The Happiness Function

Are you ready to plan the ultimate Aspen, Colorado, snowboarding winter getaway? This article includes an overview of the four ski resorts, how to experience Aspen like locals, delicious and affordable restaurants, where to stay, how to save money, and fun après ski activities!

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How to Visit Aspen, Colorado, Like a Local

Having lived in Colorado for many years, my husband and I frequented all of the mountains under the Aspen Snowmass ® umbrella. We used to live in Grand Junction and Breckenridge. We would drive to the resorts to snowboard and then go home. In fact, our first date was at Aspen Highlands! We love the Aspen area.

We moved to Oklahoma a few years ago (for work), and the next time we visited Aspen, we tried as much as possible to visit like we were still locals.

We were in Aspen recently so Pablo could participate in a two-day clinic to keep up with his American Association of Snowboard Instructors (Rocky Mountain Division) Certification three status. Pablo taught back-to-back ski seasons in Colorado and Patagonia for over ten years!

We wanted to write a post for you on how to spend a lovely weekend in the Aspen area!

Planning Your Trip to Aspen Colorado

The flare of this post is geared towards experiencing Aspen like a local.

Aspen is not like what mainstream media and Hollywood depict if you don’t want it to be. Meaning Aspen is not just for the Kardashians and Hollywood A-listers. In fact, you probably wouldn’t even know who is who because everyone has their ski gear on.

I wanted to bring this up in case you aren’t from Western Colorado. Aspen is a cool place to visit!

Aspen has awesome snowboarding and skiing with fewer crowds than some of the resorts closer to Denver.

Ready to keep planning a super fun getaway? Keep reading!

The Aspen Mountain Resorts

There are four Aspen Mountain ski resorts to explore:

• Aspen Mountain – located in downtown Aspen
• Aspen Highlands – steeper, southwest of downtown, fewer crowds
• Snowmass – our personal favorite for snowboarding
• Buttermilk – also excellent for snowboarding

Pass information updates yearly, and you can get more information online.

Where to Stay

Renting a private condo is the way to go.

There are lots of condos in the Aspen area with comfortable accommodations, including hot tubs, kitchens, and ski-in/ski-out options. Plan ahead – like months ahead.

Prime locations get booked way in advance. Find a place close to downtown so you can walk around and enjoy shopping, restaurants, coffee shops, and yoga studios.

Use Public Transportation

The Roaring Fork Valley (Aspen, Carbondale, Basalt, Glenwood Springs corridor) has AMAZING FREE public transportation. There are many stops to get you where you need to go, including around town, to the ski resorts, restaurants, and lodging.

You don’t need to rent a car. Save money and use the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA).

Check out the RFTA website ahead of time for any restrictions and to plan your routes. Or wing it and just hop on…

RFTA has a diverse fleet of buses that run on natural gas (CNG) and near-zero-emission electric batteries (in case you like sustainable transportation facts like me).

Flying into Aspen

Flying into Aspen is a piece of cake as long as the weather isn’t bad in Denver or Aspen.

You will have a connection before flying into Aspen, depending on your carrier. It is a small airport. It is not crowded – no major wait times (from our personal experiences). You get in. You get out.

To us, it is worth flying directly into Aspen, so you don’t have to waste precious vacation time driving. And you save money by not having to rent a car or park a car.

RFTA has a stop right by the airport, so just throw your gear over your shoulder and hop onto your route, heading to wherever you stay.

Uber is available in Aspen if you don’t want to take the bus initially with all your bags.

Booking travel insurance. Whenever we take trips that involve flying, renting cars, or pre-paying for accommodations, we always book travel insurance. We like to use Travel Insurance Master because you can select the exact coverage you need. We have been getting the ‘cancel for any reason’ option these days.

Flying Your Gear

Pablo and I pack two bags each. We each take a medium-sized duffel bag (or carry-on suitcase) and a snowboard bag.

Having these two bags allows us to easily maneuver public transportation and walk around the airports.

We haven’t had problems flying our snowboards at all. Just make sure you pack your bag and gear well so nothing gets caught while flying through the airport. You most likely have to pay to fly the gear, but it is worth having your own creature comforts.

Also, make sure you have warm gear and shoes in your carry-on just in case your bags are delayed.

What to Pack for a Snowboarding Trip

Below is an itemized list of ideas and things to pack in each bag.

Layer, layer, layer. Pack light, re-wearable items and layer to stay warm and dry.

It is even better if your condo has a washer and dryer. Get travel-size detergent. Then you can pack even lighter.

You might like reading our article on exactly what to wear snowboarding. We detail how to layer and gear we like for both men and women.

Tips for Saving Money

Buy Groceries and Eat at Your Condo

One of the more practical reasons for renting a condo is so you can prepare your own food. There are a few grocery stores downtown within walking distance if your condo is close. Preparing your own food saves a lot of money in Aspen.

We also fly some food items with us if we know we are arriving later in the day. We honestly usually fly coffee, coffee filters, tea, gluten-free pancake mix (just add water option), clementine fruit, granola bars, and protein bars. This way, when we land and get to our place, we are not focused on food right away.

We will eat breakfast at the condo, take snacks for snowboarding, and then eat dinner at our condo or go out.

Needless to say, we really keep it simple with the cooking when traveling. I’m talking meat and cheese board, veggies with dip, almond butter, or crackers and dip.

Getting groceries will allow you to save quite a bit of money on your trip.

Use RFTA

Use the free RFTA buses to get around. You can practically walk or shuttle everywhere. The town is so small, and you really don’t need your own car or to rent a car.

Visit in the Off-Season

Visiting in the late spring is a great time to catch off-season deals for accommodations and end-of-season gear. Plus, there are fewer crowds.

Best Places to Eat

We did treat ourselves three times on our last visit.

We love coffee, sushi, and Thai food! We made it a point to track down some delicious venues serving our favorites.

Coffee & Bakery Snack: Jour de Fete. Cute and quaint coffee house. We ordered a chai, latte, and gluten-free pastry.

Sushi: Kenichi. We ordered the Blake, Rainbow, Otoro with rice, and Dynamo sushi. Some of the best sushi I have ever had in my life. Hands down.

Thai: Bangkok Happy Bowl Thai Bistro & Bar. The green curry is the bomb. So is the pad Thai. Take your leftovers back to the condo.

Awesome Après Snowboarding or Skiing Ideas

If you’re not too tired to play some more after snowboarding and skiing all day, there are many other wonderful things to do in the area.

Glenwood Hot Springs

Hop on the RFTA and head to Glenwood Springs Hot Springs. These famous hot springs are dreamy to soak in after a long day on the mountain. Plan about an hour for transportation each way and a few hours for soaking.

Iron Mountain Hot Springs

This is the newest place to soak in Glenwood. Iron Mountain Hot Springs is so nice. You’ll definitely want to check it out!

Yoga

Stretch your tired weekend warrior muscles with a yoga class. I walked to Aspen Shakti and enjoyed the vibe. Aspen Shakti had a relaxing restorative class. You can book online, which guarantees a spot.

There are other yoga studios to choose from with a quick Google search.

Spas

If you want to splurge and spend some money, head to the spa! There are so many wonderful spas to choose from. I had a massage at Remede Spa Aspen and loved it.

Before or after your massage, you can hit the waterfall pools and hot tub. There is also an oxygen bar which is a neat experience. This spa is so nice. Treat yourself – you deserve it.

There are many other spas in Aspen to choose from. Choose with a quick Google search if Remede Spa Aspen is booked up.

Shopping

Aspen is well known for its shopping scene. Downtown is lined with luxury designer brands mixed in with local boutique shops and restaurants.

There are winter gear stores galore. Depending on the time of year you visit, you might be able to get a great deal on winter gear.

And, if you pack light and forget something, I’m sure you can find a superb replacement. It’s always fun to get new gear!

The last time we visited Aspen was in April, at the end of the season. Pablo and I found a new Helly Hansen jacket for 75% off. Super sweet deal.

Final Thoughts

We hope you have a great trip. Being in the mountains is always a soulful and uplifting experience.

May your trip be joyful, memorable, filled with happiness and fresh powder!

Ashlee & Pablo

Featured image credit: iStock.com/sboice.

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We would love to hear from you!

Have you been to Aspen? Do you snowboard or ski?

When are you planning your Aspen Colorado snowboarding trip?