Bargain Aspen: explore Colorado's historic town—when hiking, fall color, and prices are at their best - Value Vacation

Sunset, Sept, 2003 by Lora J. Finnegan

The Big Wrap. Lunch, dinner Mon-Sat. 520 E. Durant; (970) 544-1700.

J-Bar. 11:30 A.M.-2 A.M. daily, happy hour 2-6 daily, In the Hotel Jerome, 330 E. Main St.; www.hoteljerome.com or (970) 920-1000.

Little Annie's Eating House, Lunch, dinner daily, 517 E. Hyman; (970) 925-1098.

Main Street Bakery & Cafe. Breakfast and lunch daily, dinner Tue-Sun. 201 E. Main; (970) 925-6446.

Mc Storlie's Pub. 5 P.M.-2 A.M. daily, happy hour 5-7 daily, 308 S. Hunter St.; (970) 925-2028.

Rustique Bistro. Call for hours. 216 S. Monarch St.; (970) 920-2555.

Thunderbowl Market Cafe. Breakfast, lunch daily, In Aspen Highlands Village, 0133 Prospector Rd.; (970) 920-6974.

Lodging

Snowflake Inn. From $85. 221 E. Hyman; www.snowflakeinn.com, (800) 247-2069, or (970) 925-3221.

St. Moritz Lodge & Condominiums. From $73. 334 W. Hyman; www.stmoritzlodge.com, (800) 817-2069, or (970) 925-3220.

The tab, day one:

BUDGET               $300

St. Moritz Lodge
& Condominiums
Two nights           $160

Downtown
Self-guided
historical tour      FREE

Marolt Open Space
Walking and
glimpsing ranch
history              FREE

Galena Street
Window-shopping
at celeb
favorites            FREE

Susie's Ltd.
Consignments
Browsing
last year's
must-haves           FREE

J-Bar
Enjoying
happy-hour
beers and chips       $10

Little Annie's
Eating House
French onion soup,
salad, and
house wine            $22

The tab, day two:

Aspen Center
for Environmental
Studies
Strolling around
the lake             FREE

Rio Grande Trail
Riding alongside
Roaring Fork River
on rented bikes       $30

The Big Wrap
Munching a monster
burrito big enough
to split               $9

Aspen
Rugger fest
Watching rugby
match at
Wagner Park          FREE

Ute Trail
Hiking straight
up and panting
a bit                FREE

Isis Theater
Catching a
matinee movie         $12

Mc Storlie's Pub
Scoring two pints
of Guinness and
playing a round
of darts             FREE

Rustique Bistro
Dining on the bar
menu in a candlelit
setting               $27

The tab, day three:

Marolt
Open Space
Bird-watching
and listening to
songbirds            FREE

Main Street
Bakery & Cafe
Indulging in a
pastry and lattes      $8

Thunderbowl
Market Cafe
Grabbing picnic
fixings to take
on a hike              $9

Maroon
Bells-Snowmass
Wilderness
Enjoying a bus
tour into nearby
forestlands           $11

Maroon Lake
Scenic Trail
Hiking and
enjoying
fall color           FREE

TOTAL SPENT          $298