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.

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

 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.

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 Toys^TM 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/

 

pups the magic labrador…

an interview with Paula Kidney and Pups

Paula J. Kidney is 38 years old, married, lives in Michigan and works for a law firm. Her love for animals started at a young age. She loves Labrador Retrievers and has a Black Lab named Garth Milo. Paula is married to Gregg who is a retired Engineer and they both love boating and traveling. Paula and Gregg have a cottage on beautiful Houghton Lake, Michigan and Pups was thought of one day while boating. Paula found Pups at a small boutique. She had never seen a lab so cute in any store before. Then she came up with the idea of “Pups the Traveling Labrador.”

After keeping Pups at home for a time, she began taking him sailing. While discussing his many adventures with fellow members of a low-carb lifestyle website – a forum with over 75,000 subscribers – Paula found that others enjoyed hearing about Pups as much as she enjoyed the outings. Soon the dog received invitations to visit others all over the world and experience different adventures. Demand is now so high the wait list is six months!

Oh…did I mention that Pups is a stuffed black labrador dog?

Pups is currently working on his own series of books called “Pups the Traveling Labrador.”

Each person that hosts Pups gets him with his suitcase. They host Pups for about a week or so. They take Pups out on adventures, famous places and he poses for the camera. Pups usually stays about week. Then, each host sends a short story of his adventure to me along with his pictures and I post on his website, myspace and facebook pages. Then they contact me with Pups next destination and they ship him off to his next stop and it goes on from there. He has been traveling for about 3 1/2 years…

1) tell me a little about you and your dog (Pups) and how you started your
travel dog business and dog blog…

Pups website is http://www.pupsthetravelinglabrador.com

Paula J. Kidney was shopping one day and found a cute black labrador in a small boutique. She decided that he should travel the world. Paula has a black Labrador named Garth Milo and he is the inspiration for Pups. Paula decided that Pups would be called “Pups the Traveling Labrador”. Paula posted the idea on a low carb forum with over 75,000 subscribers and soon so many people wanted to sign up to take Pups around their city and state and he could pose at famous places and sites and pose for the camera, he soon had a waiting list of six months.

Pups adventures continued to grow and he began traveling all over the world. He has been to Germany, Ireland, Switzerland, Australia, Japan, Canada, Barbados, St. Kitts, Caracos, Antigua, San Fransisco, Seattle, Kansas, New York, Wisconsin, Texas, Connecticut, Disney World, Epcot Center, Florida, Tennessee, Iowa, Jamaica, Cozumel, Dominica Colorado, Boston, Alcatraz, Chicago, New Jersey, Connecticut, England, Canada … So many places to list!

His adventures keep continuing with more and places to visit and see. He will be going to Russia and Poland in September 2009.

He has also attended A Relay for Life Race, a Wedding, I even applied at Harvard Law School, taking flying lessons over Florida’s alligator-infested swamps, witnessing the birth of a baby girl in Missouri, meeting Reba McEntire’s sister at Rodeo Daze in Texas. Pups recently attended the AKC CGC testing with dog Trainer Jay Barman and Pups passed and received his Canine Good Citizen certificate from the AKC.

2) When did you start your blog, and what inspired you to get into blogging?

Pups started traveling the world about 3 1/2 years ago. Paula decided that he needed a website to keep up with his adventures and his pictures of his travels. http://www.pupsthetravelinglabrador.com

3) What’s your favorite thing about blogging?

I love to share Pups adventures and post his newest pictures so that people can travel through Pups eyes!

4) Have you noticed a shift in attitudes towards dogs, dog
travel?

yes, I have noticed that more and more people are traveling with their pets and also airlines are accommodating for people traveling with their pets. People love their animals and want to be with them as much as they can!

5) What are some of your favorite blogs ?

dooce.com, labradorsworldwide.com, moddogblog, and of course, celiasue.wordpress.com

6) If there was one tip that you would recommend that
pet owners and/or pet business owners or pet bloggers follow, what
would it be and why?

I feel that pet owners should share all that they have about their pets on their blog and tell the stories as if the dog was telling the story. (Note: cici and I do not agree)…

7) How do you cope with juggling all of the various balls you’ve got
going in the air?

I prioritize each task as to its importance and go from there.

And don’t forget, today is August 1, you have only 14 more days to submit your Shaggy Dog Tales/Photos to WIN the contest, right here at Have Dog Blog Will Travel !

eco friendly spa in the woods…

stevenswood spa

a black lab, 7 years young, greets you in the lobby… and it smells delicious when you walk into the lobby, with spa ambiance music playing in the background…

we stayed in a very large suite called LeBallister Queen Suite with a fireplace, tv, internet, honor bar, two plush chairs, two chairs with a table to eat by a window, upscale, modern, coffee maker, hot tub outside, trail, very peaceful and quiet … Stevenswood uses clean flame, earth friendly, eco-friendly firelogs.

pet fee per stay is $50 non-returnable and pet amenities include bowl, bed, treats, and toy plus there is a nice grassy area in the back for dogs and a trail with grassy area near to where you park your car…

All of the very modern and spacious ten suites are pet friendly and have Cordless Telephones, Complimentary Wireless Internet, Hair Dryers, Luxurious Spa Ammenities, Irons, Coffee Maker, Desk Speaker Phone, Upgraded Italian Glass Vanity, Imported Cork Flooring from Portugal, Italian Microfibre Furnishings, Bathroom finished in Imported Sea Green Slate from Madagascar, Luggage Racks, Spa Robes & Evening Turn-Down Service.

had a yummy breakfast, there was a choice of numerous tempting entries from waffles, pancakes, to omelettes. I chose an omelette with spinach, mushrooms and cheddar cheese, it was huge, light and fluffy and came with a fresh fruit cup and tasty scone. Pastry flour and whipping cream are the secret to their wonderfully light scones.

Indigo Eco|Spa

Guests can sample a variety of body, skin and facial treatments centered on the beauty and power of the sea. The Eco-Spa is committed to the use of products and resources which have the least impact on the ecosystem. Locally formulated utilizing only the very finest organic botanicals, raw ingredients and ecologically sensitive methods, Indigo is a certified Eco|Spa.