aspen

Location: 158 miles southwest of Denver on Colorado 82
Elevation: 7908, Population: 5914

If you're looking for the celebrity-studded image of Colorado ski resorts you see in magazines, Aspen might be your kind of town. But if you're looking for a mining camp that made a successful transition to serious ski Mecca, Aspen fits the bill too.

There's something here for everyone, from challenging ski slopes to wine tastings and opera, from hot dog carts to haute cuisine.

Aspen is consistently rated one of the world's top ski areas by ski and travel publications, and many lodges here have ski slope access literally out the back door. Aspen, and nearby Snowmass, offer slopes for just about every level of skier, but experts tend to gravitate here.

Summer and fall are also prime times to visit. The nearby Maroon Bells offer excellent hiking with breathtaking views; wildflowers go wild in the alpine meadows. Autumn brings a floorshow of golden aspens.

Aspen also boasts some of the state's finest hotels, including the Jerome and the Little Nell. They're pricey, but less expensive accommodations are also available.

If you love the outdoors, Aspen offers just about every option, from fly-fishing to llama trekking. In fact, you can combine a gourmet meal with a dogsled ride at Krabloonik's. Or you can cross-country ski to the Pine Creek Cookhouse.

In summer, you can get to and from Aspen over Independence Pass, so high it's only open about three months of the year. But what a way to go!

Source: Colorado.com

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