I grew up in Seattle hearing people compare my town always to Denver in terms of its beauty and openness. Last weekend I went beyond the Denver airport to visit Keystone Mountain some 70miles away to attend the Travel Bloggers Expo. This is a view from atop Keystone Mountain into the distance. It looks like a painting. Can you imagine being in these mountains with snow. Can you imagine a palomino horse, Native Americans in full regalia or what painters must have felt on first view.
I just wanted to share a few pictures from this 2 day event mostly centered around my social activities. There’s so much to do here. The first night I took this gondola up the mountain.
As we head to the mountain top I am thinking that the ground looks weird without snow. Some of my associates have gone mountain bike riding on these mountain paths days before the conference started. As we climb, my breathing begins to constrict. I am drinking water because this is what is suggested: stay hydrated.
After the first gondola ride we switch to a second gondola and are handed a glass of champagne for the final ride to 11,444 feet above sea level. We arrive to enjoy the finest prepared feast of tapas, beverages and sweets. I snack. But I really had to stick with water. If you’ve ever been to this altitude and are moving about, you know what I mean. Anyway I was able to enjoy myself for just under a couple of hours before calling it a night and heading down.
Who is this girl? She’s the VP of the International Food and Wine Travel Writer’s Association. The second night we attended a How the West was Won party sponsored by Expedia. It was a blast. They had a full spread of the requisite BBQ, baked beans, corn on the cob, brisket, beverages horses to ride, a bronco riding and a lasso contest. I loved it. I had a blast and I will return to visit Colorado in the near future.
This guy leading the line dancing was so sexy. He was a real cowboy. I could get into line dancing — believe it or not and it has everything to do with the electric slide. Here I was by the end of the night.
I love Colorado and I shall return. This state has everything. My one consistent thought is I loved this place. In reading over what I’ve written, I know it must be true. I keep repeating that thought.
Gary Arndt, one of the industry standard travel writers and several industry folk I spoke to were quite impressed. Read what Gary has to say here. I would say bet on this travel conference becoming an industry standard.
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