One Fine Day In... Aspen

Last month, I picked back up with the One Fine Day series, beginning with Negril, Jamaica. My goal is to do one of these posts per month in 2020. Today I am switching gears from warm and tropical to another classic winter trip - cold and snowy. Specifically cold and snowy Aspen. I wanted to choose some place I’ve never been so that you get a look into my planning brain, how I think and and prepare for new places, and because I wanted to research somewhere new to me. One thing that won’t be a part of my weekend plan? Skiing.

The rules of One Fine Day are as follows. First, a day is loosely defined as a Saturday bookended by a Friday night and Sunday morning. Second, this is my idea of how I would spend a limited amount of time in a given location and might not be everyone’s cup of tea. Third, I’m not too focused on the budget - a woman can dream - so this might not entirely reflect how I would ultimately spend my money. And last, but perhaps most importantly, if you were to actually go to any of these places, you should probably go for more than a day.

Thursday 1 pm: I’m already breaking the rules, but it will be for a good reason. Just wait. Let’s be honest, you’re going to eat all the food this weekend and, since skiing is nowhere in these plans, you’re not going to work it off on the slopes. Instead, begin your weekend with a guided snowshoe hike around Aspen Mountain. For $68, you get the benefits of a naturalist guide for the approximately 1.5 mile hike. And because the hike is on the mountain, gondola tickets are included. So are snowshoes along with a snack and warm beverage.

Thursday 4 pm: After getting a bit of exercise, check into your luxury hotel room at the lovely Little Nell. Each thoughtfully designed room has everything you need for a cozy weekend, including a gas fireplace and a soaking tub. Not that you’re going to spend any time skiing, but if you were, The Little Nell offers ski in/ski out privileges. It’s the kind of place where no detail is too small. Settle into your room and then get ready for an incredible dinner experience.

Thursday 5:45 pm: Meet your ride to dinner at the welcome center. This dinner is why you’re here on a Thursday, after all. Wednesday and Thursday evenings during the winter, you can take a snowcat to dinner at Cloud Nine Alpine Bistro. Enjoy a hot chocolate with schnapps before bundling up for the 30 minute ride to the restaurant. Once there, enjoy an elegant, four course dinner with dishes like lobster and king crab bouillabaisse and black truffle tagliatelle.

Thursday 10:30 pm: Arrive back in town and head back to your hotel for a warm bath and a glass of wine, perhaps from Little Nell’s extensive wine cellar, in that soaking tub before sinking into your comfy bed to dream about the day ahead.

Friday 9 am: Every brief escape needs some relaxation, so make time recharge at Remede Spa at the St. Regis resort. With warm wood tones layered against unique water features, this spa is relaxing and beautiful. Make sure you have plenty of time to enjoy the facilities, including the steam cave and oxygen lounge, before your custom massage.

Friday 11:30 am: After a relaxing morning, head to Meat & Cheese for an early lunch. Because what could be more delicious than a gourmet meat and cheese board paired with a glass of sparkling wine. Or a cocktail. The menu changes seasonally, but is sure to be excellent year round.

Friday 1 pm: Although you aren’t skiing this weekend, you can still have fun in the snow. Spend the afternoon tubing at Snowmass. For $39 you get unlimited tubing and access to the gondola.

Friday 3:30: You may not have gone skiing, but you can still enjoy après ski. And it just so happens one of the best spots in Aspen is at your hotel. With a daily DJ and menu with dishes like wagyu beef tacos and truffle fries, Chair 9 has become one of Aspen’s hottest après ski lounges. Little Nell has their own, local source for wagyu beef, so you should probably try the tacos. Just don’t eat too much, because dinner will be amazing.

Friday 6 pm: If arriving to dinner via snowcat wasn’t cool enough for you, this evening your arrival to Pine Creek Cookhouse will be by horse drawn sleigh. Snuggle up for the starlit ride to the cookhouse. You’ll warm up with a farm to table menu featuring wild game and fish. The set price menu includes three courses beginning with family style appetizers, although there are optional additions such as certain entrees and additional shared dishes for the table (baked brie, smoked trout dip, yes, please).

Saturday 9 am: The following morning, head to local favorite Poppycock’s for breakfast. Serving everything from crepes to egg dishes to pancakes, you will certainly leave feeling full. The pancakes are their specialty, so if you enjoy them you can purchase the mix to take home.

Saturday 10:30 am: After checking out of your hotel, set out for one last adventure. A favorite local hike is the 1.5 mile (3 miles round trip) hike on Smugglers Mountain to a viewing platform overlooking Aspen. Stretch your legs while you gain a new appreciation for what a scenic place you got to explore.

What are your favorite or can’t miss Aspen spots?

Photo by Adam Rinehart on Unsplash