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Budget Travel: Free Stuff to Do in Aspen, Colorado
By MountainMama | June 20, 2008
Top-notch hotels, fine dining and luxury shops are found throughout charming (and expensive) Aspen, Colorado. But locals know how to enjoy the upscale resort town without breaking the bank.
Here are a few free things to do in Aspen this summer:
Listen to a free concert. Outdoor music abounds in the summertime. Relax on a bench and listen to Aspen Music School students play for donations on the downtown pedestrian mall. Take the Silver Queen Gondola (or hike for free!) to the top of Aspen Mountain for free classical or bluegrass concerts. Pack a picnic lunch and sit on the lawn outside the Benedict Music Tent during the annual, summer-long Aspen Music Festival. And the big daddy of free concerts: the Thursday-evening shows at slopeside Fanny Hill in Snowmass Village featuring major headliners from June 26 to August 21.
Stroll through a free festival. The place to be Saturday mornings is the farmer’s market in downtown Aspen. With cooking demonstrations and kids’ activities, it’s certainly got a festive atmosphere. And the outdoor festivals throughout the warm-weather season — especially in nearby Snowmass Village — offer plenty of options for food samples, street entertainment and kids’ activities. Check out Snowmass’ Mountain Masterpieces Arts Fair August 2-3 and the Snowmagical Family Fun Fest August 8-9.
Take a free hike. It doesn’t cost a cent to revel in Aspen’s gorgeous scenery along any one of the area’s several mountain trails. Visit the local Forest Service office for detailed maps and directions to trailheads. The Aspen Center for Environmental Studies offers free guided hikes on the top of Aspen Mountain.
Topics: Budget Travel, Family Travel |
TravelMuse
November 7th, 2008 at
[...] (I’m actually surprised it’s so cheap in the summertime, but Keystone — unlike Aspen, Breckenridge and Vail — must not attract as many summer travelers as these other mountain [...]