Our night's destination is the White House Resort in Keystone, South Dakota --only minutes from Mount Rushmore--and we end up rolling in quite late. The delay is due to a fun discovery earlier that afternoon: Devil's Tower National Monument.

This monolithic volcanic neck bursts almost 1,300 feet from the surrounding Black Hills in northeastern Wyoming and is steeped in Indian legend. Carmen and The Boy walk the short trail to the base of the Tower, while Chaucer and I take in the view from the parking lot. (Dogs may stay in the campground but are not permitted on the trail, as many American Indians consider the Tower sacred.)

The next morning finds us at Mount Rushmore, somewhere Carmen has dreamed of visiting since a child and one of the reasons we chose this northern route. It is awesome in scope and austere beauty--and the stairs of the amphitheater are perfect for little boys to expend their energy.