Things to do in Aspen – It’s the Off-Season, Now What?

Off-Season Getaway - Dualakoo (Photo credit: richpalpine)

Now that off-season has arrived, some of us are looking for interesting things to do in Aspen, Colorado this time of year.

Many fill the void created by the end of skiing, snowboarding and other winter-oriented activities by leaving town to go on their own vacations. Those who can afford it, time-wise and budget-wise, often go on fanciful vacations to warm-weather locations like various places in Mexico, or even closer to home, like Moab, Utah. Others take the opportunity to go back “home” to visit family.

For me, however, it’s “birthday season” – time to head to Palisade, Colorado to visit my kids and grandkids – Abraham in March, Thomas in April and Sidd in May! It also gives me the opportunity to see my stepson’s band, Dualakoo, play once again in that Grand Junction center of the music universe, Cruisers Bar on Horizon Drive.

Cross-Country Skiing in Aspen, Colorado in January

Cross-Country Skiing in Aspen, Colorado (Photo credit: richpalpine)

One of the most popular winter events in Aspen, Colorado has once again come and gone, and I missed it.

I usually try to take part in some of the activities related to the annual Winterskol celebration in Aspen, but this year I just missed it. I had too much to do myself to afford the time to be a spectator.

Well, that’s not completely true because I did watch a fair amount of the NFL football playoffs. I usually prefer to be more active in my endeavors, but this year the playoffs had me hooked – for one thing, the Denver Broncos were in it again. Besides, it was really, really cold outside.

Things To Do In Aspen, Colorado - Some of My Favorites

I can’t believe it’s a new year already. It seems like it was just “yesterday” that I started blogging about various activities and things to do in Aspen, Colorado – it was actually March of 2012!

I’ve blogged about a lot of Aspen activities and events, from the annual Fourth of July parade, Aspen Music Festival performances and the 2012 USA Pro Challenge Bicycle Race, to vegetable gardening and ballroom dancing; but it all started with posts about presentations hosted by the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES) and the Aspen Center for Physics.

Here are some of last year’s posts about some of these presentations:

Aspen Colorado Activities -- Cross-Country Skiing 2012

Cross-Country Skiing in Aspen, Colorado December 9, 2012 (Photo credit: richpalpine)

Well, it finally snowed again here in Aspen, Colorado. The timing couldn’t have been better because I, like many visitors and locals, was beginning to get cranky from the lack of snow.
Thankfully, I at last got to engage in one of my favorite wintertime Aspen activities – cross-country skiing.

I was pleasantly surprised that enough of the white stuff fell over the weekend so that even though the actual ski tracks were not yet in place, the basic cross-country skiing trails at the Aspen Municipal Golf Course could be laid out.

Aspen Colorado Activities – So Many Things to Do and See!

Aspen Events - 2012 USA Pro Challenge - Stage 4 Heading up Aspen Street (Photo credit: richpalpine)

What a busy summer and fall this has been for me here in Aspen, Colorado. There are always so many varied activities to enjoy and participate in that it’s just impossible to partake of all of them.

I guess I really should be grateful that I have so many to choose from, and as I look back at this past summer and fall, I realize how many activities I actually was involved in.

Colorado Fall – Snowmen, Bears, and Pumpkins

Aspen Snowman - Taking A Break (Photo credit: richpalpine)

One of things I love most about fall in Colorado is the diversity in climate, weather, and all of the variety of activities available at this time of the year.

Last week my step-daughter, Michelle, and her two children, Elizabeth and Sean, traveled from Corpus Christi, Texas to visit us here in Colorado.

The plans were to “see snow falling” in Aspen and to carve pumpkins later on at their cousin’s place in Palisade. I was also hoping that they might be able to get a glimpse of one of Aspen’s infamous bears.

 

 

Aspen Garden - Putting it to Bed for the Winter

Ah, it’s that bittersweet time of year again for our Aspen garden.

One of my favorite things to do in Aspen is to grow and tend to our vegetable garden. Now that it's Fall though, it’s not only time to enjoy the fruits of our spring and summer labor, but it's also time to say goodbye to a treasured summer friend.

The temperatures have finally reached below freezing at night and early morning in Aspen, Colorado, and the hours of sunlight have greatly diminished, so it’s time to put our put our beloved garden to bed for the winter.

What a great garden it’s been this summer – from the asparagus to the strawberries to the peas and beans, squash, and finally to the potatoes, carrots, onions, and tomatoes (Actually, the lettuce and spinach weren’t so hot this year, but that’s another story).