1. Five stars
The Little Nell is quintessentially Aspen. It presents fantastic dining all year at both Element 47 and Ajax Tavern, at the base of Aspen’s main skiing mountain. During the spring and summer, Ajax’s patio is ideal for lunch. During the winter months I love the lounge – it’s especially cosy to sit by the fire and have snacks and drinks with friends on a snowy day.
Nestled into the mountains of Colorado
2. Dine about town
I am pescatarian and especially fond of menus that focus on both locavore and sustainable food; a feature we focused on for the rotating weekly menu at our museum café, SO. I’m also looking forward to the opening of David Burke Kitchen [in late 2015]. Matt O’Neill, (executive chef at The Little Nell) will be designing a farm-to-table menu, which means good things are in store.
Aspen Art Museum, 637 E Hyman Ave.
+1 970 925 8050; www.aspenartmuseum.org
The exterior of the Aspen Art Museum
3. Luxury shopping
First, the Shop at the Aspen Art Museum has a brilliant mix of one-of-a-kind and rare items made by artists and designers. We make great efforts to ensure that it reflects the programmatic aspects of the museum itself and that the selections remain fresh. The rings I wear almost daily are both from the Shop – you can find everything from a Méret Oppenheim-designed fur ring or bracelet, to David Shrigley car air fresheners, dominos, and greeting cards. In town, I personally love Prada – especially their footwear.
4. Happy hour
The bar at Cache Cache is always lively and fun. It has a wonderful menu and is known as a great place to people watch. It’s legendary for its 4,000-bottle wine cellar – which is somehow both huge and curated (to use the now overused but ubiquitous term).
5. Local culture
The Aspen Santa Fe Ballet always presents fantastic series, and we are extremely fortunate to have such a stellar troupe in such close proximity. Summer is perhaps the height of the full cultural experience, and I would recommend one take in the offerings by so many of our amazing community partners, like the Aspen Music Festival and School, Jazz Aspen Snowmass and Aspen Writer’s Foundation.
The Aspen Ballet is a must
6. Natural wonders
Our landscape is one of our best features and at arm’s length from the centre of town. I always recommend a hike or a bike ride during the warm months – I like the Hunter Creek Trail on the north-east side of town. And, of course, during the winter: skiing or snowboarding on Aspen Skiing Company’s four areas is unparalleled.
7. Day tripping
For an urban experience, Denver is a few hours away and boasts great visual arts experiences with museums such as the Clyfford Still Museum – which, besides exhibiting the singular and iconoclastic works of its namesake, should also be noted for its building designed by architect Brad Cloepfil. For nature, I recommend heading to due west to Utah and visiting the national and state parks around Moab. The landscape there is otherworldly.
The modern exterior of The Clyfford Still Museum
8. Area code
Aspen is so full of opportunities, from private yoga sessions to the chance to get your nails done in your home, exclusive guided river rafting or fly-fishing experiences to mountaineering and backcountry heli-skiing adventures. We are known as a town of world-class services. If you can conceive of something you want to do, Aspen will almost undoubtedly be able to accommodate you.
