- Families visiting Aspen can enjoy free ice skating and attend the Wintersköl festival.
- The Aspen Art Museum and Bayer Center offer free admission for cultural experiences.
- Other activities include snowshoeing, sleigh rides, skiing and soaking in local hot springs.
ASPEN, Colorado — My kids have an ambitious goal: They want to explore all 50 states. This means we can't simply say we've "been to Nebraska" if we drive through a corner of it on our way to someplace else. We need to actually get out of the car and do something fun (which is fine by me, because I'm sure there are lots of great things to do in Nebraska).
We've set our sights on visiting a few different states this year. First up, Colorado.
I suggested we go to Ouray and Silverton, as those towns rank among my all-time favorites. But my kids wanted to go someplace warm, where families instinctively flock like the salmon of Capistrano. If you've seen "Dumb and Dumber," you know they were talking about a little place called Aspen.
It should be noted that Aspen wasn't all that warm. Since the town sits nearly 8,000 feet above sea level, we experienced a lot more snow than we'd been seeing around our home in Lehi, which provided my family with some awesome winter opportunities.
Here are several activities to consider in the area:
- Free ice skating: The outdoor ice rink at the Snowmass Base Village plaza offers free ice skating from noon to 9 p.m. every day. If you don't have your own skates, you can rent some for free. Even if you're not skating, it's fun to just hang out by the outdoor fires and enjoy the action.
- Attend the Wintersköl festival: Another source of free family activities is the annual Wintersköl. Celebrated each winter since the early 1950s, it features fireworks, live music, bonfires and other fun events.
- Free museums: There's no admission fee for the Aspen Art Museum. Check the museum's schedule before you go, because there are lots of workshops, film screenings, musical performances and other special events to make your visit more memorable. Another great option is the Bayer Center, which features indoor and outdoor art exhibits and is always free to the public.
- Snowshoeing: My family loves to get out and explore on snowshoes during the winter months, so we considered bringing our snowshoes to Aspen (even though space was limited in the old minivan). But we ended up staying at a place that offered complimentary rentals, including kids' sizes for my 4-year-old, which was a huge bonus.
- Sleigh ride: Riding on a horse-drawn sleigh in the mountains with my family has been on my bucket list for a while now. In Aspen, we finally made it happen. Pulled by two beautiful draft horses, the sleigh took us through the ghost town of Ashcroft and up to the Pine Creek Cookhouse for lunch. Honestly, it was one of the highlights of our entire trip.
- Skiing: Aspen consistently ranks as one of the nation's best ski towns, so it would've been a crime not to ski during our visit. Since our kids are beginners and I haven't hit the slopes in ages, we decided to go to Buttermilk. It was the perfect option. The terrain was mellow, the lift lines short, and as my wife noted, everyone just seemed incredibly nice. We rented skis for our kids, so their lift tickets were free. And kids under 6 (like my youngest son) are always free, even if you don't rent anything.
- Soak in the hot springs: One of my favorite winter activities is relaxing in hot springs. Especially after a day of skiing. There are a few geothermal gems in the Aspen area, so be sure to bring your swimsuit and take a good soak.
Getting there
It took less than 6 hours to get to Aspen from our house in Utah County. The majority of the drive is on U.S. 6 and I-70, which offers ample views of the stunning Book Cliffs.
Where to stay
My family loves camping, and the Difficult Campground near town is actually excellent despite its name, but the wintry weather eliminated that as an option. We also saw some good deals for renting smallish condos in Aspen, but my family of five does best when we all have room to spread out.
We ended up booking a room at Aspen Meadows, which was one of the most peaceful places we've ever stayed. It felt more like a condo than a hotel room with its three beds, kitchenette and dining table. Parking in Aspen can be a headache, so it was nice to be located outside of the downtown area. And when we needed to get to Buttermilk or anywhere in town, we just used the resort's free shuttle.
