Aspen, Colorado

Offering an incredible variety of extravagant rental properties, Aspen provides the well-off vacationer with some of the most beautiful natural vistas in the world. The prosperous can select from a range of 6- star, luxury log cabins that have spectacular indoor and outdoor living spaces featuring breath-taking views of the neighboring mountains and rivers. Each luxury cabin features exquisite interior and exterior design, in addition to providing amenities such as a private chef, chauffeurs and even home visits by masseurs—just what you need after a long day on the slopes. Although noted for its skiing, downtown Aspen also hosts many exclusive designer shops, affording the well-to-do visitor with something to do when not enjoying the natural delights of the surrounding alpine areas.

In the late 20th century, the city became a popular retreat for celebrities. Gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson worked out of a downtown hotel and ran unsuccessfully for county sheriff. Singer John Denver wrote two songs about Aspen after settling there. Both of them popularized Aspen among the counter-cultural youth of the 1970s as an ideal place to live and the city continued to grow even as it gained notoriety for some of the era's hedonistic excesses.

Today the musicians and movie stars have been joined by corporate executives. As a result of this influx of wealth, Aspen has some of the most expensive real estate in the United States and many middle-class residents can no longer afford to live there. It remains a popular tourist destination, with outdoor recreation in the surrounding White River National Forest serving as a summertime complement to the four ski areas in the vicinity.