The picturesque west-central Colorado town of Aspen was fueled by silver-mining riches in the late 19th century. Through successive cycles of boom and bust, its population swelled and shrank, but by the middle of the next century, the village had re-established itself as a thriving resort town. While its reputation for jet-setting is not undeserved, there is a lower-profile side of Aspen that’s equally alluring: In addition to its famous ski resorts, Aspen offers a rich landscape of summer recreation, and its music, film and dance festivals are world-class attractions. And the Aspen Art Museum presents excellent rotating special exhibitions in its innovative new building downtown.