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Aspen Ski holidays
Aspen ski holidays, one of the most popular ski resorts in Colorado, is an original silver mining town whose reputation as a glamorous celebrity filled playground is well known. The Victorian streets of Aspen are filled with upscale boutiques, first-class restaurants and exclusive art galleries, but beneath all the glitz lays some fantastic skiing opportunities. Many people choose an Aspen ski holiday for different reasns. Som come here to see-and-be-seen, but there are also those who come just for the excellently maintained trails covering the 4 mountains that make up the Aspen ski area, Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk and Snowmass. All four areas are included on one lift pass, and a shuttle bus ferries skiers between them all.
Skiing holidays in Aspen – The Mountains
Aspen ski holidays really do offer something for everybody, with the 4 different mountains having distinctly different appeal. Beginners on their first skiing holiday in Aspen should head straight for Buttermilk, which has the most to offer first-timers – long runs that meander gently from the top of the mountain to the bottom, with all the easy trails grouped together. Aspen Mountain is unusual in the fact that it has no beginners’ terrain at all, with 65% of the runs being expert level, so this mountain is not for the faint hearted. Once skiers have ridden the Silver Queen Gondola, accessible at street level in town, up to the top elevation of 3400m, there are 76 trails to try, some incorporating narrow steep slopes filled with moguls and others stretching for miles, great for cruising. Intermediates can find great terrain everywhere – Aspen Highlands has some fantastic tree-lined trails set against spectacular scenery, and the popular Highlands Bowl is a wide open expanse, the bowl filled with incredible powder. Expert skiers can take their pick from any of the mountains, but should definitely make a trip to Snowmass, a resort in its’ own right, the second largest in Colorado, boasting the largest vertical drop in the US - 1350m - and a wealth of off-piste action. In Aspen, snowboarders have plenty to keep them busy - the snowboarding terrain park at Buttermilk is 3km long and well equipped; a well known hang out for beginners and mid-level boarders, and Highlands is where all the advanced riders go, with some fabulous terrain, including a natural half-pipe.
Skiing holidays in Aspen – The Après-ski
Aspen ski holidays, although famously expensive and catering to the rich and famous, actually has a lot to offer those on a regular budget. On the slopes the favourites include The Sundeck Restaurant and Bonnies, for the people watching as well as the delicious food. In town, there are some famous spots to visit, such as Little Nells, Matsuhisa (part of Nobu) and Olives but just as many reasonably priced options for eating and drinking. Bars and nightclubs abound, and Aspen’ reputation as a cultural centre adds to the towns appeal as a year round resort. Shopping, or window shopping, is all part of the Aspen experience – expensive designer boutiques and upscale stores selling a wide variety of goods are on every block. Snowmobiling and sleigh rides are available here in Aspen, as well as ice skating.
USA Ski Holidays
Colorado Skiing Holidays
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