Skiing! Skiing! Skiing! When you hear people talk about Aspen-Snowmass, it’s common for them to go on and on about all the skiing. It leaves many people wondering about things to do in Aspen besides ski.
While Aspen is very much a ski town, the area is also very diverse in terms of interests, activities, and annual festivals. There truly is something for everyone to enjoy in the Roaring Fork Valley.
What Are the Best Activities in Aspen for Non-Skiers in Aspen?
- Go shopping
- Check out the local nightlife
- Sample exquisite food at local restaurants
- Unwind with a spa day
- Enjoy après experiences
- Visit local coffee shops
- Attend an event
- Go ice skating under the lights
- Visit the Aspen Art Museum
- Do yoga in studio or with a mountain view
- Ride the Silver Queen Gondola
- Go fat tire biking
- Learn how to ice climb with a personal guide
- Take a guided winter nature walk
- Go on a snowmobile tour of the mountains
- Experience the delights of snow tubing
Read on to learn about all the different options for your next winter adventure! Here are 16 amazing Aspen non-skier activities to do when you visit:
1. Go Shopping
One of the most highly recommended things to do in Aspen besides skiing is going shopping. The shopping scene is unique and unparalleled! Not only is downtown home to a ton of designer stores, Gucci, Valentino, Prada, Dior, Ralph Lauren, Louis Vuitton, and Moncler, there are also many one-of-a-kind boutiques, such as Kemo Sabe where you can get yourself an Aspen cowboy hat.
That’s just the tip of the iceberg for places to shop! Whether it’s art, furniture, rare books, new looks, fitness gear, or gifts for friends, there’s a lovely, little store selling just around the corner. Check out the complete Shopping in Aspen Guide for a complete rundown of the best places to visit.
2. Experience the Nightlife Scene
Although Aspen is a little mountain town that’s several hours from the nearest big city, the nightlife hits hard. It’s often compared to New York, Miami, or L.A.. The number of bars, clubs, VIP lounges, and the elite service they provide is often credited as one of the reasons why celebrities spend so much time in Aspen.
Around every corner in downtown is another popping club with loud music and neon lights. The key to a good night out is finding the place that best fits your vibe.
3. Sample the Local Cuisine
There’s a reason why the Food and Wine Classic is hosted in the valley each year: this town takes good food very seriously, which makes restauranting one of the many things to do in Aspen besides skiing. The local ethos is all about high-quality ingredients paired with exceptional service. Many restaurants have a farm-to-table model, so whatever you order is sure to be nutritious, delicious, and good for the planet.
The team at Aspen Luxury Concierge are all locals who know the restaurant scene inside out. Whatever you’re feeling, we can help you find it, and get you a reservation. Contact Aspen Luxury Concierge to get started!
4. Have a Spa Day
The most relaxing activity in winter for non-skiers in Aspen is to have a spa day. Wellness is a big deal in Aspen as well as Colorado as a whole. After a spa session, you’re sure to feel like a whole new you: brighter, bolder, more limber, and even stress free.
There are many spas in Aspen that all offer different approaches to health and wellness. Yarrow at the Hotel Jerome is all about herbs and natural remedies, whereas The Fix does everything from IV therapy to SculptSure and PRP injections. RAKxa has a more traditional spa atmosphere with a wide range of different massages, facials, and even acupuncture.
5. The Après Experience
Believe it or not, the après ski parties are actually very enjoyable even if you don’t ski. Après ski means “after ski;” it’s an umbrella term for activities that people do to relax and have fun at the end of a ski day. There is no skiing required to be part of the experience, although you will need to come up with a few things to do in Aspen besides ski to keep yourself entertained until the skiers are done on the slopes (ALC can help with that!).
These experiences are basically just lively gatherings where you eat, drink, be merry, and make new friends. The Wet Deck at The W is an iconic après setting that is unmatched in the socializing department; the pools, hot tubs, and raging fires make it especially appealing on winter days.
6. Visit Local Coffee Shops
What to do in Aspen as a non-skier? Sip coffee and read the newspaper, of course! When you’re on vacation, you should get to enjoy leisurely mornings where there’s no rush and nowhere to be immediately. With winter temperatures hovering in the 20s and 30s, it’s the perfect time of year to enjoy a hot drink. If you’re not a coffee person, there are still plenty of seasonal drinks that you’ll love, such as peppermint tea lattes, chai, and caramel apple cider.
For a complete breakdown of the 9 best coffee shops in Aspen, check out this extended guide.
7. Attend an Annual Event
Peak ski season brings with it many other things to do in Aspen besides ski. Even events that center around skiing don’t always require guests themselves to take to the slopes. For example, the X Games come to Buttermilk Mountain every year in late January. When the sun goes down, big-name musical artists play multiple venues across town. If you visit in late February, you can also enjoy live music at the Palm Tree Music Festival, an exclusive 2-day outdoor music extravaganza.
Aspen Gay Ski Week is another event where you can be part of the festivities without needing to know how to ski. There’s many opportunities for drag queen bingo brunches, themed nights at clubs, dance parties, friendship dinners, comedy performances, benefit galas, and the costume contest.
8. Go Ice Skating Under the Lights
Every winter, the Silver Circle ice rink is bedecked in Christmas lights. When the sun goes down, it becomes the most magical place to skate with your beloved or with your whole family.
There are 2 other places to go skating in Aspen: Lewis Ice Arena and Aspen Ice Garden are both indoor rinks that have certain hours for public skating. The Lewis Arena even does “Cosmic Skating” on Wednesdays where they lower the lights and blast disco music, so families can enjoy a kid-friendly ice rave.
9. Visit the Aspen Art Museum
Of all the things to do in winter for non-skiers in Aspen, visiting the museum is one of the most popular. You can escape the chill by diving into a world of color, shape, and creativity. The Aspen Art Museum is a sprawling building filled with every medium of art – paintings, drawing, sculptures, mixed media, fashion, and sometimes even miniatures. If you want to channel your inner artist, there are drop-in classes and family workshops led by local artists. Guided tours are also free to the public.
10. Do Yoga
Yoga is a year-round pursuit in Colorado, which makes it one of the main physical things to do in Aspen besides ski. There are numerous yoga studios around town where yogis of all ages, styles, and skill levels can work up a sweat while being mindful. The most popular studios are Aspen Shakti, O2, and Arjuna Yoga, which all offer a mixture of styles from power yoga to vinyasa flow and pilates.
In the summer, there are many more opportunities for outdoor yoga with a view of the mountains. In the winter, the main venue is on the rooftop patio of the Aspen Art Museum; guests are encouraged to bring their own mats.
11. Ride the Silver Queen Gondola Up the Mountain
Aspen Mountain is transformed into a glimmering wonderland with each fresh layer of powder. The good news is that you don’t need to be a skier to witness the majesty of this natural beauty. The Silver Queen Gondola runs from the base of the mountain up to the Sundeck at the summit.
When you reach the top, take in the sweeping alpine views and enjoy a range of elevated dining options including options from the grill, a wok station, gourmet salads, and more.
12. Go Fat Tire Biking
Fat tire biking has become a popular new activity for summer cyclists and visitors looking for things to do in Aspen besides ski. As it sounds, these bikes use tires that are between 3 and 5 inches wide, which makes it possible to ride over shifting surfaces like snow. While fat tire bikes can’t go quite as fast as the average mountain bike, they are enjoyable to ride for both beginners and experienced cyclists.
Want to give it a go? Contact Aspen Luxury Concierge for assistance with gear rental and customized trail recommendations.
13. Guided Ice Climbing
If you can climb a ladder and hammer a nail, you’re sure to be able to do and really enjoy ice climbing. It’s exactly what it sounds like: a certified guide takes you out to a frozen waterfall that matches your skill level. For beginners, it’s Stein Falls, then teaches you the proper technique for using the ice picks to climb.
14. Do a Guided Winter Nature Walk
Nature tours are one of the things to do in Aspen besides ski that allow you to weave in and out of the spruce forests while enjoying the breathtaking view of the Elk Mountain Range. When you do a guided nature walk, a naturalist from ACES (Aspen Center for Environmental Studies) will take you on a 2 hour loop during which they will teach you about mountain ecology, local history, wildlife, tracking, and avalanche management.
Tours are offered on Aspen Mountain, Snowmass Mountain, and through Ashcroft Ghost Town. The tickets include the cost of the tour, rental snowshoes, and a lift ticket to get to the top of the mountain where the tours begin. Get in touch with Aspen Luxury Concierge to book your group or private tour!
15. Take a Snowmobile Tour
Another option for winter adventure is to go on a snowmobile tour. Like snowshoe nature walks, it’s a wonderful way to see the natural beauty of the glades up close and explore off-the-beaten-path spots. Driving a snowmobile is very easy, if you can drive a car, you’ll be just fine on a snowmobile and an expert guide will be with you to teach you about the local history and how to navigate on a snowmobile.
16. Experience the Delight of Snow Tubing
Do you remember the sheer delight of going sledding as a kid? There’s a way to experience a similar delight of flying down a snow-covered hill: snow tubing. As it sounds, you borrow an inflatable inner tube that you ride down a medium-sized hill. It’s basically sledding but for adults, and it’s one of the most popular Aspen non-skier activities.
The best place to go snow tubing is at The Meadows on Snowmass Mountain where there are multiple lanes of runs and a lift to carry you back up to the top of the hill.
Things to do in Aspen Besides Ski: Frequently Asked Questions
These are the questions that visitors most often have about visiting Aspen as non-skiers.
Yes! There are many things to do in Aspen, Colorado besides going skiing. The most popular winter activities for non-skiers in Aspen are shopping, spa day, yoga, snow tubing, attending events, ice climbing, guided tours, and visiting the art museum.
Visitors who don’t ski can still have a good time at a ski resort. They can attend après parties, go snowmobiling or snowshoeing, sample seasonal menus at the ski resort bars and restaurants, go ice skating, and visit the resort spa.
Visitors to Aspen typically spend the day shopping, visiting the art museum, doing outdoor winter activities like fat tire biking or snowshoeing, taking yoga classes, getting massages at the spa, and enjoying the seasonal menus at gourmet restaurants.
No Skis? No Problem. Your Aspen Adventure Awaits!
Aspen might be most well-known as a ski town, but there’s so much more to it than just skiing. Visitors who don’t ski are sure to discover a whole new side of this little mountain town, one that enjoys luxury goods, private experiences, and trying new ways to get outside. Whether you ski or not, Aspen is waiting for you. Give Aspen Luxury Concierge a call to start planning your visit to this winter wonderland.
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