After decades as Colorado Natives, the hubby and I finally made it up to Maroon Bells and WOW was it worth it. The drive up to the base camp is so pretty you don’t ever want to go over 25 mph because you have to pull over every mile or so to take yet another spectacular photo. We were lucky enough to see it at the absolute peak of the “Aspen turning” season and a few of the 200 photos I took are below for you to enjoy.
I’d suggest an entire weekend, use one of those find a bargain hotel website and see what you can do for lodging. Aspen itself is such a friendly, beautiful, healthy, visitor friendly place.
I will take my moment to tell you one place to avoid like the plague!
DO NOT GO TO UTE CITY GRILL!!
We had the worst service, rudest waiter, longest wait for everything and could not believe a restaurant like this was still in business. Pathetic! If you look at the ratings for the place you’ll see either glowing or horrible. I suspect the glowing ones are friends of the owner/wait staff that perhaps get treated like one should when they are dining out.
I DO recommend “The Red Onion!”
After being disgusted with our time at Ute City Grill, we wandered over to the outdoor walking mall and met many friendly locals. When we mentioned that we really had been looking forward to getting to sit outdoors and sip on a glass of wine and soak of the mountain atmosphere this Aspen local suggested the “Onion” and assured us they would take care of us and that it was even happy hour. Not only did they take care of us but we ended up meeting a wonderful couple at the “community table” and were treated like regulars even though we were only there for a couple of days.
We also highly recommend visiting the John Denver Memorial Park – article to follow.
Enjoy these lovely photo of Maroon Bells Peaks and Maroon Bells Lake.
The trees are truly spectacular and with the warm temperatures you can’t find a better time to see this spectacular vista. It’s known as the most photographed spot in all of Colorado, and once you visit you’ll know why.
Enjoy the slideshow photographs of Maroon Bells Peaks and lake taken in late September.
Anytime you head to the mountains be sure to take water, wear layers and lather up with sunscreen.
For more information on Aspen and Maroon Bells.
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- Maroon Bells valley of aspens in full glorious color Aspen Colorado
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- Close up of the Aspen Trunk
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- the view from the top side of Maroon Bells Lake
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- Maroon Bells valley of aspens in full glorious color Aspen Colorado
Never apologize for not writing on your blog!
By · CommentsOk, so I learned that from Darren Rouse – Mr. Pro Blogger himself so I’m not apologizing, I’m just letting you know I’m going to start writing here again. I’ve been “blogging” in the public arena of Examiner.com and learning the ins and outs of that so that’s where my time’s been being spent. I’ll be sharing some of those treasures here as well as more of my favorite thing.. photographs. I have a bazillion of them that I am excited to share.
Do you have something brilliant to share? Let me know if you’d like to be a guest blogger!
My husband and I have narrowed down our vacation choice for the year to the wine country area and Northern California of San Francisco, Monterrey Bay & the Napa Valley
We have not been to this area for years and never together and neither of us have been to Napa Valley as our “wine connoisseur” status is fairly new. So… Where would YOU go again? What was your favorite restaurant, shop, hotel, inn, coffee shop, bakery?? I tweeted about suggestions on twitter, and got lots of great responses but since that is limited to 140 characters I thought this might be a better spot to ask for suggestions of hotels, beaches, must see places, wineries, restaurants etc. I KNOW we will visit the Monterrey Bay Aquarium. I have been there once and just loved it. Being from Colorado aquariums, Sea World type places always enchant me. We prefer casual, local, friendly spots vs. trendy, touristy, snooty spots. So leave your suggestions here… and I’ll share our experiences when we take our vacation. We are going in the fall which according to the sites I’ve read is the best time to visit the San Francisco Bay area.
This will be kind of a honeymoon for us since we haven’t had the vacation time nor the funds to do a nice trip, so romantic is also good!
Thanks!
The photo is at Orfila Vineyards on our trip to Encinitas CA where Jim proposed on the beach, on one knee at sunset! I told you he was the worlds greatest husband! Before this Jim had never enjoyed wine! Now he’s graduated to a snooty…” I ONLY drink Pino Noir or Cabs “ type guy…
Thyme Began in the Garden
By · CommentsMy Colorado Garden in July 2009
This sign that a friend painted for me severals years ago was the inspiration for the name of this blog…
This has been one of the rainiest summers I can remember in Colorado and it’s made it even more beautiful here than it usually is. The fields are all green and strange things are happening in my garden that have never happened before. My sedum are blooming!
My Dragons Blood Sedum is also blooming. I guess this may be common elsewhere but It’s the first year I’ve ever had it do this here.
These daisies are from Tagawa Gardens, my favorite gardening center on the planet.
I think a ‘ daisy is one of the most gorgeous flowers in the garden.
These were a surprise. I left a few carrots in the garden last fall and they bloomed! I think they look kind of like queen anne’s lace which I’ve never been able to get started.
I have lots and lots of thyme in my garden this year.. Good thing I LOVE fresh herbs to cook with. Here it is mixed in with the threadbare Coreopsis.
I’m probably going to have to move some of this thyme or it’s going to take over the Coreopsis and perhaps the rest of my garden!. My basil is not doing well at all this year.. I’m thinking it must need less rain and more sun.
I just love old stuff in my garden. I rescued this old fence from a farm that was being torn down for progress. I just love the vibrant colors that are mixing together in this corner spot. The blue delphiniums are one of my favorite.
Close up of a echinacea (purple coneflower) I have several varieties of these growing in the garden this year including a peach colored one. It’s first crop of flowers got beat up by the hail but I’m hoping the one’s just budding out will live up to it’s purple cousins.
This Bee Balm attracts hummingbirds like none other! My cats know this now and just sit and stare at the base of this flower the minute I let them outside. Don’t worry.. they never catch them!
This pansy survived the winter.. Another hardy favorite of mine.
And then after weeding and deadheading your garden
…….. a glass of pino grigio with cut berries out of the garden..
I promise you it’s as refreshing as it looks! My wonderful husband always makes these for me.
Which are your favorite flowers in your garden?
I’d love to hear from you and see the pics of any other flower freaks out there.
Cats belong in the house and in the garden
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Meet Weasley my 1/2 Orange Tabby 1/2 Siamese cat. We adopted he and his brother Potter one year ago from a rescue society called Every Creature Counts. They have been a joy to our home ever since. On the other side of that fence are two dogs barking their brains out but my guy just looks at him like “why pray tell are you making all that racket?” I live in an area very close to open space so I never let my cats out unescorted and miraculously they actually have never even tried to jump the fence.
Sitting out in the garden watching my kitty boys banter around in the garden, batting bugs, hopping on stalks of grass waving in the warm summer breeze is such a delight, it’s hard to come inside and get to work each day. They get up each morning with with one thing on their mind… how long it will take them to “TALK” me into letting them go outside to play.
Meet Mr. Harry Potter (Weasley’s sidekick of course, or is it the other way around?) He obviously took after his father while his brother took after his tabby cat mother. Potter is the softest cat you’ve ever had the pleasure to have on your lap. He’s all cuddles, purrs and soft paws keeping your hands close by to keep you petting him.
If you have cat pictures to share, I’d love to see my readers faithful friends too. 
They are so funny in this video, you can see how excited they are just to sniff the smells of nature and watch the bugs and cotton fluffs fly by.
