Our Kaotic Life

Wednesday, July 8, 2026

Ranger Dan: 6.2 New River Gorge National Park & Preserve

Canyon Rim Visitor Center

Date of Visit: June 24-25, 2026

The New River Gorge was one of the places we visited on the trip we got Ranger Dan. Back then, it was designated a National River, so this was our first visit to it as a National Park. That visit we only went to the Canyon Rim Visitor Center. This trip we also visited the Sandstone Visitor Center and Sandstone Falls.

Batteau

As we got to the visitor center near closing time, Dad went in and got the stamps while I took some Ranger Dan photos and did a sketch of the batteau.

Batteau Sketch

Sandstone Falls

At the Visitor Center, Dad learned that the Sandstone Falls could be seen from a short accessible trail, so we drove over and saw that before going to the hotel.

The next morning we went to the Canyon Rim Visitor Center for more 250 stamps and for Mik to see the New River Gorge Bridge.

New River Gorge Bridge

Previous Visits to this Unit:

6.1 New River Gorge National River

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

Friday, June 26, 2026

Our Koffee Trail: Hilltop Coffee Co.

Date of Visit: June 25, 2026

Location: Hilltop Coffee Co., Crab Orchard, WV

Rating: 👍 (Like)

As we headed to the Canyon Rim Visitor Center in the New River Gorge National Park, we stopped at Hilltop Coffee Co. The name is very appropriate as it is located up on a hill.

Dad had a New River Latte (macadamia nut, honey, salted caramel).

Mik had an Airliner (cookie butter, white chocolate).

I had a Slice of Summer Latte (blackberry, cheesecake).

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

Thursday, June 25, 2026

Ranger Dan: 45.2 Guilford Courthouse National Military Park

Date of Visit: June 24, 2026

As we had previously visited Guilford Courthouse NMP in 2017, this visit was just a quick one to get the America 250 stamp.

A Heroine of ’76 - Mrs. Keren Happuch Turner

1776 - America 250 stamp for Guilford Courthouse NMP

Previous Visits to this Unit:

45.1 Guilford Courthouse National Military Park

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

Our Koffee Trail: Our Coffee Shop

Date of Visit: June 24, 2026

Location: Our Coffee Shop, Winston Salem, NC

Rating: 👍 (Like)

We started our day in Winston Salem and got our morning coffee at Our Coffee Shop.

I got a Warm Spices Latte.

Dad got a Chai Latte, which the barista called Heaven in a Cup.

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

Wednesday, June 24, 2026

Our Koffee Trail: Lula’s Coffee Co.

Date of Visit: June 23, 2026

Location: Lula's Coffee Co., Florence, SC

Rating: 👍 (Like)

Mik and Dad saw Lula’s Coffee Co. when they had lunch next door when they went to Florence for the initial appointment with his new pump refill doctor and decided they would try it out when they went for his refill. Thus instead of getting coffee as we left Myrtle Beach, we allowed for time to get coffee here before his pump refill. We all enjoyed it and Mik plans for it to be a regular stop when he goes for his refills.

Mik and Dad got drinks off the June Specials menu. Mik got the Golden Delight (cold brew, toasted marshmallow, honey cold foam). Dad got the Ronaldo (mocha, banana, espresso, milk). I had a Rose Latte.

In a park nearby, we found The Lorax.

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

Saturday, June 20, 2026

Our Koffee Trail: The Cloak and Wand

Date of Visit: June 20, 2026

Location: The Cloak and Wand, Myrtle Beach, SC

Rating: 👍 (Like for non-coffee drinks) 👎 (Never Again for coffee)

We didn't plan on do a coffee outing this weekend as we are about to hit the road again, but Nora, Mik, and I really wanted to check out The Cloak and Wand that opened earlier this month. The Cloak and Wand is a wizard theme store, but it also has a potions bar with a wide variety of drinks including coffee.

The coffee drinks cannot be done decaf, so only Dad got a coffee based drink. He got the Black Cat's Curse (raspberry, dark chocolate, griffin whipped cream, raspberry drizzle). He liked the flavor, but it is just coffee and not espresso and with the flavor you could not even tell there was coffee in the drink. Thus, we rated this place a rare Never Again rating for coffee, but we certainly plan to visit again for the other drinks, especially since they mentioned having ciders in the fall.

I got a Frozen Wizards Beer (butterscotch, vanilla, topped w/ caramel cold foam).

From the Summer Mocktails part of the menu, Mik got Rhyme & Coconut (key lime pie, coconut, vanilla, unicorn cream, griffin whipped cream, maraschino cherry). Nora got a Frosted Flame (frozen hot chocolate w/ griffin whipped cream and chocolate drizzle).

In keeping with the potion bar theme, each drink has magical properties, which are listed on the label. Dad's said it would give him good luck for 13 seconds. Mik's was a Bard's Spell that makes you speak in limericks. Nora's said it would make her magically toasty and slightly unstoppable. Mine gave icy courage.

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

Check out some of our other Myrtle Beach area posts:

Tuesday, June 16, 2026

Mini Golf Adventures: City Mini Golf

Date of Visit: June 16, 2026

Location: City Mini Golf, Chicago, IL

Dad here …. Kathrin and I went on a mini golf adventure without Kjersti today. Thought we played a new course and would someday need to bring Kjersti. Alas, I found Kjersti played this course in 2022 with her cousins.

City Mini Golf is located in Maggie Daley Park a short walk from our Chicago condo. The view alone from the park is worth playing this course.

The course contains some rather challenging holes featuring iconic Chicago landmarks. I managed to shoot four hole-in-ones (holes 1-13-15-17) and Kathrin had one (hole 1), too!