Colorful Colorado in the Autumn 2016 with Zeb and Soapy Smith Duck

The days are getting shorter.   The nights are getting colder.   It is time to go to the mountains to see the gold among the pines.   Yesterday we drove Highway 285 southwest from Denver to Kenosha Pass.   This is a favorite fall viewing area for changing leaves.   On the way, we stopped to see this river.

North Fork of the South Platte River

North Fork of the South Platte River

This is the north fork of the South Platte River.   We are ducks, so we love water.

North Fork of the South Platte River

North Fork of the South Platte River

The mountain and changing aspen are also beautiful.   This greeted us as we neared the summit of Kenosha Pass.

Kenosha Pass in the autumn

Kenosha Pass in the autumn

Wow!   We love the pine trees mixed in with the aspen, now some green, some red, some orange, and most are vibrant yellow.   Here we are, sitting on the car, looking across a wet area.

It was too windy for us, but we saw everything from inside the car.

It was too windy for us, but we saw everything from inside the car.

This will be our last photo here.   It is windy and we blew off the car.   Lucky for us, mom chased and found us.   Such beautiful colors, but for only a short time.

Colors and fence in foreground

Colors and fence in foreground

Leaves change colors when they die, so they will blow off the trees; rain and snow will also pull them to the ground.   This is a great hiking road in a campground.

Hiking in campground

Hiking in campground

This is a wonderful place to camp, enjoying the Colorado colors.   Every direction you look, you see so many aspens in their fall colors.

Such color

Such color

The roads had lots of traffic and the parking areas were almost full.

Many enjoying Colorado colors

Many enjoying Colorado colors

But hiking wasn’t crowded at all.

Hiking this beautiful day.

Hiking this beautiful day.

It is nice to see so many people enjoying the nice weather and the beautiful fall colors.   On the television and in the newspaper, many long time photographers said that this is an exceptional year for leaves.   Our aspen do not have the big leaves or the bright reds of the maple trees in other parts of the country, but our small leaves shimmer in the sunlight and look beautiful with the green pine trees, granite mountains and the Colorado blue sky.   For a short time the aspens are orange and red also.   This was a treat to see the group of red aspen by the road.

Red aspen

Red aspen

We love to see the changing leaves in the fall.   We hope you enjoy the changing colors in  your area also.

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Summer Afternoon in Aspen

Another reason to love Colorado!  We can go to Aspen for a few hours.  No need to buy an airline ticket, reserve a hotel, or even plan ahead.  Today I, Zeb the Duck, Soapy Smith Duck and mom spent the afternoon enjoying Aspen.

Lift to ski the famous Aspen Mountain

Lift to ski the famous Aspen Mountain

We could stay longer if we want to, but this was just an afternoon as we were exploring our Colorado Mountains.

The shopping in Aspen is wonderful.  This was mom’s first stop.

Nothing beats a great jewelry store

Nothing beats a great jewelry store

A couple blocks down the street is Aspen Mountain.  After all, Aspen is a first class ski destination.  Always be prepared when going to the top of a mountain.  As you approach the gondola, you can learn the barometric pressure, summit wind speed, summit temperature, and the time at Aspen Mountain.

Love the information

Love the information

Information and knowledge is always good.  Near Aspen Mountain we loved this statue of a 10th Mountain Division soldier.

So proud of the 10th Mountain Division

So proud of the 10th Mountain Division

We learned about the 10th Mountain Division in Leadville.  A proud American unit.

Many people ride bicycles in Aspen.  If you didn’t bring yours, rent bicycles here.

Bicycle friendly city

Bicycle friendly city

Maybe you will pedal to the famous hotel, The St Regis.

The St Regis is beautiful inside

The St Regis is beautiful inside

Aspen is very friendly for pedestrian and bicyclists.

Peaceful pedestrian area

Peaceful pedestrian area

Exploring the area required a snack for us.  So, we stopped at the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory.  This is one of our favorite places.

Yum!

Yum!

Remember to drink plenty of water in the mountains.

Aspen has fountains where children can cool down.  Looks like fun!

Can ducks play?

Can ducks play?

This restaurant is opening and ready for diners.

Time to eat?

Time to eat?

Such a nice setting.  You know Aspen is a world class ski resort; enjoy this summer view of some ski runs.

Summer in Aspen

Summer in Aspen

Visit Aspen soon.  It is breathtaking in any season.  You will like Aspen, we do.

Visit http://www.ColoradoTravelingDucks.com/2014/07/18/heritage-museum-and-gallery-in-leadville-colorado/  to learn more about the 10th Mountain Division.

 

Georgetown and Guanella Pass

Zeb the duck here again.  Thursday mom and I went to Georgetown and then up Guanella Pass.  Georgetown is on I-70 west of Denver.  Like many mountain towns, they have festivals during the year, so maybe we will visit again.

Remember I told you yesterday that the aspen leaves are turning red and then gold for autumn.  And, I thought we might go for another leaf peeking drive.  We did.  I love it.  Summer was perfect, but the autumn is beautiful in a different way.  Guess I like the changing of seasons.  This is my first year, so I am just guessing.

First stop was the Georgetown Visitor’s Center.

Georgetown Visitor's Center

Georgetown Visitor’s Center

This place has everything.  Lots of information for tourists, but also a museum.  There is a big gift store.  And, the television monitors had real time traffic toward the tunnel.  This is very important, especially with winter approaching and driving in the mountains.  There has already been snow on these roads this year.

We drove through town towards Guanella Pass.

A few minutes toward the pass looking back at Georgetown

A few minutes toward the pass looking back at Georgetown

This is another place with many aspen and the gold on the mountain with green pine trees is fabulous against the bright blue Colorado sky.

Aspens and mom left me on the road

Aspens and mom left me on the road

These are some of the gorgeous golden aspen leaves.   The water is part of a hydroelectric plant.

Aspen, water and mountains.  Perfect

Aspen, water and mountains. Perfect

The creek is always refreshing and after the recent heavy rain, the rivers

Water rushing through the aspens

Water rushing through the aspens

and creeks are full and running fast.

We returned to Georgetown and visited the Art Gallery.  Very nice.

Colorado Art

Colorado Art

All the art is created by Colorado artists.  Many talented people live in Colorado.  The Happy Cooker is a nice place for lunch.

Happy Cooker.  Good food

Happy Cooker. Good food

There is outside and inside seating.  They serve breakfast and lunch all day.  We love the sandwiches.

My favorite stop was Georgetown Valley Candy Company.  They have been here many years.

Sweet and delicious.  Gifts also

Sweet and delicious. Gifts also

We had black cherry ice cream.  Yum!!  Their fudge is also wonderful.  Next a little shopping at the Santa Fe Trail shop.

Unusual jewelry, clothes and gifts.  Hurry in

Unusual jewelry, clothes and gifts. Hurry in

They are celebrating 53 years in business and most items are on sale—50% off.  Hurry!!!

Leaving town we stopped at the First Presbyterian Church.

Really old and still used today.

Really old and still used today.

This church was built in 1874.  Colorado wasn’t even a state until 1876.  That is old!  They have added to the building

See you Sunday

See you Sunday

and have church services every Sunday.

Next we saw a park.  The playground equipment was great.

Loved the slide

Loved the slide

Makes me wish I were human.  This was paid for by the Colorado Lottery.  So, buy some tickets!  The ground here looks like street pavement, but is feels like foam.  Very nice and probably very safe.  A great fountain

Love all water

Love all water

and a crazy bench.  This bench is made from a tree trunk.  I love it.

The best bench!

The best bench!

Come to Georgetown.  It took us less than an hour to get here and I know you will love it too.  I’m coming back!