| | - Winter Activities* Snowmobiling - There are three companies that provide snowmobile tours lasting from one to four hours, often including lunch. The most popular destination is Maroon Bells. * Dog Sledding - Thirteen Alaskan sled dogs pull you through the Snowmass wilderness for 3.5 hours, lunch included. Reservations required. * Snowshoeing - A popular new way to see the mountains. There are a large number of rental stores, as well as numerous guided tours. * Cross-country skiing/Nordic - There are over 60 kilometers of trails in the area, varying in difficulty of terrain and length. * Ice skating - Public skating is run all winter long at the Indoor Aspen Ice Garden or the outside Silver Circle rink. Pick-up hockey and figure skating are welcome.
- Summer Activities* Hiking - The area has approximately fifty trails of varying difficulty. Hikes range from easy half-hour strolls to full day uphill climbs. * Biking - Mountain biking is fast becoming an Aspen area favorite with a number of trails from beginner to extreme. Guided rides and rentals are available and recommended. * Rafting - A seasonal sport beginning in June and continuing through September. Guests find our three rivers exhilarating with Class 2 (beginners) to Class 5 rapids. * Fly-Fishing - A year round favorite on the Crystal Frying Pan and Roaring Fork rivers. The area offers gold medal fishing whether wading or floating. Guides are plentiful. * Horseback riding - Four different outfitters will take individuals into the surrounding mountains for trips of various lengths. * Jeep Tours - A growing demand has emerged for this convenient passage into the backcountry. The tour operators also offer historic and celebrity adventures. * Hot Air Balloons and Paragliding - Both activities provide breathtaking panoramic views of the Rocky Mountains. Guides are locally licensed and experienced. * Golf - There are three public golf courses, all with stunning views and superb fairways. Two courses are within minutes and the third and newest course is thirty miles away.
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- Nearby Attractions * Skiing and Snowboarding - Four world class ski areas are all within a few miles of each other. Includes Aspen Mountain, Buttermilk, Aspen Highlands and Snowmass. Top-notch instruction available for all ages beginning at three years old. * Historical Sites - Wheeler-House Museum, Hotel Jerome, Sardy House, Ashcroft and Independence ghost towns, tours of the Smuggler Mine. * Aspen Music Festival - Aspen Music Festival and School is an internationally renowned classical music festival and premier training facility for tomorrow's classical music stars. Summer: Nine week program featuring several events each day, including orchestral performances, chamber music, opera, family events, lectures and more. Runs from mid June to mid August. Winter: From November to April, events include the Aspen Contemporary Ensemble, University of Colorado Symphony Orchestra and much more. * Restaurants, shopping and nightlife - There are more than 200 shops and restaurants in the Aspen area. Consistently rated #1 in the popular skiing magazines for Aspen's nightlife. * Spas - The world-renowned spa at the Aspen Club is not to be missed on one's visit. It features 34 treatment rooms, a full service salon and two luxurious relaxation lounges with mesmerizing views of the Rockies. The Aspen Wellness Center is a beautiful and serene place to receive counseling, nurturing and support along with massages, skin care and body care. * Kid's Korner - Aspen Day-Trippers from nine to fourteen years old. Year round, seven days a week adventure programs. Full day field trips in summer and indoor/outdoor evening activities in the winter. Aspen Youth Center: 12-18 years old from 3:00PM to 8:00PM, Monday through Friday. Pool tables, foosball, video games, ping-pong and bumper pool. Kid's Club for infant childcare during the day. Reservations highly recommended. * Wheeler Opera House - Wheeler Opera House has become the cornerstone of Aspen's cultural performances. Plays, concerts, foreign films, and more attract people to the spectacular restored 19th century theater. * Aspen Art Museum - The Aspen Art Museum features rotating exhibitions including contemporary art and art of other historic periods. Free reception and gallery tour every Thursday evening from 6-8PM. * Art Galleries - More than 30 art galleries to explore and wander through, from Hill's Photography to Thomas Kinkade, the painter of light.
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