Aspen is a top winter (and year-round) sports destination with a range of things to do away from the slopes.

Revel in some Rocky Mountain razzmatazz in Aspen, Colorado, where mountain-shredding skills match up with an après attitude and a sophisticated see-and-be-seen culture. A former 19th-century silver mining town, this top winter (and year-round) sports destination charms with leafy streets lined with restored Victorian architecture. Its showpiece Shigeru Ban-designed art museum, beaucoup restaurants, clever boutiques, happening bars and aesthetic galleries compose an equally appealing contemporary buzz. As backdrop, Aspen Mountain rises from the town’s backyard, proving that Aspen’s true asset is incomparable nature.

Visit in winter for the region’s bounty of diverse ski/snowboard experiences — not to mention the gamut of other indoor pursuits and outdoor adventures. Skilled skiers swoon over Aspen Mountain, its Silver Queen Gondola located just a skate away from downtown suites. Known for its reservation-only, pre-opening-hour First Tracks (a coveted morning ski program), Aspen Mountain also gathers accolades for its town-side, centerpiece setting, which means après-ski festivities are never more than a few S-turns away. Beginner skiers and boarders will thrive at neighboring Buttermilk Mountain, which has ample, gentle slopes and amiable ski school programs.

Drop off trails, a long ridge, groomed cruisers, harrowing fun and jaw-dropping views define adjacent Aspen Highlands, beloved for its off-piste, up-to-48-degree-pitched Highland Bowl, accessible only by snowcat and a half-hour hike. A bit farther flung is the less-crowded Snowmass, blessed with abundant powder and miles of open space, offering runs for every level skier and boarder. It’s a must for families.

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