BUCKLE UP

Embrace cowboy culture in Colorado

- 

WHEN most people think of Aspen and Snowmass Village in Colorado, they imagine powder-soft pistes and world-class hiking and mountain biking.

And they'd be right - these towns are a year-round dream for sports enthusiasts, as well as boasting a vibrant arts and culture scene and an ever-evolving food scene.

But beneath the glamour lies a proud cowboy heritage that runs just as deep. After the silver boom collapsed in the late 1800s, those who stayed behind turned to ranching, building a way of life that still shapes the community today.

Here’s how to saddle up next summer and embrace your inner cowboy in Aspen and Snowmass Village.

Get suited up at Kemo Sabe: If you're going to step into cowboy life, you'll need to look the part - and that starts with a hat. At Kemo Sabe, the luxury western-wear store in downtown Aspen, the atmosphere is buzzing with music, margaritas and an eclectic mix of hats, boots, buckles and bolo ties.