Our Koffee Trail: Coffee for the Soul

Date of Visit: January 24, 2025

Location: Coffee for the Soul, Celebration, FL

We had planned to try out at least one coffeeshop on the way down to Disney World for our annual family trip. Due to the snow and ice throughout South Carolina and most of Georgia, nothing was open. Because of the weather, though, we also ended up driving straight to Orlando and staying in a hotel near Disney World for the night before our DVC stay started instead of Georgia as originally planned. On our way to Disney in the morning, we decided to take a slight detour into Celebration to try out Coffee for the Soul.

Dad had the Farmer's Latte and I had the Pistachio Latte, which is my favorite seasonal at Starbucks, but this one was much better (below saying on their wall is definitely fitting).

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

Snow in Myrtle Beach

Not the first time we've seen snow in Myrtle Beach, but by far the most and longest lasting. Mik even wanted to go outside and get some pictures in the snow. Unfortunately, it was too dry to be able to make a snowman.

Our Koffee Trail: JoCo Coffee Co.

Date of Visit: December 26, 2024

Location: JoCo Coffee Co., Selma, NC

I considered finding another coffeeshop to stop at for our 2nd coffee on the way to D.C., but we really enjoyed this place in October and the convenience that it is right off the I-95.

Mom and Dad had the Pumpkin Spice Latte. I had the Gingerbread Latte.

Previous Visits to this Coffeeshop:

• October 4, 2024

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

Ranger Dan: 13.10 National Mall and Memorial Parks - JFK Hockey Fields

Date of Visit: October 6. 2024

On our walk back to the hotel on the National Mall from the Lincoln Memorial, I noticed the JFK Hockey Fields sign, which neither Dad or I had never seen before.

Previous Visits to this Unit:

• 13.1 George Mason Memorial
• 13.2 East Potomac Park
• 13.3 Titanic Memorial
• 13.4 East Potomac Park Golf Center
• 13.5 D.C. War Memorial
• 13.6 Japanese American Memorial
• 13.7 D.C. War Memorial
• 13.8 Hancock Park
• 13.9 East Potomac Miniature Golf

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

Ranger Dan: 25.3 Lincoln Memorial

Date of Visit: October 6. 2024

We started our day at the National Museum of the American Indian. While it was a long walk to the other end of the National Mall, the Lincoln Memorial was a good ending point for the day as Lincoln is Nora's favorite president. She even enjoyed reading the Gettysburg Address and 2nd Inaugural.

Lincoln Memorial

Gettysburg Address

Previous Visits to this Unit:

• 25.1 Lincoln Memorial
• 25.2 Lincoln Memorial

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

Ranger Dan: 40.10 The White House and President's Park

Date of Visit: October 6. 2024

This day we were mostly focused on getting Nora stamps in her National Passport book, which I got her the day before when we went to the top of the Washington Monument (was too focused on showing her the different landmarks and forgot to take any Ranger Dan photos then). Since we wanted to make sure we got to the Lincoln Memorial before the stores closes, we just crossed the street and got on the block as the President's Park to take a photo with the White House rather than go up closer.

Previous Visits to this Unit:

• 40.1 Boy Scout Memorial
• 40.2 2018 National Christmas Tree Lighting
• 40.3 American Treasures, Christmas at the White House 2018
• 40.4 Visitor Center
• 40.5 2018 Christmas Trees
• 40.6 The White House and President's Park - Snow
• 40.7 Second Division Memorial
• 40.8 Spring Garden Tour 2019
• 40.9 Fall Garden Tour 2019

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

Our Koffee Trail: Grand Strand Coffee - Fall Family Sunday Coffee Walk

Date of Visit: October 13, 2024

Location: Grand Strand Coffee, Myrtle Beach, SC

Mom, Dad, Mik, and I enjoyed a Sunday walk to Grand Strand Coffee. I got my favorite fall drink there, which is the Maple Pumpkin Spice Latte (iced as it did not feel like fall today). Mom got iced coffee, Mik got the Pan Van Latte, and Dad got the Lavender Haze Latte.

Previous Visits to This Coffeeshop:

• July 17, 2024

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

Our Koffee Trail: JoCo Coffee Co.

Date of Visit: October 4, 2024

Location: JoCo Coffee Co., Selma, NC

We did end up with Starbucks for our first coffee of the day as it is the only option when we start road trips at around 5:30am from home. When we were ready for a second cup, Dad asked if I wanted Caribou at the Kenly Truck Stop that we have often stopped at between Myrtle Beach and D.C. Instead I decided to see if I could find a local coffeeshop on our route and I managed to find JoCo Coffee in just enough time for Dad to take the exit for it.

JoCo Coffee is located inside the Old North State Food Hall and is conveniently just off the I-95. Only the coffeeshop was open when we stopped in around 9am, but there are several food places inside that make this look like it would be a good place to stop for lunch or dinner another time we are passing through.

I got a Caramel Apple Latte, Mom got an Iced Coffee w/ Sugar Free Caramel, and Dad got just a coffee.

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

Mini Golf Adventures: East Potomac Miniature Golf

Date of Visit: September 28, 2024

Location: East Potomac Miniature Golf, Washington, DC

Dad and I enjoyed the East Potomac Miniature Golf course back in 2018 before we started tracking our mini golf adventures. I have been wanting to visit again since we started doing our Mini Golf Adventures and now was the perfect time with it being recently reopening after being closed for a restoration project.

We tried to play the course a few days ago, but it had rained too hard early that morning that parts of the course (mainly the paths) had too much standing water that the course was closed. It rained most of the next day and overnight, but by late morning it had become sunny and we decided to head over to see if the course was dried out enough to play. Luckily, it was as this was our last chance to play this trip.

As East Potomac Park is part of the National Mall and Memorial Parks, I brought along Ranger Dan.

East Potomac's Miniature Golf Course National Register of Historic Places Sign

Hole 1

Hole 2

Hole 3

Hole 4

Hole 5

Hole 6

Hole 7

Hole 8

Hole 9

Hole 9

Hole 9

Hole 10

Hole 11

Hole 12

Hole 12

Hole 12

Hole 13

Hole 14

Hole 15

Hole 15

Hole 16

Hole 17

Hole 18

Final Scores

• Kj - 68
• Dad - 60

See full list of our Mini Golf Adventures here.

Our Koffee Trail: Pluma by Bluebird Bakery at The Wharf

Date of Visit: September 27, 2024

Location: Pluma by Bluebird Bakery, Washington, DC

Dad and I decided to try out the new coffee shop at The Wharf on our way back to his boat after seeing Mister Lincoln at Ford's Theatre. Dad knew it was next to Politics & Prose, but we discovered when inside you can actually go between the two.

I enjoyed an Orange Spice Latte while Dad had a Honey Oat Latte.

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

Ranger Dan: 17.2 Ford's Theatre National Historic Site - Mister Lincoln

Date of Visit: September 27, 2024

Dad I visited Ford's Theatre National Historic Site to see Mister Lincoln. It was an interesting one-man show featuring Abraham Lincoln (played by Scott Bakula) mostly chronologically telling about key moments in his life. I did find it a little long, though.

Ranger Dan w/ Stage before Show

President Lincoln's Box

Program for Mister Lincoln

Previous Visits to this Unit:

• 17.1 Ford's Theatre National Historic Site

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

Mickey Guyton: From Opener to Macy's Concert to Headlining Tour

First time I saw Mickey Guyton in concert was as an opener for Brad Paisley at Jiffy Lube Live in 2015. I did not like the venue and Mom and I ended up leaving after Mickey Guyton's set as she was who I had really gone to see anyways.

The second time I saw her was when Dad and I went to see her perform as part of an event at Macy's in the Pentagon City Mall in 2016. I also got to meet her and take a photo with her.

Last night, exactly 9 years from when I saw her as opener, Dad and I saw Mickey Guyton at Union Stage in D.C., which was the first concert of her first headlining tour. Great concert, but yet again had to see her at a venue that I did not like. Still the best overall experience was when Dad and I saw her perform at Macy's, but it was great to hear her perform more of her songs as a headliner.