By Jen Murphy
Start the day with breakfast at Element 47. The lemon souffle pancakes and house-made pop tarts are always hits with kids. If it’s a Saturday, I recommend checking out the farmers market. In addition to local artisans and vendors, it has a small petting zoo, and the animal shelter brings puppies in need of homes.
Fly-fishing is another family-favorite activity. We have a partnership with T-Lazy-7 Ranch, and our guides from The Little Nell Adventure Center will take guests up to the ranch’s pond stocked with rainbow, brown, cutthroat, and rare gold and palomino trout. Hooking a fish is nearly guaranteed, and the guides are pros at taking photos of the anglers with their catch.
For a land-based activity, a visit to the Maroon Bells is a must. In summer the peaks are awash in colorful wildflowers, and in fall they glow with the golden aspens. You can take a shuttle, but I recommend renting e-bikes from Aspen Collection. The ride isn’t strenuous—fit grandparents or kids 8 and over will enjoy it. From the welcome center, you can follow a 1.5-mile nature loop or hike a three-mile round-trip trail to Crater Lake.
For dinner, Ajax Tavern is one of the most family-friendly restaurants in Aspen. It has a dedicated kid’s menu, and adults will find everything from Wagyu Bolognese to cauliflower gratin. When the weather is warm, you can dine on the patio and look up at Aspen Mountain.