Aspen’s Family Spots

One of my biggest pet peeves is to read about an incredible event that occurred in town that I somehow missed, which partially explains why I took the path to becoming a family travel writer. I figured that if I could get myself known as the key person to contact when something interesting was going on for families, I would never have to be in the dark ever again.

In addition, I have teamed up with Aspen Shines, a locally owned and operated website that offers a downloadable Aspen iPhone Application. Now we all can be keyed into their social calendar that gives the most current and up to date information on “Aspen Hot Spots,” Restaurants and Bars.

May Selby, the Author of the Aspen Times Column “Mountain Mayhem,” also writes the “Aspen Today” column for Aspen Shines and she, unlike me, is very good at keeping her finger on the pulse.

The thing is that the fun never stops in Aspen and we don’t always need to wait for events to come our way to provide entertainment. Aspen Shines will be the first to let you know that while it is true that Aspen has some of the most remarkable skiing in the world there is so much more of an adventure to be had in the Roaring Fork Valley for families that is not just slope specific.

Who needs Disney World when fun activities and adventures abound directly outside your front door?

This past March Aspen Shines kids enjoyed themselves in and around Aspen. Below are the photos to remind us that it takes so little to bring on the fun.

So be sure to follow suit and don’t forget to lather on the sunscreen, bring a coat for the mountain weather that can change in a heartbeat and bring your BPA free water bottle.

• Ride the RFTA bus around town or take advantage of Aspen’s free shuttle buses. Either one will fulfill your child’s love for rides.

• Be guaranteed a fun ride on a fire truck if you visit the fire station.

• Go to The Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park and ride the Canyon Flyer, the first alpine coaster in the United States. Your kids will love being in control of their speed as you careen around the tight turns.

• Snowmobile above Lenado with Western Adventures.   

• When it’s open again, ride the Gondola to the top of Aspen Mountain and race down the Nastar course. Your kids will love it when they win an award for fastest speed in their age group.

• Take a walk around town. You never know what celebrity you may run into.
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• Of course, there is always the adventure of going out to eat. There are so many kid friendly restaurants around that it is tough to choose from. For the best wraps in town go to The Big Wrap. For pizza go to Domino’s, New York Pizza, Highlands Pizza Company, Mezzaluna or Brunelleschi’s to make your own. For smoothies and cookies go to Peach’s, Victoria’s or Poppycock’s. For buffet style delicious food on the go, go to Jour de Fete. For deli meat and sandwiches go to The Butcher’s Block or Johnny McGuire’s. For sit down go to LuLu Wilson’s, Krabloonik’s, Main Street Bakery or The Woody Creek Tavern. For dessert, go to the Dark Horse Alley, Boogie’s Diner or Paradise Bakery.
  

• For parks visit the Yellow Brick Schoolhouse park or the John Denver Rock Park.

• Make mini me snowmen.

• Visit the ARC and meander down the lazy river pool or test their skills on the climbing wall, ice skating rink and the Whoa Nelly sledding hill.

When the day is coming to a close you can now enjoy some quiet time while your children collapse in complete happy exhaustion!

2 Responsesto “Aspen’s Family Spots”

1. DEDE says:

   May 14, 2010 at 8:17 am

   ANOTHER BRILLIANT PIECE OF PHOTO JOURNALISM..
2. Swati Bharteey says:

   May 14, 2010 at 2:56 pm

   I had to take a second look at the 1st pix with the girls on the bus – the one in the middle looks so much like my daughter!! The wooden roller coaster thing-a-ma-jig looks like load and loads of fun…/
   Swati
   .-= Swati Bharteey´s last blog ..Pitter-Patter Goes My Heart =-.
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   May 14, 2010 at 5:51 pm

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