• Home
  • popular
  • EVENTS
  • submit-new-event
  • CHARITY GUIDE
  • Children
  • Education
  • Health
  • Veterans
  • Social Services
  • Arts + Culture
  • Animals
  • LGBTQ
  • New Charity
  • TRENDING NEWS
  • News
  • City Life
  • Entertainment
  • Sports
  • Home + Design
  • Travel
  • Real Estate
  • Restaurants + Bars
  • Arts
  • Society
  • Innovation
  • Fashion + Beauty
  • subscribe
  • about
  • series
  • Embracing Your Inner Cowboy
  • Green Living
  • Summer Fun
  • Real Estate Confidential
  • RX In the City
  • State of the Arts
  • Fall For Fashion
  • Cai's Odyssey
  • Comforts of Home
  • Good Eats
  • Holiday Gift Guide 2010
  • Holiday Gift Guide 2
  • Good Eats 2
  • HMNS Pirates
  • The Future of Houston
  • We Heart Hou 2
  • Music Inspires
  • True Grit
  • Hoops City
  • Green Living 2011
  • Cruizin for a Cure
  • Summer Fun 2011
  • Just Beat It
  • Real Estate 2011
  • Shelby on the Seine
  • Rx in the City 2011
  • Entrepreneur Video Series
  • Going Wild Zoo
  • State of the Arts 2011
  • Fall for Fashion 2011
  • Elaine Turner 2011
  • Comforts of Home 2011
  • King Tut
  • Chevy Girls
  • Good Eats 2011
  • Ready to Jingle
  • Houston at 175
  • The Love Month
  • Clifford on The Catwalk Htx
  • Let's Go Rodeo 2012
  • King's Harbor
  • FotoFest 2012
  • City Centre
  • Hidden Houston
  • Green Living 2012
  • Summer Fun 2012
  • Bookmark
  • 1987: The year that changed Houston
  • Best of Everything 2012
  • Real Estate 2012
  • Rx in the City 2012
  • Lost Pines Road Trip Houston
  • London Dreams
  • State of the Arts 2012
  • HTX Fall For Fashion 2012
  • HTX Good Eats 2012
  • HTX Contemporary Arts 2012
  • HCC 2012
  • Dine to Donate
  • Tasting Room
  • HTX Comforts of Home 2012
  • Charming Charlie
  • Asia Society
  • HTX Ready to Jingle 2012
  • HTX Mistletoe on the go
  • HTX Sun and Ski
  • HTX Cars in Lifestyle
  • HTX New Beginnings
  • HTX Wonderful Weddings
  • HTX Clifford on the Catwalk 2013
  • Zadok Sparkle into Spring
  • HTX Let's Go Rodeo 2013
  • HCC Passion for Fashion
  • BCAF 2013
  • HTX Best of 2013
  • HTX City Centre 2013
  • HTX Real Estate 2013
  • HTX France 2013
  • Driving in Style
  • HTX Island Time
  • HTX Super Season 2013
  • HTX Music Scene 2013
  • HTX Clifford on the Catwalk 2013 2
  • HTX Baker Institute
  • HTX Comforts of Home 2013
  • Mothers Day Gift Guide 2021 Houston
  • Staying Ahead of the Game
  • Wrangler Houston
  • First-time Homebuyers Guide Houston 2021
  • Visit Frisco Houston
  • promoted
  • eventdetail
  • Greystar Novel River Oaks
  • Thirdhome Go Houston
  • Dogfish Head Houston
  • LovBe Houston
  • Claire St Amant podcast Houston
  • The Listing Firm Houston
  • South Padre Houston
  • NextGen Real Estate Houston
  • Pioneer Houston
  • Collaborative for Children
  • Decorum
  • Bold Rock Cider
  • Nasher Houston
  • Houston Tastemaker Awards 2021
  • CityNorth
  • Urban Office
  • Villa Cotton
  • Luck Springs Houston
  • EightyTwo
  • Rectanglo.com
  • Silver Eagle Karbach
  • Mirador Group
  • Nirmanz
  • Bandera Houston
  • Milan Laser
  • Lafayette Travel
  • Highland Park Village Houston
  • Proximo Spirits
  • Douglas Elliman Harris Benson
  • Original ChopShop
  • Bordeaux Houston
  • Strike Marketing
  • Rice Village Gift Guide 2021
  • Downtown District
  • Broadstone Memorial Park
  • Gift Guide
  • Music Lane
  • Blue Circle Foods
  • Houston Tastemaker Awards 2022
  • True Rest
  • Lone Star Sports
  • Silver Eagle Hard Soda
  • Modelo recipes
  • Modelo Fighting Spirit
  • Athletic Brewing
  • Rodeo Houston
  • Silver Eagle Bud Light Next
  • Waco CVB
  • EnerGenie
  • HLSR Wine Committee
  • All Hands
  • El Paso
  • Avenida Houston
  • Visit Lubbock Houston
  • JW Marriott San Antonio
  • Silver Eagle Tupps
  • Space Center Houston
  • Central Market Houston
  • Boulevard Realty
  • Travel Texas Houston
  • Alliantgroup
  • Golf Live
  • DC Partners
  • Under the Influencer
  • Blossom Hotel
  • San Marcos Houston
  • Photo Essay: Holiday Gift Guide 2009
  • We Heart Hou
  • Walker House
  • HTX Good Eats 2013
  • HTX Ready to Jingle 2013
  • HTX Culture Motive
  • HTX Auto Awards
  • HTX Ski Magic
  • HTX Wonderful Weddings 2014
  • HTX Texas Traveler
  • HTX Cifford on the Catwalk 2014
  • HTX United Way 2014
  • HTX Up to Speed
  • HTX Rodeo 2014
  • HTX City Centre 2014
  • HTX Dos Equis
  • HTX Tastemakers 2014
  • HTX Reliant
  • HTX Houston Symphony
  • HTX Trailblazers
  • HTX_RealEstateConfidential_2014
  • HTX_IW_Marks_FashionSeries
  • HTX_Green_Street
  • Dating 101
  • HTX_Clifford_on_the_Catwalk_2014
  • FIVE CultureMap 5th Birthday Bash
  • HTX Clifford on the Catwalk 2014 TEST
  • HTX Texans
  • Bergner and Johnson
  • HTX Good Eats 2014
  • United Way 2014-15_Single Promoted Articles
  • Holiday Pop Up Shop Houston
  • Where to Eat Houston
  • Copious Row Single Promoted Articles
  • HTX Ready to Jingle 2014
  • htx woodford reserve manhattans
  • Zadok Swiss Watches
  • HTX Wonderful Weddings 2015
  • HTX Charity Challenge 2015
  • United Way Helpline Promoted Article
  • Boulevard Realty
  • Fusion Academy Promoted Article
  • Clifford on the Catwalk Fall 2015
  • United Way Book Power Promoted Article
  • Jameson HTX
  • Primavera 2015
  • Promenade Place
  • Hotel Galvez
  • Tremont House
  • HTX Tastemakers 2015
  • HTX Digital Graffiti/Alys Beach
  • MD Anderson Breast Cancer Promoted Article
  • HTX RealEstateConfidential 2015
  • HTX Vargos on the Lake
  • Omni Hotel HTX
  • Undies for Everyone
  • Reliant Bright Ideas Houston
  • 2015 Houston Stylemaker
  • HTX Renewable You
  • Urban Flats Builder
  • Urban Flats Builder
  • HTX New York Fashion Week spring 2016
  • Kyrie Massage
  • Red Bull Flying Bach
  • Hotze Health and Wellness
  • ReadFest 2015
  • Alzheimer's Promoted Article
  • Formula 1 Giveaway
  • Professional Skin Treatments by NuMe Express

    Aspen Getaway

    Destination Aspen: Where to stay, eat, shop and enjoy a cool Colorado getaway

    Deborah Elias
    Jul 19, 2014 | 4:00 pm

    Ah, Aspen in the summertime — there couldn't be a more perfect locale to get lost in the mountains, the roaring rivers, the cuisine or any number of activities. Every year, thousands of Texans migrate from the heat to the Maroon Bells and find just what the doctor ordered — perfect relaxation.

    I recently spent a long weekend, hosted by the Aspen Chamber Resort Association, which was designed to show off all that Aspen has to offer – not that it really needs all that much help. As one would expect, the area is filled with deluxe accommodations, cool things to see and do, and an assortment of restaurants, ranging from high end to laid back — but still scrumptious.

    Five-star rating

    My trip began, as all adventures should, with a personalized airport greet by my host, The Little Nell. This cozy property at the base of Aspen Mountain, often called by its former name of Ajax Mountain among locals, boasts the only five-star rating in the area, as well as ski in/ski out services. It has a number of restaurants and fantastic locations for events. The culinary team just pulled off a fantastic high-end wedding at the top of the mountain.

    The property is also known for its concierge service, called Adventures with the Little Nell ,where unique adventures are the specialty— specifically, helicopter rides to the Roaring Fork River for “glamping." (glamorous camping). Needless to say, this is not for those on a limited travel budget.

    Rafting trips and Aspen Meadows

    For a more affordable option, several tour companies offer rafting trips on the Roaring Fork, Arkansas and Colorado rivers. I attended a Level Three trip with a company called Blazing Adventures (which also puts on a fun Scavenger Hunt around Aspen and nature walk/talk at the Maroon Bells Lake). There are many options to get in touch with Mother Nature, including fly fishing, camping, bike-riding, yoga atop the mountain.

    The Aspen Meadows is a surreal and thoughtful property that is the home of the Aspen Institute, an idea think tank designed in Bauhaus style, known as German Modernism. Throughout the property are a number of locations to host events and dine, including some gorgeous sculpture gardens.

    One of the newest additions is the Herbert Bayer gallery, a permanent installation that constantly changing as more collectors donate or loan art. Bayer is the architect behind the institute as well as designer of the space. The institute is also home to a number of festivals including the Aspen Music and the IDEAS festival, which both occur during the summer.

    Where to Stay

    The Limelight Hotel is an adorable boutique property that boasts among other things a great beer and food pairing dinner. This can be done on a terrace over looking Aspen Mountain. Between the amazing libations and the view, the evening is spectacular. The award-winning Aspen Brewing Company, which partners with the Limelight, goes all out to make sure that beer and food pairings are top notch.

    At the base of Aspen Mountain lies the St. Regis Aspen. This property has a lot to offer, including stunning room renovations. My favorite is the Chef’s Club restaurant, boasting carefully-crafted menus from top chefs from around country. This apogee of food and wine is a joint venture between Food and Wine Magazine and the St. Regis. Houston’s recent James Beard award winner Chris Shepherd will be one of the chefs designing a menu for the 2014-2015 season.

    The Hotel Jerome is one of the oldest hotels in the area and dates back to late 1800's silver mining days. The décor is a throwback to that era but recent renovations make sure it has modern amenities and comforts. Belly up to the bar and order an Aspen Crud, a unique concoction of milkshake and bourbon and was the drink of choice during Prohibition.

    Where to Eat & Drink & Shop

    For a unique gift idea, the Blues Jean Bar is an interesting concept that allows guests to receive a gift of blue jeans, chosen from a wide selection and setup in a relaxed atmosphere with cocktails and appetizers. A wide assortment of jeans in sizes, colors and styles can be tried on at onsite dressing rooms. This is a great option for a corporate event to wow clients and customers.

    The Caribou Club, Matsuhisa from famed Chef Nobu and Pinons are must-go-to restaurants that can be utilized for private events. Cap the night off with an after dinner cocktail at Casa Tua, which has amazing selection of Amaro port. Dessert wines that have a host of secret ingredients and are produced by Italian monks are crazy good.

    The T Lazy 7 Ranch is another beautiful venue with views and settings that will blow you away. This is a perfect locale for a wedding in the Ceremony Meadow. O fora more corporate environment, the Chuckwagon Grounds is perfect for a closing-night dinner or teambuilding event.

    Or just walk around downtown Aspen to find a number art galleries and, of course, world class shopping. Visit the John Denver Sanctuary, a quiet respite next to the river.

    Aspen also boasts some incredible festivals, including the Food & Wine Classic every June. It sells out in March, so get your tickets and accommodations early.

    Houston’s own recent James Beard award-winner Chris Shepherd will be one of the chefs designing a menu for the 2014-2015 season at the Chef's Club restaurant at St. Regis Aspen.

    Chef's Club St. Regis Aspen dining room empty
      
    St.RegisAspen.com
    Houston’s own recent James Beard award-winner Chris Shepherd will be one of the chefs designing a menu for the 2014-2015 season at the Chef's Club restaurant at St. Regis Aspen.
    unspecified
    news/travel

    most read posts

    7 Houston-area barbecue joints make Texas Monthly's new top 50 list

    Lively new neighborhood bar shakes up Washington Ave. with diverse menu

    Predicting 13 barbecue joints that could make Texas Monthly's new top 10

    Texas traditions

    5 essential tips for tubing on Texas Hill Country rivers this summer

    Jef Rouner
    May 27, 2025 | 1:30 pm
    Floating the Guadalupe River is a quintessential Texas summertime activity.
    Floating the Guadalupe River is a quintessential Texas summertime activity.
    Floating the Guadalupe River is a quintessential Texas summertime activity.

    Tubing is one of the ultimate summer activities in Texas. Floating down the Guadalupe or Comal rivers while enjoying the scenery and the cool water is a perfect way to spend a hot afternoon. Thousands of people travel to New Braunfels, San Marcos, and the San Antonio area every year to tube, but it's not without dangers, rules, and guidelines that should be observed by regular tubers and newcomers alike. Here are five essential tips to heed before you set off down the river this summer.

    Disposable food and beverage containers are illegal
    The image of a Texan bobbing down the river with a six-pack of beer in a floating cooler might be emblematic of the state, but it's also no longer legal in New Braunfels. The city's Disposable Container Ordinance is in full effect, and those who break it risk a $500 fine. The ban includes aluminum cans, plastic water bottles, fast food containers, napkins, and anything designed to be thrown away after a single use. Instead, tubers should use insulated bottles, reusable food containers with snap-on lids, and canteens. Keeping the rivers clean from trash is how future generations will get to enjoy tubing.

    A reminder: beer bongs do not count as reusable drinking devices.

    Do not bridge jump
    Yes, we know Steve-O jumped off a River Walk bridge in 2014 and was more or less physically fine, but he was very lucky. The rivers are only a few feet deep in some places, and may have sharp rocks lurking just below the surface. It's illegal to bridge jump, and it can cost a $500 fine if you do it. Steve-O faced several criminal charges for his stunt. Only enter the river at safe docking points.

    Consider a professional tubing company
    Legally, you can tube down any river and launch from all public access points. That said, tubing can be dangerous for weak swimmers or the inebriated. The best way to ensure your safety is in numbers and with good equipment provided by professional tubing companies. Several are around Central Texas rivers, including Texas Tubes, 444 Tubing Company, and Texas State Tubes. Better yet, they offer shuttles to get you back to your car after the tubing is done.

    Make sure sunscreen's waterproof
    River water is colder than a Winter Olympic judge's heart, but that doesn't mean the sun is not still something you need to be wary of. Climate change means hotter summers and brighter days in Texas, and the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) reports sunburn and other sun damage to skin is on the rise, particularly in younger populations. Unprotected skin and eyes can result in painful burns and even skin cancer. Make sure you bring sunglasses, hats, and waterproof sunscreen.

    Waterproof your electronics
    It's an age of social media clout, and what looks better on Instagram than an idyllic float down a river? Capturing that perfect video is not worth losing your devices and polluting the river. Invest in floating, waterproof cases, and get a lanyard so they can tube on down the river themselves if you drop them. Just as many theme park accidents happen when guests wander into dangerous areas looking for dropped items, splashing after a device in a panic is a good way to make potentially deadly mistakes. Plan ahead, and a trip on the river can be much safer and more fun.

    guadalupe rivercomal riverwatersportssummer activitiesnew braunfelstubing
    news/travel
    CULTUREMAP EMAILS ARE AWESOME
    Get Houston intel delivered daily.
    Loading...