Dawn, of Fox World Travel, recently went on a trip to Aspen, Colorado. This getaway included everything from a fishing tour, to a private party at playmate, Barbi Benson’s, mansion. Hear all about Dawn’s trip here!

We stayed at the lavish St. Regis Resport and Spa. This amazing property is situated in Aspen just steps away from the signature ski slopes that Aspen is famous for.   It is also within walking distance to downtown shops and eateries, right in the heart of the historic town center of Aspen. The building stands majestically at the base of the slope looking like a castle.

The interior of the property is as grand as the first impression that we had driving up. Marble floors, dark oak woodwork, and exquisite crystal chandeliers are located throughout the property. The rooms are beautifully decorated with custom furnishings and very comfortable beds. The views from the rooms are breathtaking.   The guest rooms are also outfitted with spacious marble bathrooms which included large claw-foot tubs and stand-alone showers. We enjoyed the extra special touch of turndown service every night upon returning to our room.

The property also houses the stunning Remède Spa which is open seven days a week. One thing this spa currently features is an innovative new spa treatment: Farm to Massage Table. This concept uses locally-sourced and natural ingredients to engage all of the senses in a multi-dimensional five course spa experience including a 30 minutes glow scrub, a 60 minute customized massage, a eucalyptus warm compress, scalp massage, and a body butter application. You even leave the spa with a complimentary salt-scrub made fresh, just for you!

It is a very invigorating experience to say the least. That is one thing we found of interest – from dining to the spa – the St. Regis is very interested in supporting the local economy and utilizing local products and ingredients. St. Regis Aspen’s outdoor heated pool and three outdoor hot tub areas were a treat in and of themselves. The warm waters in the pool allow for year-round enjoyment. The view is breathtaking as you look out over the mountains on the backside of the hotel.

Dining at the St. Regis was another special treat. The Executive Chef crafted local recipes and utilized seasonal ingredients. There are several restaurants and lounges on site to choose from.

Aspen Outfitting Company offers the area’s only Certified Guide Program. They have their headquarters in the St. Regis. We spent a beautiful afternoon fishing on one of the local waterways with an extremely knowledgeable guide who provided us with great tips and strategies to try to land the big one. Unfortunately, we didn’t pull anything mountable in, but we each did have the opportunity of landing several smaller trout. It was a very enjoyable afternoon. Don’t worry about having to bring poles and gear. They provided everything we needed. Part of our fishing package also included a wonderful boxed lunch catered by the hotel. Aspen Outfitting Company holds exclusive leases on the area’s largest selection of private water. Fishing opportunities are available year round. The guides are local and very familiar with the surrounding waterways. We found each has their “favorite lucky spots”. The company also offers recreational activities to include Clay Target Shooting, Pistol Shooting and Upland Bird Hunting.

The peak of Aspen Mountain is 11,212 feet. We rode the Silver Queen Gondola to the top of the mountain. The views were stunning as you are able to look about for miles in all directions. If you are a skiing enthusiast your ride to the top of Aspen Mountain in the Gondola will give you access to over 75 trails. For those of us who aren’t skiers, we can still ride the Gondola with the purchase of a “foot pass” sold at the ticket office. At the top of the mountain is the Sundeck Restaurant where we listened to live music and enjoyed lunch. There is a very large deck where you can sit outside if weather permits. While we were there, the place was being set up for a private Moonlight wedding function at the Sundeck Restaurant that evening. The Sundeck has a very rustic feel and is a great location to lounge or have a private function like the one that was being set up.

Because we were so close to the downtown area and Aspen’s pedestrian malls we took a walk around to see what could be found. One thing we noticed right away is that these shops were more dedicated to local artisans and wares. We saw very few “chain” retailers. Choices for shopping ran the gamut from consignment to Prada, local artists’ wares to fine art.  There were several areas where local musicians were playing or singing to the crowds milling about.

We were told there are over 100 dining options in the immediate area to include restaurants, coffee shops, lounges or delicatessens. There were many culinary options to choose from and something for everybody’s taste. Something that is very popular is the Farm to Table menus. There are also many options of microbreweries. Even while we were there in April many of the outdoor patios were open and being utilized. Finbarr’s is a modern gastro pub that we attended an event at on Saturday night. This pub is owned by a local Aspen resident. True to its name the atmosphere was very Irish. But this pub also is well known for its sports bar atmosphere as well we had a very rowdy crowd watching the Badgers game that night. Finbarr’s is well known for their Fish & Chips, Shepherd’s Pie and other Irish classics along with their gastro pub menu offerings. Finbarr’s features 9 beers on tap including Guinness and Smithwick’s.

On our final night in Aspen we were invited to a private party at the “Copper Palace”, a futuristic house owned by Barbi Benton (former playmate) and her developer husband George Gradow. The house got its name for the seven miles of copper used to cover walls, architectural features inside and outside of the house. This house is located right in Aspen and was completely and utterly amazing. It is comprised of five copper pods connected by various stairways.  The building is over 25,000-square-foot, set on 40 acres and cantilevered in sections to provide views from all areas of the house.

Each pod was unique and distinct of the other both in décor and function. Included in the grand scheme a 1,500 square foot disco, a custom-designed 29-person couch that cost $100,000, a 40-foot steel pocket door that opens to reveal an 80-person ballroom, a theater, a gym and two heated lap pools, office space, a dark room, a master bedroom (with a revolving bed) offering views of Mount Sopris and the Roaring Fork Valley, a projection room and so much more. Each room is flamboyantly hand decorated by Barbi Benton.

Aspen is picturesque, natural beauty with something to offer not just ski enthusiasts, but travels of all interests.  Learn more about the destination here or Contact a Vacation Travel Consultant today.

Some photos courtesy of St. Regis Aspen online and Aspensajourner.com