Aspen Colorado

Aspen is, welMaroon Bells Aspen Coloradol, Aspen.  It’s not only for the rich and famous.  It’s for all of us.  There is so much to see, to take in, to explore if you are just – shall I say it – a tourist.

Let’s just start with Maroon Bells.  It’s so famous as a picture post card spot.  It’s so majestic.  It’s just so OMG!  We’re happy to say that Doug’s picture of Maroon Bells made the local news.

Go very early in the morning.  Go at sunset.  Just go.  The times we have been there it has been very un-populated with local spectators. It has been remarkably shy of people.  This is what makes this place soooo amazing.  There is the lake.  There is the beaver lodge.  There are the trails.  There is Crater Lake.  There is the wildlife, like blue heron, and geese.  There is an abundance of flora and fauna.  There is peace and tranquility.  Don’t ever come here without a camera.

You can hike here.  You can fish here.  If you are especially outdoor/hiking inclined, you can backpack in here.  You can walk and you can hike.  You can just stand at the lake and look at the Maroon Bells and just take it all in.  This is Colorado at it’s finest.  This place alone is worth the trip to Aspen.

Summertime around the streets of Aspen ColoradoThe town of Aspen is like none other.  It has all the high priced stores you’ve heard the names of.  There are plenty of restaurants. (Our Favorite is Little Annie’s Eating House) There is an abundance of gazillion dollar homes.  There are also many back streets that have such charm and Victorian homes that make walking the streets a sensory trill.  Try not to look at the price tags on the homes for sale.  Look at the architecture. Look at the gardens.  Look at how they decorate the gardens.

Did you know there is actually camping – Forest Service Camping Summertime around the streets of Aspen ColoradoGrounds in Aspen???  The Difficult campground is really nice.  It has all the amenities of most Forest Service campgrounds. Along Maroon Creek, leading up to Maroon Bells also has campgrounds but you’ll need reservations in the summer.  Camping will make your trip to Aspen much more affordable.  While there are many rental condos/homes available – it is, afterall, Aspen, and it can be expensive.  I’ll recommend Snowmass (the ski village right next door) as a less expensive alternative if you’d prefer a condo for your stay. The place we love is the Crestwood Condos.  They have great package deals and it has been recently renovated inside and out!!!  One time we stayed at Silvertree  Hotel which was also nice.

I encourage anyone who is vacationing in Colorado to make the stop in Aspen.  It’s beautiful.  You’ll probably never see a movie star, but there is so much more to experience there.  It’s definitely one of my favorite places go to.

Aspen has 4 world class ski areas: Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk and Snowmass (the second largest ski area in the USA).

Plan your any season trip to Aspen Colorado – you won’t be disappointed. Visit the links below!

Hassle Free Shopping with Luggage Pros Free Return Policy

Hotels.com Silvertree Hotel

Priceline.com Hotels in Aspen, CO, United States

Travelocity.com_Aspen, CO

Search our websites!


Map of the Aspen Colorado and the Maroon Bells.

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Lake City Colorado

View a slideshow of Around the town of Lake City ColoradoJust step back in time.  Don’t fight it – just go there.  Lake City is such a special little community, it would be a shame to miss it.  There’s a peacefulness there that is hard to find.  I hear there is great fishing!  I know there are great 4-wheel drives.  OH!  There is also a little store that has a REAL soda fountain and makes REAL milk shakes!

One of the things Doug and I love to do is going to places that are a little out of the way – the road less traveled, if you will.  I think there are treasures in these places if you’re willing to take just a little time to explore them.  Each town is different.  Each has its own history.  Each has its own treasures.

Around the town of Lake City ColoradoI have always liked churches.  Wherever I go, I like to step inside an open church to just take a moment to reflect on the blessings in my life.  Lake City has several churches, fairly close together, that were all open the day we visited.  I was so fortunate to be able to walk inside and take in several houses of different faiths.  Each had its own beauty and charm.

Doug and I took the Alpine Loop for a fun little off-road adventure.  The road was in good condition most of the route. But at higher routes like Engineer and Cinnamon Pass requires 4×4 vehicles. We got to see the sights from a higher perspective.  With all the rain Colorado had this year, the greenery was at its peak.  Plenty of wildflowers were out and that always makes for a photo-op!

Around the town of Lake City Colorado

While we don’t fish, it became apparent very quickly that this is a place for fishermen come to Lake San Cristobal and Rio Grande Reservoir. Fly Fishing at Cebolla Creek, Heart Creek, Hanson Creek and the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River runs on the outskirts of town and there was no lack of prey or catch!!!  There are fishing stores, guides,The Sportsman Outdoors & Fly Shop and Dan’s Fly Shop for the avid or novice fishermen.

In the winter, snowmobiling is the sport of choice!  There’s an abundance of trails and plenty of intown stores to support this fun and exciting winter adventure!!

Don’t let this gem pass you by.  We highly recommend Lake City as a hidden treasure of Colorado!

Note: the weekend of September 26 should be a good weekend for Autumns  fall colors in Lake City.


Map of Lake City Colorado.

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Iberostar Resort – Cozumel

Iberostar Cozumel MexicoThere are many reasons I love the Iberostar Resort in Cozumel, Mexico.  As scuba divers, we love the amazing reefs and fish that cannot be beat in the Caribbean.

Here are some reasons you should give the Iberostar a try:

  • Great dive operation through Dressel Divers on site dive shop
  • Located on the south side of the island so close to the reefs!
  • Reasonable prices
  • Cute bungalows – not a big hotel look and feel
  • All inclusive
  • If you don’t want to go to town to shop or party – this place is the place!
  • Beautiful gardens

SCUBA Diving in Cozumel Mexico

We love to go diving in Cozumel because, for us, it’s  about  a 4 hour flight out of Denver and we are there!  You can catch flights in the morning and enjoy a beverage on  the beach at sunset that same day!

We have found the diving in Cozumel to be incomparable.  Even as we talk to people that dive all over the world, Cozumel is compared only to The Great Barrier Reef in Australia and the Red Sea in Egypt as some of the most spectacular reefs and variety and size of sea life.

Hotel

The Iberostar is our choice because it is a great value for the money.  We are hooked on all-inclusive resorts and this meets our needs every time.  It’s close to the reefs so you don’t have 1 hour +/- boat rides to and from the dive sites.  Some are as close as 5 minutes straight out from the dock.  Their on-site dive shop – Dressel Divers  does a great job.  They have a very professional staff, nice boats, good equipment and are a joy to converse with as they are from all over the world.

The food is pretty good.  We tend to go there in either April or November just before or after peak season, when the resort is not full.  This means that not all restarurants are open at all times and the variety of food is not as great as when they are filled to capacity.  Is this a big deal?  Certainly not!  We don’t go there for the food – we go for the diving!

The rooms are also nice.  These little 4-plex bungalow type units give the place a smaller resort feel.  No need for elevators as they are only 2 story.  The beds are comfortable, the rooms are clean and there are plenty of units with a nice view of the water.  Always ask about the location and if there is a view of the ocean.  If they aren’t full they might just move you to a better view!

Iberostar Cozumel Mexico

The grounds are very tropical.  After getting nearly wiped out a few years ago due to a major hurricane hovering over the island for 3 days there wasn’t much left for flora and fauna.  I want to give the Iberostar 5 stars for a very quick rebuild of the buildings and gardens.  We were there 6 months after it being nearly destroyed and we were touched that this Iberostar chose to *not* wait for insurance  money to arrive.  They fronted the money, kept their staff employed and were up and running in just a few months – way ahead of most of the other resorts.

We’ve stayed at other places in Cozumel – but his is our place.  So

Around the island of Cozumel

much so, that when we retook our wedding vows a few years ago.

we chose the Iberostar for this event.  We brought our son who was about 24 at the time and he loved this place, too. Check out the Iberostar in Cozumel.  If you love to dive and love a casual atmosphere, this could just be your place!!!

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