One of our favorite places to getaway during the covid pandemic is located at 8,000 ft and nestled into the Rocky Mountains of Aspen, Colorado. Locals and visitors find plenty of activities to enjoy outdoors and physically stay distant, as well as hotels that have protocols in place to keep guests safe with mask-wearing, sanitizers and more.
This year-round wonderland is an outdoor enthusiasts paradise with summer hiking and cycling, winter skiing and snowshoeing. It is an ideal place for culinary and art lovers too with a range of high-end restaurants, art galleries and boutiques.
Sharing our list of favorite places to go, stay, dine, spa & apres ski! Big thanks to the Concierge Team at Hotel Jerome and The Little Nell, as well as Brooke Ely Danielson at Kemo Sabe for their local insights and suggestions.
STAY
Hotel Jerome: Stay at Hotel Jerome, an Auberge Resort property located in the center of town. Hotel Jerome is a modern icon and has been the social hub since its opening in 1889, the height of the town’s silver boom. This beautifully decorated hotel is an excellent choice for a splendid retreat, recently renovated rooms and suites.
The hotel offers three restaurants – Prospect, J-Bar and the Living Room – see below under “Dine” for more details.
Indulge in the Hotel Jerome Luxury Spa – see more below. Soak in the jacuzzi in the outdoor pool afterwards.
The Little Nell: The Five-Star and Five-Diamond Little Nell is a 1 min walk to Aspen Mountain. It’s the only ski-in/ski-out luxury hotel in Aspen. Our suite had breathtaking mountain views from our balcony.
The Aspen suite accommodations designed with a contemporary flair and spacious living area. It was coziest place to retreat and sit by the fireplace while looking out the window at the fresh falling snow.
See below under “Dine” for more details on the hotel’s fine dining restaurant at Element 47.
Don’t Miss! Happy Hour at Ajax Tavern – one of the best après ski places in town.
DINE
Element 47: Book a reservation at Aspen’s finest spot to wine, dine at Element 47, an award-winning culinary highlight. Tucked inside The Little Nell, Element 47 serves Colorado Contemporary cuisine emphasizing local wagyu beef, house-made pastas and seasonal produce. The dining experience is complemented by the hotel’s award-winning wine program and genuine hospitality. The name Element 47 pays tribute to silver, the precious metal that first put Aspen on the map.
Prospect: Savor world-class cuisine at Prospect, with a menu of American bistro dishes that showcase the best of what’s in season in the Roaring Fork Valley. Two other options are the J-Bar and the Living Room – one of Aspen’s best places to gather in the evening hours. Don’t Miss! Order the Legendary “Aspen Crud” (milkshake with a little bourbon) at J-Bar with the Jerome Burger.
Other places to dine…
- Jing Pan Asian fare
- L’Hostaria for great Italian cusine
- Pinons Steakhouse
- French Alpine Bistro on the sidewalk – not to be missed! Charming apres ski place
- Cache Cache
- Betula
- Joonas
Best Lattes & Breakfasts
- Bear Den
- Local Coffee
DO
- Take a Historical Tour of Aspen: Contact Nina Gabianelli for a 1-2 hr tour of the town. Nina also gives bi-weekly lectures in the lobby at Hotel Jerome. Nina even wears period costume when giving the lecture and tour. Be sure to book a reservation.
- Hotel Jerome Wellness Spa: Surrender to a spa treatments at the Hotel Jerome Spa. Inspired by the restorative Alpine environment, where your wellness is tended to with centuries-old healing traditions of the Roaring Fork Valley. My massage therapist used hot pink Himalayan stones along with Jerome’s signature sore muscle CBD oil – it was divine!
Therapists blend indigenous minerals, botanicals and essential oils to nourish and energize your body, mind and soul. healing power of Hotel Jerome. Shop at the boutique where you’ll find spa products and bath products that incorporate a restorative blend citrus, sage, lavender, and ylang ylang intertwined with the strong scents of Douglas fir, black spruce and the floral, fruity Owyhee.
See Art in Aspen! Visit art galleries to see local artist works and the Aspen Art Museum which displays contemporary art. Don’t miss the rooftop views and café!
Architectural Self-Guided Walk: Aspen was built in 1889 and you can stroll the town and look for historic landmarks like the Wheeler Opera House, built during the area’s silver mining boom. The Wheeler-Stallard House is a local history museum set in a 19th-century, Queen Anne–style home.
Make your own customized cowgirl hat at Kemo Sabe Hat at 217 S. Galena in the center of town. Ask for Greta, hat stylist, to help you select your hat, brand, color, bands, braids, feathers, ribbons, flowers and customize your hat by branding your initials on the side!
Summer Activities
- Hike: There are 30 parks and 22 miles of pedestrian and bicycle trails. Use the mobile app and website on the Aspen trail system at Search “Pitkin Outside” on your device’s app store. Smuggler’s Mountain trails are easy to access from town, and check out Crested Butte!
- Mountain biking in Snowmass
- Paddle boarding
- Golfing
- Fly Fishing
- Camping at Difficult Campground
- Rock Climbing up the pass
Winter Activities
- Ski & Snowboard: there are 4 mountains to ski – Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk Mountain and Snowmass Mountain.
- Ice Skating!
- Ice Fishing…
- Cross Country Skiing – there are over 90 kilometers of trails!
- Pilates…O2 Aspen with Jenna Meyer
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: Global Adventuress thanks Hotel Jerome and The Little Nell for hosting us during our stay.
