12 Days of Aspen
Cultural Family Friendly Aspen Central Core
Celebrate the last 12 days of December during 12 Days of Aspen. Each day, enjoy fun, free, and family-friendly activities. 12 Days of Aspen activities include performances by carolers, photo ops with Santa, holiday crafts, film screenings, live music, cookie decorating, storytime for kids, and more. On New Year’s Eve, check out the torchlight parade and New Year’s Eve fireworks at the base of Aspen Mountain.
Ajax Adventure Camp
Child Care Family Friendly Outdoor
Ajax Adventure Camp is an Aspen, Colorado summer camp offering fun outdoor adventures, including whitewater rafting, backpacking, horseback riding, and camping. They accommodate flexible schedules with day, week, and multi-week signups and punch passes. Ajax Adventure Camp is perfect for families visiting Aspen Snowmass!
Aspen Art Museum
Cultural Family Friendly Aspen
The Aspen Art Museum (AAM) has been a fixture in the Aspen arts community since 1979, and since then, they have provided visitors with insightful and inspiring exhibitions featuring the work of international contemporary artists working in a wide variety of media. In addition to their riveting exhibition program, the AAM strives to educate the community on the topic of contemporary art through workshops for elementary, middle, and high school students, family workshops, teacher workshops, and public programs featuring discussions by curators, artists, and other prominent figures in the contemporary art world. Since 2005, the AAM has partnered with the Aspen Skiing Company to provide an art experience to a wider audience by placing "art in unexpected places", such as on the ski lift tickets and on the ski mountains.
Aspen Center for Environmental Studies
Family Friendly Outdoor Aspen
The Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES) has four locations situated in the Roaring Fork and Frying Pan Valleys dedicated to promoting an awareness of our relationship to the environment. They offer community garden space at their Hallam Lake and Rock Bottom Ranch locations during the summer. And during the winter, their winter naturalists provide a window into mountain ecology by guiding visitors on snowshoe tours on Snowmass Mountain, Aspen Mountain, and at Ashcroft. ACES also offers school programs to cultivate an understanding and love for the natural world in the younger set. Also, they invite guest speakers to give informative and educational talks, known as Naturalist Nights, on topics ranging from hydrology, forest health, birds, land ethics, and beavers. The Aspen area has a lot to offer, and so does ACES in terms of interpreting and connecting with all the natural splendor of this spectacular place.
Aspen Recreation Center
Family Friendly Aspen
The Aspen Recreation Center (also known as the ARC) offers a state of the art fitness center, rock wall, indoor and outdoor ice rinks, swimming pool, and aerobic studio. The pool is a favorite for families with a two story water slide, lazy river, diving board, and lap pool. Great after a day of skiing or on one of the few rainy days in Aspen.
Aspen Saturday Farmers Market
Family Friendly Outdoor Aspen Central Core
Founded in 1998, the Aspen Saturday Marketing (also known as the Aspen Farmers Market) is in downtown Aspen every Saturday from June to October. Join locals for a Saturday tradition of strolling through the market and stopping along the way to shop. Stands at the market sell Colorado-grown organic fruits and veggies, artwork, wine, cheese, honey, preserves, flowers, baked goods, jewelry, clothing, gifts, home decor, and more. The Aspen Saturday Marketing is family friendly with live music and a food court.
June 20th through October 3rd.
Image: Aspen Chamber
Aspen Snowmass Ski & Snowboard School
Family Friendly Outdoor Aspen Aspen Highlands Buttermilk / Tiehack Snowmass Village
When you and the family hit the slopes in Aspen Snowmass, you want to have an memorable experience. Taking a ski or snowboard lesson from one of the highly skilled Pros at the Aspen Snowmass Ski & Snowboard School is a sure way towards that extraordinary experience. During a lesson, Pros work closely with you, giving you personalized tips, so that you build confidence and gain new skills.
The Aspen Snowmass Ski & Snowboard School offers lessons for skiers and riders from age 2 and up. Choose a private lesson, an adult group lesson, or a kids and teens group lesson.
Private Ski or Snowboard Lessons
A private ski or snowboard lesson is the best way to have fun on the hill, while also becoming a better skier or rider. When you sign up for a private lesson, you decide how you want your day to go. Want to ski with the entire family, while your Pro supplies each member with personalized tips? With a private ski or snowboard lesson, you have that choice.
Adult Group Lessons
A surefire way to boost confidence is to take an adult group lesson with an Aspen Snowmass Pro. Adult group lessons for skiers and riders are offered at all levels, so whether you are getting on skis for the first time or the thousandth time, you can rest assured that you will be in a group that meets your skill level and needs.
Kids & Teens Group Lessons
The Aspen Snowmass Ski & Snowboard School provides skiers and riders as young as 2 and as old as 17 with the opportunity to explore the fun and varied terrain available in Aspen Snowmass. Like adult group lessons, your child is placed in a group where they are comfortable, yet challenged, while still having a blast in the mountains.
Aspen Whitewater Rafting
Family Friendly Outdoor
Aspen Whitewater Rafting offers Aspen, Colorado rafting trips on the Roaring Fork and Arkansas Rivers. Plan a family rafting trip on the Middle or Cemetery stretches of the Roaring Fork River, or try your hand at more advanced rafting in Slaughter House Fall on the Roaring Fork or Pine Creek and the Numbers on Arkansas River.
Breathtaker Alpine Coaster
Family Friendly Outdoor Snowmass Village
Snowmass Mountain is home to the Breathtaker Alpine Coaster. Hop on the alpine coaster and ride on over a mile of elevated track through an evergreen forest at speeds up to 28 mph. The Breathtaker Alpine Coaster is another fun way to experience Snowmass Mountain in the winter and summer.
The Breathtaker Alpine Coaster is located at Elk Camp. To get to there, take the Elk Camp Gondola after purchasing your activity pass at the Snowmass Base Village ticket office.
Camp Aspen Snowmass
Child Care Family Friendly Outdoor Aspen
Camp Aspen Snowmass is a kids' summer camp that offers a wide range of outdoor activities. As Camp Aspen Snowmass is located in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, the summer camp is able to offer a number of unique activities, including nature walks, mountain biking, mountainboarding, rafting, fishing, and camping. In addition, kids attending Camp Aspen Snowmass can build rockets, play tennis, enjoy arts and crafts time, and play a game of paintball. Camp Aspen Snowmass is available to children between the ages of 3 to kids in their teenage years. If your child is looking for the summer camp experience while on vacation in Aspen and Snowmass, then look no further than Camp Aspen Snowmass.
Crystal Theatre
Cultural Family Friendly Carbondale
A small movie theater located along Carbondale's Main Street, the Cystal Theatre is an independently owned and operated theater showing arthouse films alongside mainstream movies. The theater space was constructed in 1912, and originally was home to the W. M. Dinkel Mercantile Store before being refurbished into a theater in the 1940s. The Crystal Theatre is a historic small town movie theater with a friendly staff and a community vibe, making it the perfect place to catch a flick after enjoying a meal at one of Carbondale's many fine restaurants.
Fly Fishing in Aspen Snowmass
Family Friendly Aspen
Go fly fishing in Aspen Snowmass! Fly fishing is a popular, year-round sport in Colorado, though most anglers get on the rivers in the summer and fall. In the Roaring Fork Valley, you can fish the Roaring Fork River, Frying Pan River, and Colorado River.
Two local fly fishing guide companies, Aspen Guide Service and Taylor Creek Fly Shop, provide professionally guided fly fishing trips in Aspen Snowmass and beyond. Both fly fishing companies offer half-day and full-day wade trips and float trips. Your guide for the day will pick the best place to wade or float on the Frying Pan River outside of Basalt; Roaring Fork River in the Roaring Fork Valley; and Colorado River in Glenwood Springs. Guide companies also have permits for private waters. Contact Aspen Guide Service or Taylor Creek to book a trip.
John Denver Sanctuary
Family Friendly Aspen
Fans of John Denver will love taking a stroll through the John Denver Sanctuary. Located just south of Aspen’s core in Rio Grande Park, the John Denver Sanctuary is a serene spot right on the river with boulders engraved with lyrics to popular John Denver songs. Check out the view of Aspen Mountain, and bring a picnic lunch on one of the park benches. The John Denver Sanctuary is a great place to spend an afternoon in Aspen.
Photo: Aspen Parks & Recreation
Red Brick Center for the Arts
Cultural Family Friendly Aspen
The Red Brick Center for the Arts is a vital organization within the Aspen arts community, as they both promote local artists, as well as strive to create a thriving local arts community. The Red Brick hosts an opening reception for new exhibitions the first Thursday of every month, so there is always an inspiring installtion of new artwork to see. Classes for elementary, middle, and high school students are also offered with workshop subjects ranging from painting to printmaking. Each spring, the Red Brick hosts the ArtStart! Kids' Art Show, featuring fantastic creations by kids who live right here in the Roaring Fork Valley. The Red Brick truly is a wonderful place to view art by local artists of all ages.
River Valley Ranch Golf Club
Family Friendly Outdoor Carbondale River Valley Ranch
River Valley Ranch is a golf and tennis community in Carbondale, Colorado. With a critically-acclaimed golf course, an excellent tennis program, a fitness center, and more, River Valley Ranch is a family-friendly community known for its active outdoor lifestyle. Open to the public, the River Valley Ranch Golf Club is a beautiful Colorado Rocky Mountain golf course with challenging terrain and spectacular views of Mt. Sopris. Visit River Valley Ranch and the River Valley Ranch Golf Club in Carbondale today to learn more about this idyllic mountain community.
Snowmass Ice Age Discovery Center
Cultural Family Friendly Snowmass Village Slopeside Mall
After years of advocating for a home to display the state’s largest fossil dig, Snowmass Discovery officials expect its ice age center to open its doors in Base Village by summer or winter of 2021. At the Snowmass Ice Age Discovery Center, learn about the "Snowmastodon" archeological dig. In 2010, a team from the Denver Museum of Nature and Science uncovered thousands of fossilized bones from bison, black bears, sloths, mammoths, mastodons, and many other Ice Age animals. Learn about these incredible creatures, who once called Snowmass home.
Snowmass Recreation Center
Family Friendly Snowmass Village
Visit the Snowmass Recreation Center, a 16,000 sq. ft. rec center with a fitness area, gym, climbing wall, salt water pools, skate park, tennis courts, volleyball courts, and more. Perfect for the whole family in winter and summer. Fitness classes are offered including Zumba, Mixed Martial Arts, Pilates, Tai Chi, Power Cycling, Yoga, and more.
The New Krabloonik Dogsledding
Family Friendly Outdoor Snowmass Village
A Krabloonik Dog Sled Tour is the best way to explore the pristine Colorado backcountry. For over an hour, our Snowmass sled rides twist and wind not far from Aspen through Snowmass backcountry on an exciting, once-in-a-lifetime journey. Morning and Afternoon Dogsled Rides, Twilight Rides, and ATV Safari options available. $345-$375 per adult and $195 per child, ages 3-9. Our dogs and guests are the most professional and skilled that you will find in the industry. Krabloonik has been in business for 46 years and we feel that we are top notch. Our trail is thrilling and the dogs are the sweetest you will find.
Theatre Aspen
Cultural Family Friendly Aspen
Theatre Aspen provides the perfect venue in which to enjoy a professional theatrical production. With an array of rich programming such as productions of Annie, Little Shop of Horrors, The True Story of of the 3 Little Pigs, and so much more, Theatre Aspen brings inspiring live performances to the Aspen community each season. In addition to their theater productions, they also provide educational programs for all adults, teenagers, and children in order to cultivate an appreciation and love for performance art.
Treehouse Kids’ Adventure Center
Child Care Family Friendly Snowmass Village Base Village
The Treehouse Kids' Adventure Center — a multilevel, 2,300-square-meter childcare facility in Snowmass Village — brings the great outdoors inside with Colorado-themed play rooms and supervised activities for children ages 8 weeks to 4 years old.
Wintersköl
Cultural Family Friendly Aspen Central Core
Wintersköl is a unique Aspen celebration of winter that began in 1951. This nordic festival includes a canine fashion show, a snow sculpting competition called Wintersculpt, a torchlight parade, fireworks show on Aspen Mountain, and lots of other activities and events happening around town.
