We’ve had a really low key day doing laundry, cleaning out the car, and checking out the small town of Grand Lake. We’ve decided to opt out of writing individual posts today and are doing this interview instead as we sip margaritas and munch nachos at El Pacifico in Grand Lake, Colorado.
What is your favorite hotel?
Ellie: The Inca Inn in Moab, because it had a pool.
Zoe: The Sky Hotel in Aspen, because it was so perfect.
Zak: The Monaco Salt Lake City. It was everything I dream of in a Kimpton experience.
Molly: MircoTel-Kearney, Nebraska. Just joking. The Monaco in SLC. I’ve never been so spoiled in my life.
What has been your favorite restaurant?
Ellie: The BBQ place, JW Snacks, in Craig. That is where my tooth got really loose and now I don’t have it.
Zoe: Moose and More in Cortez because the ice cream was the best ice cream in the whole entire world.
Zak: Thai Cortez because the food was delicious and it was a good change of pace from what we’ve been eating.
Molly: Pepperhead, also in Cortez. The margaritas were delish and complimented the fresh Mexican food perfectly.
Favorite hike?
Ellie: My favorite hike Devil’s Garden at Arches because I got to learn about how the arches formed.
Zoe: That’s so hard to think of. Probably Mount Elbert because it really pushed me mentally and physically. Even though we didn’t make it to the top we really tried hard.
Zak: Bryce Canyon. It was one of the most ambitios hikes that I planned for us and we completed it.
Molly: Bryce Canyon Tropic Trail and figure eight. We got to do what we love all day long. 14 miles seems easy when you are having fun with the people you love.
Favorite car activity?
Ellie: Game Boy
Zoe: Listening to my audio books
Zak: Game Boy, esepecially when one of the girls legit beats me at Mario Kart.
Molly: reading
What is your go to car snack?
Ellie: Goldfish
Zoe: Twizzlers
Zak: Goldfish
Molly: Jolly Ranchers
Favorite town or city?
Ellie: Aspen
Zoe: Aspen because the downtown is so cute.
Zak: Aspen, especially the John Denver Garden
Molly: Salt Lake City. I’m a city girl at heart and this has been the largest city vibe.
Best drink?
Ellie: Lavender lemonade (Purple Rain)
Zoe: The muddled cucumber berry ginger beer Kimpton drink
Zak:The drink we got when checking in at the Sky Hotel.
Molly:The pitcher of Coors Light we got in Tropic after hiking 14 miles. It is REALLY hard to buy a whole pitcher of beer in Utah, but we did it.
Favorite state?
Ellie: Colorado
Zoe: Colorado
Zak: Colorado for the mountains, but I also really enjoyed the southwest part of the state as well.
Molly: Utah. I’d move in a hot second. I fell in love with the state this trip.
Best food?
Ellie: pizza from last night. Pizza is so delicious.
Zoe: Moose and More’s ice cream
Zak: Chimichanga from Pepperhead
Molly: Brunch at the Berrys. Friends around a table of homemade food is perfection.
Best camp experiences?
Ellie: The first one because we got to do a hike at Echo Park.
Zoe: The first one because I got to stay up late and watch the stars with my dad.
Zak: Horseshoe Canyon. I got a really night’s sleep and we were in the middle of the desert.
Molly: None. Well maybe Hovenweep. It was awesome being along in the desert night.
Most annoying thing Ellie has done?
Ellie: I have not done anything annoying.
Zoe: The list is endless.
Zak: Stopping every ten steps while hiking Mount Elbert.
Molly: Mount Elbert was very frustrating.
Place you most want to return to?
Ellie: Aspen
Zoe: Telluride
Zak: I have unfinished business on Mount Elbert.
Molly: I’d like to do more of the backcountry hiking at Mesa Verde.
Moment you most wanted to go home?
Ellie: That’s a hard question, I’ve wanted to stay on the road the whole time.
Zoe: I’ve had a lot of meltdowns and wanting to go home. Most of them are just temporary.
Zak: When mosquitos derailed camping at Mt. Elbert. It set a bad tone for the next day.
Molly: Last night. I was frustrated from the hike and do not like the hotel here in Grand Lake.
Favorite Ranger?
Ellie:My stuffed ranger doll, Ranger Ellie
Zoe: The guy at Timpanogos Cave because he helped me through my junior ranger packet.
Zak: Ranger Mike at Arches, he’s the first ranger that’s made me teary eyed.
Molly: Ranger Mike there aren’t enough words to describe how awesome he is.
Funniest moment?
Ellie: In the bar at the Sky Hotel.
Zoe: BLM guy
Zak: When I came up with the joke: What desert animal has a gambling problem? The rab-bet! I didn’t think it was funny, but everyone else did.
Molly: How we blame everyone’s poops and toots on the one time we’ve had Taco Bell in the last dozen years.
Best ranger led hike?
Ellie: Fiery Furnace
Zoe: Fiery Furnace
Zak: Mug House, it was so cool to see a place that so few people get the opportunity to see.
Molly: I’m also going to say Mug House because it was so intimate.
Best public restroom?
Ellie: pass
Zoe: The lobby restrooms at Monaco. NOT the 7-11 in Carbondale, CO
Zak:The one at Java Lava this morning. We’ll leave it at that.
Molly: The world’s largest truckstop is always nice.
Favorite animal?
Ellie: Rab-bet
Zoe:Annie, the Berrys dog.
Zak: Monkey. Oh, that we’ve seen? Collared lizard and claw toed frog.
Molly: I wish we had seen larger mammals, but I’ll go with desert rabbit
Most memorable person we’ve come across?
Ellie: BLM guy
Zoe: BLM guy and Bruce
Zak: BLM guy will live in infamy in our family. His ridiculous suggestions and the quote “boy, this ain’t Wisconsin” will never be forgotten.
Molly: BLM guy and Ranger Mike, but for different reasons.
Favorite souvenir?
Ellie: Ranger Ellie that I got from the tooth fairy.
Zoe: The necklace that the Native Americans made and used to keep away bad dreams. It is made out of juniper berries and glass beads.
Zak: The posters I’ve picked up for my classroom and pins (or “pieces of flair”) that I attach to my lanyard.
Molly: The vintage inspired postcards from each park and monument we’ve visited.