There are lots of things to do in Aspen with children. Long gone are the days where Aspen was a destination for the elite or romantic couples only. Today, the town and surrounding area caters more to families than the uber-wealthy. From community events and on-mountain activities to enriching educational tours, there’s something for kiddos of all ages. Lift One Condominiums are the perfect family-friendly vacation rentals in Aspen, Colorado with two and three-bedroom units. Walk to almost everything year-round making your family vacation a breeze. Here are our top recommendations for activities for kids in Aspen.
Gondola Rides
Hop on the Silver Queen Gondola in downtown Aspen for a scenic ride to the top of Aspen Mountain during the summer or winter months. During the summer, use it to access beautiful hiking opportunities and lots of fun activities for kids at the Sundeck. In the winter, ride it up for some of the best skiing and snowboarding in the world. Tickets are available at the ticket office at the base of the mountain near the gondola.
Skiing and Snowboarding
The Aspen Snowmass area has four world-class ski resorts nearby: Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk and Snowmass. Buttermilk is home to the annual Winter X Games every January and is a great spot to learn to ski. Snowmass is the area’s largest resort and has lots of trails for all skier levels. Aspen Mountain is conveniently located in downtown Aspen and has challenging intermediate and expert runs. Aspen Highlands is just outside of town and is home to the one-of-a-kind Highlands Bowl.
Aspen Recreation Center
The Aspen Recreation Center just outside of town has an indoor lazy river, indoor climbing wall, ice-skating rinks, a prime sledding area and several ball fields. It’s a great alternative during poor weather or when you want to mix it up a bit. The rec center is located on the free local bus line. There is an admission charge.
Lost Forest
The Lost Forest at Snowmass is open from June to September and has a thrilling alpine coaster, zip lines, rope challenges, disc golf, fishing, paintball, biking and hiking, and a climbing wall. The Breathtaker Alpine Coaster also operated during the winter months. Passes and single-day tickets are available at the ticket office.
Guided Tours
There is no shortage of family-friendly guided tours in Aspen. Enjoy river sports like fly-fishing, kayaking and whitewater rafting or sign up for a dogsledding, horseback riding, tennis, golf, or paragliding outing. There are also several summer camps for kids, historic tours and educational programs. Tour historic Smuggler Mine and learn about Aspen’s rich history of silver mining or explore science and nature on a tour with the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES).
Maroon Bells
The iconic Maroon Bells are just a few miles from town. The iconic peaks are one of the most photographed areas in the United States. There are breathtaking views, aspen groves, a lake, a picnic area, and hiking and biking trails. There are tours available or you can drive your own vehicle to the Bells for an admission charge, but only during certain times of the year.
Cooper Avenue Mall
The downtown pedestrian mall is a wonderful area for children to explore all year long. The mall is free and open to the public and has a unique ground-level water fountain that shoots streams of water into the air during the warmer months. Children love the excitement of eluding the water streams … or not. There’s also plenty of neat shops on the mall, as well as the popular and tasty Paradise Bakery.
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