One of the world's fabled resorts, Aspen practically defines glitz, glamour, and glorious skiing. To the uninitiated, Aspen and Vail might be synonymous. Between the galleries, museums, music festivals, and other glittering social events, however, there's so much going on in Aspen that even in winter many people come simply to "do the scene," and never make it to the slopes. Many hotels and restaurants host lively après-ski events.
At the same time, Aspen is a place where some people live everyday lives, sending their children to school and working at jobs that may or may not have to do with skiing. It is also, arguably, America's original ski-bum destination, a fact that continues to give the town's glamorous facade an underlying layer of humor and texture.
