An Aspen Victorian home in the center of town

Experience the comfort and relaxation provided by this wonderful Aspen Victorian Home. Walking distance to everything downtown Aspen has to offer. The Main floor has a sunken living room with fireplace, large kitchen, informal dining area with small office nook, formal dining room for 8, den/TV room, Queen guest master bedroom with bath, plus separate powder room.

5 Star Destinations offers unique Aspen Luxury Rentals.

Winter X-Games 2009 in Aspen: Get your lodging lined-up with 5 Star Destinations

The winter X-Games 13 are coming soon and 5 Star destinations can provide you with high-end, large rental homes for athletes, and corporate housing needs in Aspen, Snowmass or Buttermilk.

WHEN: January 22-25, 2009

WHERE: Buttermilk Mountain, Aspen/Snowmass, Colorado

DETAILS: The Winter X Games, the premier winter action sports event in the world, will be held January 22-25, 2009 from Aspen/Snowmass, Colorado. The annual event features athletes from across the globe competing for medals and prize money in the following sports: Skiing, Snowboard and Snowmobile. January 20-21 will serve as practice and elimination days. All Winter X Games competitions will take place at the resort's Buttermilk Mountain. Winter X Games 13 will air live on ESPN and ABC and will feature nighttime events. The event will remain at Aspen/Snowmass through 2010, for a total of nine consecutive hyears (2002-2010).

Contact us today for more information on luxury home rentals for the Winter X-Game 13.

5 Star Destinations: Ski-in/Ski out on Snowmass Mountain

Reminiscent of a European stone manor house, this exquisite Snowmass residence features a dead on view of Mount Daily. Located above Snowmass Village, there are only 4 estates on Pinon Drive in the prestigious Divide, and black diamond skiers can ski out the back door down the Slott run down to campground lift, above the famous Krabloonicks dog sledding location and restaurant. There is no house below or in front of this home and it is very quiet and peaceful.Stately elegance emanates from all rooms of this home, with an old world ambiance. The curved stone entry and rotunda lend formality, arched doors evoke the Italian countryside. There are high ceilings and large windows and trusses, but the furnishings are designed for elegant comfort without the oversized lodge type pieces. The beddings are premier and the bathrooms opulent. There is a large wood burning stone fireplace in the Great Room and windows that frame the mountain’s view. The home is filled with antiques and fine art, rugs and a Steinway piano.There is a new stainless steel hot tub in the stone patio. The state of the art kitchen features a Wolf commercial range and Traulson refrigerator, stone countertops and custom cabinetry. The formal dining room features a beautiful table. Flat useable lawns are great for entertaining and there are children’s jungle gym and play areas set up. There is a full time caretaker on the property in a separate entrance apartment below the home. A 2 car garage is available

Discover our collection of Snowmass Ski-in/ski-out homes on 5 Star Destinations.

Luxury Shopping in Aspen: Peaches to Prada & Everything in Between

Shopping in Aspen Rivals the Best with Irresistible Retail Offerings

ASPEN, Colo. - The mountains around Aspen are spectacular. But style mavens are also attracted to Aspen's world-class shopping. Today, Aspen offers more world-class retail options than ever, with enough outposts of the world's top high-fashion shops to rival any shopping destination, plus plenty of homegrown stores and boutiques, each bearing the distinct fingerprints of its owners and its one-of-a-kind setting.

Couture Capital
- Label lovers and style mavens will find an incredible bounty with the ultimate luxury shops such as Fendi, Gucci, Prada, Chanel, Frette, and Distractions (970.544.9946)
- Gorsuch. This family owned and operated store next to the gondola is a taste maker of traditional mountain style, from the top labels in upscale skiwear to rustic Italian ceramics and Dale's of Norway sweaters (the true emblem of Aspen status).
- Performance Ski. This hip spot now dresses locals and celebrities alike in the top names in high- fashion skiwear. Performance is one of the biggest sellers of Prada Sport outside of Milan. They tend to have the latest, greatest brands, like Jet Set, Matador and Post Card.
- Pitkin County Dry Goods. An extensive boutique for men and women, along with its two new annexes, is the modern equivalent of the dry good store, and outfits its patrons in ultra-cool high-end clothing, leathers and shearlings, belts, jewelry, and accessories.

Only in Aspen
- Susie's Limited. This thrift shop's goods (clothing, home furnishings, and more) are cast-offs from Aspen's elite residents and its toniest boutiques.
- D&E Ski & Snowboard Shop/Cafe Ink. An Aspen original, this snowboard shop also offers one of the hippest coffee shops in town, as well as woman's and men's street clothing from the trendiest of labels.
- Aspen Farmers' Market. On Saturdays from the early summer through the fall, a city block becomes a cornucopia of tempting homegrown wares, from fresh flowers and produce to pottery to handmade hats and other arts and crafts.
- CB Paws. This unique pet boutique features everything and anything for four-legged friends, from Harley Davidson outfits to gourmet goodies, hand-painted bowls and luxurious pet recliners.
- Explore Booksellers. Aspen's premier bookstore is located in a charming Victorian house and features everything from the latest best-sellers to historic Aspen memoirs. The Explore Bistro is located upstairs from the bookstore, serving authentic organic food.

Gear Up
- The Ute Mountaineer. This local outdoor shop is a gearhead's treasure chest, with everything you need for hiking, camping, rock climbing, mountaineering, and backpacking, as well as running and walking.

Start your shopping spree with finding the perfect Aspen luxury vacation rental on 5 Star Destinations.

Where to go and what do in Aspen

Published in the New-York Times

APRÈS SOMEONE ELSE'S SKIING
With alpenglow illuminating the Wheeler Opera House (1889) and the Elks Building dome (1891), saunter through this 19th-century Victorian mining town, while enjoying the crisp mountain air and window shopping at stores like Fendi (fur flip-flops?). Though you didn't earn it, join the après ski action at the 39 Degrees Lounge in the Sky Hotel, where a young, windburned crowd gathers by a crackling fire in wool hats to watch Teton Gravity Research movies on flat-screen TVs. The footage of death-defying flips is a perfect way to get revved up. So are the drinks, including the Botox martinis ($10, Red Bull included) and the Rita Deluxe made with Julio 1942 tequila and Grand Marnier 150 ($45).

FRESH MUSICAL TRACKS
Aspen offers a wide variety of night life in a few tightly packed streets, from South American frat boy-types playing pool at Eric's Bar, to the fun-fur wearing Euros at the members-only Caribou Club. But for live music go to the Belly Up Aspen. Formerly the Double Diamond, the space was gutted and renovated two years ago with a new sound system and lighting — even the bathrooms are now clean. Ben Harper, Method Man, Dwight Yoakam, Jurassic 5 and Seal have all played this 450-seat club.

APRÈS SCHUSSING SHOPPING
Aspen has been called, and sometimes not so lovingly, Rodeo Drive East. The one global fashion temple to check out is Prada (312 South Galena Street, 970-925-7001) for its sleek clothes and rustic-chic modern mountain design of luxurious woods and stone. People frequently ask the name of the architect of the Prada shop (Roberto Baciocchi of Arezzo, Italy) and then head to Performance Ski (408 South Hunter Street, 970-925-8657), where the co-owner Lee Keating and the latest crop of snowboard dudes will give you honest answers on how those Prada pants actually fit. A very pleasant place to curl up in an old leather club chair is Explore Booksellers and Bistro(221 East Main Street, 970-925-5338), a warren of book- laden rooms, a vegetarian restaurant and a coffeehouse. For housewares, head to Amen Wardy Home(210 South Galena Street, 970-920-7700); the merchandise is so unusual (whimsical house gifts to fur blankets for a few thousand dollars), that it's worth shipping home.

SPA DECADENCE
To take care of those aching muscles, hobble over to the 15,000-square-foot Remède Spa at the St. Regis Resort (315 East Dean Street, 970-920-6783; www.remede.com). A customized 60-minute massage is $155; 60-minute facials are $165. All treatments end with something that sounds a little zany but is actually relaxing: a stop at a cozy parlor where white-robed spagoers lie on chaise lounges and strap on air masks, inhaling oxygen infused with fresh fruit essences. Prosecco and chocolates also provided.

Find out more about your Aspen Vacation with 5 Star Destinations.

5 Star Destinations: West End Cozy Retreat

This wonderful Aspen luxury home rental is conveniently located in the West End. On Aspen's West Ends shuttle route. Or, take a short walk to town. Newly remodeled with top of the line furnishings and decor. The upper level consists of the master bedroom with deck and plenty of sunlight. The entry level consists of a living room, dining room, fully functional kitchen, and two guest bedrooms with private baths, powder room and laundry room. The lower level consists of guest bedroom, T.V. room, bath with steam shower and private entry. Plenty of storage space throughout and provides lots of privacy.

Master Suite: King bed, TV, DVD player, telephone, private bath and private deck.

Guest Bedroom: Queen bed, TV, telephone, private bath

Guest Bedroom: Queen bed, TV, telephone, private bath

Guest Bedroom: Queen bed

Amenities: Outdoor Hot Tub, patio, decks, barbeque grill and lots of light.

Find more Aspen luxury house rentals with 5 Star Destinations.

Summetimes in Aspen with 5 Star Destinations

Article By Kara Williams
There’s so much to do in Aspen in the summertime, it’s hard to pack it all into just one week’s vacation. To help visitors, here’s my top five list of things to do when you travel to Aspen between June and August:

1. Get outside. Hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing. Hot-air balloon rides, tandem paragliding, wilderness tours by horseback. Fly-fishing, kayaking, river-rafting. No matter what your outdoor sport, it’s likely you can do it on your Aspen vacation. Gorgeous blue-sky days, a temperate climate, and the most stunning mountain vistas around set the scene for incredibly enjoyable outdoor exercise.

2. Get groovin’ Live weekly outdoor concerts on the slopes of Snowmass ski area draw thousands of music lovers with picnic baskets in hand. The Aspen Music Festival brings classical artists to its world-famous music tent from late June through mid August. Aspen Music School students often give impromptu concertsin the pedestrian areas downtown. Find bluegrass tunes weekly on Aspen Mountain. And nightclubs like Belly Up and theatre houses bring in major headliners, folk artists, and multi-cultural bands—you can listen to every type of music imaginable during an Aspen summer.

3. Get eating Once warm weather hits, most downtown eateries open up their patios for dining al fresco. (An ideal vantage point for fun people-watching!) Restaurants in Aspen range from pizza joints and Mexican eateries to upscale French bistros—foods for all palates and budgets. One must-visit place for summer treats: Paradise Bakery for its homemade ice cream, fresh lemonade, luscious muffins, and monster cookies.

4. Get shopping Yes, Aspen is known for its luxury boutiques: Gucci, Chanel, Prada, to name a few. But take a stroll around the downtown core, and you’ll find dozens of little hole-in-the-wall, locally owned clothing shops, art galleries, home-furnishing stores and more. Wile an afternoon away at the best second-hand shops around: Susie’s, Gracy’s and Aspen Home Consignment.

5. Get cultured Besides the classical music offered by the beloved Aspen Music Festival, there are plenty of other ways to take in a little culture while you’re on your Colorado vacation. The Aspen Santa Fe Ballet performs during the annual summer Aspen Dance Festival. Learn about Aspen’s fascinating mining and ranching history at the Holden-Marolt Ranching & Mining Museum or stroll through the Wheeler Stallard Museum in a Victorian-era home. The Aspen Art Museum rotates exhibits of contemporary art. And for those who want some truly intense intellectual stimulation, check out the lectures offered by the Aspen Center for Physics, the Aspen Institute, or the Aspen Given Foundation.

Summer is not over, find your perfect summer luxury house rental with 5 Star Destinations.