Month: December 2023

Aspen Nightlife Getting Around

After a day on the slopes, you may be wondering what there is to do for the rest of the evening. Well, dont use up all of your energy, and leave the slopes early enough to get in a short nap you will need all of the energy you can muster for the Aspen nightlife. No matter how much skiing you get in or how many of the runs you have mastered, you have not truly experienced Aspen until you venture out after dark!

Aspen has three basic areas: downtown, the West end, and the East end. The town is remarkably small, considering how many people venture here each season but surprisingly, everyone and everything just fits. The town is actually small enough to leave your car parked at your lodge or hotel and walk anywhere that you want to go. In fact, this is recommended.

Not everyone pays heed to this advice, which can make driving around and parking very difficult. You can also take a free shuttle from one mountain to another, take the Roaring Fork Transit Authority Bus, or go to the Rubey Park Transportation Center to get a ride anywhere in the valley.

Dont worry about getting lost. The town is well laid out. Starting on the West end, you will find a quiet Victorian neighborhood. While this is a residential district, where locals live, you will also find many hotels and condos on the West end, particularly on Main Street. You will also find the Aspen Meadows Conference Center and Hotel. This is a 40-acre area where you will also find the Aspen Institute, the Music Tent, the Harris Concert Hall, the Paepcke Auditorium, the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies, the Hallam Lake Nature Preserve, and the Aspen Center for Physics.

In the East end of Aspen you will find another residential area, as well as the Roaring Fork River and the Aspen Club and Spa. The East end features more forests than the West end, which has been developed a great deal more. Between the West End and the East End, you will find downtown Aspen. Downtown is where most of the action is. Featuring old Victorian buildings, downtown Aspen boasts pubs, restaurants, shops, and everything else you could ever possibly need all housed in beautiful historical landmark buildings.

Down the valley a ways, you will find Snowmass Village. To the west, you will also find Roaring Fork Valley. These two villages are compliments of Aspen, and you should take the time to visit them as well.

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Water Sports in Hawaii

Ah, Hawaii the perfect vacation spots for a magical getaway in a tropical paradise. There are few vacation destinations that offer as many attractions as Hawaii. The island of Oahu boasts huge cities with lots of shopping as well some cultural activities nestled amongst the North Shore surfing villages. The island also is home to the memorial at Pearl Harbor, which is on the top of the list of must see for Oahu

There are ample opportunities for playing golf as well. All of the islands have golf courses. They range from world championship golf courses to quiet laid back courses that have little or no greens fees.

But really Hawaii is all about the water sports. The state is an island surrounded by the Pacific Ocean that is home to some of the world’s best and largest waves. In fact surfing was invented here in the islands. Oahu and Maui are most well known for surfing, particularly the North Shore of both islands, but you can really expect to see some pretty great waves just about anywhere in Hawaii. If you are a beginner, you should stick to the beginner friendly waves like Waikiki Beach on Oahu and Lahaina in Maui. The big waves on the North Shore of the islands should be left to the experts.

Diving and Snorkeling are another popular pastime for vacationers in Hawaii. There are some world famous dive spots like the molokini crater located off the coast of Maui. You can expect to see a wide variety of sea creatures here, such as, sharks, sea turtles, rays, and tons of different tropical fish. This is a great spot for snorkeling, as well as scuba diving. If you are anxious to try scuba, but don’t think that you are quite ready; you could try a combination of the two called snuba. This is similar to scuba in that you have an air supply; however, it’s attached to the boat and it floats above you. With scuba, however, you have to carry your air supply with you in a tank on your back. This is a good compromise if you want to get a feel for breathing underwater, but are not quite ready to make the scuba commitment.

Maui in particular is great for windsurfing and kite boarding. Kite boarding is similar to windsurfing or wake boarding, but throw in the fact that you need to be able to fly a kite, and the sport suddenly becomes difficult to master.

Hawaiians have been kayaking since ancient times. If kayaking is your thing, Hawaii is the place to be. All of the islands have something different to offer. On Oahu, Kailua Bay is a popular kayaking spot, where you can paddle over to an uninhabited island for some respite for the very busy Waikiki Beach. On Maui Kealakekua Bay is a great place for Kayaking. These waters are responsible for the downfall of Captain Cook. Molokai offers some great kayaking for the more experienced paddlers. Whatever you water sport pleasure, Hawaii is sure to please.

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