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.



Saturday, July 13, 2024

Our Koffee Trail: Bella Latte

Bella Latte road sign

Date of Visit: July 13, 2024

Location: Bella Latte, Spartanburg, SC

Started the day in Tennessee, but got on the road too early to try out any local coffeeshops. Actually, ended up with Starbucks for our first cup of the day, although if either of the nearby locations had opened earlier we would have done Black Rifle Coffee. Spartanburg was a good time for another coffee and also got kolache for breakfast from a Shipley Donuts nearby.

Me with my Sea Salt Swirl Latte

I got the Sea Salt Swirl Latte.

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

Friday, July 12, 2024

Our Koffee Trail: Sugar & Rhyme

Date of Visit: July 12, 2024

Location: Sugar & Rhyme, Elgin, IL

This morning we made a detour through Elgin for our first cup of coffee and breakfast to start our driving day. I thought the nav said it was a 30 minute detour, but I think I misread it was actually 30 minutes from where we were and it was only a 10-15 minute detour. Either way, it was a worthwhile detour.

Chocolate Cashew Latte

I had a Chocolate Cashew Latte.

Chili Chocolate Latte and Monkey Bread

Dad had a Chili Chocolate Latte and we both had monkey bread, which they make from their croissant dough. Also, their syrups are house made.

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


Tuesday, July 9, 2024

Our Koffee Trail: Toccoa Coffee

Date of Visit: July 9, 2024

Location: Toccoa Coffee, Granger, IN

Originally planned to try out another coffeeshop in Niles, MI, but the nav did not end up taking us that way to Illinois. Searching along the route, I noticed Toccoa Coffee, which sounded familiar to me probably from listening to the local radio station every Sunday morning.

My Butterscotch Latte

I had a Butterscotch Latte.

Decaf Twilight bag on table

We also got a bag of their Decaf Twilight coffee beans.

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

Saturday, July 6, 2024

Our Koffee Trail: Savage Bean Coffee

Savage Bean Coffee outside

Date of Visit: July 6, 2024

Location: Savage Bean Coffee, Cassopolis, MI

Still without water and waiting for the cement to dry to be able to turn new pump on, Dad and I went in to Cassopolis for breakfast (coffee and muffins from Savage Bean Coffee and also got blueberry shakes from The Twirl nearby for me and Nora)

Coffee and Muffins

I got a Maple Spice Latte and Dad got a dark roast coffee.

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

Friday, July 5, 2024

Our Koffee Trail: 2nd & Main Coffeehouse

2nd & Main Coffeehouse building

Date of Visit: July 5, 2024

Location: 2nd & Main Coffeehouse, Niles, MI

We were trying not to waste too much time when we went to town to figure out how to fix the boat registration because we were also mid-well pump replacement and the others were waiting on us to also come back with a part to continue that and get water back to the cottage. Thus, we did not plan to go to a coffeeshop, but it was right across the street from the registration place and with no water back at the cottage it seemed a good time to also use a bathroom without having to haul water up from the lake to flush.

Me drinking my Iced Lavender Latte

I got an Iced Lavender Latte.

Miel from 2nd & Main Coffeehouse

Dad got a Miel.

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