The Perfect Family Day in Aspen
When I moved to Aspen in my twenties it was the luxury casual lifestyle set against the gorgeous mountain backdrop that captivated me. The long lazy summer days on the river and the apres-ski parties in the winter were what kept me. It is here that I met my husband and experienced many firsts, including my foray into motherhood. I now experience all of the wonders of Aspen through the eyes of my three children and there is so much our little mountain town has to offer families.
Our perfect day in Aspen begins with us loading up our Rad Bikes with all the necessities for the day. My husband Andrew carries our twins, Spencer and Maddie, on his e-bike and I get the easier more gingerly ride with our littlest, SoJo. We cruise the Rio Grande trail spotting wild animals and cute puppies as they pass by and make our way to the Aspen Saturday Market. I’ve always loved the market! It’s alive with people and tasty treats and the kids love to pet the goats and alpacas. There are amazing local vendors. and I love to shop for handcrafted gifts. Some of my favorites are The Pointed Arrow, Lily makes gorgeous Colorado lifestyle jewelry, and The Hat Lady also known as Susan Carrolan Milllinery makes beautiful custom hats of many styles. We grab some snacks, (usually popcorn and peaches!) from the local booths and make our way down to Stillwater for an afternoon paddleboarding.
I can tell you doing the Stillwater run which starts at Wildwood School and ends at the takeout bridge was rowdier in my 20’s but it is so great with the kids too! We can do portions of it with the older kids while one of us holds down the fort with baby Sophie. It’s a great family day, the water moves calmly come mid-summer and the beach area is perfect for digging and creating sandcastles.
After a nap and once we are all recharged, listening to live music on the grounds at the Music Tent can’t be beaten. The grass area is perfect for all the kids to run around with each other and for parents to meet, chat, enjoy a glass of wine and relax to the musician of the hour. Our day usually ends with pizza and drinks at the Casa Aspen Pie Shop. Everyone gets their perfect slice and the kids can play on the nearby playground close enough to see them and occupied enough for us to enjoy a moment of peace (if we’re lucky).
