Things to do in Aspen

Aspen · About 2 hours · $325 per snowmobile

The road to the Maroon Bells is closed to cars in winter, so this is the easiest way to stand at Maroon Lake with hot drinks and the peaks in front of you. Tours run Tuesday to Saturday, and weather can reroute you to a Pyramid Peak loop, so keep a backup day.

Aspen · About 2 hours · $90 per adult

A naturalist-led walk on top of Aspen Mountain that includes the gondola ride and snowshoes, so non-skiers get the summit views too. Tours run daily at 10am and 1pm from Dec 14, and you should allow 30 minutes to buy tickets and ride up.

Aspen · About 1.5 hours · from $48

A local guide walks you through Aspen's silver mining boom, its near collapse and how it became a ski town, and it makes the rest of your trip more interesting. Do it on your first afternoon, and wear comfortable shoes since there's a fair amount of walking at almost 8,000 feet.