Friday, January 18, 2013

Taste Festival

Taste Festival

Winter time isn’t the only time to visit Aspen.
There is a great deal going on each summer,
and one of the highlights each June is the
Taste Festival. This is also called the Food &
Wine Magazine Classic, and people from all
over the world arrive in droves for this three
day event.

Cookbook authors, wine experts, restaurateurs,
and famous chefs can all be found here.
Wolfgang Puck, Jacques Pepin, and Andrea
Immer have all attended the Taste Fest in
Aspen – because if food is your life, this is the
place to be! Each year, there are over eighty
cooking and food demonstrations, and visitors
can get a taste of it all.

There are many seminars and wine tasting
sessions held throughout Aspen during these
three days as well. If you want to attend this
incredible mouth watering event, make your
reservations months in advance – or you will
miss out! If you don’t make your reservations
early, try to find a hotel with space available in
a nearby town, and drive back and forth to the
event – check the local camp grounds as well.
Just make sure you don’t miss this event!

Music in the Mountains

– Music in the Mountains There is always something of interest going on in Aspen, and September is no different. During the month of September, every year, JAS comes to Snowmass. JAS, or Jazz Aspen Snowmass, began in 1991 to honor the art of Jazz in the Roaring Fork Valley. It has now become a music attraction that lasts all summer long, with the biggest celebration coinciding with Labor Day weekend. While this is a Jazz celebration, for all intents and purposes, all types of music are celebrated, including reggae and rock-n-roll. Famous musicians and singers from around the world attend the four day Music in the Mountains celebration. All events take place in the breathtaking Snowmass Town Park, located on Brush Creek Road in Snowmass. Snowmass Village is one of the most beautiful places in the United States, and this festival is extremely popular. It is vital that you purchase your tickets well in advance, and arrange lodging well in advance also. Snowmass advises that if you do not have a ticket, to not show up for the festival – it will be sold out.

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Aspen Nightlife

Aspen Nightlife

Finding things to do in Aspen, Colorado during the
day isn’t difficult – get out on the slopes and ski or
enjoy one of the other winter sports that you love.
At night, however, Aspen really comes to life with
Aspen nightlife! No matter how old or young you are,
there is something to do in Aspen twenty-four hours
a day, seven days a week.

Music and dancing are the biggest Aspen nightlife
attractions, but there is more to do than just that –
so if you aren’t quite old enough to get into the
various bars and clubs in the area, don’t think that
you will be bored at night – you won’t be! Start by
finding out what activities are planned for the
evening at your lodge or hotel. Most lodges and
hotels have events planned throughout the season
– and this is a good place to start finding things to
do after the slopes have closed for the day.

Shopping in Aspen is another highlight. There are
many galleries and specialty shops that you won’t
find in your own hometown. Take advantage of this.
Most shops are open after the slopes have closed
for the day, and many stay open late because they
understand that you want to spend your daylight
hours out on the slopes.

If you aren’t old enough for the club scene, take
advantage of the teen nights that are offered by many
of the resorts. These are safe fun nights for teens,
which parents will approve of.  Teens also enjoy the
offerings at many of the spas. Spas aren’t just for
adults. Enjoy the skin treatments, massages,
saunas, and hot tubs. Some resorts also have game
rooms for the teens and younger kids.

If you are old enough for the bars and clubs – finding
something to do won’t be hard at all. Again, find out
what is happening in the evening at your lodge or
hotel first. If you aren’t interested, hit the streets.
Almost everything is within walking distance in Aspen,
and anything that is out of walking distance is
accessible by bus or taxi. If you will be drinking,
do not drive your car to the bar or club – find
alternate transportation.

The Aspen Recreation center has many planned
events throughout the season that are appropriate for
adults and kids. However, if you are planning to bring
the kids, but you want to enjoy some adult Aspen
nightlife as well, child care may be available through
your lodge or hotel.

 Aspen Nightlife and the Altitude

There is more to do in Aspen than ski! The
Aspen nightlife is like nothing you will
experience elsewhere. The warmth and
camaraderie of all of the skiers, from all of the
different lodges is quite special, and remarkable.
You will have a good time in Aspen, no matter
what you choose to do, but there is one thing
that you should be very aware of before you
start your party – the altitude.

Aspen sits about 8000 feet above sea level.
Unless you live in a high altitude area, you will
need to adjust to this altitude. You may find
yourself feeling dizzy or light headed, and you
may even find it a bit difficult to breath. Altitude
Sickness is a serious problem, and if your
symptoms become extreme, you should seek
medical attention.

If you will be drinking, you need to know that the
altitude will have a large impact on the way your
body handles the alcohol. Many people who are
not used to such a high altitude find that they
become drunker on much less alcohol, in a very
short period of time. It is best that you avoid
drinking alcohol at all until you have adjusted
to the altitude.

It is also important to recognize the signs of
both Altitude sickness and Acute Mountain
Sickness (AMS). Altitude sickness can be
recognized by hyperventilation, shortness of
breath during exertion, increased urination,
changed breathing patterns at night, strange
dreams, and frequently waking from sleep
during the night. Acute Mountain Sickness, on
the other hand, is recognized by loss of appetite,
nausea, vomiting, fatigue or weakness,
dizziness, light-headedness, difficulty sleeping,
confusion, and a staggering gait.

As you can see, the symptoms of both Altitude
Sickness and Acute Mountain Sickness
somewhat resemble the symptoms of drinking
too much alcohol. The only way to rule out being
drunk is to not drink for at least 48 hours after
your arrival in the higher altitude. You should
also seek medical attention if your symptoms
last more than 48 hours, or if you show signs
of Acute Mountain Sickness. AMS can be
deadly if it is not treated.

Health care professionals suggest that you
avoid drinking alcohol because the effects are
magnified at a high altitude. Avoid strenuous
activity for the first couple of days after arriving
at the higher altitude. Drink extra fluid and visit
a doctor if you have symptoms of AMS
immediately for treatment.