Favorite Kimpton?
Ellie: Vero Beach because it was one of the biggest rooms.
Zoe: The Sky Holel in Aspen because I liked the decor.
Zak: That is like asking which child is my foavorite, but if forced to choose, I would go with the Angler’s in Miami Beach. We had an amazing suite and I loved the vibe of the entire hotel.
Molly: I don’t know if it becuase we just checked out of it, or becuase I would really rank it so high, but I loved Vero Beach Hotel and Spa. The whole establishment was classy, yet playful.
Favorite amenity?
Ellie: The Vero Beach Hotel, because they gave us so much stuff and it was all so much fun. The key lime pie was so yummy, the fresh squeezed lemonade was delicious, and the toys were fun to play with at the pool.
Zoe: Vero Beach because all the things they gave us were really delicious and fun to use.
Zak: The recreation of Ellie’s cake at the Monaco Salt Lake City absolutely blew my mind.
Molly: I don’t want to copy Zak, but could never have imagined being gifted a three tier cake that exactly matched Ellie’s drawing. I will never forget that.
Favorite non-Kimpton hotel?
Ellie: The Retro Inn in Cortez. I liked to see the styles of the rooms.
Zoe: Stoney Creek Inn in Kansas City because it was really pretty and there was a tunnel connecting the indoor and outdoor pool.
Zak: This might be cheating a bit, but the tent. Even though I didn’t ever sleep very well in it, other than inside of Fred, it’s the only space that felt like home.
Molly: Bryce Canyon Log Cabins in Tropic, Utah. This was our second year in a row staying there and they are super clean, adorable, and there is a herd of sheep right out the front door.
Favorite hike?
Ellie: The Fiery Furnance in Arches because we got to do obstacles and I met Ranger Mike.
Zoe: Fiery Furnance hike in Arches because there was a lot of scrambling and it was very, very beautiful.
Zak: Bryce Canyon. It was the longest hike that I planned for us and we were able to successfully complete the whole thing. It is also full of beautiful scenery and we even got to have a perfect lunch in the lodge midway through the hike.
Molly: I’m going to copy Zak again and say the Bryce Canyon one. I’ve loved Bryce since I was a little girl and this was the grandest hike I’ve done there. I felt like I got to know the park so well this hike.
Stinkiest person?
Ellie: Of course we all know it is Ol’ Stinky Butt, mom.
Zoe: Ellie and mom tie.
Zak: All I’m going to say is that the nickname Ol’ Stinky Butt is well deserved.
Molly: This is embarrassing. I plead the fifth.
Favorite hiking snack?
Ellie: Meat stick because it’s meat-a-licious.
Zoe: Twizzlers
Zak: Sea salt caramel chocolate Cliff Bars. I bought them on a whim at Costco before we left and they’re delicious.
Molly: I’m not sure if this counts as a snack, but PBJ&C will always be my favorite go to hiking food.
Favorite restaurant?
Ellie: I like Joe’s BBQ because I got a whole thing of ribs. Yep, one whole thing of ribs.
Zoe: I liked the Thai restaurant in Cortez and I liked Lamb’s Grill in Salt Lake City. They both had the most delicious food.
Zak: Brandon’s at the Tideline. We ended up eating five meals there and they were all amazing. I don’t think I’ll ever eat roast chicken that good again. The setting was also perfect, a patio overlooking the ocean. If only the view hadn’t been so awful after dark.
Molly: Maybe it’s because the food is still in my belly, but Vero Beach’s Cobalt. Food was delicious, service was great, and the view was even better than Brandon’s.
Best meal?
Ellie: I liked the sweet and sour chicken at the Thai restaurant.
Zoe: I have two again. The mac and cheese from Square One Brewery and the Thai restaurant.
Zak: Wow, there were so many. I’m going to go with the scallops that I had at Cobalt. Scallops are one of my favorite foods and I don’t get them very often so that was a fun treat.
Molly: No question, brunch with Mary and Roger. Nothing beats homemade food and loving company.
Favorite swimming hole?
Ellie: I liked the pool at Vero Beach Hotel.
Zoe: I have two. The pool at the Tideline because it’s big and pretty and the ocean.
Zak: The beach at the Tideline.
Molly: The beach at Surfcomber because the water was crystal clear and the waves were gigantically fun.
Favorite National Park?
Ellie: I liked Rocky Mountain because that’s where we spent the most time.
Zoe: I liked Bryce Canyon because it’s so beautiful and there’s nothing else like it.
Zak: Rocky Mountain is still my favorite. I love the mountains there, hiking them is by far my favorite place to hike. I really enjoyed Arches this trip as well though. On our previous trips it had always seemed so quick and touristy that we really only planned on spending a day there this trip. The Fiery Furnace hike was awesome though, and the primitive loop trail was one of my favorite hikes we’ve ever done. We ended up spending a full two days hiking there and probably could have filled a third.
Molly: Arches took my heart this year. I feel like we explored, discovered, and learned more there than anywhere else this trip. I’ve never felt so connected with the Earth than there.
Favorite National Monument?
Ellie: Dinosaur NM because we got to see real dinosaur bones and touch them.
Zoe: Naturual Bridges NM because there is nothing else like it and there are only three bridges.
Zak: Timpanogos Cave NM. It was the first time I ever got to tour a cave.
Molly: Dinosaur NM in Colorado. The dinosaur fossils are really cool, but there is so much more this Monument has to offer. Our first hikes and camping of the trip took place here and it was a rude, yet beautiful awakening.
Most positive memorable person?
Ellie: Ranger Mike
Zoe: Ranger Mike because he inspired me.
Zak: David, the valet at Vero Beach Hotel. We had a couple of very nice conversations. Also, Ranger Mike.
Molly: Ranger Mike at Arches and Ranger Luann at Mesa Verde. Both are passionate about thier parks and knew so much about everything.
Most negative memorable person?
Ellie: BLM guy. No need to expand.
Zoe: BLM guy.
Zak: The hostess the first two nights at Brandon’s.
Molly: Our waitress at Tropic Pizzeria. She did nothing other than rudely take our order and then obviously ignore us the rest of or visit.
Place you most want to live?
Ellie: Moab, UT because it’s near Arches.
Zoe: I would like where the Berrys live because the view is amazing and there is nobody else near you.
Zak: I agree with Zoe. After seeing a good part of the country I think the Berrys picked the perfect spot near Montrose, CO. It rural, but near a city. It’s right between the mountains and desert. They really have the best of everything there.
Molly: I agree with Zak and Zoe. The Berrys seemed to have it all.
Place you most want to visit again?
Ellie: Arches
Zoe:Telluride because it was a really cute town, but we only had time to visit a coffee bar.
Zak: The Rocky Mountains because it is my favorite place to hike and there are still a lot of mountains to climb.
Molly: Mesa Verde. The history is just too grand absorb in one visit.
Place you do not want to visit again?
Ellie: I don’t really have a place I wouldn’t go back to.
Zoe: Dinosaur National Monument becuase I feel like we did it all this time.
Zak:I don’t have a place I wouldn’t go back to, but I would spend fewer nights in Estes Park.
Molly: Estes Park. I know it will break Zak’s heart, but I never want to step foot in that godawful town again. We’ll have to find other mountains to climb.
Favorite road trip song?
Ellie: Girl on Fire by Alicia Keys
Zoe: Cake By the Ocean by DNCE
Zak: I was pretty disappointed by 2016’s crop of new songs so Echosmith’s Bright retains the title.
Molly: There is no doubt that JT’s Can’t Stop the Feeling is the song of the summer and we heard it dozens of times. All four of us sang along everytime. Definitely the song of the trip.
Scariest moment?
Ellie: When my mom was pulling my tooth out in the ocean, that was scary. I thought she was going to drop it and it would wash way far away.
Zoe: When I was climbing up the rocks to get to the top of Mount Beirstadt because I didn’t feel good and it was really hard.
Zak: There were a lot of unnerving moments while we were hiking. Times when we briefly lost the trail, heard noises the woods, saw mountain lion kill sites, and lots of other things out of the norm for us. However, I think the scariest moment for me came when we were playing in the ocean at Vero Beach. We had been jumping over giant waves when a particularly big one looked like it was going to break right on top of us. I saw Molly and Zoe, but couldn’t locate Ellie. I freaked out and screamed, “Where is Ellie?!?!?” It turned out she was happily playing right next to me.
Molly: Zoe hyperventalating near the top of Mount Beirstadt shook me up. I was also really spooked by many of the desert and wood noises while we camped.
When did you want to go home the most?
Ellie: There wasn’t really ever a time I wanted to go home. But a few times I really wanted to be done with a hike.
Zoe: There was a lot of times when I was frustrated, but nothing really caused me to want to go home.
Zak: I don’t want to go home. Just this morning Ellie and I were talking about dropping off Molly and Zoe and continuing on.
Molly: So many times. We had an awful night in Estes on the 3rd of July. I hated our hotel in Grand Lake and would of done anything to be at home. Being in St. Louis was hard, knowing we were close to home. All the nights we camped I thought about just going home. I found Florida a bit boring and would of liked to be home instead.
Moment you plan to reflect back on during the school year?
Ellie: Waking up and seeing that the Tooth Fairy left me my doll, Ranger Ellie.
Zoe: On top of Mount Beirstadt because it made me feel accomplished and happy and it will be a good happy place to have in my mind.
Zak: I’m not sure, there were several places I tried to take a mental picture, but I’ll have to see what one sticks.
Molly: Private Arch at Arches. We found it down a long spur on the Primative Trail and we were the only ones there. We spnt a lot of time soaking it all in and I’ll go back to that moment throughout the upcoming year.
Favorite suvenior?
Ellie: Ranger Ellie. She means a lot to me.
Zoe: All the memories.
Zak: The I-95 Miami magnet from Nik at the Angler’s. It was a thoughtful gift and will remind me of the trip.
Molly: I got vintage-ish postcards from each of the National Parks and Monuments, I think there are 20 in all. I have a few ideas as to how I want to display them.
What are you most looking forward to doing at home?
Ellie: Playing with my American Girl dolls.
Zoe: I’m most looking forward to being back in a routine.
Zak: Looking at the pictures from the trip on a big screen.
Molly: Finally seeing my friends and family!!
What are you least looking forward to doing at home?
Ellie: Not getting to have as many snacks.
Zoe: The first week back at home, because it will be one task after another.
Zak: All the work to do around the house.
Molly: Making my own bed.
What was your biggest accomplishment?
Ellie: Hiking up my first 14er, Mt. Bierstadt.
Zoe:Hiking up Mt. Bierstadt gave me confidence.
Zak: Mt. Bierstadt was an awesome accomplishment since it was the first 14er we finished. I think Mt. Elbert was an even bigger accomplishment though. Even though we didn’t quite make it to the top we climbed 3,800 vertical feet that day which is huge!
Molly: Finishing the Mt. Bierstadt hike. No only was it the conclusion of our first 14er, but it was the conclusion of the hiking portion of the trip. At that point I felt like we had done everything we had set out to do.
What do you want to do next summer?
Ellie: Next summer I want to be gone a little less time because I really miss home, but I liked doing all the national parks and Florida.
Zoe: I would like to do New England next summer because it’s a part of the country I’ve never seen before.
Zak: Hike. I’m not sure where though. We’ve talked about a lot of options: the Northwest, New England, the Southwest. I think we need some to to reflect and decide.
Molly: Part of me wants to copy this exact iterary again (except for the Florida part). another part of me wants to explore the Pacific NW or New England. We could also spend a solid 4-6 weeks hiking a chunk of the Pacific Crest Trail, the Appelachian Trail, or the Continential Divide Trail. We have big decisions to make.
Who lost the most body parts?
Ellie: Me, I lost two teeth!
Zoe: Ellie, she lost the most teeth.
Zak:Ellie, who lost two teeth. I was a close second though with a partial tooth loss.
Molly: I did lose a toenail, but Ellie definitly wins this one.
Your worst injury?
Ellie: Mario Kart blister.
Zoe: My toe
Zak:I guess the most permanant injury was my tooth. Kind of embarresing that it was a french fry that got me rather than a bear or something like that.
Molly: I walked into a fire hydrant in S. Miami Beach when Zoe told me to look at the snake a guy was holding. I walked into that fire hydrant with full force causing a bruise the size of a softball above my knee. It continues to be very tender and sore.
Favorite state?
Ellie: Illinois.
Zoe: Colorado because the scenery is beautiful and there’s nothing else like it.
Zak: Colorado
Molly: Utah
Most regretful moment?
Ellie: Not finishing Mt. Elbert.
Zoe: I don’t think I have one.
Zak: Not being able to attempt Mt. Ida. I was really looking forward to that hike. I guess we have a reason to go back though.
Molly: I overreacted to a swarm of mosquito when we were camping at Mt. Elbert that set a bad tone for the night and the next day. I should have just put on bug spray.
Favorite ice cream?
Ellie: The shake from Cookout.
Zoe: Moose and More
Zak: Magnum bars from Uber. What a rediculus and fun promotion that we stumbled into.
Molly: I’ve never deserved ice cream more than the giant malts from Lewis Sweet Shop after climbing Mt. Bierstadt.
Favorite non-ice cream dessert?
Ellie: The three tiered cake they copied right off my picture.
Zoe: All the chocolate cake from Kimptons especially the first one we got from the Tideline. It was fun eating the chocolate cake right by the ocean.
Zak: The key lime pie from Hurricane Alley.
Molly: Hurricane Alley’s key lime pie.