A Surprising Wildlife Encounter in Aspen’s Golden Autumn 🦊🍂

Visiting Aspen in the fall isn’t just about the stunning views—it’s also full of wonderful surprises! Driving from Denver to Aspen felt like entering a golden dream 🌟🍁. The world outside the window was so vividly colored it almost felt surreal. Under the bright sun, every bit of gloom just seemed to evaporate ☀️💛. We made a stop at Snowmass (off-season), and within just a few minutes, we spotted a fox 🦊 and a deer 🦌. Even though I’ve seen deer many times over the years in the U.S., seeing one this close—locking eyes with it—felt like meeting a forest spirit 🥺💫. But the most unforgettable moment? Seeing a black bear 🐻 casually crossing the street in downtown Aspen—right near the luxury boutiques and restaurants! It walked into an alley just about 20 meters away from me. I was too stunned to take a photo 😮. Turns out those “Bear Crossing” signs aren’t joking around! When we told locals, they just smiled and said, “Yeah, it’s pretty common.” 😦 Shoutout to our hotel—The St. Regis Aspen 🏨⭐! Impeccable service, plus a free test drive experience (you can choose a BMW 7 Series or an iX 🚙). The bed and towels were super cozy, and they serve coffee and tea right to your room ☕🫖. Breakfast was huge and delicious—especially the fruits 😋🍓. A great hotel really makes the trip! We also tried an Italian restaurant in town called Ellina 🇮🇹—their fried octopus was incredible! The vinegar seasoning reminded me of Chinese flavors 🐙❤️. Everything else was reliably good too. As we were leaving, a staff member at the hotel said: “It’s really nice that you came in the best season. Will you come back in winter?” In my mind: Winter in Aspen? My wallet might not survive that… 💸😅 #Aspen #AspenTravel #Colorado #FallColors #AutumnGetaway #WildlifeEncounters #LuxuryTravel 🍁📸🐾