How we spent 3 days in Aspen and Snowmass, Colorado
Sean and I had the best time in Aspen/ Snowmass!
Before going, I had heard nothing but good things about Aspen and I am now one of those people that has nothing but good things to say about Aspen too! This post is all about things to do and see in the winter season. Hopefully, I will get to visit in the warmer months and have more to add to this list!
Here's a collection of everything we ate, drank, and did in our 3- day trip to Aspen and Snowmass, Colorado.
Where to Stay in Aspen and Snowmass, Colorado?
If you are looking for a elegant and classy hotel stay, the choices are endless! We stayed at the Viewline Resort in Snowmass, Co, which is a ski-in/ski-out resort at the Snowmass Mall next to the Snowmass Village. Because Sean travels often for work, he gets a lot of hotel points with Marriott Hotels so we were able to use hotel points to stay at this hotel. Also, because of this, we were able to get upgraded to one of their beautiful suites overlooking the mall and the mountain. It was a spacious 1 bedroom suite with dining room, living room, balcony and kitchenette. We were also off on a corner and close to the elevator that we didn't have to walk far but also didn't have much noise around us.
(Room Tour)
Other options in Snowmass are the Limelight Hotel, The Viceroy, and The Crestwood. There are also a lot of condominium complexes and I'm sure you can also find Airbnbs in the area for a good price. Keep in mind that the peak season is November until the end of February, so expect the prices to be higher then. March was perfect because we still got snow but the crowds weren't too bad.
And over in Aspen (about 20 minutes from Snowmass) you will find places like the St. Regis, the Little Nell, The W and Hotel Jerome.
If I had an unlimited budget and was staying in Aspen, I would definitely stay at the St. Regis. While Sean was snowboarding I sat in their lobby to read my book and it was lovely!
Where to eat?
I always try to find affordable places to eat (unless it's a special occasion) and Aspen is not known for being affordable, so finding restaurants to not break the bank was a challenge!
I could do an entire blog post on everything we ate.
We had free breakfast at the hotel every morning as part of Sean's Marriott points! There is a restaurant on site called Stark's Alpine Grill.
Here are our various breakfasts at the hotel:
I think my favorite was the granola and yogurt parfait. Or the lox and bagel. There aren't many options on the menu for breakfast but they also have a breakfast buffet for $30 a person.
One of the fun perks of the Viewline were the free cookies and hot chocolate at 3pm every day in the lobby! Who doesn't love free cookies?
Aspen Restaurants:
CP Burger:
On the first day after Sean went snowboarding in Aspen and I wandered around the town, we met up at this little burger place called CP Burger. We split a chicken burger and sweet potato fries. And it was the perfect amount.
White House Tavern:
Since we were staying in Snowmass, we didn't eat at many places in Aspen. But, on our last night I thought it would be nice to go out to eat in Aspen so I chose the White House Tavern. There are so many great options in town and I spent hours looking at Yelp and Google reviews and "Best of Aspen" restaurant lists. After all my research, I decided on the White House Tavern. And I am happy to report that it was my favorite meal of the weekend! We had some good food, but this was the best. We ordered the chicken meatballs and Brussel sprouts appetizers and then shared the fried chicken sandwich. It was the perfect amount of food and wasn't too expensive for two people. It's a cozy space but we went early and didn't have to wait too long for a table. I highly recommend it!
Snowmass Restaurants:
Il Poggio-
This place is located in the Snowmass Mall, only a few minute walk from the Viewline Hotel. Thankfully we were able to make last minute reservations because the place was packed on a Sunday night! So definitely make reservations in advance. Sean ordered the salmon special with a side of butter pasta and I ordered the cavatappi pasta (think fancy macaroni) with tomatoes, garlic, basil and olive oil.
Base Camp Bar & Grill -
In the Snowmass Village right next to one of the gondolas and ski lifts, there is Base Camp Bar & Grill with a great view of the mountain. Après ski is a way of life in Aspen and it seems like every place advertises their après deals (their version of happy hour). As a non-drinker, I'm not looking for drink deals but I do love a discount on food. Sadly, we went for lunch and did not get any deals but the food was yummy! And we sat outside right on the balcony overlooking the slopes so we got to watch people ski by! Sean got a burger and I got a salad. Trying to eat healthy on vacation is always a challenge!
Venga Venga-
Tacos are a huge staple in our diets! So we had to try the Mexican restaurant that was also downstairs from our hotel in the Snowmass Mall. I also recommend making reservations here if you want to sit outside. They also have a patio overlooking the slopes but that area is first come- first served.
I ordered grilled chicken tacos and Sean got al pastor tacos. I don't know if it was that I was super hungry when we went there or it was just that good but it was delicious! Best tacos I've had in awhile! The tacos also came with this sauce that I loved! If anyone knows what is in it, let me know!
What is there to do?
If you are a skier or snowboarder, the answer is obvious! But for those of us (in the minority) that don't, it can be difficult to find things to do.
On the first day while Sean was on the slopes, I wandered around Aspen and looked at the shops which is always fun! I also went to the FREE Aspen Art Museum and checked out the artwork by Herve Telemaque: A Hopscotch of the Mind. Also, at the top of the museum there is an indoor rooftop café that overlooks the slopes. It was pretty empty so I enjoyed the view while I sipped a cappuccino.
In Snowmass there is also not much to do for free besides window shopping and people watching. But there is a FREE (before 4pm) activity area, game room and "selfie den" called the Snowmass Collective. Sean and I checked it out but it was just a bunch of kids running around. If you have kids- it's a great place to take them! And for the adults there is a bar upstairs!
I love a spa day and there is a spa at almost every hotel! Sean and I got a day-pass at the Viewline Hotel Lupine Spa ($50 a person) and that includes access to the spa amenities and oxygen bar (which is well needed if you are not used to the high elevation). The spa treatments are expensive (the cheapest massage or facial is $200+) but if you are looking to treat yourself, I'd say go for it!
Aspen/ Snowmass from a Snowboarder's perspective (My Husband, Sean)
I asked Sean for his advice for someone going to Aspen/ Snowmass as a skier or snowboarder who has never been there before and he recommends trying all four resorts out to see which one you like the best. They are Aspen, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk and Snowmass. All four resorts are under the same ownership so technically they are all the same resort. As of 2023 they are all on the Ikon Pass.
Because we were staying at the Viewline in Snowmass, he spent two of the days exploring that resort because it's huge and he didn't have to go anywhere else to get to the snow.
I hope you found this guide helpful! Let me know if you tried any of the places I recommended! And if you need outfit ideas, check out my other post here:
- Lex
All of these opinions are my own and I was not compensated anything for writing these reviews.