When I was a kid, my parents packed us up for a road trip that would take us through Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. Along the way, we stopped in Minneapolis, where my grandpa was receiving treatment at the hospital. That visit added a layer of family significance to the trip before we continued westward.

Arriving at Mount Rushmore was unforgettable. My siblings and I couldn’t help but think about the movie National Treasure—wondering if there really was something hidden behind those massive presidential faces. Of course, the park’s high security kept our childhood curiosity in check, but the sense of mystery made the experience even more exciting. I also remember the roar of motorcycles everywhere; the Black Hills were buzzing with bikers, adding energy to the atmosphere.

In the fall of 2022, my wife and I finally made it to the Black Hills Roundup Rodeo in Belle Fourche, South Dakota—a stop we had planned nearly two decades earlier. Back in 2008, we were pulling our trailer westward toward Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons with our kids, a couple of tents, and a Dodge Durango packed with totes. That trip was unforgettable, not just for the scenery, but for the unexpected detour down Crazy Woman Canyon Road.