Wednesday, September 11, 2024

Ranger Dan: 106.1 Theodore Roosevelt National Park - Painted Canyon

Date of Visit: June 15, 2024

Dad I visited the Painted Canyon Visitor Center and hiked a little of the trail down into the canyon.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park Sign

Theodore Roosevelt National Park Sign

Painted Canyon

On the Trail

On the Trail

See full list of Ranger Dan's National Parks Visited here.

Sunday, July 21, 2024

Our Koffee Trail: Good Company Doughnuts & Cafe

 

Good Company Doughnuts & Cafe

Date of Visit: July 21, 2024

Location: Good Company Doughnuts & Cafe, Washington, DC

We heard good things about Good Company Doughnuts & Cafe, which recently opened a location in SW DC, and decided to try it out this morning instead of Dad's usual of The Wharf Starbucks.

Honey Lavender Latte

I had a Honey Lavender Latte.

Blueberry Lemonade Glaze donut

I also got a Blueberry Lemonade Glaze donut.

Dad with coffee and cheddar chive scone

Dad got a coffee and a cheddar chive scone.

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

Saturday, July 20, 2024

Our Koffee Trail: Colada Shop

Colada Shop front of building

Date of Visit: July 20, 2024

Location: Colada Shop - The Wharf, Washington, DC

While in DC it's hard to not end up at Starbucks because it opens several hours earlier than the other coffeeshops, so we did go there earlier this week one morning when we did not have any decaf coffee to make on the boat. This morning to go for a walk with a purpose and get my second cup of the day, we went to Colada Shop.

Iced Cafe con Leche

I got an iced Cafe con Leche.

Colada Shop Coffee Menu

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

Ranger Dan: 42.5 National Capital Parks - Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens

Ranger Dan with Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens sign

Date of Visit: July 20, 2024

Every time we used to go to Lowe's in DC, we would say sometime we should go to Kenilworth Gardens when we passed the exit for it. While eating lunch Dad was going through his email and discovered that the Lotus and Water Lily Festival was this weekend. We knew it would likely be crowded, but it seemed a good time to finally visit.

Parking was a little difficult. Also, it did rain most of our visit, but that might of helped some with the crowds. The rain was mostly light and the water on the giant leaves was fun to watch.

We enjoyed seeing the Lotus blooms and one or two water lilies. It was interesting to learn a little about the history of the aquatic gardens and the woman that ran it before it became public land.

See full list of Ranger Dan's National Parks Visited here.

Ranger Dan with Visitor Center sign
Visitor Center

Ranger Dan with Lotus Bud
Lotus Bud

Ranger Dan with Lotus Buds
Lotus Buds and Lotus beginning to Open

Lotus Opening
Lotus Opening

Opened Lotus
Fully Open Lotus

Ranger Dan with Fully Opened Lotus
Ranger Dan with Fully Opened Lotus

Ranger Dan with White Fully Opened Lotus
Ranger Dan with White Lotus

Fully Opened Lotus
Fully Opened Lotus

Ranger Dan with Marsh Land
Ranger Dan with Marsh Land

Blooming Lotus
Blooming Lotus

Water Lily
Water Lily

Ranger Dan with Water Lily
Ranger Dan with Water Lily

Friday, July 19, 2024

Mini Golf Adventures: Pixar Putt Wharf DC

Pixar Putt DC Wharf

Date of Visit: July 19, 2024

Location: Pixar Putt, Washington, DC

Several years ago we were going to do Pixar Putt in Chicago and even had bought tickets, but then we did not end up going to Chicago and when in Chicago later that summer we had heard it was not that great and did not want to pay for it again. At $30 a person, I was kind of hesitant to do it in DC, but Dad and I got done with organizing the storage unit with several days to spare before the U-Haul truck rental and the weather was actually not to bad (warm, but not so humid). Since it was right there by the marina and we could just go back to the boat, we did not worry about making reservations because it cost extra to book online and we ended up a few more bucks with the senior/military discount.

Dad at Hole 17

Overall it was fun Pixar theming and do not regret doing it, but we do agree with the impressions we had gotten before that it is not really worth the high cost. The holes are definitely interesting, but they are also very challenging. Part of the challenge is that it is not all turf, but some of it is the playground rubber surface that really affects the way the ball rolls. What was most annoying, though, was that there were several holes that there just was not enough space to stand to hit the ball. This happens at times at many mini golf courses, but usually it is only when you end up hitting your ball to an odd spot and here the issue was at many of the starting spots. There were also several holes where there was not enough room for the ball to go in from certain angles because the pin was not centered on hole.

Hole 1 Toy Story Themed
Hole 1: Toy Story

Hole 2 Turning Red Themed
Hole 2: Turning Red

Somehow a Par 2, but you have to first get it through the angle between the feet and then opening to hole is off to side

Hole 3 Wall-E themed
Hole 3: Wall-E - encourages you to hit it hard to go around, but that just leads to it bouncing totally off course

Hole 4 Monsters Inc Themed
Hole 4: Monsters Inc

Hole 5 Toy Story 4 Themed
Hole 5: Toy Story 4

Hole 6: Finding Nemo themed
Hole 6: Finding Nemo - I got it in with it stuck between pin and edge of hole, but then Dad had a lot of trouble because there really isn't enough room on backside of pin for ball to go in.

Hole 7: Incredibles themed
Hole 7: Incredibles - This one was interesting in that there were four different holes you could go for (one under each claw).

Hole 8: Ratatouille themed
Hole 8: Ratatouille

Hole 9: Toy Story themed
Hole 9: Toy Story - This hole was kind of weird in that you dropped the ball in the hole instead of putting to start.

Hole 10: Cars themed
Hole 10: Cars - This one had a loop to go through the 95. Dad could not get it to go around even after several tries (no one was behind us and we had to wait for the next hole).

Hole 11: A Bug's Life themed
Hole 11: A Bug's Life

Hole 12: Coco themed
Hole 12: Coco - This hole was complex with you first going down the neck of the guitar and then having to come back around to go over the guitar to where the hole is. 

Hole 13: Inside Out themed
Hole 13: Inside Out - This is another hole you drop your ball to start. There are two different ramps it could roll down as well as two other openings at the bottom. Dad ended up with it going down one that made the ball bounce off course.

Hole 14: Onward themed
Hole 14: Onward

Hole 15: Lightyear themed
Hole 15: Lightyear

Hole 16: Soul themed
Hole 16: Soul - This one you put the ball at the top of the stairs and tap it to go down. Tap too hard and it will probably end up off course. The change to the turf around the hole totally brings it to a stop, though.

Hole 17: Luca themed
Hole 17: Luca

Hole 18: Up themed
Hole 18: Up - This one is quite hard to get the ball in the house and not bounce out. The staff then cranked the house up and over to drop the ball down the falls towards the hole.

Final Scores

  • Kj - 62
  • Dad - 67
Score Card Front 9

Score Card Back 9

See full list of our Mini Golf Adventures here.

Wednesday, July 17, 2024

Our Koffee Trail: Grand Strand Coffee

Grand Strand Coffee
Date of Visit: July 17, 2024

Location: Grand Strand Coffee, Myrtle Beach, SC

As we headed out of town again, we stopped by our local coffeeshop, Grand Strand Coffee.

Blueberry Crumble Latte

Instead of getting my usual Sweet & Spicy Latte, Dad and I both got the seasonal Blueberry Cobbler Latte.

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