Survey: Aspen ranks high for good looks, intelligence and beer

Aspen has received the top billing in Travel + Leisure magazine’s “America’s Favorite Towns” survey.

The new annual survey asked fans and followers to nominate their favorites on social media and vote for the towns in 55 categories, including proudest residents, farmers markets, adventure travel and family-friendly hotels. To determine the overall popularity results, Travel + Leisure calculated each town’s average score.

Aspen scored high in such categories as its “attractive locals, beer scene and Victorian-era Main Street,” according to a statement.

Its accolades include a No. 1 ranking for best town square and a No. 2 ranking in the survey’s attractive-people category. It also received No. 3 rankings for intelligence and its Main Street.

“A lot goes into making Aspen great,” said Aspen Mayor Steve Skadron. “We work to keep our historic downtown quaint and vibrant, our mountain streams pristine and our pace laid-back and Old West. But all that aside, it’s special here because we’re a community of locals with small-town values, a touch of culture and high expectations.”