We have stayed in both Aspen & Vail and in both summer and winter and I love Aspen. It has lots of neat shops and restaurants and some great places to stay. That would be my first choice. I do like Vail also and if I could do both I would do both. Just two really different ski areas and both have beautiful vistas.

Yes, I would like to explore Aspen more because it is not only beautiful but very interesting as far as the type of people it attracts, or at least used to back in the day.

I plan to check out Vail next time too. All we did there was eat at Yellow Belly while passing through, but it was good!

We also spent a little time in Steamboat with friends, but were mostly visiting and didn't really explore the town itself. It is interesting to observe the ski towns as a nonskier in the nonski season.

We visit both Aspen and Vail to ski. IMO, Aspen is a better choice for a summer visit. Aspen grew organically from a silver mining town of the 1880s to a nearly deserted town for several decades and became a ski resort after WWII. There are many beautiful Victorian homes just a couple blocks away from the old downtown.

Vail was developed in the 1960s as a ski resort. To me, it feels like a Disney-esque version of a European ski town. Very lovely but not authentic and stretched out along the highway with no real town.

We were in Aspen for a week this summer for the first time after skiing Aspen every winter since about 1986. We loved it even more in the summer than in the winter. Unless there is a big deal festival or conference going on in town, Aspen is fairly inexpensive in the summer months compared to winter rates. I also like visiting the town of Basalt as I pass by on the way to/from Aspen. Here are some of my favorite things to do in Aspen.

http://www.aspennature.org/locations...ake/what-to-do

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio..._Colorado.html

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio..._Colorado.html

http://alltrails.com/trail/us/colora...ler-lake-trail

http://www.aspenparagliding.com/

http://maroonbellsaspen.com/ride-menu/
Ann Marie

Ann Marie, you exactly describe why we don't like Vail. Aspen has such history and charm. Not to mention devastating scenery.

We did the Grottos trail and enjoyed it very much. Definitely need to dig deeper into Aspen next time! Thanks for the links, Ann Marie.

I don't have the nerve to jump out of a plane but paragliding at Aspen was just plain fun.
Ann Marie