Resort information for Aspen

Aspen was a booming silver-mining town that then fell into disrepair. Development of the skiing started in the late 1930s; now the historic centre – with a typical American grid of streets – has been beautifully renovated to form the core of the most fashionable ski town in the Rockies. It is very unusual in being a cute town with a major lift close to the centre. Downtown Aspen is quite compact by American resort standards, but it spreads far enough to make the free ski-bus a necessity for many visitors staying less centrally.

Its mountains get an annual average of 300 inches of snow and immaculate grooming adds to the quality of the pistes. Aspen has lots for every ability; each of the three local mountains - Aspen Mountain, Buttermilk and Aspen Highlands - is worth a visit, though novices should note that the former has no green runs. The slopes are usually blissfully uncrowded, most are in the trees, and there are rarely major queues on any of the mountains.

There aren’t many good mountain restaurants, but they are worth seeking out. There’s a huge variety of bars, restaurants, shops and art galleries – some amazingly upmarket, but there are plenty of shops selling affordable stuff. There are excellent places for eating out, but also plenty of cheaper options, and many of the restaurants are also bars.