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Aspen Journals

Hiking Aspen

An October 2001 trip to Aspen by BeAdventureous!

Quote: Snow skiing is not Aspen's only draw. Hiking its trails is awesome. Chipmunks, birds, even THOUGHT we spotted bear! Experience John Denvers Sanctuary, carved rocks engraved with the words from his songs. See Barbie Benton, Vanna White and Jack Nicholson's homes. Four of the top 10 chefs are located here!
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Hiking Aspen Best of IgoUgo

Overview

Quote:
Rocky Mountain high! From the Rio Grande Trail, Hunters Creek Trail, the Ute Trail, hikes around the silver mines and old railway that runs around Aspen Mtn., you experience the beauty that is Aspen. Get your fork ready to pursue the Roaring Fork Valley! Olives & Montagna were top favorites. Barbie Benton's home million+ is certainly something right out of the lifestyles of the rich and famous. Shopping abounds, from Kenneth Cole to Funky Mtn. Threads. Walk through the oasis of rock that is the John Denver Memorial, the words from his song embedded in huge stones. The Maroon Bells are the most photographed mtns. in the world and when you see this up close and personal you will see why! Snuggle o...Read More

Boogie's Diner Best of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Boogies Diner"

Quote:
The BEST burgers! Get the mashed taters and gravy, skip the fries. Huge portions, how could you do an appetizer too? A real 50's kinda place. Jeans and cool clothes are sold downstairs. Great patio dining. Heart-healthy items available on the menu (turkey burger included). Homemade desserts, carrot cake, apple pie, brownies and the like. Malts or banana splits too! Get a free button that proclaims I picked Boogies!

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 3, 2001

Boogie's Diner
534 East Cooper Ave
Aspen, Colorado 81611
+1 970 925 6610

Jacob's Corner in the Hotel Jerome Best of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Jacob's Corner "

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We enjoyed breakfast here. Excellent French toast and pancakes! The best we have ever had. A member of the The Leading Hotels of the World, on the historic registry, it is rich in charm. The pancakes were covered in varieties of berries and were crunchy!! Pitchers of warm syrup and coffee completed our early morning experience. J-Bar, a slice of the old west is a great hanging out place to see and be seen for later in the day and The Library is the dinner spot for cigars and fine wines. Chef Todd Slossberg was nominated the Best Chef in the Southwest in 2000 and 2001 by the James Beard Association.

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 3, 2001

Jacob's Corner in the Hotel Jerome
330 East Main St
Aspen, Colorado 81611
+1 970 920 1000; +1

Mogador Best of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Montaagna"

Quote:
This was my top favorite! Order the Virginia Crab Cakes, vanilla mango salsa, select lettuces and cilantro vinaigrette, it is OUT OF THIS WORLD! My husband got the Veal Meatloaf on a bed of mashed potatoes with thin crispy green beans, and we shared the real vanilla creme brulee. We experienced lunch here. Dinner will be much more expensive, entrees from $25-35.

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 3, 2001

Mogador
450 East Hyman Avenue
Aspen, Colorado 81611
(970) 429-1072

Mother Lode Best of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "The MotherLode"

Quote:
We went the last night before they were closing for the season, which meant they were out of most items on the menu. We went specifically for the linguine with clams, and it was not even on the menu, although the ads showed it available. We enjoyed the Caesar Salad, linguine with shrimp, but the order of ravioli with goat cheese and a sage tomato sauce proved a bit tangy. The half bottle of red wine from Italy, $18, was exquisite. Nozzelle from Grieve. There are so many extraordinary restaurants to indulge in here, we would probably NOT go back.

Member Rating 2 out of 5 on November 3, 2001

Mother Lode
314 East Hyman Ave
Aspen, Colorado 81611
+1 970 925 7700; +1

Olives Best of IgoUgo

Restaurant

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This was my husband's favorite! From the spicy tuna tartare served over cucumber shoestrings with ginger glazed rock shrimp, served with an accompanying Pinot Gris, and on to the exquisite lamb which he had and the brick oven roasted Chilean sea bass with tempura shrimp, herbs, red wine glaze and green onion emulsion I enjoyed, this time with a pinot noir, finishing with a tiny black pot of fire over which to roast the homemade marshmallows, and then heap them onto rounded cinnamon cookies with melted chocolate bowls to dip them into. An unforgettable dining experience...

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 3, 2001

Olives
315 East Dean St
Aspen, Colorado 81611
+1 970 920 7356; +1

Rustique Best of IgoUgo

Restaurant

Quote:
This is the Famous Charles Dale's spin off of Renaissance which was closed for the season. What a disappointment! We had the special price fixe menu for $20 including 3 courses, for arrivals before 6:30. We both got the soup, which was a leek/potato soup and was the redeeming salvation of our dining experience. I ordered the " risotto from my childhood" which was roasted pumpkin and I could not get it down. It tasted as if it had cheddar cheese in it and it just didn't work at all. My husband ordered the sweetbreads and they looked like veal cutlets, he couldn't get them down either... the vanilla creme brulee was another rescue, but we cannot recommend the place.

Member Rating 1 out of 5 on November 3, 2001

Rustique
216 South Monarch St
Aspen, Colorado 81611
+1 970 920 2555

Wienerstube Best of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Wienerstube Restaurant"

Quote:
This is an Austrian dining experience. We went for breakfast. We, not being traditional breakfast-eaters at heart, loved the cold smoked salmon with potato pancakes. I did hear from one of the locals, that lunch and dinner is a disappointment. The place was busy and lots of omelets were coming out of the kitchen.

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 3, 2001

Wienerstube
633 East Hyman Ave
Aspen, Colorado 81611
+1 970 925 3357

Chart House Best of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Charthouse"

Quote:
Yes, it is a franchise, but here is where it started, the first one. The salad bar was a disappointment. I ordered the Spiced Ahi Tuna, cajun spiced and grilled with ginger soy butter and wasabi cream, cooked medium rare. It was perfect. My husband got the trout and he was disappointed. A macadamian-crusted cheesecake (to share) followed. The Riseling was delightful. Order it.

Member Rating 2 out of 5 on November 3, 2001

Chart House
219 E Durant St
Aspen, Colorado 81611
(970) 925-3525

Cantina Best of IgoUgo

Restaurant

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We ordered the cheese dip and guacamole. The cheese dip was horrible. Cheddar cheese, not creamy in consistency, tasted like melted stringy cheese. The guacamole was suppose to come with tomatoes and peppers, but it did not, still it WAS fresh and good.

Member Rating 1 out of 5 on November 3, 2001

Cantina
411 East Main St
Aspen, Colorado 81611
+1 970 925 3663

Little Annies Best of IgoUgo

Restaurant

Quote:
Voted Aspen's best old restaurant and best burger (in '99), the year is 2001 and Boogies beats it by a mile. The burger was not as juicy, the mashed taters were lumpy and cold and the waitress had an attitude.

Member Rating 1 out of 5 on November 3, 2001

Little Annies
517 East Hyman Avenue
Aspen, Colorado 81611
(970) 925-1098

Main Street Bakery and Cafe Best of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Main Street Bakery cafe"

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Ordered soup and it was disappointing. The waitress seemed disappointed that that was all we wanted. It was disappointing all around, the baked breads in the grocery looked much more appetizing.

Member Rating 1 out of 5 on November 3, 2001

Main Street Bakery and Cafe
201 E Main St
Aspen, Colorado 81611
(970) 925-6446

Paradise Bakery & Cafe Best of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Paradise Cafe"

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Half is what they call Italian ice cream, but gelato it's not. I tried the vanilla and the cappuccino and it's ok, but not terrific. Not much selection of baked goods. Coffees, yes. Disappointed, go to the grocery, there are wonderful breads available.

Member Rating 1 out of 5 on November 3, 2001

Paradise Bakery & Cafe
100 Elbert Lane
Aspen, Colorado 81615
(970) 923-4712

Hunters Creek Trail Best of IgoUgo

Attraction

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It is a tree hugging climb, filled with aspens. Chipmunks scurry from rock to rock as do you. You follow the Rio Grande streams going over several picturesque bridges. Everyone in Aspen seems to have a dog and this seems to be a locals' favorite. Scenic views fill the horizon. Cliff hanging homes are part of the scenery. It should get the old heart rate up. Golden specks in the water kept us glancing down for gold. Miners old flumes and abandoned cabins added interest.

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 3, 2001

Hunters Creek Trail
Cross Hunter Creek at the 10th Mountain Bridge
Aspen, Colorado

The Farmers Market Best of IgoUgo

Attraction

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Lining one street on both sides, opening at 8 and disbanding at 2-3, this is a colorful market. Pumpkins sat in red wagons, red peppers were roasting in a charcoal pit, Italian ice in various flavors was offered, jams and jellies and marmalades sampled, organic ciders in jugs sat on tables. The cider was delicious! Haystack Mtn. goat cheese, featured on the cooking channel, had everything from green chili flavored cheese to herb and roasted garlic, we bought some for picnics later. Homemade breads and bakery good from a Swiss baker drew crowds.

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on November 3, 2001

The Farmers Market
Downtown Aspen
Aspen, Colorado

Rio Grande Trail Best of IgoUgo

Attraction

Quote:
Just follow the winding stream past the art institute and see majestic homes, the John Denver Memorial, with boulders that have the words of his song inscribed on them. Some make a passageway to others. A sea of smooth rocks line the grassy bank. Stop and see what the art museum offers, usually touring artists or local stuff. Swing til your toes touch the sky, while watching the dogs cool off in the stream. Moms stroll their babies though the park-like area. Huge bridges are to be crossed.

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 3, 2001

Rio Grande Trail
Puppy Smith St & Mill St
Aspen, Colorado 81611
+1 970 920 5120 (Asp

Barbie Benton's Home Best of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Barbie Bentons Home"

Quote:
Sprawling over 40 acres, this 25 million dollar home was designed and decorated by the playgirl herself. It looks like pods of mushroomed space odyssey, layers of wedding cake bliss. Every door is painted with a Renoir, or some other master with a huge crystal doorknob. The staircase is glass lalique-style lit underneath with see-through handrails filled with colored balls. The elevator, also painted, has a Japanese mural that scrolls up the 4 floors. His and Her lap pools, heated to the preference of each, overlooks walls filled with masks. The disco has quartz crystal stalagmites, a bar with precious stones covered in glass, blacklit floor with amethyst. The master bed swivels from the fireplace to ...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 3, 2001

Barbie Benton's Home
Aspen
Aspen, Colorado

Ute Mountaineer Best of IgoUgo

Attraction | "The Ute Trail"

Quote:
Straight up on a dirt trail, it is rough! You will meet local hikers here and it is a good place for a work-out. We preferred more scenic trails. We THOUGHT we spotted a bear, so we did not hike very far. A tree hugging spot, hang on as you climb upward and onward.

Member Rating 1 out of 5 on November 3, 2001

Ute Mountaineer
308 South Mill St
Aspen, Colorado 81611
+1 970 925 2849

About the Writer

BeAdventureous!

BeAdventureous!
Little Rock,, Arkansas

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