Saturday, June 29, 2024

Our Koffee Trail: Java Drip Coffee

Closer up image of Java Drip Coffee building

Date of Visit: June 29, 2024

Location: Java Drip Coffee, Gallup, NM

Last night we noticed a coffeeshop named Thanx a Latte when exploring Holbrook, Arizona, where we stayed the night. We considered going there before hitting the road this morning, but it was not open on the weekend. In searching where we could go instead, I found Java Drip Coffee in Gallup.

Java Drip Coffee building

When I showed Dad the picture of the place, he called it the coffee shack. It is a good description, but it is also a good design for a small drive through place, especially since it was set up to have a window on each side so could take the order on one side while finishing up the other side's order.

Java Drip Coffee Menu

The menu has a lot of variety. When we were stopping, Mik said he did not want anything, but then he saw the menu and decided he needed to try something, too.

Me with my latte

I had a Toasted Marshmallow Latte.

Mom with her Iced Black & White Mocha

Mom had an Iced Black & White Mocha.

Mik with his Iced Turtle Pie

Mik had an Iced Turtle Pie.

See full list of Our Koffee Trail stops here and Our Koffee Trail Google Maps list here.

Saturday, June 22, 2024

Our Koffee Trail: Espresso Art Cafe

 

Date of Visit: June 22, 2024

Location: Espresso Art Cafe, Tucson, AZ

Dad and I ended up Espresso Art Cafe when our search for U of A basketball shorts for Mik was unsuccessful at the U of A bookstore and the sports store on University was not quite open when we got there. To kill time until the store opened, we stopped in the nearby Espresso Art Cafe.

I had an Iced Latte. Dad had a Horchata.

See full list of Our Koffee Trail stops here and Our Koffee Trail Google Maps list here.

Our Koffee Trail: Le Buzz

Le Buzz front

Date of Visit: June 22, 2024

Location: Le Buzz, Tucson, AZ

After a short morning hike in Sabino Canyon, Dad and I went to Le Buzz, which he used to go to when biking Mount Lemmon.

Me holding my iced agave latte

I got an Iced Agave Latte. Dad had a Vanilla Cardamon Oatmilk Latte.

See full list of Our Koffee Trail stops here and Our Koffee Trail Google Maps list here.

Our Koffee Trail: Cafe Maggie

Cafe Maggie front window

Date of Visit: June 21, 2024

Location: Cafe Maggie, Tucson, AZ

Cafe Maggie is what used to be Epic Cafe when we lived in Tucson. It was one of Mik's favorite places to go in our neighborhood. Thus, when visiting Tucson for his 30th birthday, it was a must to stop in.

My coffee cup

Mom, Mik, and I got Peanut Butter Mochas, which back in 2020 and Dad and I were in town and found Epic closed were afraid would no longer be available. We later learned they just went under a change in ownership and name, but kept the menu...or at least our favorite stayed!

Dad and I with our coffees

Dad got a Dirty Horchata.

See full list of Our Koffee Trail stops here and Our Koffee Trail Google Maps list here.

Our Koffee Trail: Aspen Coffee

Aspen Coffee building

Date of Visit: June 19, 2024

Location: Aspen Coffee, Edmond, OK

We had skipped getting any coffee earlier this day because after having to start our day with an unplanned oil change we did not want to waste any more time getting on the road and hitting Pops. After we were back on the road from Pops, we decided to find whatever was the closest coffee shop without going off the route to Tucson. We actually thought we'd probably end up at Starbucks, but Apsen Coffee ended up being the closest and no more of a detour than a usual food or gas stop off an exit. 

holding my vanilla cinnamon iced latte

I had a Vanilla Cinnamon Iced Latte.

See full list of Our Koffee Trail stops here and Our Koffee Trail Google Maps list here.

Our Koffee Trail: Hidden Springs Java

Hidden Springs Java building 

Date of Visit: June 16, 2024

Location: Hidden Springs Java, Medora, ND

Hidden Springs Java is "hidden" inside the Mercantile building in Medora. We stopped in to get some coffee to drink while we walked around Medora while waiting for the Theodore Roosevelt Visitor Center to be open to get our park stamp before a quick round of mini golf at Little Bully Pulpit Mini Golf.

Holding my cup

I had a Cafe Miel.

See full list of Our Koffee Trail stops here and Our Koffee Trail Google Maps list here.

Our Koffee Trail: Serendipity Coffee Drive-thru

Serendipty Coffee Drive-thru front of building

Date of Visit: June 15, 2024

Location: Serendipity Coffee Drive-thru, Dickinson, ND

While visiting Medora, ND, we stayed in Dickinson, ND as it was much cheaper than the lodging in Medora. On the way to the Theodore Roosevelt National Park and Medora the first day, we stopped at Serendipity Coffee Drive-thru.

My lavender honey latte

I enjoyed a Lavender Honey Latte.

Danke sticker on my latte

We thought it was interesting that they used stickers instead of plastic stick stoppers.

Floral sticker on Dad's cup

See full list of Our Koffee Trail stops here and Our Koffee Trail Google Maps list here.

Thursday, June 20, 2024

Mini Golf Adventures: Little Bully Pulpit Mini Golf

Little Bully Pulpit Mini Golf road sign

Date of Visit: June 16, 2024

Location: Little Bully Pulpit Mini Golf, Medora, ND

We did not have much time to spend really exploring Medora (and Theodore Roosevelt National Park), but when I found out there was mini golf making sure we played the course was a top priority to fit in.

Me by Theodore Roosevelet National Park sign on Hole 18

The theming of Little Bully Pulpit is Medora and North Dakota symbols for the front 9 and the Badlands for the back 9. The variety of holes was fun, especially as each hole had an information sign about what the hole was representing.

Dad putting behind Theodore Roosevelt National Park sign on Hole 18

As there was a larger group just starting when we were paying for our round, they suggested we cross the street and start with the back 9. When done with the Back 9, we ended up being an even larger group for the front 9 and skipped hole 2 to get ahead of them and then went back to do Hole 2 before doing Hole 9 last. Certainly not how I prefer to play, but we were trying to save time as we still had the Enchanted Highway to do that day and the layout of this course made it not difficult to do out of order.

Hole 1 Medora Musical Info Sign
Hole 1: Medora Musical

Hole 1 Medora Musical themed

Hole 2 Mining Info Sign
Hole 2: Mining

Hole 2 Mining Themed

Hole 3 The Tipi info sign
Hole 3: The Tipi

Hole 3 The Tipi themed

Hole 4 Wind Energy info sign
Hole 4: Wind Energy

Hole 4 Windmill themed

Hole 5 Petroleum Oil info sign
Hole 5: Dakota Petroleum

Hole 5 Petroleum Oil themed

Hole 6 Freight Wagon info sign
Hole 6: Freight Wagon

Hole 6 Freight Wagon themed

Hole 7 Maltese Cabin info sign
Hole 7: Maltese Cross Cabin

Hole 7 Maltese Cabin themed

Hole 8 Meat Packing Plant info sign
Hole 8: Meat Packing Plant

Hole 8 Meat Packing Plant themed

Hole 10 Rolling Plains info sign
Hole 10: Rolling Plains

Hole 10 Rolling Plains themed

Hole 11 Petrified Forest info sign
Hole 11: Petrified Forest

Hole 12 American Bison info sign
Hole 12: American Bison

Hole 12 American Bison themed

Hole 13 Bully Pulpit Golf Course info sign
Hole 13: Bully Pulpit Golf Course

Hole 13 Bully Pulpit Golf Course themed

Hole 14 Wind Canyon info sign
Hole 14: Wind Canyon

Hole 14 Wind Canyon themed

Hole 15 Horseshoes info sign
Hole 15: Horseshoes

Hole 15 Horseshoes themed

Hole 16 Cowboy Hat & Boots info sign
Hole 16: Cowboy Hat & Boots

Hole 16 Cowboy Hat & Boots themed

Hole 17 Rough Riders info sign
Hole 17: Rough Riders

Hole 17 Rough Riders themed

Hole 18 Theodore Roosevelt National Park info sign
Hole 18: Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Hole 18 Theodore Roosevelt National Park themed

LEGO Ranger Dan with Theodore Roosevelt National Park themed hole
Ranger Dan


Final Scores

  • Kjersti - 54
  • Dad - 52
Score card for Front 9, Kj 31, Dad 25

Score card for Back 9, Kj 23, Dad 27, Final Kj 54, Dad 52

See full list of our Mini Golf Adventures here.