Aspen Nightlife – Getting Around

After a day on the slopes, you may be

wondering what there is to do for the rest of the

evening. Well, don’t use up all of your energy,

and leave the slopes early enough to get in a

short nap – you will need all of the energy you

can muster for the Aspen nightlife. No matter

how much skiing you get in or how many of

the runs you have mastered, you have not truly

experienced Aspen until you venture out after

dark!

Aspen has three basic areas: downtown, the

West end, and the East end. The town is

remarkably small, considering how many

people venture here each season – but

surprisingly, everyone and everything just fits.

The town is actually small enough to leave

your car parked at your lodge or hotel and walk

anywhere that you want to go. In fact, this is

recommended.

Not everyone pays heed to this advice, which

can make driving around and parking very

difficult. You can also take a free shuttle from

one mountain to another, take the Roaring Fork

Transit Authority Bus, or go to the Rubey Park

Transportation Center to get a ride anywhere in

the valley.

Don’t worry about getting lost. The town is well

laid out. Starting on the West end, you will find

a quiet Victorian neighborhood. While this is a

residential district, where locals live, you will

also find many hotels and condos on the West

end, particularly on Main Street. You will also

find the Aspen Meadows Conference Center

and Hotel. This is a 40-acre area where you

will also find the Aspen Institute, the Music Tent,

the Harris Concert Hall, the Paepcke Auditorium,

the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies,

the Hallam Lake Nature Preserve, and the

Aspen Center for Physics.

In the East end of Aspen you will find another

residential area, as well as the Roaring Fork

River and the Aspen Club and Spa. The East

end features more forests than the West end,

which has been developed a great deal more.

Between the West End and the East End, you

will find downtown Aspen. Downtown is where

most of the action is. Featuring old Victorian

buildings, downtown Aspen boasts pubs,

restaurants, shops, and everything else you

could ever possibly need – all housed in

beautiful historical landmark buildings.

Down the valley a ways, you will find Snowmass

Village. To the west, you will also find Roaring

Fork Valley. These two villages are

compliments of Aspen, and you should take

the time to visit them as well.