If you follow our Instagram or Twitter feed, then you already know that we brought our goldendoodle, Costello, along on our yearlong road trip to the lower 48 states. Truth be told, he’s more interesting and better at this whole traveling thing than the two of us combined. Especially since, as we often joke, he’s probably the first goldendoodle to be doing all the cool stuff we bring him along for.

Here he is at the steps of the Lincoln Monument. He was the star of many photos here.

Paying tribute at the Korean War Memorial.

By the time we’re done, Costello will be able to say that he reached all 48 states. More so, if trends continue at this same pace all year, he’ll be able to say he hiked, ran, slept, ate, chased and was petted approximately 1M times by passersby in every single state.

Yep, Costello’s life is pretty amazing for a dog. There are, of course, times when he has to sit and wait in the car for us or chill out in the trailer while we’re gone. But there are way more times when this trip feels like Costello’s; we’re just along to provide information on his height, weight, temperament and name when called upon by Costello’s admiring public.

Case in point: Costello's recent visit to the public monuments at the National Mall. He beat out Abe Lincoln -- Lincoln! -- for photos at the steps of the reflecting pond and was petted by more school groups than you can count on both hands. We don't blame them -- if you saw this goofy pooch at the Jefferson Memorial, wouldn’t you just kind of melt?

Licking his chops at the Jefferson Monument.

A lot of people wanted us to leave Costello at home. They thought it’d amount to dog abuse keeping him in such tight quarters. But we push those thoughts aside almost immediately whenever he’s romping through a fresh mountain stream, napping under the picnic table outside or meeting any one of the many, many other dogs living on the road. (It turns out Costello is not the first dog to travel in an RV or trailer).

So no, we don’t actually know for sure if Costello is the first goldendoodle to climb the observatory at Hanging Rock in WV, or to traverse the Dog Canyon trail in New Mexico, but the odds are pretty good. And even if he isn't, that's rarely stopped Costello from claiming his bragging rights.

Pausing for a moment at the George Mason monument.

At the feet of FDR. He doesn't even know who that other dog is. Costello has no respect for history.