I assume when people say " when locals speak of aspen....", it is because you guys are locals?

In any event we lived in the Colorado mountains for years until we moved to Slovakia two years ago. My husband was a ski instructor in colorado for years and has taken clinics throughout the state - so we have skied quite a bit.

When I saw "aspen"... I am referring to Ajax. (Not sure what other Coloradans mean). I do find aspen pretentious ... That said, it is a nice real town

Oops. Sorry, premature submit button.

Aspen was never our favorite.

I rarely skied vail, but if my husband just wanted to have fun, he would be cruising the back bowls in vail. It is a great ski mountain, ESP. If you get off the front face (at thanksgiving,likely just the front will be open).

Breckinridge is a nice town but the mountain itself is just too crowded for me.

My first choice would be steamboat... Nice town and nice mountain. And things to do if it doesn't snow.

We used to go to crested butte for ski free thanksgivings. We have had beautiful snow visits and one time it was so warm we hiked the black canyon of the Gunnison..

Given your two options, I would pick vail. And if does not snow, you are in colorado. There are nice things to do near all the resorts.

Thank you!! Thank you!!!

Ok.... But I might bring the hiking boots!... I am in Colorado and it was 95 degrees yesterday. I have never seen the range quite so grey ( not a drip of snow!)

But it is suppose to cool a tiny bit Monday, so no telling.

That is the front range - Denver. Frisco was 70 and, more importantly, night time was 48. As soon as the night time temperature is consistently below 30, the snow guns come on. It will be another month but it will happen. Always does.

Right... I live in Evergreen and have a condo at Keystone.. this is still exceptionally warm for September.

As someone who actually lived and worked in Aspen until 3 onths ago I am going to wade into the debate.

Ajax (aspen mountain) will most likely have a run open- "Little Nell" from mid mountain to the bottom. Snowmass will have 1 maybe two runs open from mid-mountain to base village. Of course this depends on natural snowfall.

Aspen town will have lots to do- there is a free concert at the base near the Little Nell condos and restaurant (it is still there) and other stuff. Yes, a few people will have mink coats; but most will not. There are some great affordable places to eat in town, if not head down valley to Basalt or Carbondale. I didn't hobnob with the rich and famous while an optometrist in town, if they were famous I usually didn't realize until my staff pointed it out.

As far as Vail, I haven't skied there but have heard glowing reviews. The "town" is Vail Village and personally, I wasn't that impressed. There are some great restaurants around and a good shuttle bus system.

Whichever way you go, skiing will not be optimal unless we get an early dumping of the white stuff. Rent the rock skis as someone up thread mentioned.

Good luck!