Rocky Mountains: Aspen, CO

Since our time slot at the Maroon Bells was so late in the evening, we decided to stay in Aspen for the night and explore the town a bit the next day.

Lodging: Tyrolean Lodge

We stayed at the Tyrolean Lodge in Aspen. I mentioned this in the author interview and Jill was tickled that we had stayed there as it was one of the older hotels that harkened back to the older days in Aspen. From the research we did, this is probably one of the most affordable hotels in Aspen. It is not fancy but it is clean, comfortable, and warm. If you are looking for an affordable place to stay while skiing or just visiting Aspen, this is it.

The room we stayed in had two queen beds and a twin bed. It would be a tight fit but if five can sleep comfortably then the cost would be reasonable. The room also had a small kitchenette with a mini fridge and a couple of burners. Next to the door is a basket and hooks for ski boots and other equipment.

This lodge is decorated with old ski gear and maps. We spent quite a bit of time looking at them, they are a unique bit of history. Note: this hotel does not have AC. We slept with the fan on and windows open and were plenty cool and comfortable. It does have a heater for colder months.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Dinner: Meat & Cheese

After visiting the Bells and getting settled into our room we asked the front desk person the best place to have dinner. I don’t remember all the places recommended but we decided on Meat & Cheese. It’s a charcuterie board restaurant and market but instead of just meat and cheese there are a variety of options. These plates are defiantly meant to be shared. This is a busy restaurant and we sat at the bar. The bar tender was great to talk to and was happy to suggest his favorite dishes. We had the roasted chicken for dinner and the cookie board for dessert – the milk for the cookies had vanilla in it and was my favorite.

Breakfast: Local Coffee House

We ended up at Local Coffee House for breakfast. It was walking distance from our hotel and busy. We took that to mean it is good. They have both indoor and outdoor seating and we found a nice place to sit after ordering at the counter. If you want eggs and bacon with toast, this is not your place. They do have good breakfast burritos. The patio is dog friendly. I really enjoyed breakfast here and seeing the locals go about their day.

Lunch: Aspen Pie Shop

After having packed up at the Lodge, we wondered around Aspen enjoying the shops and parks. Wanting lunch before leaving Aspen we found the Aspen Pie Shop. With their lunch special we each got a slice of pizza and a local beer for under $20 total. Aspen can be expensive and finding this restaurant was a nice surprise. The pizza slices aren’t huge but they are still a nice lunch and the local beer is tasty.

Aspen Randomness:

Aspen is very pretty. It is a walkable mountain town with lots of little parks and some areas that are for pedestrians only. It’s a pricy town but they at least have some decent city planning in the touristy areas. The sign below made me giggle and we almost stopped in just because of their advertising.

Aspen has lots of businesses in old houses, this adds a wholesome aesthetic to the town, and Explore Booksellers is no different. Each room in the house is its own genre. Upstairs is a restaurant. The staff in the shop were great and were happy to help me find the reginal literature.

I did enjoy Aspen but it is expensive. If I was to go back to the area I would probably stay in one of the surrounding towns that are more local and less tourist. Have you been to Aspen? If yes, what did you think? If no, do you think you would visit in the future? Let me know in the comments! Remember to leave no trace and safe travels!

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