Autumn In Aspen

Fall in Colorado is something everyone looks forward to. For about three weeks the aspen trees light up the mountainside in electric gold and orange hues. This year, David and I visited some areas that we missed last fall. Our first destination was the small mountain town of Aspen. Aspen is known for its world-class ski resorts and upscale shops/restaurants. The town also has several nearby attractions like the Maroon Bells and Independence Pass, both of which were on our to-do list.

It took us about three hours to get to Aspen, which isn’t as bad as it sounds because the majority of the drive was on I-70 – one of the most scenic highways in Colorado. Once in Aspen, David and I made a beeline to the Maroon Bells. The famous peaks can only be accessed by public bus during the day, and we knew it was going to fill up fast. After the twenty-minute bus ride and a short hike to Maroon Lake, it was obvious why this was the most photographed spot in Colorado. The Maroon Bells were lightly dusted in snow and towered over the entire valley. And the lake below resembled a fusion of watercolors from the reflecting green, orange, and yellow bands of aspens trees.

Next up on our itinerary was Castle Creek Road, a scenic drive through a national forest with aspen-filled mountains. David and I stopped at a few trails along the way that actually led inside some of the aspen groves. It was incredible – walking through a maze of aspen trees with sunrays filtering through the gold leaves. There were a few spots that truly looked like a page out of a fairy tale.

We made our way back into town and ate lunch at the White House Tavern – an adorable restaurant with a crispy chicken sandwich I could eat every day. There was not a cloud in the sky as we leisurely explored downtown, making a quick stop for lemon-lime shaved ice at the Saturday Market before leaving Aspen.

The last stop before making our way home was Independence Pass – a mountain pass on the Continental Divide that stands at over 12,000 feet in elevation. Driving up the west side of the pass was a bit nerve-wracking; the highway got so narrow that it became a single-lane road in a few places. David and I were both relieved when we reached the summit, and the expansive views from the overlook made the drive worth it.