Aspen, CO

Well I had been living in Colorado for almost a full year before I finally made my way up to Aspen. The event that attracted me to Aspen was actually a planning conference held in Snowmass( 15 miles northwest of Aspen), but we ended up lodging in Aspen so that we could get the full extent of the experience. It was a quaint, quiet town, but it's natural beauty was unparalleled. I'll never forget one of the first things I saw when I arrived in Aspen. Traffic was moving slow around the main street of Aspen, and I immediately chalked it up to even "rush hour". However, I wasn't disappointed when I saw what the real traffic causer was. A mother bear and three cubs were playing near the street. It was one of the most memorable experiences I've ever had. I mean of course I've seen bears at the zoo, but right near a busy main street, in the wild, having the time of their life?! A picture of the mother bear is below. Unfortunately it is quite blurry since I was as far away as possible. I'm adventurous...but not crazy! The rest of Aspen was also a great experience. On the last day of the conference, we were able to enjoy an early breakfast before heading out to Maroon Bells, which I'm told is the "most photographed spot in Colorado". I believe it because the views were absolutely breathtaking.