A Kansas native, Kevin Burton moved to Aspen in October 2006 after accepting a job as the night editor of the Aspen Times newspaper. He joined Frias Properties in 2010 as a marketing associate and has been the company's Web Marketing Manager since 2012. His main responsibilities at Frias include maintaining the company's websites and assisting broker's with custom vacation rentals. He also oversees the Frias blog! This week, our blog team seeks out Kevin's Aspen favorites. Let's see what he has to say:
Q: What’s your favorite Frias Property complex? A: "I’ll say the Chateau Dumont, since I lived there for five years!"
Q: If a group of your friends were coming to Aspen, where would you recommend they stay? A: "Definitely at the Independence Square. It’s affordable and right downtown."
Q: If your parents were coming to town, where would you recommend they stay? A: "Probably at the Fasching Haus, or the Hyatt Grand or the St. Regis - because they are all super nice resorts and are right downtown. The Independence Square is also unique and isn’t as expensive as the others."
Q: What’s one thing that I should not miss while I’m in Aspen? A: "Go see a show at the Belly Up, the town’s local night club. They get big-name acts, and you’d be surprised at who might be playing while you’re in town. I’ve seen so many amazing concerts there."
Q: What’s the best show or concert you’ve been to? A: "I’m a fan of hip hop, and I’ve seen some legendary acts play at the Belly Up, like Ice Cube, Public Enemy, Naughty By Nature, Rakim, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony and Tech N9ne."
Q: Where’s a good place to grab a beer or drink? A: "If I’m just looking for a quick bite, I like CP Burger, 520 Grill, the Red Onion, or the Bar at the Little Jerome. For brews, you can’t beat Aspen Brewery."
Q: What’s your favorite restaurant in town? A: "Lots to choose from. For high-end, I would say Cache Cache. It is French cuisine and it’s pretty amazing. Make sure you save room for dessert."
Q: Do you prefer the summer or winter season? A: "I enjoy both, but prefer summer."
Q: How would you describe the summers here? A: "Cool and lush with lots of activities and events."
Q: What summer activities do you enjoy? A: "Hiking and biking, mainly. There’s a ton of great trails in and around Aspen. No matter where you are in town, you’re close to some sort of trail or bike path. It’s fun to explore!"
Q: What’s the one thing I should make time for during a summer visit to Aspen? A: "I would say either hike the Rio Grande Trail or hike Smuggler Mountain, if you’re up for that. The Rio Grande Trail follows the Rio Grande River, and is mostly flat and has great mountain and river views. Hiking Smuggler Mountain is more vertical, but the views from the top are amazing."
Q: How would you describe the winter season in Aspen? A: "Snowy. ... But not harsh snow. The snow in Aspen is usually the fluffy stuff. It’s beautiful when it snows!
Q: What’s one thing I should make time for during a winter visit to Aspen? A: "I’m sure the obvious answer is skiing, but I’ll add that a trip to the downtown ice rink is also fun. There’s nothing more picturesque that ice skating on Christmas Eve under the stars."
Q: What retail stores or local shopping should I do while in Aspen? A: "One of my favorite shops is Radio Board Shop. It has all the latest gear and some cool clothes and hats. For t-shirts and souvenirs, I’d pick up something from Aspen Brewery while having a beer there." Thanks, Kevin. Sounds like there are plenty of places to check out! The Frias reservations team can assist guests in planning the perfect Aspen vacation. Call (800) 542-7736, e-mail Reservations@FriasProperties.com, or browse Frias inventory online 24/7. Book online!