Aspen Snowmass, the snow season at the luxury ski station has already begun!
One of the most complete snow resort complex in the United States is also one of the most extraordinary family destinations
Por Leonardo Zanon
Brazilians love snow. Back in the 1990s and early 2000s, Bariloche, in Argentine Patagonia, was the preferred destination for those looking for snow, skiing and lots of family fun. With the increase in the demand of Brazilians traveling internationally, Bariloche now shares its attention with another global hotspot: Aspen/Snowmass. The four Colorado Rocky Mountains that border the Aspen area have always welcomed a more select American public, including movie stars and pop stars. These are people looking for excellent ski and snowboard trails, as well as premium lodging and exclusive services in the heart of the state of Colorado, in the United States. However, a little over 10 years ago, it became the go-to destination for Brazilians, who are now in the majority among the tourists.
All this success is easily understood by the variety of landscapes, pistes and infrastructure for skiers and snow lovers. There are four Rocky Mountain resorts, Aspen Mountain, Buttermilk, Aspen Highlands and Snowmass, each with its own peculiarities:
– Aspen has an excellent center with designer stores, starred restaurants and cafes and is where the jet set likes to hang out. In terms of slopes, it’s good for those who are already experienced (because there are no slopes for beginners).
– Buttermilk has an excellent area for snowboarders. This is where the X Games, a ski and snowboard competition organized by ESPN, takes place. It’s an interesting mountain to stay with teenagers who enjoy winter sports and has some slopes for beginners.
– Aspen Highlands, as its name implies, is for professionals and more experienced skiers, with more radical pistes.
– Snowmass is definitely the best mountain for families and beginner skiers. There are more ski schools and easier slopes.
The mountains are all close to each other and a short distance by car. They are also connected by free vans and shuttle buses that run all day.
With all this variety of landscapes and attractions, the Aspen Snowmass winter resort complex has an infrastructure for everybody wanting to ski, whether children over 2 years old to the most experienced on the slopes. Moreover, the location is a cosmopolitan destination because, as well as the skiing, it has several sophisticated restaurants, family events and a bustling nightlife.
Skiing is taken very seriously here. There are more than 300 sunny days a year. Rain is very rare, and the snow throughout the region is of the powder variety, which is smooth and fluffy. This makes it easier for beginners, including children, to learn and to have fun. For the very little ones, the recently developed Hideout Children’s Center is a new facility in Buttermilk that offers a perfect introduction to the sport to children between 2 and 6 years old. The center has a gentle training slope for the first few turns on skis, four interactive indoor learning rooms to stimulate the imagination and lunch facilities. In Snowmass, there is The Treehouse Kid’s Adventure Center, which functions both as a childcare facility for infants and toddlers, with an area of 2,300 square meters for playing and learning, and a ski school for the youngest. Parents can enjoy their skiing with complete peace of mind.
After the ski lessons and for more enjoyment together, which is unmissable, the new sensation for parents and children at Snowmass is the alpine sled that runs over a kilometer of rails in the middle of the forest, on an elevated track that allows it to travel at 45 km/h. Another well-known and fun activity for the whole family is “Tubing,” where parents and children (from 1 meter tall) can slide with giant tubes through the snow. Giggles and good photos are guaranteed!
The family can also go ice skating on one of the two free ice rinks at Snowmass. Depending on your abilities, or lack thereof, good laughs are also ensured.
For the older children, the most sought-after space by teenagers is, without a doubt, the Snowmass Terrain Park, which is a recently opened park located between the chairlifts of the Village Express and Coney Glade. It is the preferred point of globally known athletes, such as Alex Ferreira and Torin Yater-Wallace. With a mixture of pistes, trails, jumps and transitions, there are over 100 resources in total that can be tried out for free by teens who want to improve their technique. Snowmass earned its reputation as one of the best resorts on the planet due to this park. Youngsters will also be able to follow the 22′ X Games (January 21-23, 2023) in Buttermilk, which is open to the public and attracts the best snow athletes.
For après-ski, the best family program is to make some s’mores (roast marshmallows and chocolate in a cracker) in the campfire and enjoy eating them while telling stories, laughing and remembering the tales and tumbles of the day. This free program takes place every day in Snowmass, at the Base Village.
In addition to the great slopes and all the glamor of the place, Aspen and Snowmass are also a veritable art gallery! There are more than 40 areas with sculptures and paintings, both inside and outdoors, that have tickets for the ski lift and sculptures on the side of the slopes… The slogan is “Art in unexpected places.” The most sought-after exhibition at the moment is The Aspen Series, conceived by the artist and photographer Walter Niedermayr. He portrays the daily life of the region on a large scale, with a total interaction with nature. Another unmissable destination is the Aspen Art Museum, which offers several children’s workshops, presentations and vernissages. In other words, in addition to the sports, the beautiful landscapes in the midst of nature and all of the fun, the resort is also a highly cultural place.
At night, a good tip is to see the Snowmass Luminescence, an interactive exhibition of art and light. There are several interactive installations illuminated by LEDs that will rouse the senses through light and sound and collectively create a resonant and dynamic audiovisual experience. The Snowmass Luminescence takes place from December 17 to February 27, from sunset to 21:00, every day.
ASPEN IN THE SUMMER
It is a mistake to believe that this destination is only for snow lovers. During the spring and the summer, the mountains have many visitors hiking, biking and rafting, as well as enjoying romantic moonlit dinners. One of the favorite programs is KIDS Program, in which children can go hiking and learn interesting facts at the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies and also take handicraft classes. It is an intense program for a new generation that is becoming more aware of nature.
Services
How to arrive there:
Aspen has an airport for small planes that generally pass by Denver. Another option is to land in Denver and take a 4-hour transfer by car.
Where to stay:
Viceroy Snowmass – see our article in this issue with a technical visit by the Way Family.
The St. Regis Aspen Resort
One of the most popular local resorts. Following the same line of excellence as other hotels in the same chain, the Colorado unit has an exclusive concierge service, heated outdoor pool, rooms with stunning views of the mountains and furniture designed by Ralph Lauren.
W Aspen
W Aspen has a restaurant, the free loan of bicycles, an outdoor swimming pool and a gym in Aspen. The accommodation has direct access to the slopes and also sells ski passes. It has rooms for 4 people.
For more information, the Aspen/Snowmass website is a good place to start, including for reservations.
Due to the very select public, many brands support the entire season, such as Amex, Audi, Hublot and XP International, and they sponsor some very exclusive events: www.aspensnowmass.com
Things the Way Family love to pack in their suitcase:
