Aspen Mountain Ski Area is best known for steep bump runs that drop directly into the town of Aspen. With no slopes rated as "Beginner," this isn't a mountain to learn on but rather, one to hone your skills on. Since 1947, anyone who has dared step off the lifts here has been served with incredible black-diamond and double black-diamond steeps, bumps and glades. And if it's powder you want, take the Powder Tour: luxury snowcats will take you to some prime, untracked country on the backside of the mountain. A gourmet lunch is included with the guaranteed fresh tracks.

The Aspen Mountain Base Village offers 4 restaurants: Montagna Restaurant, The Tavern, Sundeck, and the Little Nell. The Base Village is in the very heart of downtown Aspen so there's lots of ambience and apres-ski entertainment available. The local bus system runs every 15 minutes and gives access to most of the 14,000+ beds within a 10-mile radius of the area.

Aspen Mountain was the first ski venture of the Aspen Skiing Company, founded by Walter Paepcke. Today it is one of four ski areas (with Aspen Highlands, Snowmass and Buttermilk) operated by the company as part of the Aspen/Snowmass Ski Complex. Aspen Mountain is a bit small compared to Snowmass, but then so is nearly everything compared to Snowmass.