Got Opinions?

It has taken me a little while to get this recap written up, but I can backdate the blog so it doesn't appear to be quite as late - haha! Here are the family's thoughts on our most recent Saiki-delic road trip...

What are some of your favorite things that we saw or did on this trip (top 3)?

M / R: Sledding at White Sands, going to Carlsbad Caverns, and the Pima Air & Space Museum

J: White Sands, Carlsbad Caverns, and the Cubs game

Me: Carlsbad Caverns, getting passport stamps from a new region, and seeing parts of the country we've never been to before

What is at the bottom of your list?

R / M / Me: Hiking back out of Carlsbad Caverns because the elevators were broken!

J: Roswell

How does Carlsbad Caverns compare to Mammoth Cave?

Boys: Mammoth is better because it is much bigger than Carlsbad with more passageways.

R / Me: The formations at Carlsbad are much more spectacular and the Big Room was impressively huge! 

What was a memorable moment for you?

M: Timing how long it took Mom and Dad to finally get to the top at Carlsbad Caverns

Me: Accidentally getting off the trail to Smith Spring at Guadalupe Mountains

R: Making it all the way to Smith Spring, even after *certain people* wanted to turn back

J: Getting to hit M every time he said "like, like" to break him of the habit

What is one thing you learned?

R: Speleothem is the technical name for cave formations like stalactites, stalagmites, draperies, and soda straws.

J: Carlsbad Caverns was formed by sulfuric acid dissolving the limestone.

Me: I didn't realize the extent of the mistreatment and forced servitude of the Pueblo Indians by the Spaniards. Clearly I wasn't paying attention when the boys did their California missions unit in the 4th grade!

M: How to use cruise control!

Currently there are 59 national park units in the National Park Service - we have visited 27 of them together as a family. Which three would you like to visit again?

J: Yosemite, Zion, and Crater Lake

Me: Yosemite, Grand Teton, and Bryce Canyon

R: Grand Teton, Crater Lake, and Arches 

M: Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and Yosemite. This is like picking a favorite child. I told him on some days that decision can be very easy...

When we watch the Cubs in person, they are 1-3 in spring training games (0-5 in regular season games.) But they are looking great this year, so maybe we will stay away! Who is your favorite current Cub player?

M: Jake Arrieta

J / R: Kris Bryant

Me: Ben Zobrist, although David Ross is a close second 

Readers of this blog should be very familiar with our family's fondness for Steak 'n Shake (Midwest). California is home to In 'N Out Burger, and we're fans of a Freddy's near us, too. How do the burgers at the two regional chains we tried, Whataburger (South/Southwest) and Blake's Lotaburger (New Mexico), stack up?

Me: Steak 'n Shake, Freddy's, In 'N Out, Whataburger, Lotaburger

M: Steak 'n Shake, In 'N Out, Freddy's, Whataburger, Lotaburger

R / J: Freddy's, Steak 'n Shake, Whataburger, In 'N Out, Lotaburger

Don't get us started on the fries...

What were some of the best things we ate?

R: Sliders at The Duce, pork medallions at No Whiner Diner, fish tacos in Las Cruces

M: Pasta alfredo at the hotel restaurant in Carlsbad and the Chinese/Japanese restaurant in Alamogordo

Me: Country fried steak at No Whiner Diner, country fried burger at Paradise Valley Burger Company (see a pattern here?!)

J: Mac 'n cheese muffins at The Duce, lava cake at the Carlsbad hotel restaurant, pretzel fries at Paradise Valley Burger Company

Where would you like to go next?

J: Portland, OR

Me: New Orleans

M / R: Hawaii