine. Depending on the day, your mood and the snow, you change the percentages of time spent doing each. (Depending on the day, your mood and the snow, you might change the sequence of doing each.) Aspen is, above all, about living the good life, which is defined here as nothing more complex than skiing and socializing. It’s good to see Aspen climb back into the Top 10. Read full Article.

Aspen Highlands’ Glory and Gripes according to Ski Magazine readers, “Readers rave about the terrain—“all the expert runs you can handle”—especially the sweet gladed trees off Boomerang and the fast groomers of Gunbarrel and Golden Horn. But it’s the Bowl that truly wows—a 45-minute hike up a knife ridge delivers you, panting, to the top of the steepest, snowiest inbounds terrain in the state. “Hiking the Bowl is incredible,” says a reader. “It’s like being on Everest.” Not really, but the 360-degree view of the iconic Maroon Bells and Elk Mountains from the summit is so astounding—No. 3 in Scenery—it alone is worth the sweat. Not into earning your turns? Don’t worry. Lift lines are nonexistent, as you “ski onto all the chairs almost every day.” Read the Full Article.

Don't miss out on the power of these four Aspen mountains! Book before Nov. 12 and get free nights on your winter vacation!

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Guide to 2010 Halloween in Aspen: best parties, best bars and creepiest hangouts!


The ghosts, ghouls and freaks are preparing themselves for the freakiest night of the year! Halloween of course! And Aspen is no different- who doesn’t enjoy dressing up to scare the night away… that is a costume right?

Here is the Halloween guide to Aspen so you can creep around to the scariest places all night!
  • EXTRA SPECIAL ALERT: Caribou Club Halloween Party
    Descend into the depths of hell at the Caribou Club! This is the one night of the year that Caribou opens its doors to the public & you must be in costume to enter.
    Dinner: $65 for 4 courses
    Party: Free with Costume, 10:00pm

  • Halloween Pre-Party at Aspen Brewing Co.
    Live Music, Costumes, Games, and Beer. Sunday, October 31, 6:00pm - 9:00pm

  • Nightmare on Durant Street - Part 2 39 Degrees and Sky Hotel
    $10 tickets available from the Sky Hotel Front Desk include:
    * Tasting buffet between 5pm and 8pm
    * One Free Halloween Punch
    * DJ Dylan until late
    * Access to all 3 party areas
    * Party entry will be by the front hotel door only
    * This is strictly a 21+ event

  • Danger Kitty at Belly Up Aspen
    Come out Halloween night, wear your costume and party with this spandex-wearing, eye-shadow laden, devil-horn-throwing hair, 80's tribute band that play all the rad 80's hits to get you on the dance floor. There will be a costume contest with prizes: $1,000 cash for 1st prize, $250 at Matsuhisa for 2nd, and $100 at Belly Up for 3rd.

  • The Red Onion Halloween Party
    Party featuring DJ Baya Voce with jello shots, hourly prizes, and a costume contest at midnight.

  • Bloody Sunday at Eric's
    Eric's is going BIG on their last night of the season! DJ Naka G will be spinnin' hip-hop, old-school, top 40 & electronica.
Haunted Tours:
  • Walking With the Dead: Oct.29th, 30th, & 31st. 5:30pm
    “The Walking With The Dead tour rests artfully somewhere between dry textbook history learning, and the “creeps jumping out at you with chainsaws” intensity of today’s haunted houses.” -Aspen.com
    A guided walk through Aspen’s first burial ground, the Ute Cemetery, tells the story of the pioneers of “Ute City”. Hear of the lonely buffalo soldier and toast to the Scotsman.
    Buy Tickets at Aspenshowtickets.com

  • Aspen's Dark Side : Wednesday Oct. 27 8pm
    “Ghosts abound. Screams fill the air. Blood flows across bar room floors. Amazingly, those images come to life at night right here in Aspen on Aspen’s DarkSide.” -The Aspen Times Scare yourself with the Jungles of Durant, Murder at the Red Onion, and the Ghosts of the Jerome are a few of the favorite tales that will entertain you on an evening walk through Aspen. More than just an Aspen Ghost Tour, it’s also a glimpse into the lesser known history of Aspen. Buy Tickets at Aspenshowtickets.com
Have a scary Halloween and be sure you don't mistake a trick or treater for the real Aspen ghosts!
See other suggestions from http://aspen.skollie.com photos aspen walking tours.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Aspen Travel Guide: Tips for an Easy Trip to Aspen

Aspen is a destination ski town however getting here does not have to be hard! There are many forms of travel, lodging options and activities options that can enrich your vacation and here are some of our tips for navigating your way to the Aspen Valley!
  1. Get Lodging! We of course recommend our own Inn at Aspen which is ideally located at the base of Buttermilk Ski Resort and only a few minutes into downtown Aspen or 15 minutes from Snowmass. Also view the aspenchamber.org website to see a full list of lodging options in Aspen. But we bet you will like our pricing and our location!

  2. Plan the Best Transportation Options: Whether you fly, drive, rent a car, book a shuttle, caravan, sled or dumb and dumber style- Vespa your way, you will be glad you made the trip!
    • Aspen Flights- United and Frontier have added extra flights making it that much easier.
    • Driving- see our driving directions but you definitely don’t need a car to get around Aspen. Aspen and Snowmass are super pedestrian friendly with large sidewalks, outdoor malls, and your in a small town!
    • Public Transportation in town is Free! All ski shuttles cross town shuttles and airport buses are free. Buses depart on average every 10 minutes. Buses out to the Inn at Aspen are only a few dollars. No more treacherous winter driving, paying for gas or parking ($15.00 for on mountain, and $2.00/hour in the town).

  3. Schedule the Fun! Enjoy one ski ticket that allows you access to all Four of Aspen’s supreme ski resorts! If you take a day off from skiing indulge in the amazing activities Aspen holds from the Krabloonik Sled Dogs, cross country skiing, shopping downtown Aspen, strolling the Art Galleries or take a spa day!

  4. Plan for the Altitude:
    • Sunscreen! Using sun screen in the Rocky Mountains is as important as using a seat belt or wearing a helmet. Use SPF 30 and apply frequently. Be aware that the sun's reflection off the snow is strong even on cloudy days.
    • Water! It is easy to become dehydrated at high altitude especially after you have been playing hard- drink lots of water!
    • Altitude! You’re at more than 7,000 feet in Aspen Snowmass so you may feel the effects of altitude sickness. If you start to feel dizzy or nauseous, or have a headache on the hill, head back to the base and drink more water. You can help prevent altitude sickness by limiting your physical activity for the first few days and drink alcohol in moderation.
Stay with us at the Inn at Aspen and save money to spend on other parts of your vacation while you stay in supreme ski in ski out location at Buttermilk! See our current Lodging Deals!

Delicious Aspen Restaurant Deals: Aspen’s Dining Scene in the Off Season

Things begin to slow down a bit this time of year in Aspen, CO- its like a calm before the winter storms! But despite the slower feel this is one of the best times of the year to get amazing restaurant deals in Aspen- that’s right “deal” and “Aspen” in the same sentence! See our recommendations of the best Aspen restaurants!

Stay at the Inn at Aspen while you sample this delicious fare and take in the beauty and calm of Aspen! Stay for as little as $89/night.

Here are the Aspen Restaurant Deals for Fall 2010! For a complete list of restaurants go to EatAspen.com Do beware alot of Restaurants close during November before ski season begins. Check at EatAspen for current dining hours.

-Ajax Tavern offers a $28 prix fixe dinner.
-Kenichi Japanese Restaurant offers 50% off bottles of wine over $125.
-Montagna Modern American Restaurant offers a $58 prix fixe
-Wienerstube Austrian Restaurant is offering 20% off with a “Locals Card”
-Zanes Tavern Aspen offers a Burger & Bud for $8.95 between 11am-3pm

-Brexi offers a $34 prixe fixe. Closes in November.
-Brunelleschi’s Italian Restaurant offers a $10 Menu special nightly.
-Cache Cache French Restaurant offers $40 three course dinner. Closes October 30th.
-Campo di Fiore Italian Restaurant offers 25% off. Closed November.
-Elevation Restaurant offers a $35 three course meal.
-il Mulino New York in Aspen offers a $20 lunch & $30 dinner.
-Mezzaluna Italian Restaurant offers 2 for 1 dinner entrees.
-Pitkin County Tavern offers $5 dinner specials from fish tacos to prime rib sandwiches & 50% off (Crab Thursdays, Steak Fridays, & Prime Rib Saturdays)
-The Restaurant at the St. Regis is offering a $25 two course lunch prix fixe.
-Rustique French Bistro is offering prix fixe menus from $26 to $35.
-The Silver Queen Restaurant offers $30 three course prix fixe & 30% off for locals on Sundays.
-The Wild Fig is offering a $33 three course prix fixe.

Stay at the Inn at Aspen and enjoy the pristine views and outdoor activities right out the backdoor! Stay during fall for as little as $89/night- book online now!