All posts by Steve

The Ultimate Guide for Your Ski Vacation in Aspen

August 18, 2016Aspen Blogaspen colorado, aspen home rentals, aspen snowmass, ski Aspen, Ski TripSteve

Winter is just around the corner!

When Old Man Winter starts knocking on the door of Colorado’s High Country, fresh powder powers the plans of adventurers from all over the world. Aspen happily stands right in the center of all of the action, hanging out at an elevation of 8,000 feet. If you’re on the hunt for an awesome adventure this ski season, the Rocky Mountains have you covered! So call now to book your next Aspen vacation rentals today.

My Aspen Rental- The Ultimate Guide for Your Ski Vacation in Aspen — Flickr: Aspen Snowmass

This is your ultimate guide for a ski vacation in Aspen!

Best Bunny Hill & Beginner Slopes

If you have little ones or inexperienced skiers in your pack, you’ll probably want to start off slow. Bunny hills are a great way to get your feet wet, so to speak, and they offer experiences that are intentionally away from crowds so new skiers won’t feel intimidated by others.

Buttermilk Park takes the lead for inexperienced skiers in Aspen. Before you start Googling the name and think we’re pulling your leg, beware that this mountain has major personality conflicts. On one side, it plays host to the the world’s Winter X Games. It’s also the notable backdrop of the Red Bull Double Pipe event. But rest assured, there is a family-friendly side that’s laid back and great for beginners. The easy-going side of Buttermilk tends to stay uncrowded, and youngsters will find a learning center with innovative skills training sessions to make skiing easier. More and more families are turning to dedicated vacation rentals sites to book their next dream vacations.

Most Well-Rounded Mountain

Family vacations that require skill can be tough to plan. You might have a combination of first-timers, fearful ones, and experienced adventurers in your crew. Aspen Snowmass takes this cake. This mountain boasts of state-of-the-art facilities. A top-of-the-line ski school provides instruction to those who are just starting out, while skilled skiers can set out on the mountain’s 150 miles of trails. 30% of Snowmass is categorized as expert-level (double black diamond), while easy, difficult, and most difficult levels are fairly evenly available across the mountain.

Scintillating Steepness

If steep drops are your thing, head to the S1 run on Aspen Mountain. This run, known for being almost completely vertical, will lead you down a foundation of former mine debris. The plummeting descents are coupled with man-eating moguls that will guide you down the narrow path. This 900-foot run is characterized by border of aspen trees, pitches as steep as 42 degrees, and a total drop of more than 540 feet.

Aspen Snowmass - My Aspen Rental — Flickr: Aspen Snowmass

Exhilarating Backcountry Experiences

If you’ve been bitten by the bug that prefers the backcountry, Aspen’s series of trails and huts will be happy to have you along. Experience is ideal you’ll be taking the backcountry ski trails, as the untamed terrain can be susceptible to avalanches, the powder is raw, and the trails can be unpredictable, but experienced guides are available, too.

The Alfred A. Braun Hut System and the 10th Mountain Hut & Trail System are two reputable backcountry experiences, but be advised: backcountry accommodations fill up quickly, especially on weekends. Bookings for the next ski season usually begin in March.

Get your gear ready, and get ready to hit the slopes at exciting speeds! Winter will be here before you know it, and My Aspen Rental is ready to welcome you in with open arms!

Why Renting in Aspen is the Best Choice for Your Next Vacation

August 17, 2016Aspen BlogAspen activities, aspen colorado, aspen travel info, VacationSteve

Few places offer the same panorama of beauty, outdoor recreation, and entertainment found in Aspen, Colorado. An Aspen vacation rental in the heart of the city puts you just steps away from all that’s exceptional about this iconic mountain village. Easily accessed from major highways and airports, Aspen is a leading year-round destination for many good reasons.

Silver mining drew its first full-time residents in the 19th Century, and now it’s the skiing, hiking, cycling, fishing, the performing arts, unique shopping and fine dining that pull people here. When you combine your vacation in Aspen with a house rental, you’ll have everything you need the moment you arrive to enjoy all that this mountain town offers, and you can

Simplify packing and reduce baggage by using the washer and dryer inside the Aspen vacation rental.
Stretch out after a hike on comfortable furniture in a spacious living area.
Use a fully equipped kitchen and serve the same healthy meals you eat at home.
Enjoy easy access to the vibrant life in Aspen day and night to get the most from all this area offers.

Arts and Culture

The city is home to the Aspen Music Festival & School, has over 100 restaurants, where you might spot celebrity chefs enjoying the local cuisine. The Aspen Music Festival is held each summer in the southeast corner of the city and hosts concerts open to the public. Students from around the world attend and renowned professional musicians offer master classes. The performances occur through late June to August and ticket costs are nominal.

Noted thinkers and scientists present public lectures throughout the summer months, some in conjunction with The Atlantic magazine at the Aspen Ideas Festival. Theater lovers can enjoy the live plays, lectures, films and opera at the Wheeler Opera House, one of Aspen’s most respected landmarks and organizations.

Art galleries and boutiques abound in downtown Aspen, where you’ll find unique art galleries, jewelry, home décor and clothing.

My Aspen Rental- — Flickr: Frank Denis, Aspen Chalk It Up

The Great Outdoors

Just off Main Street, you’ll find Aspen Mountain Summer Road that will take you to the summit of Aspen Mountain, a five-mile distance one-way. Aspen sits at 7,908 feet and the peak of Aspen Mountain reaches 11,211 feet, earning this hike a moderate to strenuous rating. The gravel road connects to seven other trails for hikers and mountain bikers.

The adventurous can go paragliding or take a balloon ride from Aspen for a different perspective on the breathtaking scenery summer and fall. If you’re more comfortable on the ground, outfit yourself from one of the local cycling shops for road or mountain biking. Fly fishing an exciting quiet way to spend a day, and Aspen has plenty of outfitters. Winter skiing in Aspen-Snowmass is legendary, and passes are available for visitors.

Staying a week in a downtown Aspen vacation rental gives you the luxury and comfort you want, with all the conveniences you need to enjoy this exceptional place.

The Top 20 Best Ski Towns In The U.S.

August 11, 2016Aspen Blogaspen, Best Ski Locations, SkiSteve

Lake Tahoe, California : This beautiful freshwater lake is located on the California/Nevada border, right in the heart of the Sierra Nevadas. The mountains surrounding Lake Tahoe are home to over 7 ski resorts and many more smaller ski areas. During peak season, people from all over the country flock to Lake Tahoe in search of fresh powder.
Aspen, Colorado: The city of Aspen is constantly bustling with residents and tourists taking advantage of the many music, food, and art festivals that are regularly hosted in Aspen. While this quaint town is home to many high-end boutiques and delicious restaurants, Aspen is most widely known for the picturesque slopes that can be found on Aspen Mountain or Bell Mountain. Aspen offers skiing from Winter to Spring, drawing countless people to this beautiful location. Spend a week in Aspen on the slopes and on the town, while calling My Aspen Rental home.
Flickr: Aspen Snowmass
Vail, Colorado: Vail, a swiss-style village, was originally built to accompany the Vail Ski Resort-which is one of the largest in the U.S. This charming town offers a museum, gardens, quaint shopping, and more.
Park City, Utah: Park City is a hub for tourists looking for a great skiing experience. The two major ski resorts that call Park City home were the locations for snowboarding events during the 2002 Winter Olympics. Along with being a good location for winter sports, Park City is the main location for the annual summer Sundance Film Festival.
Jackson, Wyoming: Jackson is a scenic town that is located near multiple national parks, the National Elk Refuge, and three ski resorts. Jackson gets considerably more snow than the rest of Wyoming, making it a destination for skiers from all around the state as well as the country.
Killington, Vermont: Killington is home to the largest ski area in the Eastern United States, Killington Ski Resort. Nicknames the “Beast of the East”, Killington Ski Resort sits atop the second highest peak in Vermont.
Sun Valley, Idaho: Sun Valley, a resort city, sits in central Idaho. Sun Valley is served by Bald Mountain and Dollar Mountain, both of which offer an abundance of different skiing and snowboarding trails that have varying difficulty. Along with snow sports, visitors can enjoy activities such as ice skating, hiking, golfing, tennis, and cycling.
Flickr: Chloé François, Sun Valley Idaho
Steamboat Springs, Colorado: Steamboat Springs, more commonly known as Steamboat, is a destination for winter sports. Steamboat Ski Resort and the smaller Howelsen Ski Area are located on Mount Werner and Howelsen Hill, respectively. An abundance of additional outdoor activities such as rafting, cycling, fishing, tubing, and kayaking.
Mammoth Lakes, California: Mammoth Lakes is a small town located in the Sierra Nevada mountain range that serves the Mammoth Mountain Ski Area. This resort, most often referred to as simply Mammoth, is located on the north side of the mountain. Mammoth attracts extreme skiers because of its eight terrain parks and the rare 22ft Super-Duper Half Pipe. With one of the longest ski seasons in the country, Mammoth is open from November to June.
Breckenridge, Colorado: The historic town of Breckenridge was established during the Gold Rush. It is located just below the Breckenridge Ski Resort. This alpine resort is one of the most popular in the Western Hemisphere and spans across the five peaks.
Big Bear Lake, California: As one of the few ski destinations in Southern California, Big Bear Lake is home to two ski resorts: Snow Summit and Bear Mountain. These sister resorts offer a wide range of trails with varying degrees of difficulty. When the weather is less than favorable, Snow Summit has an extensive, multi-million dollar snowmaking system that provides skiable artificial snow.
Flickr: Ian D. Keating, Bear Mountain Resort
Lake Placid, New York: Lake Placid, a village in the Adirondack Mountains, is best known for being the host of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics. The ski areas of Lake Placid are primarily located on Whiteface Mountain. As the fifth tallest peak in the United States, Whiteface Mountain has an area dedicated to beginners, but also double-black diamond runs.
Salt Lake City, Utah: As the capital of Utah, Salt Lake City has 8 ski resorts with 50 miles of the city. Many of these resorts are located in the Wasatch Mountains that lie just east of Salt Lake City. In 2002, the city hosted the Winter Olympics.
Ruidoso, New Mexico: While most would not think of New Mexico when thinking of snow, the resort town of Ruidoso is growing in popularity when it comes it winter sports. Located in the Sierra Blanca Mountain Range, this village hosts the Ski Apache Resort. As the only ski resort in New Mexico that has its own gondola lift, Ski Apache has one of the most difficult beginner runs in the world.
Keystone, Colorado: Keystone is a small town that is the home of the Keystone Resort. This resort offers ski areas on three different mountains that are connected by lifts and gondolas. Keystone is the largest operation in Colorado to offer night skiing on up to 15 different trails.
Snowshoe, West Virginia: Snowshoe is a small village that is centered around the Snowshoe Mountain Ski Resort, and located on the summit of the mountain. The resort has 244 acres of skiable terrain and is located on Cheat Mountain in the Allegheny Mountains. More recently, Snowshoe Mountain has become a popular destination for summer sports as well as winter sports.
Flickr: Gayle, Snowshoe, West Virginia
Stratton, Vermont: This extremely small town is home to the Stratton Mountain Resort. Located on Stratton Mountain, this resort has 97 trails and 670 acres of skiable terrain. According to Ski Magazine, Stratton Mountain Resort is in the top 10 for snow, lifts, terrain parks, lodging, grooming, and nightlife.
Avon, Colorado: The town of Avon lies just two miles north of Beaver Creek Resort. Beaver Creek Resort is comprised of three different villages and rises to a height of 11,440 ft. Along with being a destination for many avid skiers, Beaver Creek Resort is a regular host of World Cup events in early December.
Winter Park, Colorado: Winter Park Resort calls Winter Park, Colorado home. The alpine resort is located in the Rocky Mountains and spans three different peaks. Winter Park Resort holds one of the world’s first and largest disabled skiing programs.
Windham, New York: Formed from the iconic town of Woodstock, Windham is a small town in upstate New York. It is home to the Windham Mountain Ski Resort, which is located in the Catskill Mountains. With 54 trails and 285 skiable acres, the majority of the snow was generated through the snow-making process that creates artificial snow via water and pressurized air.

Feel The Comfort Of Home While On Vacation With An Aspen Home Rental

August 10, 2016Aspen BlogComfort, My Aspen Rental, VacationSteve

Are you sick of staring at sterile hotel walls during your vacation? We don’t blame you at all. Of course, hotels have a function- they provide you with a place to sleep, clean yourself, and store your luggage- and they do it well. However they don’t allow for much else.

What if you want to have not only a place to sleep, but a place to relax after a long day of adventuring? You could always go to a hotel, but how relaxing is sitting in a single room with your entire family? Get the comfort and space of a home away from home with an Aspen Home Rental-but experience none of the pressure and upkeep that comes along with a house. Renting a house for your vacation allows you to rest easy knowing that while away, you and your family or friends still have a home base. Enjoy an added sense of privacy when renting a house that you can’t get anywhere but your own home.

Treat yourself to a vacation in your dream home. We have everything you need to live in luxury while staying in Aspen. The media and entertainment center will excite the inner child in everyone and the pool table can provide hours of fun away from a screen. A private hot tub and a sauna make for the perfect couple’s getaway. When you’ve tried all of the amazing Aspen restaurants, you can save some money by using the fully-stocked, full service kitchen. Stop worrying about over-packing or packing too little and take advantage of the in house washer and dryer. Renting a home provides you with all of the amenities you find at home-and maybe more.

My Aspen Rental-Feel The Comfort Of Home While On Vacation With An Aspen Home Rental — My Aspen Rental

We believe that you should be able to be as comfortable (or more so) on vacation as you are at home, so vacation smart and forego the hotel- Book now with My Aspen Rental.

Tips for Traveling to Aspen Colorado This Winter

August 4, 2016Aspen BlogActivities, Art, Skiing, Traveling TipsSteve

From hot air ballooning to fly fishing to skiing, there’s a whole host of reasons to travel to Aspen this winter. For those still planning their trip or just looking for more options, here are a few things to think about.

Arts and Culture

Sometimes, those who travel to Aspen forget that there’s more to the destination than just skiing and snowboarding. Not only are there other adventure sports to look into, but it’s also home to a variety of arts and culture attractions that can really round out a trip. While the Wheeler Opera House and Theatre Aspen don’t perform during the wintertime, the Aspen Art Museum still presents the “newest and most important evolutions in international contemporary art”.

Flickr: Allora & Calzadilla, Hope Hipp-Aspen Art Museum — Flickr: Allora & Calzadilla, Hope Hippo-Aspen Art Museum

Skiing and Snowboarding

Undoubtedly what wintertime Aspen is most well known for. Home to the world-renowned Aspen Snowmass resort, the location has slopes for all skill levels and ages. However, don’t take these activities lightly – make sure to drink plenty of water, update your equipment, and familiarize (or refamiliarize) yourself with the snow before challenging yourself this year!

My Aspen Rental- Tips for Traveling to Aspen Colorado This Winter — Flickr: Sled ‘n Dog

Guided Activities

While skiing headlines the outdoor activities, winter fly fishing and hot air ballooning are other great ways to spend your time in the fresh mountain air. Blazing Adventures provides these and other guided activities like dog sledding tours for individuals and families throughout the winter season. If you’re on the fence about any potential vacation undertakings, consider asking the local experts for help!

Also, the annual 12 Days of Aspen counts down the end of the year and is filled with a variety of activities both free and priced. Past events have included family-friendly events like cookie decorating and Santa visits, as well as pet-inclusive and holiday variations on happy hour.

Enjoy yourself

Most importantly, make sure that your trip speaks to you. It’s important to plan a stay that addresses your needs and interests. Taking time out of your busy schedule to travel to Aspen simply isn’t enough. You have to enjoy it and with My Aspen Rental you can!

The Ultimate Travel Destination: Aspen, Colorado

August 3, 2016Aspen Blog, Aspen Travelaspen, Aspen activities, Aspen family vacation, aspen rentalSteve

Everyone wants to experience the perfect vacation and return home looking back on a delightful time, but have you ever planned what you thought would be a wonderful vacation, only to be disappointed and extremely disillusioned? Did you return home thinking–all that planning and expense and we actually didn’t have fun? Did you come to finally realize that while you were excitedly looking forward to a great getaway–all of that time you were building up for a letdown?

If so, you should make your next trip to Aspen, Colorado, for the ultimate in a wonderful travelling experience. You can make sure that your precious time off from work is filled with happy, delightful, relaxing and enjoyable quality experiences.

In Aspen you will have access to no less than seven luxury hotels, where you can experience superb service, exquisite cuisine, the ultimate in restaurants, bars, spas, saunas, chauffuers, babysitting and valet services, all in an ambience of sophistication and elegance.

Aspen, Colorado also offers the opportunity for great outdoor adventures. A winter vacation offers skiing, sleigh rides, snowshoeing, or ice skating. A summer vacation experience can include golf, hot-air ballooning, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, rock climbing, whitewater rafting, tennis, and an array of concerts and festivals. My Aspen Rental is just a quick walk away from the ski lift and the heart of Aspen.

If nightlife is the vacation highlight you’re seeking, unique dance clubs are plentiful with music running the gamut from pop to hip-hop. You’ll have access to tasty drinks and incredible d.j’s, great food–everything from vodka to grilled cheese sandwiches served in the early morning hours–and even strip poles, if that’s your thing!

If you want to shop till you drop while on vacation, Aspen has at least 300 shops you can explore, and for a real mountain top experience, you can actually, believe it or not, get a libations map, and visit one or all of nine distilleries and breweries.

You may have been under the impression, like many people, that all there is to do in Aspen is ski, but now you realize there are various and sundry opportunities to enjoy many other activities. These include, but are not limited to, paragliding, rodeos, wine festivals, and music festivals. In addition to adventure sports and the like, there’s plenty available in the arena of arts and culture. For example, if you want a lasting memory to take home, you can shop at the Aspen Art Museum, viewing their “Premier Contemporary Art Collection.” They feature guided tours and free admission. There’s also Theatre Aspen, and the Aspen Sante Fe Ballet.

You can visit the Aspen Saturday Farmer’s Market, numerous outdoor dining facilities, and the list goes on. When you plan your next vacation, why not decide to see for yourself? An average of 50,000–plus visitors per year have already discovered the delights of travelling to Aspen, Colorado for their annual vacation.

My Aspen Rental- The Ultimate Travel Destination: Aspen Colorado — Flickr: Foodlander

For a real vacation where you’ll return with cherished memories, looking back on a wonderful experience, you should plan on your next vacation to travel to Aspen, Colorado. Reserve your stay at My Aspen Rental now.