Aspen Picnic - The Best Way to Experience Aspen’s Beauty
Due to the beautiful Colorado weather, it is always Aspen picnic season in the Roaring Fork Valley. Picnics have come a long way from the ant-infested baskets and checkered blankets of your youth. The newest social trend is luxury picnics, complete with seating, floral arrangements, locally sourced ingredients, classy adult beverages, table clothes, and even a shady tent.
Of course, no bespoke picnic is complete with a backdrop of natural beauty. This is why Aspen is at the center of the picnic boom. The natural beauty in our little mountain town is unmatched! Visitors love alfresco lunches beneath the Maroon Bells or an evening outdoor soiree perched on Aspen Mountain.
What Are the Hallmarks of Luxury Picnics in Aspen?
The distinction between a standard picnic and a luxury picnic is the decor, seating arrangements, and intention. A luxury picnic is about presentation and quality. For luxury picnics, guests do not sit directly on the grass or on a picnic blanket. Rather, a low dining table, along with small chairs or poofs, are brought to the location to elevate the meal. That table also has complete, matching place settings, table cloths, floral arrangements, and serving dishes that fit the color palette. Compared to standard picnics, a bespoke picnic is well-planned in advance with the intention of building lasting connections.
If planning a luxury picnic sounds like a lot of work, you’d be right! This is where Aspen Luxury Concierge comes in. When our clients express interest in a picnic, we pull out all the stops to give them an incredible, effortless experience. Whether it’s for a bachelorette party, engagement, anniversary, date, or a get together, let ALC curate a stunning picnic just for you.
How to Prepare for the Aspen Picnic Experience: 5 Things to Consider
1. What Are You Celebrating?
Are you taking your beloved on a date? Is it a get together with your childhood friends? Are you joining the glamorous trend of doing wedding events picnic-style out in nature? Are you in Aspen for the summer and want to enjoy its natural beauty in style? The intent behind your picnic determines the menu, seating arrangements, extras, and decor.
2. Who is Coming?
A picnic in Aspen for a small group of friends or a date can be very different from a picnic for your extended family, work colleagues, or parents. If older adults will be present, then ALC may recommend a more accessible trail with less hiking. If your party includes small children, ALC recommends a picnic area with easy access to bathrooms and relatively low foot traffic.
3. When Will the Picnic Be?
The best time to visit Aspen in the summer is mid-June to late-August. This is also the best time for a picnic because it is after the spring showers have subsided and everything is green. Aspen summers are typically comfortably warm with enough cloud cover to beat the heat. While fall in Aspen is also beautiful due to the trees changing color, fall isn’t always best for picnics because September, October, and November are far more overcast with more risk of rain.
4. What Food Preferences and Restrictions Does Your Party Have?
Be sure to give your concierge a list of your party’s allergies and dietary restrictions. Whether you require a vegetarian, vegan, keto, paleo, plant-based, high protein, low fat, kosher, or halal meal, the ALC team can pack you picnic-friendly foods or get catering from a local Aspen restaurant.
5. What is Your Budget?
Events must have a budget, especially if your Aspen picnic is a wedding event, work gathering, or a date. Let your concierge know your budget and if you would like any extra add-ons such as a sommelier for a private wine tasting, a private chef, lawn games, or live music.
ALC’s Services for Luxury Picnics in Aspen
Once you let ALC know your picnic ideas and needs, your concierge will handle the rest. Depending on your needs, this may include:
Recommending good picnic spots that are suitable for your activity needs. For example, easy to access for older adults; near good spots for hiking, climbing, or fly fishing; child and family friendly; and with a good view of your preferred geological feature.
Making a customized daily itinerary.
Recommending the best time of day for a picnic depending on the forecasted weather and the goal of your event.
Arranging private transportation to either the trailhead or directly to your picnic area, depending on accessibility.
Arriving early to the picnic to reserve a good spot.
Packing the picnic, setting up your picnic area, taking down your picnic set up, and (if necessary) acquiring permits.
Renting lawn games like cornhole, giant jenga, spikeball, and croquet for your event.
Booking a sommelier, private chef, DJ, or other performer. If you would like floral arrangements as centerpieces, your concierge can also pick those up from the florist.
Personal shopping for Aspen picnic necessities like sunscreen, additional hiking gear, extra VOSS waters, and sun hats.
Aspen Luxury Concierge also reminds clients to abide by the Leave No Trace principle. This means getting all trash into the designated receptacle and preventing teens at the event from carving their initials onto anything in nature. ALC also recommends using sun protection and staying hydrated.
What Are the Benefits of Luxury Picnics in Aspen?
Every local can tell you that Aspen picnics are the best way to experience all the natural beauty of the Roaring Fork Valley. They are also a fantastic way to celebrate life’s milestones and spend time with friends and family.
Compared to having an indoor venue for an engagement, reunion, or birthday party, a luxury picnic is a healthier way to celebrate. Guests are getting their Vitamin D, staying active, and getting their steps in. There are also the health benefits of fresh air, mindfulness, and outdoor exploration that come with a picnic.
A picnic in Aspen is also the perfect way to unwind after a busy quarter. You can end your workout with a nutritious meal out in nature or go on a hike after you’ve fueled up. In the fresh alpine air, you can take a load off to sit back and enjoy the scenery. Certain outdoors picnic areas do not have cell service, so no one can bother you on your getaway.
As an added benefit, luxury picnics are very aesthetically pleasing and very Instagramable. They are the perfect backdrop for your proposal photos or your outdoors family portraits.
What Are the Best Picnic Spots in Aspen?
Maroon Bells Scenic Area - The Maroon Bells are one of the most photographed natural features in Colorado, but sometimes you have to see them to believe it. You can’t beat this spot in terms of natural beauty. However, the Maroon Bells scenic area is a little harder to get to due to the popularity. Talk to your concierge to arrange private transport or get your party shuttle passes.
Molly Gibson Park - At the base of Smuggler Mountain, this park gives you a view from downtown to Mount Sopris on a clear day. Due to the phenomenal mountain view, ALC recommends this spot for sunset picnics. If you’re looking for a unique proposal, this is the spot for a proposal picnic.
Wagner Park - One of the most centrally located parks in Aspen, it has all the amenities for a proper picnic, including shade, bathrooms, and a fountain.
Herron Park - Located on the east side of town, it is an excellent picnic destination for families with small children. There are multiple picnic tables and benches, as well as playground equipment and large boulders for climbing.
Glory Hole Park - Easy to miss, this picnic area is a romantic gem, complete with shade and a beautiful, little pond. The trailhead for Ute Trail is nearby for a quick post-picnic adventure.
John Denver Sanctuary Park - One of the most scenic places for a picnic because the gardens, lawns, and water features are well-maintained. Conveniently located near the Roaring Fork River, it is easy for visitors to settle in for a picnic after a long day of hiking or fly fishing.
Koch Lumber Park - An area with a rich local history, this park hosts the MotherLode volleyball tournament everywhere. There is a sandy area surrounded by grass with trees around the exterior for shade.
Hillyard Park - Quaint and private, it’s a bit of a neighborhood secret. This picnic spot has a picture-perfect view of Shadow Mountain under a canopy of evergreen trees.
Come Experience Aspen’s Beauty!
When you have an Aspen picnic with ALC, we pack everything for you while you get to enjoy your meal. Unlike other concierge services, ALC is locally owned and operated, so we know the best picnic spots, the best time for day for a good view, and how to avoid the tourist crowds. When you plan your Aspen adventure with ALC, we take care of everything, from booking chefs to personal shopping and planning your itinerary. Experience Aspen in luxury by contacting Aspen Luxury Concierge.
BY: RACHEL NAIDUS
Rachel is the Principal & Founder of Aspen Luxury Concierge. For over a decade, she has cut her teeth in the luxury hospitality services business. Since 2019, she has led ALC’s premier staff in creating luxury, effortless experiences for its clients. With her ever growing network of partners, vendors, and clientele, Rachel leads the pack in providing expert services to Aspen luxury travelers and locals.