Travel Diaries: Aspen & Snowmass
I know some say summer is prime time in Aspen, but since we have never been in the summer, I’m partial to winter and all that ski season has to offer. We have always been Beaver Creek die hards, as in the girls both learned how to ski there, so the nostalgia for Beaver Creek is high. However, we decided to try Aspen & Snowmass last year and LOVE it equally to BC, which says a lot!! This is all to say we’ve tried other ski resorts, but our favorites have remained Beaver Creek and now Aspen & Snowmass. Both are equally perfect for our family.
For starters, Snowmass is the perfect blend of blue runs I love on the slopes mixed with amazing shopping (the best reward to skiing all day) and restaurants (we’re all starving after skiing 8:00 to 4:00). Snowmass Village is adorable and we do like to walk around and eat at some of the restaurants, but the main reason we love Snowmass is the ski in ski out aspect. As for nighttime, we always rent a car so we can go into Aspen. The shopping in Aspen is spectacular. Lots of great people watching happens alongside really fun shopping, and the dining is fabulous for every sophisticated palate (from burgers to caviar and everything in between, Aspen has you covered).
Our heart will always be in Beaver Creek and we plan to go back next year! However, we love the skiing, dining, and shopping in Aspen & Snowmass enough to plan a trip back there next year too!
where to stay
The Viceroy
Our favorite place to stay for skiing is in lower Snowmass Village. This past trip we stayed at The Viceroy and absolutely loved it. It was one of the best ski in, ski out locations we’ve stayed in. It checks all the boxes when it comes to a family ski vacation. The service is great, accommodations are beautiful and ski valets are the best! It’s a perfect balance of feeling luxurious with out being stuffy or fancy. Sarah’s favorite part of the day was seeing the golden retrievers at the ski valet, who were ready to greet you in the morning and the afternoon. Jerry and Izzy, the most adorable golden retrievers, made the stay that much more special for both girls. Overall, The Viceroy is one of our favorite hotels for a family ski vacation.
Snacks at The Viceroy after a day of skiing
The Little Nell
If you are planning a stay in Aspen proper, The Little Nell is the place to stay. With great service, great accommodations, and a perfect location, The Little Nell is the ideal place with all the style one could want in a Colorado chic hotel. One of my favorite skincare lines has the spa at The Little Nell, Dr. Barbara Sturm, and it’s also worth noting one of our favorite restaurants in Aspen is also located in the hotel. Whether you’re staying at The Little Nell or not, Ajax Tavern is not to be missed. The burger is one of the best in Aspen according to Matthew. Overall, I would highly recommend putting The Little Nell on a short list of places to stay.
where to eat
There are an incredible number of amazing restaurants in Aspen and Snowmass to chose from, with quite the variety for every foodie’s palate. Below I listed a few of our personal favorites, but there are so many more we hope to try in trips to come.
Las Montanas ~ Any Tex-Mex restaurant has me from the start and this one is no exception. The famous Austin based hospitality group McGuire-Moorman-Lambert recently opened Las Montanas in the heart of downtown Aspen. The classics are all served with a twist, from house made tortillas to tabletop sizzling fajitas, this was one of our favorite restaurants stops on our last trip.
Whitehouse Tavern ~ If there is a Hillstone-owned restaurant within a 100 mile radius of a trip we are on, Matthew is going to seek it out solely for the burger. He promises this burger is best burger, hands down. Located on the cutest corner of downtown Aspen, Whitehouse Tavern is always jam packed. They don’t take reservations, but you can put your name in, and walk around Aspen until they call you. This is a stop you’ll want to put on your list. The dip duo is my favorite paired with a crisp glass of wine and the girls love going for the fries!
Casa Tua ~ Rustic, yet elegant is exactly what you want in the mountains. It’s a cozy space with fresh, local ingredients. The Italian inspired menu appeals to just about anyone, especially my pasta loving crew. I personally love the burrata, but Matthew and Caroline go for the pappardelle alla bolognese. Don’t miss this cozy spot with views of Ajax Mountain.
Ajax Tavern ~ We made a reservation at Ajax Tavern for our first night, knowing how hungry we are on a travel day. we are a French fry loving family, so it’s no surprise we dream about the truffle fries at Ajax. Located atop The Little Nell, it’s a perfect apres ski location, but we love going a little later for casual, relaxing dinner.
Kenichi ~ This fabulous sushi restaurant has two locations, both in Aspen in Snowmass. We’ve only been to the Snowmass location, but it is sushi Sarah dreams about. You need to snag a reservation 30 days out because it is always full and hard to get into, but it’s so worth it! The sushi rolls are what we go for, and they do not disappoint.
Catch Steak Aspen ~ Ok, I included this one because it came highly recommended to us, but we did not have a chance to go this last trip. Apparently the Truffle Butter Filet is not to be missed. This is definitely on our short list for our next trip to Aspen.
Elk Camp Snowmass ~ This casual on mountain dining is our favorite stop in the midst of a ski day. We look forward to our lunched here and the variety is perfect so everyone gets what they want at lunch. I love the organic salad bar, but Caroline loves the hand-tossed pizza. The organic Rice Krispie treats are delicious too!
The Cabin ~ (formally known as Lynn Britt Cabin) ~ Our dear family friends introduced us to this super fun lunch experience! It’s really unlike any other on mountain, midst of skiing lunch experience you’ll have. This is the place to go when you want a leisurely lunch on a ski day in Snowmass, and with lots of chairs positioned in the sun on the mountain mixed with a DJ, you’ll want to stick around long after lunch is over for the lively scene it offers.
Up 4 Pizza ~ Located atop Snowmass Mountain, next to the Sheer Bliss lift, this is arguably the highest elevation pizzeria in America at 11,835 feet. This tiny little spot is the perfect place to warm up. Though I have never had the pizza, the cookies are legendary and baked fresh throughout the day. My favorite is a cup of hot tea paired with a white chocolate chip cookie.
Lunch at The Cabin
skiing in Snowmass
where to shop
You could plan a trip to Aspen just to shop if you wanted. The shopping list goes on and on with everything from Gucci and Dior to Alo and Lululemon. Downtown Aspen is just the perfect place to walk around a look in every shop as you walk by. We enjoyed the art galleries on our last trip and no trip to Aspen is complete without a stop in Kemosabe. A few others to hit up would be Miron Crosby, Paris Underground, and Gorsuch.
shop our favorite pieces to take skiing
