When you travel, does Fido come with you, or do you make
arrangements to leave any furry friends at home? We’ve tried it both ways,
and—although it can be a bit restrictive taking a four-legged friend
along—we’ve discovered that, with a little advance planning, it can be done!
My husband and I have always loved taking our English Style
Labrador Maggie to the beach, where she can run and swim to her heart’s
content. She’s a very well-behaved dog, so we’ve taken her to visit relatives
too, including my elderly Mother, who is crazy about her.
This fall, we experimented with something new: taking Maggie
on her first official “road trip.” We were traveling from Virginia to the
Tennessee mountains to see family, and then heading to Asheville, North Carolina. It was early November, but we still caught some changing leaves,
which were glorious!
One thing I discovered is that the Chamber of Commerce of
some towns provides an online listing of dog-friendly restaurants, shops and
accommodations. While health codes prevent people from bringing any animals but
service dogs indoors, a few restaurants have outdoor seating where pets are
welcomed.
We were lucky to find a nice Bed and Breakfast in
Jonesborough, TN that happily accommodated us and our pet. We also made a cool
discovery in Maryville, TN. Did you know The Quinta Inn allows dogs, and does not
charge a pet fee? While the accommodations weren’t elaborate, they certainly
were suitable and a buffet breakfast was included.
During our final stop in Asheville, we rented a
dog-friendly cabin tucked away on a mountainside and overlooking the city. It
was a nice way to round out the trip, and provided yet another perspective on
pet-friendly accommodations. It was probably my favorite place to stay, since
it gave all of us a little more legroom and freedom to roam around. This was
especially important on our first day there, when it rained cats and…um…dogs!
To help the car ride go smoothly for everyone, I packed a
bag for Maggie containing some of her favorite toys, snacks and her regular
food from home. We kept to her normal eating schedule as much as possible, and
were sure to bring a large water bottle specifically for her—which we used to
pour water into her traveling dog dish. Hubby and I brought sandwiches
for the road, so we wouldn’t have to worry about finding a pet-friendly eatery
between our major destinations. We also made sure to stop every few hours to
give Maggie a walk and get our own circulation going. In this way, having her
with us was probably good for our health, as well!
How about you? Do you travel with pets? If yes, are there
any tips you can share? Please add them in the "Comments" section.
*~*~*
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Ginny Baird
writes contemporary romance novels and novellas. Download Book 1 in her Holiday
Brides Series, The Christmas Catch, for free at Amazon, B&N,
iBooks,
and Kobo.
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