Mountain Mornings + Midday Naps: A Baby-Friendly Summer Escape to Aspen

As an adventure-loving couple that loves to travel, we knew adding a baby to the mix would change things up a little (a lot). As the Colorado winter thawed this past spring, we found ourselves hitting the road for a handful of overnight trips with our 6-month-old baby, Emery, taking inspiration and advice from like-minded parents to “just do it, but be prepared to bail.”

Kim, Bobby and Emery. Photos by Kim Fuller.

The good news is, we haven’t had to bail yet! By the time summer rolled around, we felt ready for something a little bigger: a long weekend in Aspen for Father’s Day.

Aspen in the summer offers a sweet spot for new parents: crisp mornings on the trail, mellow afternoons by the pool and plenty of ways to explore while keeping little Emery happy and on schedule. With thoughtful planning, a flexible mindset and a little tag-team strategy, a summer escape to the mountains can feel like the perfect blend of fun and rest for the whole family.

Stay, Play + Chill

There are plenty of lovely places to stay in Aspen, but not all are quite as ideal for a family than The Gant. Tucked into a quiet corner of Aspen, this property is the kind of place where new parents can actually exhale.

With its blend of upscale condo-style lodging and full-service amenities, The Gant strikes a rare balance: all the comforts of home, plus the perks of a resort. For families traveling with a baby, that’s everything. Each spacious unit comes equipped with a full kitchen, washer/dryer, separate bedrooms and a cozy living area — ideal for naptime flexibility and maintaining a sense of routine, even while away.

Two outdoor heated pools, three hot tubs and a fitness center offer mini moments of relaxation when the opportunity arises. Want to take a dip while the baby naps with your partner? Easy. Need a quiet corner to nurse or rock your little one? The property’s layout — spread across 5 acres with trees and gardens — offers calm, uncrowded spaces perfect for downtime.

Tag-Team Adventures

Getting outside for adventure time has helped us stay active and balanced as new parents. With The Gant as our basecamp, it was easy to take turns mountain biking the Smuggler Hunter Creek loop right from our door. This intermediate ride checks all the boxes, from the climb up Smuggler to the singletrack fun that takes you down to the Hunter Creek area. It takes about 90 minutes — ideal for one parent to chill with the kiddo at The Gant while the other can ride. Then, swap it out!

I love how The Gant is a space that supports not just together time, but also those precious solo moments that can be rare on a family trip. It’s also in such an ideal location in Aspen, set in a quiet part of town but with restaurants, galleries, a grocery store and trails just a short walk away. We spent one morning hiking up Aspen Mountain via Ute Trail, a very rigorous 3,000-foot ascent that we started right from The Gant. Two hours later, we enjoyed lunch on the Sundeck Restaurant and a scenic gondola ride back down the mountain. 

While we love a good crib nap, travel calls for flexibility, and Emery has proven he can get solid sleep in the stroller during a walk or in a carrier on the trail. Sometimes we plan his naptime to be during these jaunts so that no one is “stuck” inside on a beautiful Saturday. It hasn’t backfired (yet). After our mountain hike, we walked Emery around The Gant property in his stroller until he fell asleep, right on time for his nap, then we parked him in the shade while enjoying an afternoon at the pool. Once he woke up, we were all ready with his swim diaper, suit and sunscreen to play in the water together.

Dine Early + Be Flexible

It’s no secret that babies shouldn’t be out late, but we’ve decided to not let that put a damper on our love of sitting down at great restaurants together. For the long weekend, we cooked in at The Gant one night and then made two reservations out: one for 5:15 p.m. at Bear Den and one for 5:30 p.m. at Catch Steak Aspen. Both were delicious and very accommodating, and the staff seemed to appreciate that we brought our own baby chair — the amazing Inglesina Fast Table Chair. We used it at the condo as well and just always have it in the car wherever we wander.

Back at The Gant by 7 p.m. or a little after worked well for these longer summer days, and Emery was all ready for bed and fast asleep by 7:30 p.m. for the night. We were able to take some time as a couple to enjoy dessert together on our streamside patio.

For breakfast and lunch, the onsite restaurant Origin by The Farmer & Chef is casual and delicious, just steps from the pool. We spent Father's Day morning on their outdoor dining deck and enjoyed mugs of Color Coffee (our favorite, roasted in Eagle) and split a perfect helping of huevos rancheros.  

We packed up during Emery’s morning nap and Bobby got out on his bike for a Father's Day ride, getting back just in time to load up the family and head to the playground in Snowmass.

Adventure is never far away, and for us it’s always worth the effort. Every trip teaches us something new, but Aspen reminded us that adventure and rest don’t have to be opposites — especially when you’ve got a great basecamp and a baby-friendly rhythm.