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Road Trip 2024
  • Mallory Markloff
May – Jun 2024

Road Trip 2024

A 33-day adventure by Mallory Read more
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  • Mallory MarkloffTravelerRoad Trip 2024

    Olympic National Park

    June 10, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 61 °F

    After a late start due to both me and Sammy being sick with colds and feeling not-so-great, we made it to Olympic National Park. We took the staircase trail, which was beautiful, even if I was a bit wheezy and slow while walking it. The kids loved going off into every little side trail, and seemed to enjoy it much more than our last couple hikes, likely because it was much cooler and shaded. Unfortunately we didn’t make it to the visitors center, as it was another 2 hours away, and would have closed before we got there. We’ll just have to grab some souvenirs online I guess.Read more

  • Mallory MarkloffTravelerRoad Trip 2024

    Mount Ranier National Park

    June 11, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 48 °F

    Got an “early” start this morning for once (mainly because we had a reservation time between 9-11am to enter Rainer this morning). We got to see the view of Mount Rainer from a lower point (obscured by some clouds), saw a waterfall, and did some snow hiking on the “accessible” hiking trail (which apparently isn’t really accessible until the snow melts sometime in July) to another waterfall. We couldn’t decide if we needed jackets or not (besides me, I wore 3 jackets, over top 3 shirts, as I don’t keep or make body heat well), because it would be quite warm in the sun, and get cool when clouds rolled in. The hike was pretty, though a bit of a slushy/slippery hike in the snow, and as it was one of the easier hikes there were a ton of people trying to hike as well, particularly on the way up (much to my chagrin). It was less busy on the way down for some reason though (maybe because we are slow, mostly me). I realize I don’t do well in high altitudes, and get headaches every time we go up mountains, how sad as I LOVE the mountains. If we go on another mountain trip in the future, I’ll get my doctor to prescribe some altitude sickness medications (honestly should have thought of this …).Read more

  • Mallory MarkloffTravelerRoad Trip 2024

    Glacier National Park

    June 13, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 55 °F

    Glacier is by far my most favorite national park we’ve seen - it’s just beautiful! We got a little late of a start this morning, and then spent some time doing some short trails on the east side of the park near our KOA. I think the kids are sick of mountains already, as they were not as impressed as I was (Grace “it’s just more mountains and lakes mom”). We then spent 2 hours driving to check out the west side (which we couldn’t get into without a reservation until after 3pm, and couldn’t get to from the east side because the alpine pass is still closed due to snow). We spent some time skipping rocks at McDonald lake, which the kids really loved (I think they are lake/beach people). And then we spent way too much money getting a dinner at a lodge restaurant (which was just fine as far as food) before heading back for the 2 hour drive to our KOA (getting some ice cream on the way back). Ultimately, I feel like the east side had way better views anyway, and we should have just stuck to our side. We are planning on waking up around 2am to look at the stars for a bit, then hoping to hit Many Glacier for some trails tomorrow morning after we sleep in and before heading to Canada.Read more

  • Mallory MarkloffTravelerRoad Trip 2024
    2

    Many Glacier

    June 14, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 55 °F

    It was a bit too cloudy to see the stars last night, sadly. We did hit Many Glacier this morning and did part of a trail. The kids were very much over hiking, however, so we didn’t finish. Another beautiful day in Glacier!Read more

  • Mallory MarkloffTravelerRoad Trip 2024
    1

    Caleb’s Birthday Dinner

    June 14, 2024 in Canada ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F

    Caleb took all morning/afternoon to decide what he wanted for dinner for his birthday, and after all that he chose DQ. He picked out a “treatza pizza” for dessert, which we put candles on later at our Airbnb. So glad this Airbnb has 2.5 bathrooms after the KOA (which only had 2.5 bathrooms for over 20 cabins!), can’t wait to get a long soaking bath later tonight! The bed is a huge step up as well (my hips still hurt after 2 nights on a very thin mattress at the KOA).Read more

  • Mallory MarkloffTravelerRoad Trip 2024
    1

    Banff National Park

    June 15, 2024 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 39 °F

    We left our Airbnb around 6am and stopped to get donuts, coffee for Caleb, and hot chocolate for the rest of us at Timmy’s (the Dunkin of Canada, but better than Dunkin). After around 1-1.5 hours of driving, we made it to Banff National Park. It has the biggest mountains and the bluest/turquoisest lakes you could imagine! It was beautiful, but peopley. We had intended to go on a hike in a less peopley region (Moose Meadows), however the road was closed due to bear activity. So we made our way up to Lake Louisa and were lucky to get a parking spot (spaces were very limited). Note to self, if ever going to Banff again, schedule it for after July (because most of the trails aren’t open until then), and also plan ahead (adhd strikes again!) because many of the places require a shuttle to get to which has to be booked well in advance. We ended up doing a hike up to mirror lake, and somehow Jon convinced me to keep going up further to the tea house (though, likely because going up more meant I could get to a bathroom sooner). Sadly, the line for the tea house was too long, so we opted to pee and head back down the mountain. The kids loved the hike up (it was pretty, and it snowed!), however, by halfway back down the mountain Sam was complaining that his body hurt (but this somehow didn’t stop him from being very loud, randomly dancing down the trail, and tripping over himself many times). We were all ready to be done by the time we got back to the lake, and rain had started, but I did have to make a quick stop to buy a magnet for my growing collection at the visitor center. Might add a second section of pictures, as 20 pictures does not seem enough for the vastness that is Banff (Glacier on steroids). Highly recommend, but plan ahead and stay an hour away in Cochrane to save $$$$$.Read more

  • Mallory MarkloffTravelerRoad Trip 2024

    “Down Day”

    June 16, 2024 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 52 °F

    Today we slept in, had a slow morning, ate some leftovers, and did some laundry. We also celebrated Father’s Day by taking Jon to downhill karting in Calgary (at one of the sites of the 1988 Olympics). He seemed to enjoy this. We rode up on some ski lifts (much easier to get in them without a snowboard attached!). Surprisingly Caleb (usually my hesitant kid) took to it quickly and enjoyed speeding down the hill (beating us all), as did Sam, but Grace (my usual speed-demon and thrill-seeker) went very slowly her first trip down and was nervous about having to steer herself, and I had to convince her to try and go a second time. By the third, and final, trip down the hill, they were all speeding down. The kids and I were able to speed up faster than Jon, but he got up to a higher top speed for sure, just like in Mariokart, guess that makes Jon Donkey Kong 😂😂😂. It seems Caleb and Sam are both fine going fast if they feel they have some level of control, and Grace prefers to go fast when somebody else is in charge or she’s on a track, like with rollercoasters. I’m definitely not looking forward to trying to teach her how to drive someday. Afterwards, we went back to our Airbnb and Caleb got to finish watching his birthday movie on the iPad (as he only got to watch the first half or so on his actual birthday because it was so late by the time we got in to the Airbnb). Later, we went out to dinner at Smitty’s, which was not very busy. The food was decent (me and the kids breakfast food was good, Jon was underwhelmed by his too-thin roast beef) though they apparently have no clue what sweet tea is (Jon ordered sweet tea and was served hot tea).Read more

  • Mallory MarkloffTravelerRoad Trip 2024
    2

    A rainy horseback ride in Saskatchewan

    June 17, 2024 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 46 °F

    After driving for around 4.5 hours (and down a muddy/stone road for some time, see very muddy car pic), we arrived at the Historic Reeser Ranch a little earlier than planned (at not quite 3pm). They had us start our horseback ride sooner than scheduled due to expected rain later. We all learned to tack up our horses and by the time we were in the saddles it was raining (though luckily we wore our rain jackets, as we knew it might rain). It rained for pretty much the entire ride, but only a light rain. It was also a chilly day (only around 45 I think), and they told us it is usually much warmer this time of year. It was a pretty ride and the kids did well, even though we were all a bit chilly, particularly our fingers. Sammy, in particular, had a big smile nearly the whole time. Caleb, however, wasn’t a big fan (mostly because sure he was cold), and complained a bit about having to get the saddle off the horse after our ride was done. The other 2 helped without issue, but complained about being cold as soon as they were out of earshot of strangers.

    We then had about 30 minutes to warm up before heading over to a great dinner (steak, baked potatoes, baked beans, broccoli, garlic toast, and salad) with a dessert (choice of ice cream sandwich or cheesecake with strawberries). We’re now back in our cabins (the kids have their own cabin a few feet away from ours). Hoping everybody sleeps well tonight, and that it isn’t rainy for our next ride tomorrow!    Read more

  • Mallory MarkloffTravelerRoad Trip 2024

    Historic Reeser Ranch Day 2

    June 18, 2024 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 43 °F

    Was a beautiful, if not a little chilly, morning. We gave the ranch dogs (Charlie and Cowboy) some pets and started the day with a buffet breakfast at the ranch, which was excellent. We took another 2-hour horseback ride (which was a lot better since it didn’t rain, and the horses seemed happier too). Sam complained his legs hurt afterward, and had a bit of a cowboy walk getting off his horse at the end. Caleb still isn’t a huge fan, but did much better today, and Grace loved it again. We had pizza for lunch back at the ranch, and the kids befriended the owners 9yo daughter and played over her lunch break (school doesn’t end around here until til the end of June, and she does virtual school). The kids opted to stay at the cabins relaxing while Jon and I went on a drive to explore Elk Water Lake and go for a walk (where I took a close-up picture of a bird that was not overly bothered by humans). Then back to the ranch for dinner and dessert (and the kids even all got along to play a card game).Read more

  • Mallory MarkloffTravelerRoad Trip 2024

    Leaving the Ranch

    June 19, 2024 in Canada ⋅ ☀️ 46 °F

    Another beautiful morning on the ranch! And Grace found a cat! We had a great pancake breakfast before heading out for another 9+ hours on the road today. All the kids enjoyed the ranch, and when asked what his favorite part of the ranch was, Caleb said the horseback riding (and I figured he was gonna say when he could watch his tablet in peace for a few hours😂, as he didn’t seem to enjoy the horseback riding). Go figure! We were only blocked by cows in the road for a minute or 2 on our way out!Read more

  • Mallory MarkloffTravelerRoad Trip 2024

    Down Day

    June 20, 2024 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 73 °F

    Today we had a lovely down day at our Airbnb in Portage la Prairie in Manitoba. The beds are super comfy here, and I slept in a bit while Jon went into town to get donuts for breakfast from Timmy’s, and to get the car washed and the oil changed and the kids watched some tv. Gracie and I got our nails done by the Airbnb owner (who had a small nail studio in a granny sweet under our Airbnb). Then the kids went swimming, trying to construct the best raft out of noodles and floats. When they got too cold, they got into hot tub for a while. Jon and I did join them in the hot tub, which we might enjoy again after the kids go to bed, and after we finish the laundry.Read more

  • Mallory MarkloffTravelerRoad Trip 2024

    Travel day to Minnesota

    June 21, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F

    Our day started out fairly well. The kids were getting along and playing games as we packed the car and trailer back up. We grabbed some donuts and drinks at Tim Hortons again, as we won’t be able to get them again (not planning any Canada trips anytime soon). Another 8.5 hours or so in the car (with at least 45 minutes waiting in line to cross the border back into the US). Drove through North Dakota on our way down to Minnesota (there wasn’t much to see there) and Grace, Jon, and I listened to Harry Potter for at least 6 hours of the drive. We stopped at a Perkins for dinner (I wasn’t feeling it, and got Taco Bell after everybody else ate, letting Caleb have 1 of my tacos because 3 is too many). Sam was really wound up and driving everybody nuts in the late afternoon/evening (😫 forgot to give him his afternoon booster), but we finally made it to our Airbnb a little after 9pm. It’s definitely an interesting one and has “50’s kitschy goth vibes.” Waiting for everybody to calm down, maybe I’ll read a book.Read more

  • Mallory MarkloffTravelerRoad Trip 2024

    The Mall of America

    June 22, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 70 °F

    Kids chose this one. - the Mall of America in Minneapolis. It was a long day. We got to the mall an hour or so before they opened to snag a good parking spot and to walk around and plan the day out a little before the crowds arrived. I had promised Gracie that we’d ride the animals around the mall, but the ones they had there were super disappointing (you only could ride in a small circle where they were located, and not anywhere around the actual mall - boo), so now I owe her a scooter ride at the Valley Mall after we get home.

    Jon, Grace, and Sam went on some rides at the Nickelodeon Amusement Park inside the mall (Caleb didn’t want to, he’s not a ride person). Grace and Jon went on some of the larger rides while Caleb and I hung out with Sam. We then grabbed some lunch at one of the food courts while watching out the window to see planes land and takeoff at the nearby airport. Then Sam rode some more rides while Caleb, Grace, and Jon went on GoKarts in a different part of the mall (Sam was too little/young for these).

    After waiting “forever”, Gracie got to go to Build-a-Bear, bought herself an Axolotl accessorized with a Hufflepuff scarf, and even bought Sam his own stuffed animal (an Eevee from Pokemon) with her own money, which was very sweet. Afterwards, I got a little sensory break by stopping at the bookstore (and was super glad I brought my noise-cancelling headphones, as there was a loud event happening in the middle of the mall nearly all day, some sort of dance competition, and the people/crowds alone were overstimulating).

    I’m pretty sure we hit every toy stores they had, checked out the crayola store, went to some mirror/art/light thing, grabbed a dinner from a different food court while Sam nearly fell asleep, the kids all got some new shoes (Gracie is almost in my size!), we made some personalized M&M’s, and we finally headed out …. Or so we thought. We got all the way back to our Airbnb and Jon realized he’d lost the key to the house. Grace panicked while Jon figured out he’d left them at the Go-Kart place, and we went all the way back to the mall (luckily it was only about 20 minutes away). He got them back and we got some ice cream. It took forever to get out of the parking garage because we left as the mall closed and everybody else was leaving at the same time. It’s 10pm and we finally made it home.

    So… long story short … malls can be fun, but I’m just ever so glad that Amazon exists!    Read more

  • Mallory MarkloffTravelerRoad Trip 2024

    Another Drive Day & Revenge of the Soup

    June 23, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F

    Spent most of the day getting to our next stop in St Louis. We stopped at Wendy’s for lunch. There was nowhere to stop to eat in Iowa on a Sunday night, so once we crossed into Missouri we had dinner at a place called Fiddlesticks. It was busy and food seemed good at the time, and we all had fun playing a card game while we waited for our food. About 30-45 minutes after we left Caleb was not feeling well, and we had to pull over to the side of the road where he proceeded to puke up his entire dinner (baked potato soup), and we stopped for him to puke again 10-15 minutes more down the road. We arrived at our Airbnb (a really nice, Japanese-themed Airbnb) another 30 minutes later where he got out and puked on the front yard. Looks and sounds like food poisoning (likely they kept the soup in a vat all day and in the temperature danger zone), poor Caleb! I rarely post reviews online, but in this case I had to.Read more

  • Mallory MarkloffTravelerRoad Trip 2024
    1

    City Museum

    June 24, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 95 °F

    Unfortunately, Caleb was still not feeling great this morning (stupid soup!), so after going over some options, we ultimately chose to have him stay at the Airbnb while the rest of us went to the City Museum. We promised we’d take another trip to St Louis so he could get to see it too. It was a pretty awesome museum (which I couldn’t take many pictures of because we were climbing all over the place and I left my phone with Jon because I had no pockets). We left early so Caleb wouldn’t be by himself the whole day, and we will all be happy to return in the future! I fully expect that Caleb will still be on the couch where we left him watching Netflix when we return. Hope he’s feeling better, at least enough for a movie night (there’s a little basement “theater” at our Airbnb).Read more

  • Mallory MarkloffTravelerRoad Trip 2024

    Movie Night

    June 24, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 93 °F

    Caleb is feeling a little bit better, though he only had a little chicken noodle soup and a couple crackers for dinner (while we all had pizza, my GERD be damned). We let him pick the movie for tonight, and he chose Men In Black II, which he’s been wanting to see for a while. There are only four recliners in the movie room, however Sam and Gracie are getting along well enough to sit together (likely because they both wanted the popcorn bowl). I think when we come back to St Louis we may want to stay in this house again :)Read more

  • Trip end
    June 26, 2024
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