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Why travel with a dog at all?

I’ve touched on this topic from time to time, but for some reason a relatively harmless article posted on suite101.com prompted me to crack my knuckles, fire up a new page on WordPress, and come to grips with the question. Perhaps it’s because the author’s tone was so reasonable: Why, he asks, would you want to bring your dog to Oaxaca, Mexico? Traveling with a dog, Mr. Starkman says, will restrict your hotel choices, will prevent you from doing a lot of the things you’ll want to do, and will be hard on your dog, who would much prefer “being boarded in a quality facility back home where he can frolic with his own race.”

I’ve seen these arguments before, but usually they’re phrased less elegantly — people who dislike dogs can be truly venomous. Mr. Starkman has a dog of his own (a brindle boxer named Tito), so we can be pretty sure he’s not a dog-hater, and he raises some good points. At the end of the day, I reach an entirely different conclusion than he does, but it’s worth talking through his concerns.

It’s true that not every dog likes to travel. After reading my friend Edie Jarolim’s recent series of posts on Will My Dog Hate Me? about her efforts to address her dog Frankie’s reservations about car travel, I understand that traveling is not the joyous romp for all dogs that it is for Chloe. I do not believe, however, that dogs generally prefer to be in “a quality facility back home.” On the contrary, I believe that most dogs like best to be with their humans, even though some tolerate, and some even enjoy, the company of other dogs. For some dogs, and I include Chloe among them, contact with their humans is crucial to their well-being.

Even Frankie has a fine time once he reaches his destination — it’s just the car he dislikes. As Edie’s posts demonstrate, travel anxiety can be removed or soothed with considerate training and calming scents and sounds. Consult your veterinarian, if you have an anxious dog but think you might like to travel together. Please note that you and your vet may conclude that your dog’s health precludes some forms of travel — a senior dog with health issues and a snub nose, for example, would not be a good candidate for air travel, if he couldn’t fit in an in-cabin carrier.

I also agree that you can’t bring a dog with you to every destination. Dogs aren’t allowed in Antarctica, they aren’t typically welcome in Muslim countries, and I wouldn’t dream of taking Chloe to Thailand — I barely survive there in my wispiest clothing, for heaven’s sake. I have not yet been to Oaxaca, so I cannot offer personal experience to contradict Mr. Starkman’s report that local attitudes towards dogs, and visitors with dogs, are negative. I find it hard to believe that Oaxacans would fear Chloe (though they might fear a brindle boxer), and I have no problem with being considered eccentric. That said, I agree that it’s worth doing research ahead of time to make sure that bringing a dog to a particular destination is not likely to harm the destination, unduly inconvenience your hosts, or endanger your dog.

I do not agree that my vacation will suffer because I will be compelled to choose a substandard hotel. Even in Oaxaca, TripAdvisor lists six dog-friendly hotels. They all sound like fine choices; the top-rated one is #2 out of Oaxaca’s 101 listed hotels, and sounds terrific. That doesn’t surprise me — typically, a destination’s pet-friendly hotels will include both high-end hotels and more modest hotels. I’ve never had to stay someplace dirty or unsafe or poorly located because I was traveling with Chloe. We stay in exactly the same kind — and quality — of hotels we stayed in before we had a dog.

I also do not agree that my vacation will suffer because I will be prevented from visiting attractions that do not welcome dogs. In Oaxaca, we are told, a dog will not be welcome at Monte Albán, Mitla or a market. Presumably, dogs are also not allowed in local museums or churches. This is not news to dog owners. Traveling with a dog is not the same as traveling on your own, but with a bit of planning you can see all the sights you want to see. You want to visit the ruins at Monte Albán? Then wake up early, work off your dog’s morning energy with a long walk through town, and visit Monte Albán — or the Centro Cultural de Santo Domingo, or the Cathedral — while she’s napping in her travel crate.

Photo by curran.kelleher

The fact is, it’s fun to travel with your dog. With a dog, you’ll walk through neighborhoods you’d only see in passing from a bus or a taxi, and at a leisurely pace. If your dog is attractive and approachable, you will meet locals at every turn — and at their warmest, goofiest best. It’s a hoot to seek out pet-friendly bakeries, shops and restaurants, and in the process you’ll find yourself learning about parts of the city that tourists don’t typically visit. Worried about culture shock or isolation? It’s difficult to be depressed, and impossible to be lonely, with a dog — even if you feel like curling up in a ball, your dog needs to get out at least a couple of times a day. Other kinds of traveling are an even easier sell, since hiking and camping are much more fun with a dog, as are road trips. And sailing? Do a search for “dogs sailing” on Flickr and see for yourself.

That’s where Mr. Starkman misses the boat. He sketches a dismal picture of pet travel — undertaken by self-indulgent owners at the expense of their dog’s happiness, and resulting in a disappointing, suboptimal vacation experience — when the reality is so very different. Anyone who sees Chloe snorfling happily through the streets and parks of New York, or Friday Harbor, or Columbus, sees a dog having the time of her life, and sharing her pleasure with her owners.

“Where are dogs allowed to be in Central Park?”

Someone reached Dog Jaunt via this query yesterday, and it’s question I’ll have, too, when I head off to NYC next week for the TBEX bloggers conference. Happily, it’s easily answered, because the Central Park Conservancy, in its wisdom, created Central Park PAWS, whose website is a key part of its mission to keep a dialogue going between the park and the many, many dog owners who love the park.

Look at the Park Guide page for all the details and for a map marked with Central Park’s dog-friendly areas, but the short answer is that signs will tell you where dogs are never allowed (e.g., the Sheep Meadow) and where dogs must be leashed at all times (e.g., the Ramble and the Bridle Path). Otherwise, dogs may be off-leash only between 9 pm and 9 am.

[6/16/16 A quick update from my walk today through the park and past Bethesda Terrace. That lake just beyond the fountain is temptingly full of romantically drifting rowboats, but alas, your pup can’t drift with you (per the guy in the rowboat booth). Drat!]

Chloe’s Clicks: Dog travel links we liked this week

The first two links I have for you this week highlight a couple of intrepid travelers-with-dogs: ohmidog‘s John Woestendiek is soldiering across the U.S. on a minimal budget with his dog Ace (I only came across the saga a few posts in, but it begins here), and filmmaker and journalist Allison Otto travels throughout the U.S. with her dog Cosette (Otto’s blog is Small Dog on the Go, and she was profiled this week on Take Paws).

This week also saw the release of three Top 10 lists — I’m not generally a huge fan of these lists, because it’s often hard to tell what criteria are being considered, but they always have a couple of good ideas to check out. Sure Fit (the maker of slipcovers, which relate to dog travel if you squint a bit) calls NYC the most dog-friendly city in the U.S., and lists most of the usual suspects as choices 2-10 (Ann Arbor is an unusual entry). Meanwhile, BellaDOG issued its own list of the Top 10 most dog-friendly cities in the U.S. Portland gets the nod for #1, but #2-10 include some interesting contenders, like Albuquerque and St. Petersburg. Taos, NM is not on either list, but its dog-friendly hotels and restaurants were praised in an Ellen Barone post.

FIDO Friendly also published a Top 10 list, via a guest post on Mom Generations, of the Top 10 dog-friendly U.S. beaches. Two I’d never heard of are Chicago’s Montrose Dog Beach and the beaches of Duck, NC.

By far the biggest and best news in the dog travel world this week, however, is that Marin County’s Department of Environmental Health has changed its policy against allowing dogs to join owners at outdoor restaurant patios — tellingly, the change was made “after receiving complaints from local restaurateurs.” Dogs are now allowed to sit with their owners in Marin’s outdoor dining areas, as long as the area can be accessed from the outside (dogs are still not permitted to walk through restaurants to reach outdoor patios). What joy!

Photo Friday: The Grand Canyon

The caption on Flickr for this photo is “the grand canyon: unimpressed dog,” which is perfect. It was taken just over a year ago. The official website for the Grand Canyon National Park has a page devoted to visiting dogs: Pet dogs are hardly allowed at all on the North Rim, and on the South Rim, dogs are allowed only above the rim and must be leashed. There is a kennel on the South Rim, to give pet owners the option of boarding their dog for the day while they hike below the rim.

Since pets are not allowed in any of the park’s hotel rooms, non-campers will need to make hotel reservations outside the park’s boundaries — the nearest town, and it’s small, is Tusayan, but Williams (about an hour’s drive away) and Flagstaff (about 1.5 hours away) are also workable options.

Photo by fPat

Please send me links to your favorite dog travel photos! They’ll get listed below, for everyone to click on and view. Here’s how it works:

  1. Every Friday, I’ll put up a post like this one, sometime during the morning (Pacific time).
  2. If you have a blog or a website, post a dog travel photo on your site on Friday and link back here to the current week’s “Photo Friday” post so that your readers can see other great dog travel photos. Please take a moment to make sure that you are linking directly to your photo post instead of your homepage.
  3. If you don’t have a blog or a website, simply post your photo to Flickr (or Facebook, Twitpic, etc.).
  4. Using the inlinkz button below, paste in the link to your photo or your blog post. That way, Dog Jaunt will link back to you. Please include a few words in the “Name” box describing where you took the photo (in this case, “Name” refers to the name of your photo, not your name!).

Charleston, SC public transit: No pet dogs allowed

Photo by rjones0856

Charleston, South Carolina is a lovely, historic place to visit — but you won’t be using public transportation to get around, because CARTA (Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority) does not allow pet dogs on its buses, even in carriers.

Independent providers offer tours of the historic area, and organize trips to Fort Sumter and historic plantations outside the city, but most are not pet-friendly (including the ubiquitous Gray Line tour buses). One shining exception is “Doin’ The Charleston” Tours, which offers a 90-minute, air-conditioned, pet-friendly bus tour of downtown Charleston, including a stop at the Battery seawall for a leg-stretch.

Leashed dogs of any size are also allowed on board the Charleston Water Taxi, which travels back and forth between the Charleston Harbor Marina and Patriot’s Point in Mt. Pleasant. Along the way, you get terrific views of the U.S.S. Yorktown, Ravenal Bridge, Fort Sumter — and lots of dolphins. Visitors rave about the trips, praising the friendliness and knowledgeability of the crew.

Happily, the historic area of downtown Charleston is small enough that walking makes perfect sense (though the air-conditioning alone may convince you to take the bus tour). For trips further afield — to Fort Moultrie (which allows leashed dogs on the grounds, unlike Fort Sumter) or to the plantations — you’ll likely want to rent a car.

Speaking of plantations, although Middleton Place and Cypress Gardens do not allow pet dogs on their grounds, Magnolia Plantation welcomes them with open arms. A customer service representative told me this morning that leashed dogs may visit the extensive grounds and gardens, take the Nature Train and the boat tour, and go on the From Slavery to Freedom tour. The only places dogs are not permitted are the house and the petting zoo. Leashed dogs are also welcome on the grounds of Drayton Hall, and on the grounds of the much-filmed Boone Hall Plantation (though not on the coach tour).

For other posts about traveling with dogs on public transit, take a look at Dog Jaunt’s handy guide!

NYC dog-friendly restaurant: Central Park Le Pain Quotidien

This picture, sent to me last week by New York friends, says it all: The new branch of Le Pain Quotidien, which just opened in the Mineral Springs Pavilion near Central Park’s Sheep Meadow, has a dog-friendly patio. Tears of joy, people!

The new Le Pain Quotidien in Central Park

Sure, it’s a chain — but it’s a darned good chain, not only making praiseworthy efforts to use organic and local ingredients, and build and operate in a responsibly green way, but also serving really delicious pastries, sandwiches and soups. Word has it that they’ll add vegetarian dinners to the line-up, four nights a week, starting in late June. [6/28/10 We went here for breakfast this morning with Chloe and our friends, and can now report that the oatmeal and tartines are great, and the service is super-friendly. It’s in a pretty setting, too, with plenty of birds and passing dogs for Chloe to look at.]

The Central Park location has a big patio, seating 100, and take-out is also available. It’s located in the southwest quadrant of the park, at about the level of 69th St.

I was interested to learn from Central Park’s official site that the restaurant’s location used to house “a bustling pavilion that served 30 varieties of natural spring water in the late 1800s and early 1900s.” That’s the kind of craziness I associate with the late 20th century, but apparently wretched excess is timeless.

Le Pain Quotidien
Central Park: Mineral Springs
T: 646-233-3768
Open Mon. to Sun. 7 am to 9 pm

Dog jaunt: Visiting San Juan Island, WA with a dog

Photo by kimbol

We’ve been going to San Juan Island since 1999, and we love it. We love the ferry ride, which threads through a constellation of islands (collectively called “the San Juans,” they include three other big islands — Orcas, Lopez and Shaw — and dozens of small ones), and we love Friday Harbor, the main town on San Juan Island. It’s a cheerful hurly-burly in the summertime, and it’s restful and mellow the rest of the year. All year round, the island is beautiful, with rolling countryside in the interior and miniature cliffs and forests (and two adorable lighthouses) on the coasts.

Where to stay

You’ve got a few good options in Friday Harbor, and a couple more in the hinterlands (keeping in mind that the entire island is only about 15 miles long and 8 miles wide).

In town, your options include Earthbox Motel & Spa, a former motel that’s had an appealing, eco-friendly facelift. According to its website, “pets are allowed in designated pet rooms and you might even meet one of our black labs in the pet area.” There is a $15 fee per pet per night. Nearby is the reliable Best Western Friday Harbor Suites. They have three rooms where pets (no size limit) may stay, for no additional fee.

Slightly closer to the ferry landing is Harrison House Suites, a B&B with suites that include kitchens. The largest suite (three bedrooms, two baths) occupies the first floor of the main house and sleeps up to 10 people; the smaller suites sleep up to 4 people. Dogs under 25 lbs. are welcome, for a $25 per day fee. According to the website, “the inn’s specially prepared ‘doggy’ biscuits or muffins will be offered for breakfast.”

[8/29/11 I’m happy to report that the two most glamorous hotels in town now welcome pet dogs. Friday Harbor House, on the bluff overlooking the marina, has three pet-friendly rooms and charges a $50 fee per stay. The Island Inn, just next to it, has two pet-friendly rooms and also charges a $50 fee per stay.]

Outside town, your best option is the Lakedale Resort, rapturously described in an earlier Dog Jaunt post.

Where to eat

When it’s warm, your dog can join you on a variety of restaurant patios. If it’s too chilly for outdoor dining when you visit, however, wear your dog out on the beach or at the dog park and let her snooze in her travel crate while you go to a restaurant, or assemble a picnic you can eat in her company — at your hotel or, bundled in blankets, at a scenic spot.

For pastries, cookies, ice cream or a really excellent breakfast sandwich, go to the Doctor’s Office, located in a green Victorian house directly opposite the ferry landing (you can order at the walk-up window across from the ferry waiting lot). There are signs on the deck saying that dogs are not allowed, but the proprietors will step, smiling, over your dog, on the way to your table. (It’s best to test these rules with a mellow, sleepy dog, however.) The San Juan Coffee Co., located at Cannery Landing (which flanks the ferry landing) also has pastry and coffee, plus a large chocolate display, and the water bowl outside their door indicates that dogs are welcome at their deck tables.

For a serious breakfast (involving eggs and very good bacon), sit with your dog on the deck of the Blue Water Bar & Grill. Blue Water, across from the ferry landing and a couple of doors down from the Doctor’s Office, also serves a very acceptable lunch and dinner.

You can get tasty sandwiches, soup, sides and desserts (plus a modest selection of gourmet groceries) at the Market Chef, just up the hill from the ferry waiting lot, on “A” Street. Here too a mellow, sleepy dog will be overlooked on the front deck, or walk with your dog on the unmarked path around the right of the restaurant to the shaded tables in the back. The Market Chef would also be a fine place to get lunch to go, or stop by Sweet Retreat, a tiny walk-up counter in the center of town on Spring Street, for excellent sandwiches and soup. The Sweet Retreat proprietor will likely hand your dog a huge Milkbone treat when you visit — it’s that kind of place. Alternatively, shop for picnic supplies at King’s Market, also on Spring Street. For a small town on a small island, it has terrific groceries and excellent wine.

For fish and chips, or grilled or fried seafood in baskets, go to Friday’s Crabhouse, located directly across from the ferry landing and between the Doctor’s Office and Blue Water. It’s only open seasonally, since it’s just a series of decks overlooking the harbor, but it has a great view and leashed dogs are welcome. Step across the street when you’re done and get yourself an ice cream cone at the Friday Harbor Ice Cream Co. (the Doctor’s Office is another good source).

Your best choice for dinner is the Backdoor Kitchen, cunningly concealed in the middle of a nursery and behind a warehouse parking lot — but well worth the search. Follow the directions on their website to reach a serene, comfortable patio (where leashed dogs are welcome) and excellent, Asian-inspired meals (served Thursday through Sunday nights).

Things to do

San Juan Island has something for everyone: boutiques and spas for strollers and shoppers, drives through the island’s central farmland and along its beautiful coasts, hikes and beach walks, whale watching, and, for the more adventurous, kayaking, sailing and scuba diving. Here are the activities we look forward to when Chloe’s with us:

Visiting Roche Harbor and the winery

The other community on the island is Roche Harbor, a former company town for the Tacoma and Roche Harbor Lime Company. While the charmingly old-fashioned Hotel de Haro is not pet-friendly, it’s a pleasure to see from the outside (pick up your pup or tie her outside briefly, and duck inside to look at the lobby, which is a slice of history). The garden that stretches from the hotel to the marina is truly lovely. Walk down the boardwalk to the Lime Kiln Café and eat at one of the outdoor tables — the fish & chips are good, though the café is known for its doughnuts.

Drive back to Friday Harbor on Roche Harbor Road, and you’ll see a small white chapel on your left, with a couple of barns beyond. You’ve reached San Juan Vineyards, and you should certainly turn in and go wine-tasting. Are dogs welcome? “Of course,” I was told — in fact, you’ll likely meet a resident dog when you visit. The wines are very drinkable — our favorite is the Siegerebbe, made from the vines you see. The vineyard describes it as having “a romantic floral and tree fruit nose with crisp citrus and pear flavors finishing with a hint of grapefruit.” We call it a good summertime wine, refreshing and cool, like the wine equivalent of iced tea.

Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed at Pelindaba Lavender Farms, another island must-see, because the farm is organic (and dog poop, as I’ve mentioned in an earlier post, is unpleasant stuff). However, be sure to visit the Pelindaba store in Friday Harbor and buy a bottle of the lavender-based pet shampoo. Chloe has never smelled so good!

Walking on the beach, visiting the sculpture park

The island has a number of beaches, of the pebbles-rocks-driftwood variety. Our favorite is the largest, South Beach, which is long and windswept. On a clear day, you can see Mt. Rainier, some 125 miles away. Leashed dogs are welcome on the beach, and trash cans are available, but bring your own poop bags.

As an alternative, walk along the trails criss-crossing the 19-acre Westcott Bay Sculpture Park, open every day from dawn to dusk. It’s near the entrance to Roche Harbor, so you might want to combine visits.

Hiking and biking

We’ve really enjoyed a loop trail that begins at Jakle’s Lagoon, across from South Beach, and goes up Mount Finlayson, but there are plenty of others. Check out this useful site describing several San Juan Island hikes and providing PDF maps. Your dog is welcome but must be kept on a leash.

The island is also the home of several geocaches. If you’re new to geocaching, you’ll want to visit www.geocaching.com to learn how it works. If you’ve looked for a geocache before, you’ll know what a fun combination of hiking and puzzle-solving it can be. Geocachers typically create caches in interesting places that are off the beaten path — our last one on the island took us to a tiny, charming harbor that we had thought was entirely private. Chloe sniffed around happily while we peered and poked and consulted the magic (GPS) device.

If you’d prefer to cover a little more ground, rent a bicycle at Island Bicycles and take to the roads. San Juan Island is hilly, it has to be said, so you may prefer to catch a ferry and bike on Lopez Island instead — but if you’re up to the challenge, San Juan is a beautiful place to peddle. Check out Dog Jaunt’s posts about biking with a small dog.

Whale watching or kayaking

One of the most riveting experiences I’ve ever had was hanging over the side of a stationary and silent whale-watching boat in the San Juans as a pod of orcas passed by and underneath us. The only company that allows dogs on board, and they need to be small dogs, is Western Prince. Let them know that you would like to bring your dog with you when you make your reservation, so they can clear it with the boat’s captain, and be prepared to keep your dog either on a leash or in a carrier.

While the whale-watching boats make every effort to find orcas for you, the inter-island ferry simply chugs around the islands at stated times. Look at the Washington State Ferries schedule (download the PDF version) and find the eastbound vessels that do not continue to Anacortes (they are highlighted in red on the PDF version). You may see wildlife, or you may not, but you’re guaranteed beautiful scenery, and the ferry is free from Friday Harbor. Consider hopping on board with your dog in her carrier and spending a sun-soaked afternoon making the circuit.

Another favorite way to whale-watch is to visit Lime Kiln Point, a 36-acre park on the west side of the island. Leashed dogs are allowed in the park, and a short walk along the trail leads to you the shore and one of the adorable lighthouses I mentioned earlier. Pack a picnic, seat yourselves at one of the picnic benches, and keep an eye out for orcas — they’re often seen here (notices are posted on the near the lighthouse door, telling you when the pod was last seen). Another trail takes you to an old kiln, not so much restored as stabilized. It’s a pretty walk and an interesting glimpse of a forgotten industry.

I called all of the kayak rental agencies on the island, and found one that would allow you to kayak with your dog. San Juan Outfitters rents kayaks from the marina in Roche Harbor, and also runs a variety of kayak tours. The rental kayaks are sit-on-top kayaks suitable for dogs. Dogs are not permitted in the sea kayaks used on the tours.

One last thought — before taking your dog onboard a whale watching boat or a kayak, you might want to take her to the San Juan Island dog park to wear her out a bit. It’s an excellent place — one of Chloe’s favorites — and a few minutes of hard romping there will make your boating experience more serene.

What if you decide to go day sailing or scuba diving, and just can’t bring your dog with you? Your best option is the Animal Inn, which offers boarding (including day boarding), grooming and medical care. There are both indoor and outdoor runs, fenced play yards (for either individual play or supervised play shared with no more than 2-3 dogs), and leash walks. The cost is $30/day (includes two playtimes); current vaccinations are required.

What if you had to leave your dog at home, and need a dog fix? Go to Friday Harbor’s animal shelter (see below for contact info and hours) and take one of the dogs for a walk or for a drive — or romp around the dog yard with the residents. Pet a cat too, while you’re there!

Getting to San Juan Island

Most visitors arrive by Washington State ferry. It’s my preferred way, since I can bring a car with me if I choose to. Several ferries travel daily between Anacortes and Friday Harbor, and one a day travels between Sidney, B.C. and Friday Harbor. If you arrive early at the Anacortes ferry terminal (and you should arrive at least an hour early), make your way down to the beach for a walk along the shore while you wait.

Victoria Clipper‘s passenger-only catamarans make the trip from Seattle to Friday Harbor in about three hours. The service is seasonal — daily from May 21 to September 6, and weekends-only from September 7 to September 26. Dogs are allowed onboard, for a $10 fee. Large dogs must travel on deck in a hard-sided crate (available for rental), but small dogs may travel inside in a carrier. If you make your reservation online, be sure to follow up with a call to reserve a spot for your dog.

There is a seasonal ferry, the Victoria Express, between Victoria and Friday Harbor. During the summer (this year, it’s between June 25 and Sept. 6), and only Friday through Monday, this small ferry boat chugs over from Victoria at 9:30 am and leaves Friday Harbor at 3:30 pm. Visiting Canadians can make it a day trip, but if you’re going the other way (from Friday Harbor to Victoria and back again) you’ll have to spend the night in Victoria. Dogs are allowed onboard; remember to prepare ahead for Canada’s and/or the U.S.’s import requirements.

Kenmore Air seaplanes land and take off from Friday Harbor throughout the day. Small dogs are allowed on board — let Kenmore know you will be traveling with a dog when you make your reservation, and pack light (your dog’s weight counts towards your luggage weight allowance).

Four other airlines serve San Juan Island.  Westwind Aviation provides charter flights to a variety of locations in the Pacific Northwest, including Friday Harbor. Dogs are allowed onboard, but bring either a carrier or a towel with you to keep dog hair off the seats. Northwest Seaplanes provides charter flights to Friday Harbor, among other locations. Small and medium dogs (not pit bulls) are allowed onboard, either in your lap or on the floor. Island Air, based in Friday Harbor, provides charter flights throughout the region. Small dogs in carriers are particularly welcome; medium dogs are also welcome, but large dogs pose weight-allocation and weight-shifting problems they’d rather avoid.

San Juan Airlines, serving the San Juans and British Columbia, offers charter flights to Friday Harbor from Seattle or Renton and scheduled flights from Anacortes and Bellingham. They allow one pet per flight onboard, and it needs to be lap-sized (larger dogs are allowed on charter flights or on otherwise empty scheduled flights). Pets should be on a leash, not in a carrier, and bring a towel to keep pet hair off the seats. Like Kenmore, San Juan Airlines will refund your fee or reschedule you on a later flight if a fellow passenger prefers not to travel with a pet onboard.

Getting around the island

If you arrive at the island on foot, how will you get to all of these places I’ve told you about? Friday Harbor itself is small and very walkable, but to visit locations outside of town you’ll want to rent a bicycle, as I suggested above, or (for the less athletic among us) rent a car, take a taxi, or ride the island bus.

M&W Auto Sales and Rentals is located near the airport (about a 15-minute walk from the ferry landing) and offers daily rentals — and even shorter rentals if you prefer, on a first-come-first-served basis. My in-laws have rented cars for a day at a time over the past ten years from M&W, and have always been happy with the service and cars they’ve received. Dogs are allowed in the M&W cars but should be in a carrier to keep hair off the car seats and to keep door handles from being scratched.

There are at least three taxi services on the island, but their fares for destinations outside Friday Harbor are very high. Call Friday Harbor Taxi (360-298-4434), Classic Cab (360-378-7519‎) or Bob’s Taxi (360-378-6777), but your better choice, I believe, is to rent a car for a day.

Well-behaved dogs are welcome on the island bus (San Juan Transit), which carries passengers to the major island attractions, including the lavender farm, Lime Kiln State Park, English Camp, the Krystal Acres alpaca ranch, the Westcott Bay Sculpture Park and Roche Harbor (alternatively, the direct route goes from Friday Harbor to Roche Harbor by way of Lakedale Resort, the vineyard and the sculpture park). You can get off at a stop and explore before catching a later bus to succeeding stops. The fare is $15.00 for an all-day transit pass (no fee for dogs).

Is there a pet store on the island?

There certainly is, and it’s splendid. Check out an earlier Dog Jaunt post for the details.

What if my dog needs a vet?

There is medical care available at the Animal Inn, a boarding and day care facility with an excellent reputation on the island.

The Islands Veterinary Clinic, on Mullis Street across from the airport, also gets rave reviews. A March 2009 article from the San Juan Journal is a testimonial to the wonderful quality of care provided to a local dog attacked by a trio of pit bulls by Islands Veterinary Clinic’s Dr. Sonja Webster-Hills (with help from the Animal Inn’s Dr. Michelle Loftus).

The island does have a problem with unrestrained dogs. Usually they menace livestock, especially sheep — an in-town attack like the one described in this article is rare. Chances are that you and your dog will be fine doing the kinds of activities listed in this post, but when you’re hiking or visiting farmstands, keep an eye out for groups of dogs without an owner.

Islands Veterinary Clinic
850A Mullis Street
Friday Harbor, WA 98250
T: 360-378-2333

Animal Inn
25 Boyce Road
Friday Harbor, WA 98250
T: 360-378-4735

What if my dog is lost?

San Juan Island has an excellent animal shelter, called the Animal Protection Society. It’s open to the public from Tuesday to Sunday, 11 am to 2 pm. Someone is there, however, from 8 am to 3 pm. If you lose your pet, call 360-378-2158 to contact or leave a message at the shelter. Also consider calling the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office at 360-378-4151.

Animal Protection Society
111 Shelter Road
Friday Harbor, WA 98250

Addresses and locations

Doctor’s Office
85 Front Street
Friday Harbor, WA 98250
360-378-8865‎

San Juan Coffee Co. (just below the Harbor Bookstore)
18 Cannery Landing
Friday Harbor, WA 98250
360-378-4443

Market Chef
225 A Street
Friday Harbor, WA 98250
360-378-4546

Friday Harbor Ice Cream Co.
1 Spring Street
Friday Harbor, WA 98250
360-298-0716

South Beach
San Juan Island National Historic Park

Lime Kiln Point State Park
1517 Westside Road
Friday Harbor, Washington 98250

Chloe’s Clicks: Dog travel links we liked this week

Writing a blog post on a World Cup weekend is like a tree falling in a forest, but I’m a faithful girl, and there are clicks to tell you about. The most tempting (and that’s saying something — it’s been a good week for dog-friendly links!) is a post from The Inner Workings of a College Graduate about a glorious week the author and her family spent at a dog-friendly beach rental on beautiful North Captiva Island. Great pictures, and you’ve got to love a place where golf carts are the main mode of transportation.

Other great leads include a list from the Los Angeles Times of pet-friendly hotels and restaurants to check out in Catalina, Big Bear Lake, Las Vegas, Port Hueneme, and Newport Beach; suggestions from The Village Voice for places to eat out with your dog in New York; and a list from Things I Luuuuurve of dog-friendly places to eat in Cleveland.

It’s not just about the U.S., though. Check out this fun post from Jean Snow (“your guide to design and pop culture in Tokyo”) about taking his gorgeous dog Confiture for a walk through Tokyo, with stops for food and drinks along the way, and take a look at a new (to me) blog called Dugs n Pubs, a “dog-friendly guide to Edinburgh and beyond.” The blog name brought me up short, but the info is excellent.

That leaves me with a grab bag of good things, including the fine idea that an outdoor mall in Colorado Springs (the Promenade Shops at Briargate) has implemented: put a paw sticker on your door if you allow dogs inside. So simple, and so smart. Remember that I told you, back in January, about Stetson University’s new pet-friendly dormitory? A recent New York Times article about students bringing pets to college generated a storm of reader questions, which Stephens College’s vice president for student services answered this week.

Will My Dog Hate Me‘s fine series on helping your anxious dog handle car trips continues, with a very useful installment about counter-conditioning and anti-anxiety aids like calming collars and garments. And for those times when you just can’t bring your dog with you, check out the guest post by Diane Pomerance on Pet News and Views about how to find the “perfect pet sitter.”

Photo Friday: Dogs in Venice

Last Friday’s post was all about boating safety with a dog, and this week’s…is not. This picture was taken in August 2008 in Venice, and it makes me smile. Speaking of Venetian dogs, Maggie in Venice, a blog I recommended back in February, is still going strong — great videos and photos, as well as useful tips about places to enjoy with your own pooch. If nothing else, you have got to see the Imbodens’ photo-essay about Venice’s “hard-working” dogs.

Photo by d3rail

Please send me links to your favorite dog travel photos! They’ll get listed below, for everyone to click on and view. Here’s how it works:

  1. Every Friday, I’ll put up a post like this one, sometime during the morning (Pacific time).
  2. If you have a blog or a website, post a dog travel photo on your site on Friday and link back here to the current week’s “Photo Friday” post so that your readers can see other great dog travel photos. Please take a moment to make sure that you are linking directly to your photo post instead of your homepage.
  3. If you don’t have a blog or a website, simply post your photo to Flickr (or Facebook, Twitpic, etc.).
  4. Using the inlinkz button below, paste in the link to your photo or your blog post. That way, Dog Jaunt will link back to you. Please include a few words in the “Name” box describing where you took the photo (in this case, “Name” refers to the name of your photo, not your name!).

Dog jaunt: Visiting lovely Lancaster County with Fido (and FIDO Friendly)

This is a guest post written by Carol Bryant, the Editorial & Social Media Director for FIDO Friendly Magazine, and guardian of Dexter, an irresistible Cocker Spaniel. Carol is also in charge of the excellent FIDO Friendly blog.

Amish farmer in Lancaster County, PA

Buggy rides. Jams, jellies, relishes. Shoo fly pie, Dutch food smorgasbord, shopping, and field after field of crops being tended in one way or another. This is Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

And Fido’s welcome.

Often called “Dutch Country” by visitors and locals alike, Lancaster County was the home of my dog’s veterinary specialist for years. We took the road less traveled to appointments, through Amish towns like Intercourse, Blue Ball, Lititz and Bird-in-Hand — and on a few occasions, we turned the vet trip into a vacation, so when Dog Jaunt asked for a guest post about the area, I excitedly accepted.

Throughout years of visiting Lancaster County with my cocker spaniel, countless numbers of fellow travelers told me, “I wish we could’ve brought our dog along!” In lieu of chatting with each of you about how to make Fido’s frolicking as fun and fret-free as possible, I invite you to sit, stay, and read a while. FIDO Friendly offers these unique tips to make your trip to Lancaster as Fido-friendly as possible.

Where to stay

Ah, the age-old question for travelers with canine companions. Of the many inns and quaint B&B’s in the area, I’ve stayed in and recommend the following:

Brandy at the Hawthorn Inn

Hawthorn Inn & Suites: Affordable, and charges only a nominal pet fee. Complimentary breakfast is included, rooms (located on the first floor) were always clean, and a nice grassy area surrounds the hotel, making for easy access at potty time. The location on Lincoln Highway, which runs through the heart of Lancaster, is ideal — traffic and noise were never issues for us. Fidos weighing 50 pounds and under were welcome at last check, for a $50 non-refundable fee per 7-day stay.

Lancaster Host Resort and Conference Center: We attended a conference at the Host, which gave a nice “Wilkum” (Dutch lingo for welcome) to visitors at its front doors. Adequate but a bit outdated, the Host boasts an 18-hole championship golf course, pool, and restaurant, and is conveniently located within minutes of the Dutch Wonderland amusement park. At last check, dogs of any size were welcome for a one-time fee of $25 per Fido (up to three allowed).

What to see

Be a tourist! Visiting Dutch Country, you’ll want to immerse yourself in the local culture. Prepare to catch glimpses of a time gone by, since the Amish only travel by horse and buggy, on foot, or by scooter/bicycle. However, as local historian Brad Igou writes in the Amish Country News, if you wave to the Amish and they don’t wave back, don’t be insulted. Imagine if tourists waved to you all day long as you went about your business! Nothing would get done. One has to grin at such a sentiment.

There are two great shopping centers located on Lincoln Highway, and Fido is welcome to walk around both: Tanger Outlets, with over 60 shops and services, and Rockvale Square Outlets, with over 100 outlet stores. QVC fans take note! The QVC outlet store is located at Rockvale Square, as is the famed Vanity Fair outlet. I’ve stocked up on socks, undies, PJ’s, and sweats on every trip. Be sure to stop in the customer service center for coupon booklets to save money in a variety of stores.  If you take a family member or friend, one of you can shop while the other explores or relaxes outside on a bench with Fido.

Kitchen Kettle Village is at the top of the list of things to see and visit with Fido while in Intercourse, a quaint little town that’s home to buggy rides, a canning company, a pretzel company, and a quilt museum. Many scenes in the movie “Witness” (starring Harrison Ford)  were filmed here. Kitchen Kettle Village allows Fido to walk the grounds while you shop and take in the aroma of the many jams, jellies, and canned goodies made on site. The visitor’s bureau takes pride in this “village of 32 shops that’s built around one of Lancaster County’s most famous kitchens. Sample fresh pepper jam, see fudge being poured, Shaker furniture being made, and listen as Banjo Jimmy plays a folk tune.” I can personally attest to each of these unique attractions. Be sure to get there early, and bring cool water and treats for Fido and a comfy pair of walking shoes for your tootsies. Shop ’til you drop and eat ’til you’re full are must-dos on the day’s agenda!

Not far from Kitchen Kettle Village is the Bird-in-Hand Farmers Market — although Fido can’t enter, it makes for a great pit stop for fresh corn, veggies, and baked goodies. Also in Bird-in-Hand, and conveniently across the street from the Farmers Market, is a delectable bakery featuring highly-recommended cinnamon buns and apple dumplings.

Be sure to check out Country Creations on North Star Road in Strasburg, PA (I’m having an “I can’t believe I’m sharing this because this is an awesome find” moment!). Country Creations is located in a 100-year-old, three-story barn. The Hayden Company soy candles are a must-buy — no soot, and long-lasting scent. While I shopped, a family member ambled around the premises with Fido. Nearby cows, horses, and farmlands provide a glorious background for some four-legged strolling.

Please note: This may sound like a lot of driving, but everything is within 20-30 minutes of the Lincoln Highway (a.k.a. U.S. Route 30).

Have a family member take Fido, perhaps with a picnic basket of local goodies, to a Lancaster-area park (for example, the Overlook Dog Park on Fruitville Pike) while you  explore neighboring towns like Hershey (“the sweetest place on Earth“) and Mount Hope (home of the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire). Bird-in-Hand, which you’ve already visited for its Farmers Market and its bakery, is also the launching point for delightful hot-air balloon rides.

What to eat

I really think this section should be called “what’s not to eat,” since you’re visiting an area that prides itself on its home cooking and variety of treats. If you travel with Fido, you either like finding a place that does take-out, or one that won’t make you wait for hours while Fido unwinds from a busy day back at the hotel room. With that in mind, here are a few restaurants and area specialties to check out:

Those are only a few of the places yours truly can personally recommend, but you’ll certainly find others just by driving around the county and following your nose. Still can’t decide? Check out Lancaster County’s visitor information site for more suggestions and information.

Rich in history, culture and art, Lancaster County has something for everyone, including the four-legged member of the family. The tourism bureau boasts that there are “so many things to do, you’ll come back again and again,” and it’s very true. Happy FIDO Friendly Vacationing!!!

Now in our 10th year, each bimonthly issue of FIDO Friendly magazine includes hotel and destination reviews, health and wellness topics, dog training advice and the latest fashion trends. We can be found at Borders, Barnes & Noble, Hastings and Fido-friendly hotels nationwide. Dog Jaunt readers are being offered a 20% discount. Simply visit our subscriber page and enter discount code TASHA to receive your discount.