Aspen is one of America’s most famous mountain towns, known for its location in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. The city is also one of the most expensive places in the country to live and a popular destination for wealthy travelers. Aspen is largely seen as a winter destination because of its world-class skiing, but I visited during the summer with the goal of climbing some of the surrounding mountains, which are among the most challenging in the United States. Aspen is a small, modern city, but you’ll still find several 19th-century buildings throughout the downtown area.
The city is named after the aspen tree, which dominates parts of the surrounding landscape. Despite its namesake, you’ll come across way more evergreens than aspen trees while in the city!
Aspen is incredibly expensive and has one of the highest-priced real estate markets in the country. Even when I visited, homes could easily cost millions of dollars, with some reaching well into eight figures. I can’t imagine what it costs to rent or own a building in the city center, but everything is extremely well maintained. The building above seemed to be a restaurant. Despite the high cost of living, the city sometimes keeps things simple and retains its outdoor theme. The tent below is actually a trash can.
Aspen has a small city center like many Colorado mountain towns. Here you’ll find plenty of shops and restaurants, many of them independent. It’s definitely a lively district with lots going on, including street performers and live music. Despite Aspen’s reputation for being expensive, I found plenty of places where having lunch or dinner downtown wasn’t going to kill your wallet.
I’d say Aspen is pretty comfortable during the summer. Its elevation of around 7,900 feet (2,400 meters) helps keep temperatures cooler than the lower elevations, while the relatively dry mountain air also makes the heat more pleasant. Just in case you can’t tolerate the heat, there are several fountains in the city center to run through. Below is a shot of a random piece of artwork I also came across downtown.
Aspen is a relatively young city that was first settled in 1879 as a mining town. The silver boom brought rapid growth during the late 19th century, and within a few years Aspen had developed substantial infrastructure, as shown in the historic photo above. When the silver boom ended, Aspen declined for decades. It wasn’t until after World War II that the city began reinventing itself as a ski resort surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenery in the Rocky Mountains.
By chance, I happened to visit the Swiss Alps only two months after I went to Aspen. Of course Aspen can’t compete with the ancient history of Switzerland or some of its majestic peaks like the Matterhorn, but nevertheless I could see a lot of European influence in Aspen. Many of the lodges and restaurants had names inspired by the Alps. Below is a painting showing people from the European Alps as well.
Even though Aspen is primarily seen as a winter destination and ski resort, there’s plenty to do during the summer as well. The ski lifts can take hikers and campers to good starting locations, while mountain bikers can ride the lifts up and fly back down. I’d definitely like to revisit in the winter. I might even do a winter climb of Colorado’s highest mountain, which isn’t too far away!
Aspen doesn’t have many specific attractions or landmarks since much of its appeal comes from the surrounding mountains. One exception is the John Denver Sanctuary, a landscaped area within Rio Grande Park filled with gardens, open spaces, and engraved stones. There were lots of young people enjoying the surrounding park when I visited, including kids skateboarding and even getting professional instruction.
John Denver was a famous singer-songwriter whose career peaked in the 1970s. He had a strong connection to Aspen, and the sanctuary was created in his memory after his death in the 1990s. Large stones throughout the gardens are engraved with lyrics from his songs. The stone above features lyrics from Annie’s Song, one of John Denver’s most famous works.
