Tag Archives: pet friendly

Pet-friendly red white and blue

http://celiasue.com/2012/06/27/july-4th-in-southern-california/

in northern california:

 

Fireworks of any kind are prohibited in Monterey and Carmel but are allowed in Seaside… so if you bring your pooch with you to these locations, be prepared with ID tags and calming collars or Rescue Remedy. Hold onto the dog’s leash at all times and also bring poop waste bags to clean up after your dog.

 

City of Monterey’s annual 4th of July Celebration. The Admission is Free Big Little Backyard Bar-B-Que and Entertainment Extravaganza will be held on the historic grounds of Colton Hall on Pacific Street on Friday, July 4th from 11:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

Featured bands include Monterey Community Band (11:00 a.m.), Foreverland (12:00 p.m.), Red Beans & Rice (1:30 p.m.) and Lovefool (3:00 p.m.). Children’s entertainment includes free carnival booths and games, face painting, balloon artists and jump houses. Lots of great food provided by non-profit food vendors will be on sale all day.

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For more information, call 646-3996 or go online to www.monterey.org/rec or www.monterey.org/july4th

The Old Monterey Business Association will be providing a 4th of July Parade on Alvarado Street at 10 a.m. For more info, please call 655-8070 or www.oldmonterey.org

the Monterey County Pops! will be offering an evening concert at the Golden State Theatre in downtown Monterey. For more info, please visit www.montereycountypops.org

Please remember fireworks of any kind are prohibited in Monterey. Have a fun and safe 4th of July

Downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea

July 4, 2014, 12:00 PM-4:00 PM

Phone: (831) 620-2020 • website

Open to the public

an old-fashioned, family-style celebration in Devendorf Park across from Carmel Plaza on Ocean Avenue from noon to 4pm. Mayor Jason Burnett welcomes everyone at noon followed by entertainment by “Cheeky Spanks” with lots of fun and games for kids! Bring a blanket or chairs at the heart of Carmel-by-the-Sea.  technically dogs are not supposed to be there but no one will mind, it could be loud, be prepared with poop bags, have dog on leash, in a doggie stroller, walk around and visit the fountain of woof at carmel plaza, and go to the beach.

There will be hot dogs, cold drinks, chips, ice cream, watermelon, and cookies! Get there early, supplies are limited!  All food and festivities are FREE! Food will be provided by local service clubs and groups such as Carmel Host Lions, Mission Trail Lions, Yes for Carmel!, Carmel Heritage, Carmel Woman’s Club, Carmel Chamber, and much more!

For more information please contact (831) 620-2020.

** NO FIREWORKS ARE ALLOWED ANYWHERE IN CARMEL **

SLO/Morro Bay

July 4th Weekend Art in the Park, July 4, 5 & 6, 2014

You can bring your pup with you to this free event. Attendees will witness art created live, and have the opportunity to purchase beautiful works of art made by fine local artists. The event takes place at Morro Bay City Park and runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. all three days.

 

10 Pet-Friendly Boutique Hotels and B&B Inns in California

California boutique hotels and B&Bs make it easy to travel on vacation with four-legged friends.  There are more than 70 pet-friendly member inns of the California Association of Boutique and Breakfast Inns (CABBI), many of which go out of their way to pamper pooches with special treats, blankets and more.

10 of the most pet-friendly inns in the state; many more can be found at www.cabbi.com/pet-friendly/.

 

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Filed under California, Carmel, dog travel, dogs, fountain of woof, K9 travel, keep pets safe, Monterey, pet travel, pit bull, Uncategorized

Doggone Spring Break 2013

Our pet policy here at Have Dog Blog will Travel is that we will feature places we like that have Dogitude, (go above and beyond to welcome dogs and their people) and even places we have never been if they allow ALL breeds of dogs, do not restrict pets based upon weight nor size, do not charge enormous pet fees, and are generally pet friendly and dog tolerant (although we prefer places that really welcome pets with big open arms and hearts).  If your venue does NOT allow dogs like my Cici, then naturally we prefer that you find another blogger to write about your place. Thank you.

Five hotels in New Mexico in three cities that are

pet-friendly and have custom pet-friendly packages and amenities. Note:  The ONLY hotel in Santa Fe that does NOT restrict based upon weight is the St. Francis and we applaud them for that. The other two hotels accept dogs up to 50 pounds. What happens after 50 pounds? Do the dogs woof more, shed more, become a nuisance, are real dogs?  We do not get it, but let it slide since these two hotels would allow Cici to visit. However, for our friends with dogs that weigh 60, 75 , 100 or 150 pounds, we do not condone this nonsense and suggest that you let the hotels know and go stay at the St. Francis.

Nativo Lodge in Albuquerque:

http://www.nativolodge.com/special-pkg/albuquerque-pet-friendly-pkg.aspx

Hotel Chimayo de Santa Fe:

http://www.hotelchimayo.com/special-pkg/santa-fe-pet-pkg.aspx

Lodge at Santa Fe:

http://www.lodgeatsantafe.com/special-pkg/santa-fe-pet-pkg.aspx

Hotel St. Francis in Santa Fe:

http://www.hotelstfrancis.com/santa-fe-pet-hotel.aspx

Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces:

http://www.hotelencanto.com/special-pkg/las-cruces-pet-pkg.aspx

 Oregon

Lincoln City OR has a reputation for being a pet friendly place to visit. From lodging options, to activities, Lincoln City has a lot to offer travelers and their furry companions.

map

Check out pet resources here:

http://www.oregoncoast.org/pets/

A few hotels in Lincoln City that offer pet friendly options:

http://www.lookingglass-inn.com/Dog_Friendly.html

http://www.thecoholodge.com/packages.html

http://www.theshearwaterinn.com/Dog_Friendly.html

More Lincoln City, Oregon info… Cici and I LOVED staying at the Capt. Cook Inn when we were there… it was a small motel, with LOTS of pet friendliness, privacy, clean and quiet at a very affordable price. We felt welcomed, it was charming and truly nice people in the midst of a very busy city. A hidden treasure.

THINGS TO DO

http://www.captaincookinn.com/Things-To-Do.html

http://www.oregoncoast.org/pets/

Other pet friendly hotels along the Oregon Coast…

http://www.oregoncoast101.com/lodging/pets.html

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 Washington

The Woodmark Hotel is located on the shores of Lake Washington in Kirkland, Wash. The Woodmark Hotel is dedicated to providing all guests with a home away from home, which for many means travelling with their faithful canine companions.

Amenities for four-legged travelers are available upon request, and are offered free of charge. The shoreline paths, nearby city parks and beautiful scenery are perfect for a leisurely dog walk or invigorating run, ensuring a restful night sleep for all. The Woodmark provides everything needed to pamper pups with complimentary use of a cushy pet bed, food and water dishes, plus Woody’s walking map, bottled water, leash, tennis ball and doggy biscuits. Simply request a pet friendly stay upon booking and all the items will be waiting in-room.

First to welcome two- and four-legged travelers to the property is Woody Mae, a black Labrador retriever and the hotel’s “Director of Barketing.” In June through September, Woody Mae also hosts Yappier Hour on the Beach Café lawn, where pups and their people can enjoy the lake views, warm weather and a cocktail.

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The Woodmark requires no additional fees to travelers with pets. For more information about The Woodmark’s pet policy, go to… http://www.thewoodmark.com/seattle-pet-friendly-hotel.php

New York and DC 

Pet-friendly Affinia Hotels, has properties in NYC and D.C. The boutique hotel collection caters to man’s best friend with Happy Tails which includes:

  • Good Karma Rope ToysTM by Jax & Bones for the pup to chew, play, tug, or fetch
  • Plush, eco-friendly dog beds by Jax & Bones
  • Delish dog treats by Dylan’s Candy Bar
  • Food and water bowls (offered in deep and shallow depths)

Additionally, extra services can be arranged including pet psychic, grooming, walking/pet-sitting services, and much more.  Some Affinia hotels even go above and beyond:

·        The Liaison Capitol Hill, an Affinia Hotel in Washington, DC invites your pup to enjoy their famed restaurant, Art and Soul, established by celebrity Chef Art Smith, where Fido can crack open a “Bowser Beer” (a non-alcoholic canine brew), enjoy a “Hungry Dawg” six ounce grilled steak and linger on a “Raw Deal” frozen dog bone. All of these items are on the restaurant’s Pooch Patio menu:  http://www.artandsouldc.com/images/Puppy_menu.pdf.

·        Affinia Manhattan is an official host hotel of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, and was the home to the Best of Show winner for two years in a row!

·        TripAdvisor rated Affinia Dumont, located in Manhattan’s Murray Hill neighborhood, as the number one pet hotel for the second year in a row.

There is a $25 surcharge per stay.

More about dog friendly NYC and Wash DC

http://celiasue.com/2011/03/02/spring-break-for-bicoastal-pets/

http://celiasue.com/2012/04/02/spring-break-dog/

 

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Filed under Adventure, all you need is a dog, big dogs welcome, bigotry against dogs, dog friendly, dog travel, dogs, K9 travel, keep pets safe, Oregon, pet friendly lodging, travel with dog, Uncategorized, Washington, whales, women with dogs

Free Fun Ideas for V-day

The average person will spend over $130 on Valentine’s Day this year, according to a report from the National Retail Federation. This amounts to a pretty pricey mid-February evening for those of short on cash.

Happily, there are lots of free things to do this Valentine’s Day that will leave you wondering why you ever paid a premium for fun. Check out the following ideas and be sure to hit up MrFreeStuff.com for a complete list of 60 dates that don’t cost a thing.

Note: And most of these can include your pets, if you choose to bring them along and have them join in on the fun. Or if you are alone with them and want to invite single friends over. All sorts of possibilities.  You can make it a Galentine’s Day or Palentine’s Day or whatever you want !  You could even fundraise with your dog’s kisses for your favorite animal rescue. Smooches from Pooches.

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http://www.buzzfeed.com/marcelle/37-dogs-beating-you-at-valentines-day

1. Create a Game Night
Host a game night this Valentine’s Day. Whether it’s a mellow game of Scrabble or a high-intensity round of Texas Hold ‘Em, you’ll enjoy a little friendly competition with your date.  Tug of war, throw the frisbee, ball or chew the stuffed animal works for Fido.

2. Head to the Playground
Skip the pricey restaurant. Have a picnic at home or at the park with lunch meats, cheese, potato salad, French bread and wine. At the playground enjoy some kid-like fun. Compete on the swingset or see who can hold out the longest on the merry-go-round. Chase the dog or have the dog chase you.  Climb the monkey bars.

3. Volunteer Together
Valentine’s Day seems to be all about what you’re doing for your special someone. Why not collaborate and do something for others instead? Soup kitchens, animal shelters and nursery homes could use a few good volunteers, so spend your Feb. 14 brightening someone else’s day.

4. Make S’Mores
Forget chocolate-covered strawberries; s’mores are where it’s at this Valentine’s Day! Roast marshmallows over your kitchen stove, expertly melt chocolate and create a multi-layered, gooey treat. Camp out at home, back yard and toast the marshmallows and chocolate over the fire.

5. Bring the Spa Home
Spas and salons will be brimming with lovey-dovey couples this Valentine’s Day, but you can skip the crowds and create a better experience at home. Gather your candles, towels and favorite CDs and prepare a steamy bath. Complete the experience with a couples massage.

6. Get Touristy
Despite how long you’ve lived in your current city, there are likely several hidden gems you haven’t yet experienced. Stop by the local visitor’s center with your date and inquire about free things to do in your community, then hit the road toward discovery.

7. Host a Movie Night
Host a movie night and ask friends to bring their favorite snack to share. Peruse your DVD collection for a funny or thought-provoking flick and leave the tear-jerkers for just the two of you.

8. Relive Storytime
Open a bottle of wine or pop the top on your favorite brew and settle in for an evening of storytelling. Share passages from your favorite books or pick up your favorite childhood classics from the local library. Once upon a time…

9. Cook Dinner Together
Cooking a meal for your loved one has long been a Valentine’s Day tradition, but why not prepare something together? Challenge each other to create a tasty meal out of items you already have in your pantry and toast to your resourcefulness.

10. Host a Wine Tasting
Tasting flights will cost you a pretty penny at fancy restaurants, but you can bring the experience home for less. Ask friends to bring a bottle of wine and their favorite snack pairing and enjoy an intellectual discussion about tannins and undercurrents.

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Filed under camping, chocolate, creativity, dog kisses, dog movies, dog movies/TV, dog spa, dog toys, dog treats, dogs, economy, family friendly, four paws up, free, fundraising, funny, gift giving, gifts for your dog, K9 approved, keep pets safe, romance, stuffed animals, travel with dog, true love, tug of war, Uncategorized, Valentine's Day

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.

***

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/

***

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.

***

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.

***

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

Rover Reporter in Scottsdale

Here is Arbor’s latest video.   Arbor is our Rover Reporter from Las Vegas. She just got back from Scottsdale, AZ and had a grrrreat time.  
“The FireSky Resort was wonderful!  They are truly pet friendly, they do not impose any weight, size or breed restrictions.  There are no pet fees and no deposit which is especially nice when traveling with more than one dog.”  (seems like they’ve got lots of dogitude)… 



Complimentary goldfish upon request…

 

Bosco, Director of Pet Relations, is a 7 year old Cocker Spaniel. He went home for Christmas so Arbor did not get to meet him. Some of his duties include Hosting Doggie Happy Hour and Dirty Dog Wash, or just hanging out at wine hour.

 

 

Bosco describes the best thing about greeting pet guests and their human companions:

 

“We have a lobby chalkboard that resembles me.  When guests see it, they often look at me, do a double take and say, ‘Hey, that’s the dog on the board!’   I always get a kick out of that.   I also love all the attention that guests lavish on me.  My trick?  I stretch my paws in front of me, kick my back legs out like a frog, wiggle my nubby tail, perk the ears up, and woof, just like that, folks are petting me.  On a good day, I can even manage a few belly rubs!”

 

Bosco says, “In Scottsdale, I like to hang out at Salty Senorita—a fun Old Town restaurant and cantina—Classy Jazzy dog clothing shop, or Chaparral Dog Park—an off-leash paradise with three acres of grass. I also like it here at the FireSky, where I get people to pet me. The best thing in town, though, has got to be the “Dog Beer” we offer. It’s got my face on it, tastes great, and is especially refreshing after a long day of chewing on one’s paw.”

 

You can send Bosco a message via email…

 

http://www.kimptonhotels.com/services/pet-directors-firesky.aspx

 

 

 

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Filed under dog travel, dogs, four paws up, guest blog, K9 approved, luxury travel, pet friendly dining, pet friendly lodging, pet travel, Uncategorized

bend it like oregon

Another guest blogger today, hurray… This is from Tawna Fenske, bio below, does PR for Bend Oregon.

When most people think of Oregon, they imagine lush, damp forests and constant rain. But it’s a different picture in the mountainous high desert of Central Oregon.

Dubbed the “outdoor playground of the West,” Bend, Oregon is a recreation lover’s paradise filled with craggy volcanic rock formations, snowcapped mountains, rushing rivers, endless trails, and a whole lot of open space dotted with sagebrush and juniper.

It’s the perfect setting for dog-loving travelers and very Happy Dogs…

http://jillrosellphotography.blogspot.com/2011/01/dogs-of-bend-oregon-pet-photography.html

Bend is famously friendly to canines, and was recently nominated by Dog Fancy magazine as “one of the best places in the country to be a dog and dog owner.”

So what is there to do if you’re a four-legged traveler coming to this city?

Though Bend’s population is just 82,000, the city has a whopping SEVEN  off-leash dog parks http://www.bendparksandrec.org/Parks Trails/Dogs in Parks/. These aren’t just little patches of grass, either. Pine Nursery Park, for example, is an 18-acre fenced space packed with trails, trees, and wide open spaces for fetching and running.

If open trails are more your scene, there are plenty of them in and around Bend.  http://www.dogpac.org/trails&parks.html  Visit the website for Bend’s dog advocacy group, DogPac, for a complete listing of summer and winter trails guaranteed to be Fido-friendly.

For those seeking special events and activities to enjoy with a canine companion, Bend has plenty to offer. In the winter months, skijoring is a popular diversion for dogs and humans (think of it as cross country skiing while being pulled by a dog). Wanoga  http://www.dogpac.org/wintertrails.html  Sno-Park is a great place to sample that, along with regular old snowshoeing or Nordic skiing with your pooch.

In the warmer months, Bend’s  http://www.bendconcerts.com Les Schwab Amphitheater brings in tons of great concerts that are open to dogs and humans alike. Dogs are also welcome on most  mountain biking trails  http://www.dogpac.org/summertrails.html  around Bend for those who like to tear up the singletrack with Rover along for the ride.

Once you’ve had your fill of frolicking and butt-sniffing in the great outdoors, consider visiting some of Bend’s dog-friendly shops for toys and necessities.  http://bendpetexpress.com/   Bend Pet Express has an excellent selection of food, toys, and treats, with locations on both the northeast and west side of town. They also carry products from   Ruff Wear, a Bend-based manufacturer of products for active canines. Pick up one of their doggie floatation coats before renting a canoe from Alder Creek Canoe and Kayak  or Tumalo Creek Canoe & Kayak and heading out onto the water with your pooch.

And if you want to go camping and hiking, here is a map,  http://www.visitbend.com/Bend-Hiking-and-Camping-Map.pdf

For dogs with a taste for the bling, check out  Dog Patch Boutique on Minnesota Avenue in Downtown Bend. The shop has a great selection of dog accessories ranging from Swarovski Crystal collars to leashes to beds to dog apparel and cologne.

During the summer months, most restaurants with outdoor dining areas are eager to welcome you and your dog for a meal.  Chow,   Bourbon Street, Parilla Grill, Flatbread Community Oven, and Brother Jon’s are just a few great spots that allow dogs to dine with their owners at the outdoor tables.

The Bend Ale Trail :  a majority of these breweries are dog friendly in their outdoor seating areas, and you’ll almost always spot a pooch or two leashed to the lamp poles in front of local pubs.

For dog bakeries, try Polka-Doodle Dog Bakery and Healthy Paws offer grain free dog food.

Bend also boasts oodles of  pet-friendly Bend hotels for visitors  who need a home away from home. Options range from luxury boutique accommodations like The Oxford Hotel (which offers perks like organic dog treats, travel bowls you get to keep, and a personal pet bed proportional to the size of your pet) to budget-friendly lodging options like Super 8.

http://traveltips.usatoday.com/pet-friendly-rentals-bend-or-33725.html

If bringing your dog to his own pet-loving resort is more your kind of vacation, Bend offers a number  of doggie hotels to pamper even the pickiest puppy.

Even without all the opportunities for hiking, frolicking, and dining with your dog in Bend, it’s the little things that make you both feel at home. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a gas station attendant or drive-thru coffee barista who doesn’t offer biscuits to your pooch, and most local businesses keep water dishes out in the warm months.

It’s Bend’s way of saying welcome to two and four-legged friends alike!

Bend it like Oregon guest blog by Tawna Fenske

About Tawna

Tawna joined Visit Bend in October 2010 to handle day-to-day execution of Visit Bend’s communications programs. She manages relationships with key media contacts and stakeholders in the tourism industry, playing the primary public relations role for the organization.

A third generation Oregonian, Tawna has lived and worked in Bend since 1997. Before joining the Visit Bend team, Tawna spent nearly eight years as the Publications Coordinator for the Marketing team at St. Charles Medical Center. She also worked in marketing and corporate communications for an international translation company and a nationally franchised family photo studio.

When she’s not devoting her energy to promoting Bend tourism, Tawna stays focused on her other job as a published novelist writing quirky romantic comedies. She loves roaming the globe and tending to a menagerie of ill-behaved (but well loved) family pets.

http://www.visitbend.com/blog/2011/03/02/the-ultimate-dog-date-in-bend-oregon/

Besides Bend, you might want to visit other places in Oregon such as Medford, Ashland and Grants Pass and/or  Sutherlin and Florence (the beaches).

Here’s some info on Grants Pass. Cici and I camped out at the Valley of the Rogue campground a few times, as well as stayed in a yurt at Honeyman campground in Florence and stayed in various motels in Medford, Florence and Ashland, as posted about two years ago.  we also visited gorgeous Crater Lake.

http://www.rogueweb.com/crater/

https://celiasue.wordpress.com/2008/08/15/its-reigning-cats-and-dogs-in-florence-oregon/

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http://traveltips.usatoday.com/hotels-allow-dogs-grants-pass-oregon-52674.html

http://www.coosbayinn.com/hotel-oregon-coast-sitemap.asp

a bird in the blog hop thanks to Life with Dogs

https://www.facebook.com/bethechangeforpets?sk=app_4949752878

Time for BlogPaws’ Be the Change for Pets project, spring cleaning, clean out our closets!

  Join pet bloggers and pet lovers from around the world, on May 18 -25th- for the world’s first online garage sale to benefit animal rescue or any other animal based cause you would like. You can participate from your own home and participate however you like.

Thank you to Two Little Cavaliers for this heads up… and two of the cutest lil doggies Cici would love to play with…

and here Blog Hop is the code

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Filed under big dogs welcome, dog friendly, dog travel, dog treats, dogs, guest blog, Oregon, pet friendly lodging, pet travel, Uncategorized, USA Today

here a horse, there a horse, everywhere a horse horse

cici and i are in vacaville, ca… at a horse ranch place motel… it’s kinda cute and there is a horse riding school plus a dog park within less than five minutes away… and many cats at the motel, thankfully that cici has not seen, but she has smelled them…  🙂

they are renovating the motel rooms and it is supposed to be noisy but so far has not been…

http://www.ranchotelhorsecenter.com/

she played with a bunch of dogs, mostly puppies, a pittie, a viszla, rottweiler and some mixes… we miss the morgan hill dog park though, much nicer with green green grass…

vacaville is on hwy 80, next to fairfield, on the way to dixon and sacramento…

we stayed one night at the super 8 motel in dixon and it was ok but overpriced at $65, they gave us a noisy room outside the ice machine and when we came out in the morning there was a kitty cat on top of the desk and cici went nuts barking at 6 a.m. plus the kitty decided to come over and say hi and gave cici’s nose a scratch… what a fiasco !

we usually stay at the red roof inn in dixon but they were completely full…

actually happy to have found a weekly rate at this ranchotel, resting and vegging out… there is a panera’s bread bakery nearby, where I am now online, a safeway, trader joe’s and all the usual amenities, plus the ranchotel is very quiet and rural at night… yay …

monterey was crazy with the u.s. open golf tourney and the motels and hotels even in gilroy had doubled and tripled their rates, yuck…

soon it will be happy fourth of july, amazing, what a weird summer this has been… it is very warm, hot here, but we have a/c so it does not matter much…

we still need to explore vacaville to find out the doggie places here, besides pet smart and petco… there are probably fun stores, and napa is not that far, maybe half hour away, with pet food express…

just figured out that cici has been a happy participant (mostly) at 11+ different dog parks: Carson City, Nevada (doesn’t really have a dedicated dog park), Fresno, CA, Irvine, CA, Palm Springs, CA, Morgan Hill, CA, Monterey, CA, Half Moon Bay, CA (two of the wealthiest communities with the saddest excuse for dog parks ever), Fort Bragg, CA (Mendocino), Vacaville, CA, Idyllwild, CA, Cambria, CA and Carmel beach… and she has played with more than 500 doggies… yikes !

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Filed under California, dog parks, dog ranches, horses, pet travel

pooches bunkhouse in Idyllwild…

our friends Rodney and Ian at Strawberry Creek Inn recently launched the Bunkhouse, a pet friendly property nearby their fabulous Strawberry Creek Inn… each room has a kitchenette and has great views with private balconies, also free wifi…stays are affordable and are complete with delivered to your door breakfasts or you can choose to visit SCI’s incredibly delicious NOT TO BE MISSED breakfast, well worth a few extra dollars…

on the website, they also list a bunch of pet friendly services and activities in Idyllwild…

this property is also eco-green friendly…

http://www.strawberrycreekinn.com/pet_bunkhouse.htm

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Filed under California, dog friendly, dog travel, eco friendly/green, Idyllwild, K9 travel, pet travel

to b and b or not to b and b…

that is the question…

last summer, I had two very different experiences at inns… this is totally true, no exaggeration…

which inn would you want to stay at and come back to again and again??? which innkeeper loves being an innkeeper and which one might consider retirement or another profession?

this is what the first innkeeper did…

1. when we arrived, i was offered help with luggage and asked if i wanted a cold drink…

2. my dog was also welcomed… i was told repeatedly that my dog had the run of the house and shown various entrances and exits to make it easy for us to come into or out of the house….there were chickens in a coop and baby chicks off the side of the house and my dog was more than tolerated, patted, rubbed and given lots of attention (plus cheese and sausage) and a bowl for water

3. my internet connection did not happen, so i was offered to use the innkeeper’s computer to use to get on the internet, was able to sit at their desk and also told that they had two phones with free long distance and i could make phone calls if i needed to do so

4. before the innkeeper left for a meeting, they showed me around, explained how everything worked, and made sure i was comfortable. plus, the home was immaculate, sparkling clean, and fresh …

5. when they returned from their meeting, they offered tea and two blueberry muffins before I went to sleep.

6. upon arising early, i was offered an earlier than usual breakfast and hot water for tea was available beforehand.

7. the breakfast was done with a lot of flair and i was told how they came up with the idea.

8. there was a parting gift to remember the inn and innkeepers by.

9. i was asked if i needed assistance with my luggage when i left.

10. i was also given suggestions about places to go and take the dog in the area as well as directions … i left feeling as though my dog and I were both pampered and cared for…

the very next day at another inn…

l. i was greeted by the innkeeper saying that my dog basically was not welcome (even though she knew that I was bringing a dog and writing about dog travel) because there were chickens running around loose on the property and a fraidy cat dog

2. i was also told that i was expected later in the afternoon, all of which was a complete unwelcome

3. i was shown to my room upstairs, no downstairs rooms were an option (I had thought there were two ground level cottages). When we went downstairs, the innkeeper and I chatted in the kitchen while my dog was in the car, in the hot sun, the phone rang and the innkeeper not only took the call but stayed on the phone for more than 10 minutes, while i sat there waiting, i finally indicated that i was going upstairs and bringing my dog with me

4. i waited for more than an hour for the innkeeper to get back to me, and she never did.

5. she had mentioned she would be doing a wine and cheese hour in the afternoon and when i finally came downstairs (after waiting for her to get back to me) and asked about it, I was told, you said you did not want any wine. was i offered anything else to drink or eat? no… the innkeeper acted like it was a huge inconvenience, doors were slammed and i finally was given a generous slab of cheese and crackers, no water, no soft drink, no lemonade, no conversation and the person left to go off to a meeting for the evening.

6. the next morning, i was asked if eggs were ok for breakfast at 8:30… i said yes. I was not asked about my preferences or allergies or how i like my eggs cooked. they were thrown together, homestyle, scrambled with bacon (which I don’t eat) and english muffins, and yogurt and fruit was offered. not exactly the sort of food expected at a b and b.

7. the room itself smelled funny, no desk to work on and i had no idea if there was any temperature control of the room if it got cold nor if I could get on the Internet or not

8. the downstairs seemed dusty, musty and not entirely clean, there was a tv downstairs in the living room, but i was not told whether i could watch it or how to use it and there was no tv in my room nor a phone either

9. no parting gift, and no assistance or suggestions except to take my dog for a long walk which i had before we arrived. she had been able to run and roam free at a couple of properties but not in a couple of days…. and this property had no place for her that was safe… there was a busy road with cars, horses, chickens and no fenced area for the dog to play

10. i could not wait to leave and left at 9:15 am, I cannot recommend this inn to anyone… and if an innkeeper treats a travel writer this way, this is indicative of how they treat their ‘real’ guests… some innkeepers think it doesn’t matter and just want to make money and wonder why no one is booking at their inn. and they think that it is totally fine to give the media their worst rooms and to treat us shabbily, and then expect positive publicity… on what planet??? most innkeepers are more media savvy and smart than that… but some have an attitude that is unfathomable to me… if you don’t want us in your home, don’t invite us…

and if we go out of our way to get you excellent media coverage, don’t flake on the opportunity or you will be blacklisted and banned from future opportunities. the media are people,, too and no one likes to be treated badly.

do you treat your guests as if they are pests or people you truly want to be in your home ? do you think any guest would ever want to pay to stay at the second inn, visit the second inn another time and/or recommend it to their friends?

according to bed and breakfast.com, It is more important than ever to give your guests the best service and to get involved in social media and do publicity… just saying, if you need assistance, contact me and if I can assist you with writing a blog, twitter, newsletters, or other publicity, let me know…


http://www.innkeepersonly.com/innkeepernews/May-09/media.htm

typewriter

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Filed under chickens, dog friendly, dog travel, dog treats, inns

wag your tail in little river…

THE ANDIRON SEASIDE INN AND CABINS (FORMERLY PACIFIC MIST INN)

If you’re happy and you know it wag your tail…

Now if you are looking for a FUN eco and dog friendly inn for some peace and quiet and relaxation, run do not walk to the Andiron Inn in Little River, California along Highway One (20 minutes from Fort Bragg)… feel the stress melting away. Doesn’t look like much as you drive up, rustic ambiance nothing fancy but boy there is a whole lotta Silence. Peace. Quiet. There are nicely spaced apart for privacy individual cabins that have been refurnished, renamed and express the new owners creative flair.

There are do it yourself barbecues, kitchens, a hot tub in the woods (how romantic)… speaking of romance, if I were getting married, this would be a fabulous place to tie the knot and invite a wedding party to stay… and if you are thinking about having a girlfriend’s getaway, the cabins are perfect because you can each have your own room and share one cabin. It is a hop, skip and a jump to the beach.

cici and i stayed in #4 the There cabin, with a globe (lit), a pull down school map on the wall, lots of vintage suitcases, jigsaw puzzles and games, and travel posters, circa 1960, a gas fireplace to cozy up, television, and a deck to sit outside… the owners love salvage, recycled, rehabbed furniture and are planning to put in a veggie garden, build a chicken coop, and create an outdoor space for music as well as build a fire pit and plant native trees. Other cabins include the writer’s cabin (Write), Here, an homage to the north coast, nature, nurture, read, curious, curiouser, play and make (a crafty cabin with an entire paint-by-numbers wall which guests are invited to complete).

By the way, Cici was very happy when Jen was manager when the inn was called Pacific Mist. Jen had a dog and Cici always loves to play. Jen is no longer at the Inn but Jen is the person who introduced me to Mendocino so am thankful to her for that.

address (6051 Hwy One, Little River, CA 95456)
website
email: TheAndiron@gmail.com
pet amenities: a pet kit with sheet, towel and treats
Rates: $99-289 pet fee: $20 per pet per night
Tel: 707 937-1543
no breakfast
on site dog: sometimes, two lovely greyhounds
Dogitude Rating: 3.5 Bones

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Filed under dog travel, Mendocino, pet friendly lodging, pet travel