After six months of exploring the US, we were ready for a change of pace. Don’t get us wrong, Yellowstone and Grand Teton were absolutely magical and everything we did before that is exactly what we dreamed of. But we’d been moving every single weekend since we started full time in January 2024, too excited to see everything to slow down. By early July, we were exhausted and craving something we hadn’t had in months: time with the people we love.
So on July 5th, we packed up Charlotte one last time, said goodbye to the geysers and mountains, and pointed ourselves east toward Minnesota. We had a plan: spend mid-July through mid-October with family and friends, giving ourselves nearly three months to reconnect, recharge, and remember what it felt like to stay in one place for more than a few days.
But first, we had two iconic landmarks to check off the list.
Devil’s Tower: Sacred Ground and Unexpected Rainbows
We rolled into Devil’s Tower that same afternoon, and honestly, nothing quite prepares you for seeing it in person. Ethan had been before and wanted to show me this incredible landmark, and I’m so glad we made the stop.
The tower itself is stunning. This massive rock formation rising 1,267 feet out of the Wyoming landscape, unlike anything around it. But what struck us most was how sacred it felt. Devil’s Tower, also known as Bear Lodge, is central to Native American legend, especially to the Lakota people. The story tells of seven girls escaping bears by praying to the Great Spirit, who raised the rock beneath them to safety, leaving bear claw marks on the sides and transforming the girls into the Big Dipper.
As we arrived at the parking lot, we were greeted by a rainbow arching above the tower. The rain that had been following us all afternoon created this perfect moment, like nature was putting on a show just for us.
We did the small loop trail to the base of the tower, about 30 minutes total. The path winds through a mix of paved sections and natural terrain, pretty flat and easy. Along the way, we saw colorful ribbons tied to trees. Prayer ties representing prayers carried by the wind. It’s a practice common in many Indigenous cultures for healing and remembrance, often tied during seasonal ceremonies or vision quests. Seeing them there, knowing the deep spiritual connection this place holds, made the visit feel even more meaningful.
It was late afternoon by then, about an hour before sundown, and we didn’t see any climbers. Probably because of the rain or the late hour. We kept our visit short, just enough time to experience the tower and soak in the atmosphere, before heading out to find a place to sleep for the night.
Mount Rushmore: Worth Seeing (At Least Once)
After Devil’s Tower, we headed toward our next stop but spotted a massive thunderstorm on the horizon. Rather than drive into it, we pulled off at Sand Creek, a public free campground in Wyoming just before Rapid City, and spent the night there. This ended up working perfectly because it put us in position to hit Mount Rushmore right when it opened at 6 AM.
Mount Rushmore is exactly what you’d expect. It’s a very cool landmark to see, definitely worth checking off the bucket list at least once. We viewed it from the main viewing area. No hiking or exploring, just took in the famous carved faces and snapped a few photos.
It’s one of those places that’s impressive in person, but probably not somewhere we’d return. Once was enough. We had a goal: get to East Grand Forks by Sunday night, and we were determined to make it happen.
The Push to Minnesota
For long road trip stints like this, we rely heavily on The Dyrt app. We have the Pro version and find it incredibly useful to find overnight parking spots. When we’re covering serious miles, we typically stay at Cracker Barrels or Walmarts. Nothing fancy, just safe places to sleep so we can keep moving.
And boy, did we move. We went from Yellowstone to Grand Forks in just two days. Ethan is an absolute champ and drove probably 95% of the way. Mav and Goose? They’re seasoned road trippers at this point. They fall right asleep and just go with the flow, which makes these marathon drives so much easier.
We arrived in East Grand Forks on Sunday night as planned, completely exhausted but happy. It was the weekend, so we’d taken full advantage of our time off, but we were pooped. We ended up taking Monday off work to decompress from two very long days of driving.
Coming Home to Family
Pulling into Ethan’s parents’ driveway always feels like coming home. We hadn’t seen them since Christmas 2024, which made this visit even more special. They’re always so welcoming, and after months of constant movement, having a home base felt incredible.
We stayed inside the house for those two weeks, which gave Mav and Goose the chance to roam freely. They settled in pretty quickly. They’d lived with Ethan’s parents briefly while we were preparing to move to Costa Rica in 2024, so it was familiar territory for them.
Our days fell into a comfortable rhythm: work during the week, then afternoons and evenings with family. Ethan’s mom Laurie loves the board game Splendor, though we don’t think we played it this visit. The Jung family card game tradition is Smear. We spent countless hours around the table playing cards, laughing, and just enjoying being together.
We also made sure to hit our favorite local spots. The Blue Moose is a staple EGF restaurant we have to visit at least once, and we got the best ramen in town at Kaizen. It’s those little traditions and favorite places that make visiting feel special.
One of the unexpected highlights was getting to see some of Ethan’s high school friends who were in town. We also got to see Aunt Lynn, Laurie’s sister, and spend time with that side of the family in Fargo, which is always special. When you’re constantly moving, those chances to connect with old friends and extended family become even more precious.
A Quick Visit with Grandma B
After our two weeks in East Grand Forks, we headed to Hutchinson to spend a few days with Grandma B before our next adventure. She just turned 90, and we can’t believe how lucky we are to still have her in our lives. Any time with her is special, and these quick visits mean the world to us.
From there, we had plans brewing. A trip to Chicago with friends and a very important detour to southern Indiana to pick up a new family member. More on both of those in our next posts!
Settling In: St. Paul and the Minnesota Summer
After picking up Rooster on July 27th (yes, we’re teasing you, that story is coming!), we made a 16-hour drive back to St. Paul to stay with Ethan’s aunts, Molly and Gail. They were the first family members to meet Rooster, and we parked Charlotte in their driveway while we figured out our next steps.
This is where our Minnesota summer really began. We’d lined up two housesitting jobs in the area. One for four weeks in August and another for two weeks in September. Which meant we could stay close to Minneapolis where all our friends are. That was the whole point of housesitting in the area: being near our core group of friends.
Our Tuesday pickleball games became the highlight of the week. We’d play with our crew, then head out for drinks or appetizers after, catching up and laughing about everything and nothing. There were movie nights, spontaneous hangouts, and all those normal friend activities we’d been missing while living on the road.
Between housesits, Molly and Gail graciously let us stay with them again. When you’re living in a van, having family who welcomes you back repeatedly is an incredible gift.
We also took advantage of being stationary to give Charlotte some much-needed attention. We did our deep cleaning, getting rid of anything we hadn’t used and making sure everything was organized and fresh. It’s something we try to do whenever we have the chance to stay put for a bit.
Honestly? After months in the van, you’d think we’d love having separate rooms and more space. But we actually missed Charlotte. We know it sounds crazy, but she’s home now. It’s like when you’re on vacation and you miss your own bed. Same feeling.
What’s Next
As mid-October approached, we started thinking about our next move. We’d decided to extend our Minnesota stay and then head to Nashville, but life had other plans. The night before we were supposed to leave, Charlotte’s engine light came on.
Thankfully, we were still with Molly and Gail, who were absolute angels about the whole situation. They let us stay and even loaned us their car so we could get around while Charlotte was being looked at. The homeowners in Nashville, where we had our next housesit lined up, were also incredibly understanding. They had Riley staying with them who could cover the responsibilities for a few days while we figured everything out with Charlotte.
But that’s a story for another post. For now, we’ll just say this: our Minnesota summer was exactly what we needed. After the intensity of exploring Yellowstone and Grand Teton, slowing down and spending real quality time with family and friends recharged us in ways we didn’t even realize we needed.
We still have so much to share with you. Our Chicago adventure, how we found and picked up Rooster, the housesitting experiences, and yes, the Nashville engine drama. We’re working to catch everyone up on our journeys, so stay tuned. There’s a lot more to come.
Have questions about long road trips with pets? Curious about balancing van life with staying close to family? Drop a comment below. We’d love to hear from you and share more about our experiences!
Wandering with Charlotte 
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