Aspen: Things To Do

Anderson Ranch Arts Center Remarkable hands-on workshops with leading artists and curators are mostly held in summer, but winter visitors can still tour the exhibition galleries, meet artists in ateliers, and hear lectures. 5263 Owl Creek Rd.; 970-923-3181; www.andersonranch.org
family | culture | arts

Aspen Art Museum Make time to visit this museum’s well-thought out contemporary exhibitions by emerging and established artists like Karen Kilmnik and Jeremy Deller. Programs also include art talks from national curators and multi-media performances. 590 N. Mill St.; 970-925-8050; www.aspenartmuseum.org
family | architecture | culture | history | art

Aspen Center for Environmental Studies See fascinating displays on Aspen’s fragile ecosystem at this wildlife rehabilitation center. From mid-December through mid-April they run snowshoe tours of Aspen and Snowmass mountains. Hallam Lake Nature Preserve, 100 Puppy Smith St.; 970-925-5756; www.aspennature.org
family | wildlife | outdoors | tours

Get active outdoors It may be quieter when the snow melts, but this tour operator keeps summer guests active by taking advantage of the areas rivers (rafting), mountainous trails (biking, hiking, horseback-riding) and skies (hot-air ballooning). Blazing Adventures; 800-282-7238; www.blazingadventures.com
family | hiking | biking | sports

Holden/Marolt Mining & Ranching Museum This mining and ranching museum is located on the site of one of only 18 mills worldwide that used the experimental Russell Lixiviation process to refine low-grade ore. 40180 Highway 82; 970-544-0820; www.aspenhistory.org
family | history

The Wheeler/Stallard Museum Aspen’s changing lifestyles have been scrupulously documented here—from the indigenous “Ute Indians” and mining camp days onward. Rotating main exhibits showcase everything from Victorian women's fashions to Thomas W. Benton’s politics. 620 W. Bleeker St.; 970-925-3721; www.aspenhistory.org
family | architecture | history

Wheeler Opera House This splendid sandstone brick opera house, one of Colorado's finest performance venues, offers film and lecture series, plays, dance recitals, concerts, operas, and celebrity standup (Robin Williams to Whoopi Goldberg). 320 E. Hyman Ave.; 970-920-5770; www.wheeleroperahouse.com/wheeler
family | architecture | culture | live entertainment