ALTITUDE
Aspen is located at an elevation of 8,000 feet, which makes the air thinner and breathing harder. At this altitude, hydration is an essential key to avoiding altitude sickness. Altitude sickness has flu-like symptoms, including nausea, dizziness & headache. Please drink significantly more water while in Aspen than you would at low elevation. We have excellent tap water—drink lots of it! Side note - you WILL feel the effects of alcohol about 33% more than at sea level - please take it easy. The hangovers are much worse here!

WEATHER
Aspen is extremely dry, often having 0% humidity. You may wake up with a nosebleed - this is normal when coming from somewhere humid. We have frequent summer thunderstorms, usually appearing suddenly and lasting just a few minutes. Come prepared with a raincoat but cross your fingers for sun! At 8,000 feet the sun is incredibly powerful - you will get sunburned significantly faster than at lower elevations. Apply lots of sunscreen, even if just going out for a walk. Temperatures during the day will likely be in the high 70s-80s, with lows at night in the low 50s. Bring layers.

WILDLIFE
Bears & moose are common and cute, but not cuddly! Please leave any wildlife alone - do not feed, approach or yell at any animals you might see around town. Bears are more interested in dumpster diving for leftovers than people; they are usually not aggressive but a mother with cubs can be very dangerous. Moose are less common in the area and are dangerous. If you see a moose, back away slowly, then run. Hide behind a tree, building or anything else that will create a barricade between you and the moose.

DINING - ASPEN
Our favorite spot to grab a casual bite to eat is at White House Tavern in Aspen. Meat & Cheese is 2nd place, for sure. Hooch is a fun speakeasy cocktail bar, perfect for a nightcap. If we’re going for something fancy, we LOVE Bosq for their prix fixe tasting menu (~$200/person) or Kenichi (the sushi restaurant Darby works at, they have locations in both Aspen and Snowmass). If you’re looking for a more rustic experience of the Aspen area, drive or rent e-bikes to Woody Creek Tavern in Woody Creek, order a margarita (or two) and soak in all the history at this long-standing bar.

DINING - SNOWMASS
Our favorite spot in Snowmass Village is Il Poggio (great Italian food) and Kenichi Snowmass (Darby works at this location). Kenichi Snowmass is next to the Limelight in Snowmass Village, however Il Poggio is a strenuous walk up to Snowmass Mall. You’re going to have a better time taking the “Skittles” gondola (rainbow colored cable cars) to get up there. Make sure you don’t miss the last ride up/down Skittles at 9pm!

ASPEN - SIGHTSEEING
The Aspen Saturday Farmers Market is a must-see if you’re staying in Aspen. If you have a rental car, take a drive to the top of the Continental Divide via Independence Pass. Drive east up Cooper Street / CO 82 out of Aspen. This drive — with some one-lane-wide sections — is not for the faint of heart! Spectacular panoramic mountain views await at the top. We also love the views on the Ajax (Aspen Mountain) gondola. Buy a foot-pass at the ticket office at the base of the gondola, then ride to the top for a glass of champagne and a burger! Another fun activity is renting e-bikes (electric bikes) in town and e-biking up to the Maroon Bells. The views are also incredible. Otherwise you’ll need a reservation to get up there if you go by car or shuttle - but they book up fast (click here for the Maroon Bells reservation system).

SNOWMASS VILLAGE - SIGHTSEEING
We live in Snowmass Village! It’s such a beautiful town; much quieter than the hustle & bustle of Aspen. Some of our favorite things to do include: hiking Rim Trail, cross-country mountain biking at Sky Mountain Park, and downhill (lift-access) mountain biking at Snowmass Mountain Gondola. If you’re not so much into the active lifestyle that Snowmass has to offer, they also have great patios for drinking (Venga Venga, New Belgium Ranger Station, Limelight Lounge, Kenichi, etc) and almost every hotel/condo property has hot tubs, which is nice if you’re trying to relax.