Aspen

                                  

                                            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 – US Comedy Arts Festival

If you can visit Aspen in March, make sure that you 

catch the US Comedy Arts Festival that is held in 

various venues throughout Aspen. This is one of the 

major events for comedians all over the country – 

and it is some of the best entertainment you will 

ever experience. 

The US Comedy Arts Festival features every type of 

comedy you can imagine, including Stand-up 

comedy, film shorts, alternative comedy, and sketch 

comedy. Tribute is given to some of the greatest 

comedians from the past, such as Rodney 

Dangerfield, Monty Python, and George Carlin. You 

will also have the opportunity to enjoy many of 

today’s famous comedians, and hear some unknown 

or up and coming comedians as well.

Make sure that you don’t miss this festival – and 

make sure that you make your plans and reservations 

very early. The lodges and hotels will fill up fast for 

this festival, and according to locals, this is the 

hardest time of the year to find lodging in Aspen – 

which is a good indication of how good the 

entertainment is!

                               Aspen Nightlife – The Ultimate Taxi

This isn’t your ordinary taxi ride! The Ultimate Taxi 

is actually entertainment that is not to be missed. 

This is a thirty to forty minute musical ride around 

Aspen – but it’s not like any other ride you will take 

in your lifetime.

The taxi you will be riding in is a 1978 Checker cab. 

It has been greatly modified and boasts four red 

lasers, a laser projector, black light effects, light 

washers, light orbs, mini-strobes, color changing fiber 

optics, a sound system, stage lights, a mirror ball, a 

fog machine, a keyboard, digital drums, a digital 

camera, a DV cam, a notebook computer, a printer, 

and much, much more. 

Your driver will be Jon Barnes, and he has been 

driving tourists around Aspen since 1984. He throws 

in a pair of 3-D glasses, so you can view Aspen as 

you never have before. Featured online, in radio 

interviews, magazines, and newspapers, the Ultimate 

Taxi has become very popular. Many famous people 

have taken this cab ride as well, including Clint 

Eastwood and Jerry Seinfeld. 

Get ready for a wild ride! Jon plays the keyboard 

and the horn while driving! With your 3-D glasses 

and the other toys that are included in the ride, 

combined with the psychedelic lighting effects, this 

is one ride that you will never forget! In fact, Jon 

makes sure of it, because there will be pictures to 

help you remember the event.

Make sure you buy some souvenirs before you leave. 

The Ultimate Taxi gift store is located right outside 

the doors, in the trunk. You will also have a web page 

memory of your ride in the Ultimate Taxi hosted on 

Jon’s server for all time. Take your toys and 3-D 

glasses home with you as well.

The Ultimate Taxi is not a ‘normal’ taxi ride. You 

don’t call Jon Barnes to take you where you want to 

go. The Ultimate Taxi is more of a musical show 

and adventure. It has been called the world’s 

smallest recording studio.

Make sure that you get your Ultimate Taxi ride while 

you are in Aspen, and join the ranks of Ivana, Kevin 

Costner, George Hamilton, Jerry Jeff Walker, Dudley 

Moore, the Beatles, Clint Eastwood, Jerry Seinfeld, 

and even Regis Philbin! Due to the popularity of the 

Ultimate Taxi, it is probably best to call in advance 

for a reservation. The Ultimate Taxi is in operation 

from 7pm to 10pm most nights.

 

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, don’t 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. 

Don’t 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.