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 SEE
John Denver Park - this Aspen park is a pleasant place to take your dog or your kids for a splash in the creek in summertime. The park is named after the famous Country and Folk singer who resided in Aspen. Lyrics from his most popular songs are inscribed in the creekside boulders. John Denver Park is on the creek trail on the north side of Aspen, near the Rio Grande Ball Field and park at N. Mill St. and Rio Grande Pl.
Maroon Bells - a short drive outside of Aspen, the Maroon Bells are one of the most photographed mountain scenes in Colorado. The lake and views of the 14,000 ft range are spectacular. A very short trail leads to the lake from the parking lot, and continues onwards approximately a mile to a 2nd higher lake and then through a u-shaped glacier carved valley. To get to the Maroon Bells, turn south on Maroon Creek Rd from Hwy 82 approximately 8 miles. In summer, it is not always possible to drive directly to the parking lot during daytime hours (8am-5pm) and visitors must take a shuttle bus from Aspen.
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DO
Winter
- Ski - four ski areas in the area: Aspen Mountain, Snowmass, Highlands, and Buttermilk.
- Hobnob with the jetsetters.. or not.
- Sleigh rides
- Sledding
- Snowshoeing
- Snowmobiling
Summer
- Mountain bike
- Hike
- Golf
- Take chair lifts for scenic views
- White water rafting
- Fly fishing
- Mine exploration
- Hot air ballooning
- Rodeo
- Paint ball
- Paragliding
- Outdoor concerts
Music
- Belly Up - Small venue hosting some impressive artists, downtown Aspen [3]
- Jazz Aspen Snowmass - Thursdays 6-8 p.m. Fanny Hill Snowmass Village [4]
- June Festival - June 22nd - 25th, 2006
- Labor Day Festival - September 1st - 4th, 2006, Snowmass Town Park
Golf
- Snowmass Golf Course, Phone: +1 970 923-5600, [5]. Ten minutes downvalley of Aspen in Snowmass. The Snowmass Club's new 18-hole, par-72 Snowmass Club Golf Course. The 6,986-yard semi-private course designed by award-winning golf course architect Jim Engh includes a learning center, practice area and new golf clubhouse with Black Saddle Bar & Grille, a full-service restaurant and bar. With five sets of tee boxes at each hole and a truly unique design, golfers of all abilities will enjoy play that is as fun as it is challenging
- River Valley Ranch Golf Club, Phone: +1 970 963-3625, [6]. Eighteen holes, slope 73.2, rating 125, 7,348 yards. 30 minutes downvalley in Carbondale,River Valley Ranch Golf Club. Good bang for buck.
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EAT
- The Artisan Restaurant in Snowmass in the Stone Bridge Inn has a fresh menu [7] and many off-menu options.
- Have lunch at Woody Creek Tavern, in "downtown" Woody Creek. This is the former haunt of the late great Hunter S. Thompson. It's about 15 miles from Aspen. Go Slumming.
- A la Car of Aspen, [8]. A lifesaver! They deliver great meals all over town -- even Snowmass. Delivery from the finest restaurants of Aspen and Snowmass. Grocery delivery also available.
- Crystal Palace Theatre Restaurant, [9]. Well worth a visit. They serve a gourmet dinner followed by cabaret revue of political satire which is quite a hoot. The Cabaret is fun, even for Dinner Theater Skeptics.
- The Pine Creek Cookhouse is 20 minutes south of Aspen on Castle Creek Road. It is worth the trip down a beautiful valley to the elegant log cabinesque building. Their food is very fresh, on the gourmet side, and not overly expensive. Reservations recommended. Highly recommended to stop in for lunch after a morning hike to one of the many great trails in the area such as Cathedral Lake. [10]
- The Hickory House, just south of the dreaded "entrance to Aspen," on Main Street. (It's the one with the plastic bear on the roof.) Tourists are often crowded out by the locals, drawn by fabulous barbecue and huge, hearty breakfasts. If you're lucky enough to be in Aspen for Thanksgiving, turn out for annual Hickory House freebie: turkey, with all the trimmings, and all gratis.
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