Colorado is known for having an amazing music scene.  The artists that come through Aspen’s famed Belly Up are no exception to the rule.  This music venue has been selling out shows since 1979, so  If you plan on traveling to Aspen or Snowmass make sure seeing a show at Belly Up is at the top of your list.  Locals rave about it, while others drive many miles to see their favorite artists perform here.

Belly Up is setup in a tiered manner, making for an outstanding concert experience.  In the far back of the venue you’ll find the bar which provides standing room and limited seating around the perimeter, a few feet lower is the VIP area, and further down is where the main dancing area is in front of the stage.  The venue is intimate (450 people at maximum capacity) allowing for an incredible light show and the opportunity to get up close and personal with your favorite artists. The sound at Belly Up Aspen is not surprising amazing so you can count on an overall stellar experience.  Get your tickets early, because this venue sells out shows fast!

Here’s a look at some of the upcoming shows happening at Belly Up Aspen.

• April 25 – Oakhurst – Album Release Party
• May 16 – Mishka * AnuhaMay 28 – Mt. Eden
• June 8 – Indigo Girls
• June 7 – Jimmie Vaughan and The Tilt-A-Whirl Band Feat. Lou
• June 13^th – The Dandy Warhols
• June 17 – Mickey Avalon

After a night of dancing you’ll want to comfy bed to come home to.  Call Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals today and our Aspen local will help set you up with lodging in Aspen conveniently located close to Belly Up.

This year (well, technically next year in 2012) will mark Aspen Gay Ski Week’s 35^th anniversary of hosting the event. Running from January 15-22 in beautiful Aspen, Colorado, this GLBT friendly event is expected to be a blast as always. They are pulling out the stops this year for the anniversary, and will be celebrating the best of the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s by hosting decade themed parties throughout the week. And remember to bring your best and/or most outlandish outfits because there will be prizes given away at the decade themed parties throughout the week! These parties are not the only thing going on for Aspen Gay Ski Week—there is an opening cocktail reception, a pool party, après ski parties, a Downhill Costume Parade and a comedy show.

Here’s some footage from last year’s Downhill Costume Parade (from PlumTV):

Participants are able to purchase a single pass (the Patron Pass) for $750 that will not only include admission to the aforementioned events and activities, but also VIP access to all of the events, a 1 day lift ticket, and a week long pass to the Aspen Club & Spa. Be sure to take advantage of this pass—unpackaged it costs $1025. Also, the ticket price includes a charitable donation to The Roaring Fork Gay and Lesbian Community Fund (RFGLCF), so you can SAVE BIG while knowing that you also made a donation to charity. There are various other passes available as well, and you can also buy tickets to each individual event at the door. Here is a schedule of events to take place during the week:

Sunday

• Hospitality Suite  – 8 am
• Apres Ski Hot Tub Parties @Limelight Lodge – 3 pm
• Friendship Dinner @Ellina – 6 pm
• Opening Party @Baldwin Gallery – 9 pm
• Late Night @Escobar- 11:58 pm

Monday

• Friendship Dinner @L’Hostaria – 6 pm
• Film “3″ @Wheeler Opera House- 8:15 pm
• Late Night: 70s Glow Party @Hunter Bar – 10 pm

Tuesday

• Friendship Dinner @St. Regis – 6 pm
• Film “Going Down in La-La Land” @Wheeler Opera House – 7:15 pm
• Late Night: 80s Prom @Escobar – 10 pm

Wednesday

• Aspen Club & Spa Day – 8 am
• Friendship Dinner @Elevation – 6 pm
• Boutique Night – 6:30 pm
• Late Night @Caribou Club – 10 pm

Thursday

• Friendship Dinner @Gisella – 6 pm
• Play Reading “Unmarried in America” @Wheeler Opera House – 7 pm
• Comedy Night: Demented Divas @Belly Up – 9 pm
• Late Night @Belly Up – 9 pm

Friday

• Downhill Costume Parade & Contest @ Aspen Mountain – 12 pm
• Friendship Dinner @Cache Cache – 6 pm
• Late Night: Studio 2054 Party @Sundeck – 9 pm

Saturday

• Friendship Dinner @Brexi – 6 pm
• Weekend Pool Party @Aspen Recreation Center – 9 pm

 

The Limelight Lodge is the official sponsor of Aspen Gay Ski Week, so this will definitely be where it’s happening. This stylish lodge is located right in the town of aspen and has a pool and hot-tub, free Wi-Fi, daily housekeeping and complimentary breakfast, among other things. Also, the lodge is pet friendly! So be sure to bring your dog along for a great week in Aspen. This property is booking fast, however, so be sure to check out some of our other lodging options just in case.

 

Aspen Gay Ski week is the GLBT travel event of the winter, so be sure to come check it out! Find out more about how our Friendly. Knowledgeable. Locals.^®  at  Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals can help you book the perfect Aspen Gay Ski Week vacation!

When visiting Aspen, Colorado, there is more than great skiing at your fingertips. Yes, there is terrific dining and wonderful shopping, but there is also great ice skating. Aspen has 3 different rinks, each one different from the other, so be sure to get some ice skating in while you visit!

The Aspen Ice Garden is a large (85’ x 185’) indoor ice arena that hosts public skating, competitive and pickup ice hockey along with curling. This well maintained rink also offers private instruction for beginners. This rink is open year-round and is one of the best maintained rinks in the Rockies.

The Lewis Ice Arena is a full sized (85’ x 200’) rink with spectator seating and a skate shop. The rink offers public skate, drop in Hockey and figure skating lessons and classes for all ages. The arena has full locker rooms with showers. The rink also offers skate sharpening services for $7 – $10. The rink is available to be rented out as well if you are looking to have a private party.

• The Lewis Ice Arena is used more for recreational hockey, while the Aspen Ice Garden is used more for open skating.

• Admittance to the indoor rinks is $10.50 for adults and $7 for children, skate rentals are $3.

The Silver Circle Rink is a fantastic outdoor rink located in downtown Aspen at the base of the mountain. This picturesque rink is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and is a great place to spend the evening under the starlit sky. The rink also has skate rentals, so be sure to bring the whole family after a day on the slopes and enjoy skating around the rink.

Find out more about how our team of Friendly. Knowledgeable. Locals.^® can help you plan your customized summer or winter vacation in any of our fun-filled destinations.

 

 

Whether you come to Aspen Colorado annually for your family vacation, or are considering checking out this world-class destination for the first time, there is nothing quite like exploring Aspen like a local. With so much to do in the summer, I have compiled the most important things to know during your upcoming trip to Aspen, Colorado.



1. Save some money, eat at the bars. You can often get some amazing deals at the bars and avoid paying high prices. Come down to Su Casa and try their bacon wrapped shrimp stuffed with warm cheese and glazed in a light chipotle mustard sauce. If you are in the mood for some amazing crab cakes, head down to Jimmy’s and grab an order of Jimmy’s Famous Crab Cakes- by far the best in the city!

2. The entire town has Wi-Fi, so bring your laptop and bask in the Aspen sun instead of sitting in your hotel room! If you’re looking for free Wi-Fi, visit the local library on North Mill Street.

3. Visit the Aspen Saturday Market, it’s one of the best farmers markets in Colorado.. The Aspen Saturday Market runs 8am to 3pm on Saturdays located in the heart of downtown Aspen. The market features everything from farm-fresh produce to handmade crafts for the whole family!

4. Take a free hike up Snowmass Mountain with a guide from Aspen Center for Environmental Studies! Naturalists will lead your hike providing fun  facts about flowers, flora, tracking animals, bird-watching, etc.

5. Ever been to a ghost town? Independence ghost town is located just outside of Aspen on Highway 82 and offers a unique piece of history!  In the late 1800’s, the town was a gold miner’s paradise and in just two years over $190,000 of gold was extracted; but by 1890, the town was empty. Legend has it that the miners dismantled their houses and built ski’s from the wood so they could escape to Aspen to find work.  Admission is free for children under 12 and only a $3 donation for adults.

6. Who doesn’t love free concerts? Check out the local’s concert spot on Fanny Hill every Thursday! Some of the fantastic artists who come to play include The Stone Foxes, Otis Taylor, and Trevor Hall!

7. Just because it’s not winter doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy the mountain! Take the gondola up Snowmass Mountain and bring your bike! You can ride down the mountain for a great workout and breathtaking views. The mountain has a variety of terrain for every level from beginner to expert. You can even meet with an expert coach on the mountain to learn some techniques to make the most of your ride.

8. Go off roading in a Jeep tour. This is the best way to take advantage of all that the mountains have to offer. Find out more about Jeep tours on our website. Jeep tours are an awesome opportunity to experience terrain that you would never be able to in your own vehicle. Jeep tours in Aspen can take you on a wild ride up to alpine meadows for endless views, or on a scenic drive around Aspen Mountain.

If you are looking for a unique and exciting vacation, explore Aspen just like the locals! Comment on this post and share your own “local’s experience!” Remember, the only way to experience the best Aspen has to offer is to have a local help you plan your vacation.

Find out more about how our team of Friendly.Knowledgeable.Locals® can help you plan your customized summer or winter vacation in any of our fun-filled destinations.