Aspen Ski Holiday Resort

Don’t be put off by the resorts image as a haven for the rich and famous, this resort is full of people like you and me enjoying what is one of the USA’s top resorts.

Aspen was originally a mining town and in the early 1890's was booming with a population of 12,000 people then the price of Silver plummeted and the town died and the 1930's the population was 700 people. After the second world war someone had the bright idea to install a ski lift and the town hasn't looked back since. Aspen is a proper American town set out on grids and a lot of the buildings are very traditional and unlike a lot of other USA ski resorts has a lift in the resort centre, the Silver Queen Gondola taking skiers to the top of Aspen Mountain. There are three further ski areas on the lift pass - Buttermilk, Aspen Highlands and Snowmass.

Buttermilk and Highlands are only 3 kms from the centre and are easily accessed by the resort bus. Buttermilk is the best area for beginners and early intermediates and is probably the least challenging of the four mountains. Highlands is a great area for those looking for more of a challenge and the Highland bowl offers some seriously steep double black diamond runs.

Snowmass is really a separate area 14 kms away (still free on the resort bus) and well worth a couple of days visit. This area is suitable for all levels of skier/boarder with expert,intermediate and beginners being well catered for. 

A great way to discover the best areas of the resort and meet some locals is to turn up at 10.30 at any of the mountain bases and ski with a local guide all for free.

Apres ski in Aspen need not break the bank with plenty of choices for those looking for fun at the end of the day. The terrace bar at the Little Nell is an interesting venue with the possibility of a bit of "celeb spotting"