Maroon Bells, Aspen — A Place That Makes You Forget the World 🌄💫

This was my second time in Aspen, but my first visit to Maroon Bells — and it was more than just "breathtaking." ❤️ Thanks to a recommendation from an amazing theoretical physicist (so lucky to be her roommate!), I got to experience this magical place. There’s a special kind of quiet here that makes you pause and let go. It’s the kind of place where you can sit by the lake for an hour, just lost in thought, and not feel a single minute is wasted. 🏞️✨ Lately, life hasn’t been easy — proposals rejected, family issues, anxiety, exhaustion… but here, with the mountains, the water, and the unbelievably blue sky, my mind finally felt clear again. You really start to believe it: a change of scenery and new air can truly reboot your brain. 🧠🌿 This town, especially with the Aspen Center for Physics, feels like a little utopia built for thinkers. It gives you space to be alone, yet also inspiration to create. Most days I’m still just “grinding,” but with nature like this as your backdrop, even work feels lighter. It’s so beautiful — like heaven on earth. I told my American colleague, “Seriously, I want to die here.” 😂 But building here would probably be illegal… and let’s be real, I can’t afford it anyway. 💸 🚌 How to get there: You’ll need to book shuttle tickets online at: 👉 https://www.visitmaroonbells.com Round-trip is $16. If you want to drive, there’s a $10 parking pass, but it’s nearly impossible to get — like trying to book a Yellowstone cabin! 🏕️❌ If shuttle tickets show “sold out,” don’t stress — just refresh occasionally. I originally booked a ticket for Sunday 7/6 four days ahead. But when a friend wanted to join on Saturday, I refreshed a couple times and snagged a 7:30 AM ticket for 7/5! 🎫💻 No ticket? No problem! Take the free Aspen shuttle to Aspen Highlands and join the standby line early. There’s an on-site ticket booth, and they usually let standby riders on — they even add extra shuttles when it’s busy! On our 7:30 AM shuttle on 7/5, everyone in standby got on. 👍🚍 #MaroonBells #Aspen #Colorado #NatureEscape #TravelDiary #Mindfulness #HeavenOnEarth #SoloTravel #PhysicsRetreat