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Roaring Fork Valley

Hotels Downvalley from Aspen

Snowmass Village can be one of the smartest places to stay for visitors wanting mountain access, activities, and beautiful surroundings without Aspen-level hotel pricing.
Where to Stay Downvalley from Aspen

While Aspen often gets the spotlight, Snowmass Village can be one of the smartest places to stay for visitors wanting mountain access, activities, and beautiful surroundings without Aspen-level hotel pricing.

Snowmass feels especially ideal for families, outdoor lovers, and summer travelers thanks to its walkability, gondola access, hiking and biking trails, outdoor concerts, restaurants, and endless activities for kids and teens.

Some of our favorite places to stay in Snowmass include:

Viewline Resort Snowmass

Recently renovated and centrally located at the base village, Viewline offers easy access to the mountain along with a more relaxed and youthful atmosphere than some of Aspen’s luxury resorts. The property often runs seasonal specials and is walkable to restaurants, concerts, and summer activities.

Pokolodi Lodge

One of the best-value stays in Snowmass, Pokolodi Lodge is casual, comfortable, and family-friendly. It’s ideal for travelers who care more about adventure than ultra-luxury amenities and want direct access to skiing, hiking, biking, and village life.

Stonebridge Inn

A longtime Snowmass favorite offering comfortable rooms, mountain views, pool access, and walkability to the village. It strikes a nice balance between affordability and resort atmosphere.

Wildwood Snowmass

More playful and social in vibe, Wildwood appeals to younger travelers, families, and groups looking for a fun basecamp with easier pricing than Aspen proper.

And honestly, during summer, Snowmass may be one of the valley’s best-kept secrets. Gondola rides, downhill biking, ropes courses, free concerts, hiking trails, alpine coasters, and outdoor dining make it feel like a giant mountain playground.

Boutique Places to Stay in Basalt

Basalt has quietly become one of the Roaring Fork Valley’s most desirable places to stay for visitors wanting a more local, grounded, and relaxed mountain-town experience.

Perfectly positioned between Aspen and Carbondale, Basalt gives visitors easy access to hiking, fly fishing, biking, restaurants, rivers, and art spaces while often offering significantly better lodging value.

Some of our favorite places to stay in Basalt include:

Element Basalt Aspen

Modern, clean, and conveniently located near Willits Town Center, Element offers spacious rooms, kitchens in select suites, complimentary breakfast, and easy access to both Aspen and Carbondale. It’s especially great for longer stays and active travelers.

Basalt Mountain Inn

A simple and approachable local option for travelers prioritizing affordability and location over luxury. The inn provides easy access to downtown Basalt, hiking, and fishing.

Hoffman Hotel in Willits

Riverside Vacation Rentals & Airbnb Stays

Basalt also shines when it comes to riverside vacation rentals, modern condos, and quieter neighborhood stays tucked along the Fryingpan and Roaring Fork Rivers.

What makes Basalt special is its balance. It feels sophisticated enough for a beautiful dinner or cocktail evening, but relaxed enough to still feel authentically Colorado.

Affordable & Boutique Places to Stay in Carbondale

For travelers craving creativity, authenticity, and a more laid-back mountain-town atmosphere, Carbondale may be the valley’s most charming place to stay.

Known for its thriving arts scene, live music, incredible food, outdoor culture, and welcoming community vibe, Carbondale offers visitors a completely different energy than Aspen — in the best possible way.

Some favorite lodging options include:

Days Inn by Wyndham Carbondale

One of the more affordable and practical options in town, especially for travelers spending most of their time outdoors exploring the valley.

Comfort Inn & Suites Carbondale on the Roaring Fork

Located near the river with beautiful mountain views, this property offers comfortable rooms, complimentary breakfast, and convenient access to hiking, biking, and downtown Carbondale.

Boutique Inns, Ranch Stays & Airbnb Rentals

Carbondale truly shines when it comes to unique stays. Visitors can often find:

  • Artist lofts
  • Ranch cabins
  • Tiny homes
  • Farm stays
  • Riverside retreats
  • Mountain-view vacation rentals

Many are within walking distance to Carbondale’s restaurants, galleries, coffee shops, and music venues.

And perhaps best of all, Carbondale still feels deeply local. You’ll find cyclists grabbing coffee before rides, artists heading to studios, families floating the river, and live music spilling out onto patios on warm summer nights.

It’s Colorado mountain town life at its most authentic.

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Testimonials

Corneliu Fagaraşan
Architect

Aspen Business Connect completely exceeded my expectations. From the moment I showed up I felt welcomed into a community of open, curious, and genuinely supportive people. It’s not just networking—it’s real connection. I’ve built friendships, found opportunities, and gained invaluable insight simply by being part of the group. The environment Jillian has created makes it easy to show up, be yourself, and grow both personally and professionally.

Hudson McNamee Osprey Design Studio
Owner

I came along and was immediately connected with a lot of entrepreneurs from all backgrounds. A year and a half later I have gained a plethora of connections and advice from people from all walks of the entrepreneurial journey. This valley works by word of mouth. That is the most effective way, and being a part of this has gained me the most high quality clientele that respect what I do, compensate me fairly and I don't have to go through the entire vetting process every time. I learned so much from so many different types of people. It's been invaluable to my growth as an entrepreneur and a small business owner.

Grayson Rutherford Sinclair Building Architecture Design
Director of Operations

I've been blown away by the professional connections that I've been able to make since joining Aspen Business Connect. I've even had the opportunity to make trade relationships... [and] brought multiple artists onto my company's projects that I wouldn't have otherwise found had I not been a member of ABC.

It's unmatched and unrivaled by anything else in the valley and such a special meeting and connecting place for professionals of all different backgrounds. Jillian does an incredible job making her network ours and she's the most well-connected woman in the valley, always bringing in new people from different places who have different experiences and backgrounds to share. Overall it's one of my favorite things to be part of in the valley, from our socializing events and specialized dinners to our more professional focused events , it's given me the opportunity to make great friends in the valley and even professional relationships. All of us are better off for it.

Jeremy Joseph
Jeremy Joseph Photography

I opened a gallery called Jeremy Joseph Photography, which was a place to display my fine art prints of the Colorado Wilderness and Wildlife. Shortly after opening that space, I started to realize the need for me to be more  integrated into the local community. After a short meeting with Jillian, I realized really quickly how valuable her network could be to get more integrated into the community. The amount of people and relationship building you can do is pretty impressive. Every time that I show up  I always have a bit of a vibrationally tingly inspiration because of everyone's stories and what they're doing. Just a great place to be a part of the community and get inspired for your small business.

Derron Cloud, State Farm Agent in Basalt and Aspen.
Agent

What I have enjoyed from Jillian's group, Aspen Business Connect, is I've met lots of different people, different individuals. There's great events. I have probably not only gained clients but I’ve also been able to provide clients to those other folks that I've met. I've also made friends. Several people that I met in the first meeting that I went to, I've played golf with and our families hang out together. I have also had many, many referrals from those people. This group has been fantastic for networking and learning and just meeting lots of great and wonderful, interesting people.

Dominic Del Signore Homestead Circus Productions
Founder

Being a member hasn't just grown my business; it has fundamentally changed my life in the Roaring Fork Valley.

Jillian is a master at the art of connection, and her dedication to this community is nothing short of brilliant. She understands that when you connect local businesses as genuine resources for one another, you aren't just facilitating 'transactions', you are proliferating a culture of friendship, growth, and playful engagement that makes our community thrive... Great organizations only succeed with great leaders, and Jillian’s mission to foster an environment where we all succeed together is incredibly effective.

Marisa de Lempicka Tamara de Lempicka Estate Foundation
Owner

I've been a member with Aspen Business Connect for about five years now and it's been wonderful. Jillian does an amazing job at connecting people. I always leave the events inspired, empowered, with new ideas. It's really really been a great addition to my life here in Aspen, and it's a great reason to hear what other people are doing in the community, to feel part of this amazing community. The people in this group are amazing. I've /made some really lifelong friendships.

Shari Havroud of Aetio Health
Nutritionist
I am so grateful for Jillian and Aspen Business Connect, for introducing my work to the team at Aspen Strong where we created a successful Food/Mood kids series.  From there, I have been given the opportunity to work with the Aspen Youth Center, Aspen Family Connections and the City of Aspen!” 
All of these engagements have helped me expand awareness about the benefits of medical nutrition therapy.  Just one introduction led to many more.  I would highly recommend joining the Aspen Business Connect network!"
Diane Utz, ESQ Ferguson Shindler Law Firm
Construction Litigation

Thank you once again! You’ve created something really special and have done an amazing job pulling together the movers and shakers in this Valley. I’ve lived all over the country but have never witnessed a network like the one you’ve built and are continuing to build. You are such an inspiration!

Eric Amyot Keystone Species CO
Instigator of Change | Generative Community Builder

ABC makes networking easy. More than that, the intention and energy, mood, and support for every entrepreneur and business regardless of their scale or industry, is always positive.

Harry Teague - Harry Teague Architects
Owner

Thank you Aspen Real Life and your team. Very informative and well organized panel discussion. Wonderful to network with such smart, fun crowd. Keep up the good work.

Jerome Osentowski Central Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute
Founder & Director

Last week Jerome, Eden, and Brook melted our minds with their wisdom on the state of our food systems, what they're doing about it, and what we can all do to improve the health of ourselves and the Earth. Thanks Aspen Business Connect for organizing this great event!

Thanks so much Jillian for putting these together. We were glad to see so many people who care about their food, we got so many business cards! Amazing

Rose LeVan Sustainable Settings
Co-Founder & Office Manager

Thank you Jillian for giving us the opportunity to talk with our community via Aspen Business Connect! Your crew is amazing.

Michele Cardamone - Michele Cardamone Photography
Owner

I just went to Jillian's Aspen Business Connect meeting at Aspen Kitchen with a panel discussing the importance of eating local and nutritious food without pesticides. There was so much positive energy in the room and such an eclectic mix of local business representatives. It was such a perfect way to connect with members of our community. Bravo, Jillian! I can't wait for more!

Molly Dodge Bosque Aspen

Such an amazing event, Jillian!! Thank you for including us and for everything that you're doing for this community and beyond. You're an inspiration and connecting people is the most satisfying thing. Xoxox

Bill Infante, Hangai Mountain Textiles, Co-Founder & President at Breakthrough Communications, Basalt Town Council Member.
Principal & Co-Founder

Great evening. Great initiative. Great connections. Thanks Jillian Livingston for bringing the business community together!

Marisa Hallsted The Mindful Vine
Founder

We thought you’d love that we all connected over a fabulous dinner. Turned into a blog post, a mastermind group, a newly designed ring from gems from my ancestors and who knows great collaborations between some of us in the future! Thanks for being our connector and for all you do!!