Walking Tours of Aspen

Aspen, Colorado has gone through some incredible changes since it began to be discovered in the 1960s by the rich and famous. Begun as a rich silver mining area, Aspen flourished in the late 1800s, When the price of silver fell the town lost a major portion of its population and was basically farming oriented until the ski interests began development plans. By 1947 Aspen Mountain had the world's longest ski lift. The artistic community founded the Goethe Bicentennial Convocation in Aspen, attracting international studies programs that drew artists, musicians and intellectuals from all over the country and the world. Almost overnight, Aspen had become internationally famous. Ever since then the town has been undergoing massive changes that tend to make it ever more an elite village for the very rich who enjoy luxuriating in front of huge lodges in apres ski attire sipping exotic drinks after they've zoomed down the many slopes of Snowmass. When I was living in Aspen, it was a Mecca for hippies who wanted to get back to nature, artists attending workshops, and people who just wanted to ski. Back then it was affordable. There were lots of very historic buildings and hotels. I even lived in one--the Independence Hotel--for just dollars per day, rooming with a woman who practiced her cello every afternoon. Some of the old buildings have been restored and, thanks to the citizens' refusal to let their heritage be ripped apart by rapacious developers, Aspen's history is still waiting to be discovered by any visitor who wants to go on one or several of the many walking tours around this small mountain town nestled high in the Colorado mountains.

http://miami.about.com/od/familyactivities/Family_Activities.htm
The Aspen Historical Society has several places of interest on its tours. One, a tour of the historic Wheeler/Stallard Museum, takes visitors on a guided exploration of this fabulous 1800s home, with discussion of its many exhibits. A Victorian House Tour can be made by special arrangement with the group. I would suggest printing out their self-guided downtown e-tour, with its map of the downtown area and all the places of interest flagged and labeled. Take it along for a walking tour of the area, stopping for a latte or ice cream at any of the posh bistros. "If you are interested in walking this route on a self-guided tour, pick up a Downtown Walking Tour brochure from the Aspen Historical Society or at the Wheeler Opera House Box Office at Mill and Hyman Streets. "

http://www.aspenmusicfestival.com/index.cfm?method=c.walkingTours
The Music Festival sponsors walking tours in an historical section of Aspen before their concerts. These walking tours pass house rich with history and distinctive Victorian architecture, beautiful gardens and quaint public buildings. Clicking on the small map will enlarge it so that people can print it out with all the sights marked and labeled, for designing a self-guided tour on their own. "To arrange for a special group tour, call 970-205-5074."

http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-2686460-aspen_tours-i
Though this site does not give a detailed walking tour, it does have some suggestions about things to see and do in Aspen. One of those mentioned is not only a bargain, but also a real scenic adrenaline rush of exquisite vistas of the many mountains surrounding this town. Ride the Silver Queen Gondola up to the top of Aspen Mountain and arrive at a view atop the mountain that will take your breath away. Nature walks are available at the Aspen Center for Environmental Center for Environmental Studies, where people can pick up self-guided walks in the 25 acres of this center. Pick this up at the Visitor's Center and have a great time exploring the alpine habitats of the area.