EXPLORE 127 ASPEN elite traveler The St. Regis Aspen Resort SEPT/OCT 2017 GUIDE TO ASPEN For an extraordinary Colorado Rocky Mountain BEST PLACE TO HAVE… experience, head to Aspen and discover its pristine TAKE FIVE/// peaks, towering trees, flowing rivers and sprawling A VIEW OF ASPEN MOUNTAIN MUST-SEE SIGHTS meadowlands. The 1880s mining town has Bosq transformed into a sophisticated mini-metropolis, Enjoy the intimate, sleek, gray-washed contemporary space, or dine 1. ASPEN ART MUSEUM swank ski resort and chic year-round destination. In on a patio overlooking Wagner Park and Aspen Mountain. Local Lunch at So Cafe atop the Shigeru winter, you can ski from atop an 11,775ft summit on chef/owner Barclay Dodge was influenced by acclaimed chef Ferran Ban-designed Aspen Art Museum, a black-diamond ski run; in warmer weather, you can Adrià at el Bulli and at Restaurant Gaig in Barcelona. His restaurant an admission-free museum which showcases contemporary exhibits. hike, bike or do sun salutations atop the peak. After highlights creative new world dishes, and a great Peking duck. Then, stroll to the nearby art galleries. dark, savor fine food, including freshly-flown-in bosqaspen.com seafood, sip world-class wines, attend ballet, concert 2. WOODY CREEK DISTILLERY and jazz performances or simply hang out at a local SUPERLATIVE ASIAN CUISINE Spend an afternoon at Woody Creek pub. Culture gives a splendid sense of place to this Matsuhisa Distillery, which makes craft spirits including rye whiskey, bourbon, gin from their own environmentally caring, intellectually curious and Arrive within a traditional — albeit blue — Aspen cottage to enjoy junipers and potato vodka from various ever-active community. Since 1899, when Jerome sushi and sashimi favorites in the ground floor lounge, with no farms in the nearby Roaring Fork Valley. Wheeler launched a grand hotel and opera house, reservations needed. Or book a table downstairs (there’s an there’s been a vibrant cultural ambiance; in the elevator), where the bar has a bamboo “roof,” the huge dining 3. SUMMERTIME FESTIVALS Reserve summertime tickets for lectures at mid-20th century, it expanded to a core value when room extends under high ceilings and the creative menu features the Aspen Institute’s Aspen Ideas Festival Elizabeth and Walter Paepcke founded the “Aspen Nobu specialties, including lobster in a spicy garlic sauce. or for absorbing performances by the Aspen idea” dedicated to the mind, body and spirit and matsuhisarestaurants.com/aspen Music Festival And School, the Aspen inaugurated the Aspen Institute. The Wheeler Suite at Hotel Jerome Opera Theater Center, Aspen Santa Fe SPECIAL DRINKS AND SOLID AMERICAN FARE Ballet company, Aspen Theater and Jazz Aspen Snowmass. The Paepcke Suite at The Little Nell Discover Aspen’s by Irvina Lew Jimmy’s history at Wheeler Step up to a fun bar filled with beer, whiskey, mezcal and wine- 4. HISTORIC VENUES Opera House sipping folks who appreciate the beverages that Jersey-raised Get a sense of history at Aspen’s owner, Jimmy Yeager, wine and beverage director, Greg Van meticulously-upgraded Wheeler Opera House at J-Bar in the historic Hotel Jerome, Wagner, and Jimmy’s traveling team have discovered during or at Wheeler-Stallard House. The latter, an their annual treks. Order authentic crab cakes or super steaks. impressive 1880s Queen Anne residence, jimmysaspen.com is home to the Aspen Historical Society, which offers a town tour. WINE PAIRING GASTRONOMY 5. MAROON BELLS Element 47 Photograph the Maroon Bells. From late Savor Patrick Dunn’s five-star New American fare, which features May through October — though hours are Colorado trout, beef and lamb plus ingredients from his chef’s restricted to cars — it’s a short bus ride and garden and a nearby farm. Ask one of the nearly 50 wine a three-minute walk for the best views of the “14ers,” the 14,000 ft mountains that professionals of varying degrees of certification to select bottles reflect off Maroon Lake. And there are from the 20,000-plus cellar, which you can tour. Or dine amidst the scenic hiking trails, too, including a bins in the wood-paneled wine room. two-hour hike to Crater Lake. thelittlenell.com/dining TOP SUITES PRESIDENTIAL SUITE THE WHEELER SUITE THE PAEPCKE SUITE The St. Regis Aspen Resort Hotel Jerome The Little Nell The fifth floor Presidential Suite offers coffered The 1,265 sq ft suite boasts an entry foyer, The 2,500 sq ft, one-bedroom Paepcke ceilings, a large living and dining room with a large living and dining room overlooking Suite within the art-filled, ski-in ski-out, tufted leather furnishings and a balcony facing the town and Aspen Mountain, a master five-star lodging features a fireplace, dining Aspen Mountain, two bedrooms, grand marble bedroom and two bathrooms. Todd-Avery area and a custom-designed game table bathroom, a service kitchen and full butler Lenahan of TAL Studio has refurbished the with crystal chess and backgammon pieces. service. There’s a timeless feel about the space incorporating rustic textures such A windowed wall leads out to an expansive Explore the Aspen red-brick walls, steep pointed peaks and as cowhide and corduroy, with cashmere terrace seemingly within touching distance Art Museum IF YOU DO The Silver 18-minute ride to Aspen to lunch on the Sundeck castle-like porte-cochère entry. The superb drapes plus tasteful western and Native of the Silver Queen Gondola and “Ajax,” as Queen Gondola Mountain’s 11,212ft restaurant and simply subterranean Remède Spa features pebble American decorative objects. An additional locals call the mountain. Two additional ONE THING… Ride the Silver Queen summit. Whether it’s to stare at the wonderful flooring, a confluence waterfall feature and bedroom and complimentary drivers and bedrooms and complimentary drivers Gondola, an iconic ski the peak also known wilderness. Summer an oxygen room adjacent to the lounge. private cars are available. and private cars are available. From $3,499 per night. Contact Heather From $3,500 per night. Contact Tony From $2,400 per night. Contact Simon experience inside a as Ajax, snowshoe activities include hiking, Steenge-Hart, general manager, DiLucia, general manager, tony.dilucia@ Chen, managing director, schen@ clear-topped bubble, for Richmond Ridge or hike disc golf, nature walks [email protected], aubergeresorts.com, +1 970 429 7612, thelittlenell.com, +1 855 920 4600, the scenic (and scary) the trails, it’s always fun and concerts. Zach Mahone Gibeon Photography, Emily Chaplin, Photos +1 970 920 3300, stregisaspen.com hoteljerome.aubergeresorts.com thelittlenell.com.