Ah, autumn in Colorado! The season that feels like stepping into a painting. The trees stun with shades of gold, orange and green set against the backdrop of the beautiful Rocky Mountains.

This time last year, I was eagerly en route to Colorado for a family wedding I could hardly wait to attend. My previous trips to Colorado accounted for visits to Denver, Colorado Springs, Aspen, Vale, Grand Junction and even Red Rocks. But this time was different: I was excited to take the road less traveled to Crested Butte, a small mountain town with a population of just 1,600 people.

After a four hour-long drive from Denver of constant twists and turns, we finally made it to our lodge. With time to spare and a town to explore, we headed downtown, where all the family-owned restaurants, small boutiques and ski rentals reside.

Bonus: We found the only place in town open and serving breakfast. Look how good this looks!

After a morning of exploring and window shopping, it was time to get ready for my cousin’s wedding. It was a small, quaint ceremony with the most breathtaking views of the sun shining over the Rocky Mountains. The view was so beautiful, no one even realized the bride was late to the ceremony due to a cattle crossing!

A night full of laughter, love and dancing under the stars, I felt right at home in Crested Butte. Reconnecting with nature and family, it was a weekend that fed fuel to my soul and provided a sense of home away from home. I am already counting down the days until I can go back!

As the newlywed couple now celebrates their one-year anniversary, I often think back to this trip and the lessons I learned along the way. I’ll leave you with two I learned:

1. Slow down and take a look around before life flashes past you.
2. Maybe it’s not that bad if I’m a Midwestern girl after all.

‘Til next time, Crested Butte!

— Emily Gladu, administrative coordinator