Tag Archives: B&B’s

Valentine’s Day: romance is in the air

Top 10 Romantic Cities

thanks to our friend Tawna Fenske for sharing this list on Facebook…

many of these cities are also pet friendly… the top three are…

1. Scottsdale, AZ

2. Napa, CA

3. Bend, OR

http://livability.com/top-10/top-10-romantic-cities/bend/or

4. Charlottesville, Va

5. Santa Fe, NM

6. Kansas City, MO

7. Savannah, GA

8. Cambridge, MA

9. Coral Gables, FL

10. Hot Springs, AR

Take a look at BedandBreakfast.com’s list of Top 10 Dog-Friendly B&Bs

http://www.bedandbreakfast.com/toplists/top10pet-friendly

These bed and breakfasts and inns across the U.S. really go above and

beyond to accommodate dogs (all year round) so both owners and pets can

enjoy traveling together.

The only inn on this list and blog post that Cici and I have personally visited is in Carmel, CA… The Cypress Inn (and Carmel itself) is truly dog friendly not just dog tolerant as many hotels are. Please let us know if you have great experiences at any of these hotels or inns. Thank you.

The Cypress Inn is owned by Doris Day, an animal activist, and Dennis LeVett. Dogs and cats are welcome here, and the historic inn has just blocks from Carmel’s pet-friendly beach. The inn’s courtyard has doggie pick-up bags and an area to wash your dog off after playing on the beach. Because the owners feel that pets are a part of the family, well-behaved pets are allowed throughout the inn and can join their humans in the courtyard for breakfast and evening appetizers. Cypress Inn even has occasional dog-related events, such as Poodle Day.

cypress

A few venues that offer True Love Packages… whether it’s for Romance or Special Time for you and your Best Friend… 

One of our favorite places is Mendocino, CA and there are many wonderful pet friendly places to stay. One of many outstanding pet friendly hotels is the MacCallum House…beautiful rooms, walking distance to the beach and shops, botanical gardens, and much more. It’s a whale of a time to visit there with whale watching galore and great prices.

machouse_pet

http://www.maccallumhouse.com/pages/pets.html

Free guide

http://celiasue.com/free-guide-to-pet-friendly-cities/

The Oregon Garden Resort

Located in the quaint town of Silverton, Oregon, the Oregon Garden & Oregon Garden Resort  would make for a unique and memorable fido-friendly Valentine’s Day. Constructed in 2008, The Oregon Garden Resort is an upscale boutique resort that sits on 11 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds and connected to the Oregon Gardens, a unique 80-acre botanical garden featuring 20 specialty gardens. The Resort features a main lodge that consists of a restaurant, lounge, day spa and 17 guest cottages housing 6 rooms each – each one equipped with a fireplace and private deck. Not only is the resort very pet-friendly, but pets are even allowed to have dinner with guests in the outdoor seating areas (one of which is covered). What’s more, overnight stays include passes to explore the Oregon Garden, which is an 80-acre botanical garden where pets are also very welcome! The Garden even boasts a special “pet garden,” which educates visitors as to which plants are friendly to pets.

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Phoenix Inn Suites -Salem, OR

Hiking & Pet Package

Rate starts at $119 and includes 2 water bottles, energy bars, a Phoenix Inn knapsack, as well as maps to local hiking/dog trails. Pet fee is also included. Package is offered year-round. Link for more info: http://www.phoenixinn.com/salem-south/specials-and-packages/

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This Valentine’s Day, take the romantic escape you’ve been waiting for with

that special someone and journey to the heart of the Adirondacks (New York) for

a weekend of romance in the mountains at the Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort

in Lake Placid  and be sure to bring Fido!

Located on the shores of Mirror Lake on Main Street in Lake Placid, the

Golden Arrow’s picturesque location makes for the quintessential romantic

getaway, one that’s pet-friendly with a jaw-dropping view. During your stay, ski, snowshoe, or hike the sparkling, snow-covered Adirondack wilderness (a virtually limitless playground where Fido can

enjoy the great outdoors), take a leisurely stroll together down Lake Placid’s quaint Main Street (try a stop at Jake Placid Doghouse  to please the pooch, too!), and enjoy a romantic dinner for two at Generations restaurant and end the day curled up by the fire with that special someone and your furry companion by your side.

At the Golden Arrow, currently offering an exclusive Valentine’s Day Getaway Deal. Stay February 14, 15, and 16 in any of the Golden Arrow’s pet-friendly accommodations and receive the Resort’s Romance Package which includes a bottle of wine, two commemorative wine glasses, a wine tasting for two, a complimentary dogsled ride on frozen Mirror Lake, and more.

Pets incur a $50 per pet, per week fee

·         No weight or size limitations

·         Pets are restricted to Deluxe Rooms located on the 3rd floor of the hotel to ensure they do not come in contact with other guests who have pet allergies

·         A $100 per pet security deposit required upon arrival – fully refundable upon time of departure barring any unintentional property damages

·         10% of each pet fee is donated annually to the local  pet charity chosen by one of the Golden Arrow’s favorite guests who traveled with their pet that year.

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pet-friendly

Provenance Hotels Tempt with Nontraditional Valentine Getaways

Hotel packages in Nashville, Seattle and Portland celebrate love of all kinds.

Love is a many-splendored thing and Provenance Hotels, with five award-winning, art-filled boutique hotels in three of the nation’s most exciting destinations, is inviting travelers to celebrate love in all its forms with Valentine’s getaways for retro-lovers, pet-fanciers, modern gentlemen, gals on the town and chocoholics. With vintage-inspired va-va-voom at Seattle, Wash.’s Hotel Max; a girls night out in Music City with Hotel Preston in Nashville, Tenn.; and in Portland, Ore., a stylish getaway for the well-groomed guy at chic Hotel Lucia; a cuddly escape with man’s best friend at Hotel deLuxe; and an artisanal twist on a Cupid classic, chocolate, at The Governor Hotel, these packages offer inventive escapes sure to make hearts go pitter-patter on Valentine’s Day.

Once-per stay pet fee of $45

Boudoir and burlesque fantasies come to life with the sassy, sultry Risqué Business package at Seattle’s sexiest boutique hotel, Hotel Max. Priced from $439 per night, plus tax, it includes overnight accommodations, complimentary valet parking, a bottle of bubbly, box of locally-made OH! Chocolates, private in-room couples’ photo session with one of the city’s top professional boudoir photographers, a keepsake photo disc featuring the pin-up-worthy photos, roundtrip town car service to The Triple Door theater, two tickets for a live performance of The Atomic Bombshells: J’Adore! A Burlesque Valentine, and late 2 p.m. check out the next day. The package requires seven days advance booking and can be reserved online at http://www.hotelmaxseattle.com/risque or by calling 866-986-8087.

Hotel Preston, a hip boutique hotel conveniently located near Nashville Airport, is offering single ladies the chance to grab their best girls and celebrate Valentine’s Day with a package that is pure Music City- a little indulgent and whole lot of fun. The No Valentine? No Problem! package includes overnight accommodations in a spacious suite, a bottle of bubbly to get the party started; round trip transportation to and from downtown Nashville’s hottest nightlife neighborhood, Broadway and Second Avenue; a ‘midnight snack’ selection of Nashville’s own Christie’s Cookies; and, in the morning, a gift certificate to Music City’s famed Loveless Café so they can start the morning right with an authentic Southern breakfast. Priced from $269 per night, plus tax, the package requires 48 hours advance booking can be reserved at http://www.hotelpreston.com/noproblem or by calling 866-986-8089.

Dating a modern day Don Draper or 007? At chic Hotel Lucia, in the heart of downtown Portland, stylish gals (and guys) are invited to treat the gentleman in their life to a slice of the good life with the Stand By Your Man package priced from $289 per night, plus tax. It features overnight accommodations; Portland-distilled whiskey and all the accoutrements’ for mixing up the perfect in-room Manhattans; a certificate for a haircut and shave at nearby Y-Chrome; and, because his car is his baby, Hotel Lucia will send it out for professional detailing while guests are mixing it up in the room. The package requires 72 hours advance booking and can be reserved at http://www.hotellucia.com/yourman or by calling 866-986-8086.

Glamorous boutique Hotel deLuxe, also located in downtown Portland, is catering to four-legged Valentines and the people who love them with the Puppy Love package. It includes overnight accommodations in a pet-friendly room; Provenance Hotels’ signature pet welcome amenity with a bed and bowls to borrow, a pet snack and Provenance Hotels’ pet menu; a keepsake heart-shape dog tag engraved with Fluffy or Fido’s name; vet-approved dog cupcakes; and cupcakes for people from a Portland favorite, St. Cupcake bakery. Package rates start at $219 per night, plus tax, require five days advance booking and can be reserved at http://www.hoteldeluxe.com/puppyloveor by calling 866-986-8085.

The historic Governor Hotel is giving that time-honored Valentine’s tradition, chocolate, an only-in-Portland twist with the Artisan Chocolate Experience package. It includes luxurious overnight accommodations; a generous welcome amenity featuring a sampling of the city’s best locally-made chocolate; and a private, guided walking tour of Portland artisan chocolatiers with Portland Walking Tours during which travelers will sample and indulge in the diversity of chocolate from beans to bars – plus whipped, truffles, cocktails, melted, for sipping, and more. The package requires 48 hours advance notice, is priced from $329, plus tax, and can be booked at http://www.goverhorhotel.com/chocolate or by calling 888-246-5631.

Provenance Hotels Valentine packages are available for stays checking in February 14-16, 2013 at Hotel Max, February 1-18, 2013 at Hotel Preston and Feb. 14-17, 2013 at Hotel Lucia, Hotel deLuxe and the Governor Hotel.

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Valentines & Un-Valentines Packages

Working with About.com’s Dating Expert, put together the ultimate foodie’s “Breaking-Up Package.” Spend some time in the California Wine Country to get far away from your ex, and then move on. The Package includes: the full Chocolate Covered February works (chocolate mimics the feeling in the body that we get when falling in love via phenylethylamine), two nights in a Queen Room, a vitamin B packed full breakfast (B vitamins are major players in the happiness mood-food connection), evening wine and cheese tasting, a self-improvement break-up recovery book, a pint of chocolate walnut organic ice cream (as excellent sources of Omega-3 fatty acids, walnuts offer up the kind of nourishment brain cells need to keep depression at bay and neurotransmitters firing) and a voodoo doll with pins to write his/her name on. Also included in the package is your choice of: a one-hour exercise classes each day or a one-hour massage and a special self-guided wine tasting tour.  Guaranteed to put you on the road to break-up recovery.  $550.00 for two nights – more than $100 savings

Enjoy a chocolate adventure in romance at a great price from Thursday, February 14th to Sunday, February 16th.  Getaway includes: chocolate afternoon treats, evening chocolate port, gourmet chocolates, a chocolate treat included on the breakfast menu, a chocolate and wine pairing adventure, self-guided chocolate shop tour, a romantic dinner for two on Feb. 14, chocolate soap, a gift each night including a bottle of wine and three nights in a King room with fireplace and two-person whirlpool tub. King room – $999 including taxes – Savings of more than $150.

Camellia Inn’s Chocolate Covered Wednesdays: Yes, what’s better than chocolate with red wine! Chocolate soap, chocolate for breakfast, chocolate port and chocolate goodies when you arrive, that’s what’s better than just chocolate and red wine

No. 1 Best Rates of the Year and It’s not just wine: Of course the Sonoma Wine Country is synonymous with wine, but there’s so much more…and much of it you already know about – the great food, the rolling hills, the hospitality, but did you know there’s glassblowing, botanical gardens, ziplining, soap and what’s wine without cheese?

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Filed under B&B's, California, Carmel, chocolate, chocolate travel, dog friendly, dog travel, dogs, girlfriend getaways, K9 travel, keep pets safe, luxury travel, Mendocino, Oregon, pet friendly lodging, pet friendly winery, pet travel, travel with dog, Uncategorized, Washington, wine country, women with dogs

Dog friendly beaches… from Oregon to California…

ok, getting back on topic, traveling with my dog this past summer…We loved Ashland, as mentioned in my post about Silly Rabbit way back when. Medford was ok. The drive from Ashland to Brookings was very scenic, although the temperature was hot hot hot. 

We found a nice lake in Ashland near Dagoba. The folks there were gracious, gave us a few samples and directed us to a place to cool off. Cici jumped right in the water and splashed her little heart out while I watched. There was not a good place for me to be in the shade and the water was too muddy for my taste but refreshing for my dog who had been in the hot car. Splish splash.

Just north of Medford, in Grants Pass, we stopped at Cary’s, known for its English Toffee. Delish !  We received a warm welcome and free samples. They had just been featured on Rachael Ray’s TV show.  The deep dark chocolate toffee is fantastic so I was a happy camper. Cici had to stay in the car, so she waited patiently and sulked. 

http://www.carysoforegon.com/dark-chocolate.html

Brookings, Oregon was just plain strange. It was a relief to get to the cool ocean breezes and Cici was anxious to meet some doggie friends on the beach. But first, we stopped in at the Travel Center at Harris Beach State Park. They have a campground with four yurts and there is a beautiful rest area (the best we have ever sniffed anywhere).  It took some convincing and asking several people for permission to visit the yurts, but we managed to view a yurt that they use for kids. The other yurts were occupied by campers. The campground was brimming full of people, too claustrophobic for my taste. Isn’t the point of camping out to get away from everything, including people? 

The beaches from Astoria to Brookings are havens for dog lovers and their four-legged companions, who happily swim in the ocean, dig in the sand, and nap on the beach, according to the hype. The day was cloudy and overcast but we endeavored our way down the stairs to get to the beach. Cici sniffed the entire way, licked some feet of passersby, and we made it onto the sand. The coolness was invigorating and there were a few dogs with their humans. Cici wanted to play with all of them but settled for a large dog (mixed breed). The two pups rassled and chased one another across the wet sand and into pools of water while we humans chatted. Boring. 

Afterwards, we got a bite to eat at three places, a health food place, friendly people, ok carrot juice, and an Italian place, had a sad chicken parmesanlike sandwich. The third place is not even worth mentioning, that’s how bad it was. We had high hopes for chocolate but there were no venues worth mentioning. We were going to rest our sleepy heads in Brookings but the place frankly gave us the creeps. I love small towns and thought that the rest area would be safe. It was still daylight. The motels were not dog friendly and expensive. So it was not to be for us to stay overnight. There were a lot of restless adolescents (gangs) who seemed to be looking for trouble. So spur of the moment, we decided to head south.

Driving back down the coast is extremely twisty, windy on the 101 and on top of that we had weather to contend with. Thunderstorms with litning to boot. It quickly became dark and country dark, which is the darkest dark there is. Tiny towns with no accommodations, either. No place at the inn for me and my pup.  Sure, most people plan ahead  but me and my dog were flying by the seat of our paws. When you do that, you get a mixed bag. Wonderful discoveries and odd happenings. 

If I had done some research, could woulda shoulda found out about other places. We were going to go up to Gold beach but changed our minds. Oh well, another time…

http://www.beachconnection.net/news/tlodg0606_2163.htm

http://www.goldbeach.org/

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/31772/petfriendly_lodging_for_a_beach_vacation.html

http://www.seacrestoregon.com/rooms.htm

Imagine, B&B’s that allow pets…

http://www.bbonline.com/petswelcome.html

and Pet friendly vacation rentals

http://www.petvr.com/index.php/index.html

Finally, after much prayer and supplication for somewhere to rest for the weary, we found a youth hostel in the middle of nowhere. It was full to capacity and then some but we were able to camp out near their parking lot. They locked the gates so that no one could get inside and we felt safe at last. Cici slept in the car while I grabbed my sleeping bag and got some shuteye on the ground. 

The next morning, early, they opened the gate for us ahead of time, and we were off. We flew down past Arcata and Eureka, checked out the wildlife along the way,and the city of Ferndale, revisited the Avenue of the Giants and hunkered down for the night in a Redwood Forest. If you have never been to the Giant Redwoods, go immediately. The hushed forests are enchanting and magical.

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/attract/CAPHItree.html

The next day we headed down to Garberville, revisited new friends at a friendly gas station there, had a fabulous brunch, got on the Internet at the library. G-ville is a hippie enclave town, much like Sebastopol near Santa Rosa and Bodega Bay.  We checked out the parks, they were pretty small.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garberville,_California

According to wiki, The first settlers arrived in 1853 to what was then named “Dogtown.”

We checked out the One Log House… This tiny house was made out of one log and has an eating, sleeping and living area, sort of like a train compartment, only bigger. There is also a cafe where you can get on the Internet for free there. Cici sniffed and ran around on the grass. 

http://one-loghouse.com/

After awhile, we made it to Ukiah, back to the Motel 6. But first, we made some friends at the Real Goods Solar Living Center in Hopland.  Cici enjoyed her usual run around and meet people, sniffing and licking feet every step of the way. 

http://www.solarliving.org/

Tours of the Solar Living Center allow people of all ages to learn about solar and wind power, environmentally friendly building materials, passive and active solar design in architecture, and organic gardening and permaculture. Office hours are 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM Pacific Time. Self-Guided Tours of the Solar Living Center are always available during business hours. Stop by the office to pick up a free self-guided tour brochure.

http://www.dogfriendly.com/server/travel/guides/beach/beach.shtml

U.S. and Canada Beach Guide for Dogs

There are about 270 of 1,500 beaches nationwide permit dogs…

Top Ten Dog Friendly Beaches

http://americasbestonline.net/beachdog.htm

log_house_color.jpg

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