ASPEN
— This mountain playground has Gucci, Prada and Burberry stores downtown but still can offer the average Joe a budget vacation for those who can get here.
This summer, people who stay at least two nights at participating hotels receive an “Aspen Summer Pass” good for discounts around town. More discounts are available if the stay includes a Wednesday night. The best time to find Aspen lodging deals is in the so-called mud season, when the ski mountains are closed. But summer may be the best time of all to enjoy the beauty of Aspen’s high-altitude surroundings.
Getting around:Covering a bit more than 3.5 square miles, Aspen is tiny enough to get around on foot or by bike. Buses offer rides up and down the Roaring Fork Valley. They’re free in town and between Aspen and Snowmass Village; .
Where to stay: A few hotels in town offer cheaper lodging, but check the fees for cancellations and for putting extra people in a room.
What to do: The reflection in Maroon Lake of the majestic peaks in the Maroon Bells wilderness area makes for a postcard picture.
The access road is off Colorado 82. Road access is free for walkers and others using nonmotorized transportation. Access by car is limited. Buses leave every 20 to 30 minutes from the base of Aspen Highlands for $6 per adult.
The Aspen Art Museum at 590 N. Mill St. has free admission. It is closed Mondays and on major holidays; .
The Aspen Music Festival and School offers free performances by the American Academy of Conducting Orchestra at 4 p.m. Tuesdays, from June 25 to Aug. 23; .
For most of the summer, the Silver Queen Gondola takes visitors up Aspen Mountain for $23 per adult. Weekly passes at $46 offer unlimited rides plus extra discounts such as 10 percent off lunch at the Sundeck Restaurant. Some people opt for a free trip by hiking the 2.5-mile way up 3,000 vertical feet. Once you’re there, pick up a scorecard and map to play a mountaintop game of disc golf.
The Aspen Center for Environmental Studies offers free 45-minute guided nature walks that leave from the top of the gondola line on the hour, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
