Are you looking for an alternative
to your Disney vacation? Check out the
Aspen/Snowmass area for a safe, fun, educational and exciting alternative to
your typical family vacation! The
Roaring Fork Valley is chock full of amazing activities for all ages! Just imagine you can be out skiing one of the
four world class resorts while your children are making life long memories and
creating new friendships that will last a lifetime. Here is a four day guide to getting the most
out of your family vacation while here in town!
Day 1
Start at the Treehouse in Snowmass; a 17 million dollar, two-story,
25,000 square foot kid’s adventure center and where Ski School meets for
lessons! Its boasts a family friendly
climbing gym, teen activity rooms, and a host of themed rooms geared for
children 8 weeks and older. The facility
is linked to a system of seven new lifts, including kid-friendly gondolas and
magic carpets to provide a seamless on-mountain learning experience for adults
and children alike! Some of the favorite
rooms not to be missed include Eagle Peak, a wide open multi- purpose room that
is home to a full cafeteria, allowing children to indulge in some of winter’s
favorite foods, hot chocolate with marshmallows and Rice Krispy treats! The Alpine Climb Room features a custom
designed children’s museum, Aspen Leaf Climber and Nature Shack. It gives kids the opportunity to exercise
their bodies and minds all while focusing on the mountains environment. Finally the Bear den is geared towards
children ages 3 and 4. It is home to a
puppet show theater, a napping loft, and offers age appropriate interactive
games! The Treehouse is a must see for
children and adults alike!
After your first day on the hill,
it’s time for some night time activities.
Wednesday evenings the Treehouse hosts Movie Night from 6-9PM. Thirty dollars includes dinner and a
movie! They also do a Smores and Stories
night around the outdoor fire pit located in the Snowmass Base Village, another
great activity to finish off your first night in town!
Day 2
Buttermilk makes for a perfect second day location to make
some turns with the entire family! It is
a unique ski area that allows beginners and experts alike to ride one single
lift, and find skiing for all abilities off the summit! Be sure to check out some of the interactive
kid’s trails, children’s race areas, picnic areas and even terrain parks geared
to the younger population, with jumps and rollers to make any kid feel like
they will be the next X Games superstar!
Buttermilk has hosted ESPN’s X Games for the past 12 years running and
features the halfpipe and jumps ridden by the pros, providing sights that the
kids and adults will stare at in amazement!
After another long and tiring day
skiing, be sure to pop in the Aspen Recreation Center (ARC), just a short 5
minute drive from the base of Buttermilk.
Here adults and children alike will find something to spark their
interest. The ARC is a state-of-the-art
recreation center home to a rock-climbing wall, NHL sized hockey rink, pools,
tennis courts and even a lazy river!
There is a wide array of classes offered including guitar lessons, art
classes, swim lessons, and even karate classes!
If your day skiing has completely wiped you out, enjoy an inner tube
float on the lazy river! Other amenities
include; water slides, diving boards, weight room, sauna, steam rooms, and even
batting cages! The ARC is a location
where people of all ages gather to play under one roof!
Day 3
Day three should be spent as a recuperation day. Take a day
off the hill to rest those tired muscles and to explore what the old mining
town of Aspen has to offer! The
Aspen
center for Environmental Studies (ACES) is located a stone’s throw from Main
St, something you will quickly forget when exploring the quiet and tranquil
Hallum Lake. The lake is the heart and
hub of what ACES is all about – teaching adults and children the importance of
our environment! On site naturalists
offer tours of the lake and explain the different animal habitats in the
area. Be sure to stop by the Birds of
Prey exhibit and say hello to the resident Golden Eagle and Grey Horned Owl,
both truly amazing animals. ACES promises
to be both fascinating and educational at the same time!
Don’t miss the
Aspen Candy Company
located in the heart of the pedestrian mall in the center of Aspen! The store is packed with over 600 different
types of candy with something for everyone.
Their business model is to make everyone feel “like a kid in a candy
store!” They have also opened a location
in the Snowmass Base Village so you can feed your sweet tooth no matter where
you are in town!
After filling up on all this sugar,
head over to the Silver Circle Skating Arena.
The Rockefeller Skating Rink of Aspen!
Enjoy outdoor skating from 10am-10 pm, 7 days a week at the skating
circle. Rentals are also available!
Day 4
Back to the mountains…
ACES also offer guided snowshoe tours,
as well as naturalists’ tours on both Aspen Mountain and Snowmass! Take a tour with a knowledgeable guide that
will teach you about wildlife, avalanches and more. There is a minimum age of 7 for these tours
and you must possess intermediate skiing skills. If your children don’t meet these requirements
be sure to check out the Wapiti Wildlife Center atop the Elk Camp ski lift (Snowmass)
to learn about these things as well! It
also acts as a warming hut, so stop in, take a peek, learn something new, and
warm up all at the same time! The center
is always free and always opens to the public!
Dinner plans? What better way to end your family ski
vacation than with a family twilight snow cat dinner ride! It’s an evening filled with sing-a-longs and
a fantastic BBQ dinner atop Snowmass!
You will be escorted up the mountain on a custom built snow cat, as a
full BBQ dinner awaits you at the top!
This will be a dinner that no-one will forget!
There are too many family activities
to list here! Be sure to check out
Aspensnowmass.com
for more information! The Aspen/Snowmass
area has something for everyone, especially children! It will be a trip that they will NEVER
forget!