Superlatives are overused for this classic Colorado town, especially in Summer when it sheds its winter coat and blooms under a heightening sun. Photographers have always flocked to Aspen; painters try to capture the elusive blue sky and beds of natural wildflowers sprouting in the valleys and from every windowbox. Locals take to its many restaurants and the early evening parties are indicators of how eager people are to shake off winter. The locals linger over their drinks and the winter ski tales drag on into early evening while envious visitors hover and think how nice it would be to live in such a place.

Aspen is an old mining town, built on the campsites of men who came seeking their fortunes in the hills. Today, the town is dotted by the best of their Victorian homes, glamorous hotels, and the historic Wheeler Opera House. Some nights you swear you can hear the sound of rough men celebrating their day's take over the plinking of a saloon piano. The 100-year-old wood and stone buildings have a thousand stories to tell and the opulence of the mining era shows through on every street corner. Sundry and mining supply stores are now occupied by art galleries, jewelry stores, high-end clothing stores, and incredible restaurants. Culture thrives with international music festivals, world-renowned conferences, and art museums of the highest quality. The town also is known as a hideaway for the rich and famous.

Walking the streets of Aspen is entertainment in itself. There's the history, mixed with the resplendent architecture of a bygone day. Shopping is an experience. The neighborhoods are filled with beautiful homes, which can be quaint and truly magnificent at the same time. And then there are the mountains, towering over the town on all sides.

You can drive to Aspen in the summertime on one of the most scenic routes in Colorado. It will take you three to four hours to get there from Denver International Airport. You'll travel along I-70 west to 91 South through the historic mining town of Leadville. Then you'll head west on Highway 82 over Independence Pass. The Pass is only open in the summer, and it isn't for the feint of heart. It's steep and narrow in spots, and very curvy. But it's one of the most scenic rides in Colorado.

From Grand Junction, Aspen is an easy 2.5 hour drive east on I-70, connecting with Highway 82 in Glenwood Springs.

You also can fly directly into Aspen's Sardy Field (888-290-1324), with daily flights from Denver. On-demand air charter service is also available by Aspen Base Operations, Inc. and Aspen Aviation. Most tourists fly into Denver where connecting flights serve Aspen's small airport. Supershuttle and Colorado Mountain Express provide service from the airport. Many folks fly into Eagle County Airport in Vail and use Colorado Mountain Express for the remainder of the journey to Aspen. In Aspen, the Roaring Fork Transit Agency runs a free skiers shuttle between the four mountains, charges nothing for journeys within the town, and also serves the airport and outlying areas for a small fee.

If you don't feel like driving yourself, but you'd rather be on the highway, ground transportation is available from Denver from these carriers: CLS Transportation of Aspen (800-754-5466); Colorado Mountain Express (800-525-6363); Gray Line of Denver (800-348-6877).

If you're staying in the town of Aspen, you may not even need a rental car. The majority of shops, hotels and restaurants are all within walking distance. Buses are available if you need them.