Colorado Getaways: Aspen

Aspen Golf Club
The beautiful Aspen Golf Club

Few City-owned Courses rival the beauty of Aspen Golf Club, which is why Golfweek has ranked the 7,165-yard Frank Hummel design the state’s #1 municipal layout. Located two miles from downtown Aspen in the heart of the Roaring Fork Valley, the parkland course features water on all but four holes and jaw-dropping views of the Continental Divide, Pyramid Peak, Mt. Hayden, Independence Pass, Hunter Creek Valley and Aspen Mountain and Buttermilk mountains. aspengolf.com

Play Time

DEDE CUSIMANO, a 20-year Class A LPGA teaching professional and winner of a CAGGY Award as Best Instructor for Women, heads up the Aspen Golf Club Academy, teaching men and women of all ages and skill levels. aspengolf.com

Aspen Bike Park
Aspen Bike Park

ADRENALINE Rushes abound at Snowmass Bike Park, where downhill biking trails weave the nearly 3,000-foot descent from the top of the Elk Camp Chairlift to the Snowmass Village base. The park also connects to more than 50 miles of cross-country tracks. Expert rider? Hit the twisting, aspen-laden  Valhalla, Viking and Vapor trails. aspensnowmass.com

Pack a Picnic Lunch and head to the Ajax—the 11,200-foot summit of Aspen Mountain—via the Silver Queen Gondola. Savor the views of the breathtaking Elk Mountains during a hike along wildflower-lined trails. Play a round on North America’s highest disc golf course or enjoy a Sunday bluegrass concert. aspensnowmass.com

Check it Out

Aspen Art Musuem
Aspen Art Musuem

BASKET CASE: Japanese architect Shigeru Ban based his woven-wood design for the Aspen Art Museum on transparency and open view planes—inviting those outside to engage with the building’s interior, and providing those inside the opportunity to see their exterior surroundings. The contemporary art inside is as intriguing as the building housing it. aspenartmuseum.org

PRIME SPOTS: As you can imagine, Aspen’s dining scene sizzles with choices. The intimate No. 316 ties with The Monarch for best steakhouse. Both reflect decidedly distinct yet equally superb levels of sophistication and service. Head to The Wild Fig for the aromatic charms of a European brasserie (and superb Steak Frites), or to CP Burger for a stacked Summit Burger or a healthy, hearty Kale salad. cprestaurants.com

The Monarch in Aspen
The Monarch in Aspen

 What to Do

ISN’T IT ICONIC?: The term iconic gets tossed about far too liberally these days, but it certainly applies to the Hotel Jerome (hoteljerome.com) and The Little Nell (thelittlenell.com)both of which quintessentially define the Aspen experience. The ambiences at their respective J Bar and Ajax Tavern certainly serve to enhance their iconic qualifications.

Aspen J Bar
Aspen’s J Bar

FOODIE CENTRAL: The Food & Wine Classic in Aspen sells out every June, but you can enjoy the greatest hits at Aspen’s Chefs Club by Food & Wine, a nationally renowned restaurant in the St. Regis Aspen. The seasonal, innovative menu presents recipes curated by select winners of the prestigious Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs Award – all prepared in an open kitchen by the talented Chefs Club team. chefsclub.com/aspen

Chef's Club by Food & Wine
Chef’s Club by Food & Wine

Colorado AvidGolfer is the state’s leading resource for golf and the lifestyle that surrounds it, publishing eight issues annually and proudly delivering daily content via coloradoavidgolfer.com. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

This article appears in the July 2016 issue of Colorado AvidGolfer.

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