DOG FRIENDLY GETAWAY IN MONTAUK, NEW YORK

Long Island, New York is well known for it's beautiful beaches and great schools.  One thing it isn't known for is being very dog friendly.  That doesn't mean there aren't some great places around Long Island you can enjoy with your dog.  But there's a great Dog Friendly getaway in Montauk New York, at the Eastern end of Long Island.  It's one of the few places on Long Island where you'll find some beautiful, fun spots to hang out in with your dog. 

My dog Icy, observes the ocean at Gosman's Dock

Grab your pooch and take a trip with us to a hidden gem of Long Island, Montauk Point!

TIPS FOR AIR TRAVEL WITH PETS

If you plan to travel with your dog or cat and you're traveling by airplane, a lot of consideration and careful planning is needed. I'd like to talk specifically about those pet travel requirements that are particularly troublesome and can potentially ruin your trip. Follow these tips for air travel with pets to ensure a stress free flight with your dog, cat or other pet! ** Information in this post is updated as of December, 2024.

TIPS FOR AIR TRAVEL WITH DOGS AND OTHER PETS

There are two ways to travel with your pet by air; either bring your pet on board with you or check them as cargo, where they fly in the belly of the plane.  

Each airline has it's own set of rules for pets and if you don't familiarize yourself with the rules of your chosen airline it can be disastrous. (Note: this post applies to companion pets, not certified service animals)




My dog Phoebe in her Sherpa carrier, ready to travel!

Take Your Dog Out To The BALL GAME!

What's more American than baseball, hot dogs & apple pie?  Taking your family to a baseball game in Summer is a great activity, but why exclude the family dog from the fun?  With Bark In The Park events cropping up all over the country, you can bring your dog along!  We loved taking Icy out to one of the dog friendly Diamondbacks games in Arizona.



I am so ready for the game!  Dad and I have been practicing.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY: Falling In Snow With Huskies

Previously I shared a post on our trip with the dogs to Flagstaff, Arizona.  What I didn't share was pictures of my Husky pulling my husband down the snowy hill, with him falling and rolling all the way.  I just had to snap photos and share it with all of you!

It started off innocently, with Icy and her Daddy enjoying the snow at Humphrey's Peak.

Suddenly Icy has the urge to pull as only a Husky can, and Daddy goes DOWN!

He goes down HARD!

Finally, he, recovers and gets up with Icy shaking her head asking "how did I end up with such a clutz for a Dad??

Mommy on the other hand, has no such problem.  She handles both dogs on the snowy hill with grace and flair, BOL!!

Has your dog ever pulled you and dragged you down a snowy hill... or across the county??  Leave us a comment, we want to hear from you!

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY: Sedona, Arizona

On a trip to Sedona in the Arizona high country, my Husky Icy had some fun posing with a pink Jeep and a handsome coyote!

C'mon you guys, get a move on! We're going for a jeep tour through the desert!

I think there might be romance in the air!

I'd love to connect with you on social media!  If we're not already following each other, lets connect!

Twitter           Facebook        Instagram         Pinterest

100 Places To See With Your Dog: Flagstaff, Arizona

Last Thursday the weather in Phoenix was expected to hit 100 degrees.  It's way too early for 100 degrees, so last minute we decided to load the dogs into the car and head North to Flagstaff for beautiful mountains and much cooler weather!  Although it's only 3 hours away, it's nearly 30 degrees cooler in Flagstaff than in Phoenix!  Temps in Phoenix can easily reach 110 degrees in Summer, so it's no surprise that Phoenicians flock to Flagstaff in Summer!

Icy was in heaven with the cool weather in Flagstaff.  Here she is posing amongst the beautiful Aspen trees.  Aspen trees look a lot like White Birch trees.

Flagstaff is largely known for being a fun college town, but high elevation and levels of precipitation provide lots of natural beauty and cooler outdoor activities as well.  You can be skiing in Flagstaff in the morning, and sipping a latte at an outdoor cafe in 70 degree Phoenix weather in the afternoon!  It's the coolest thing!

Sepia Saturday: My Lady Of The Lake

My furry Lady Of The Lake, Saguaro Lake that is, in Sepia.

My Husky, Icy, surveying the area from this rock at Saguaro Lake in Arizona.  If you'd like to see this photo and my other photos from this beautiful lake in living color, click on this link: Dogs Day At The Lake 

Dogs Day At The Lake

We took our dogs on an adventure to beautiful Saguaro Lake, just a few miles North of Phoenix, Arizona in the town of Mesa.  The lake is named after the Saguaro cactus, which you can see in the background of the first photo.  Saguaro cacti are native to the Sonoran desert and don't grow anywhere else.



Iscy, Phoebe and my husband at Saguaro Lake.  You can see a Saguaro cactus in the background.

Icy surveys the area from her perch on a rock.

Checking out the place some more.

Icy looks longingly at the water. Uh-Oh, we know that look. 

And there she goes, into the water!  Of course the first thing she does is sneak a drink of that water.

Phoebe had no desire to get near the water.  She was content to sniff some desert wildflowers instead.

Saguaro Lake is an easy day trip and quick getaway from the city of Phoenix Arizona.  The drive is lovely, the lake and wildflowers of Arizona are so pretty and relaxing!  It's a great dog friendly place to visit in the Phoenix area. You can also do some boating in Saguaro Lake but there is a fee.  Check out the web site for more information.

Your Dog Can Be Your Best Travel Buddy

I know many of you are dreaming of a fabulous warm weather vacation.  As you dream and plan for your next vacation, will you be taking your dog along with you?  I hope so because your dog can be a great travel companion! Here is some travel inspiration for the dog friendly vacations we've taken with our dogs. You might want to consider these next time you choose a travel destination.

We've travelled extensively with our dogs across the country. It's gotten to the point where we hate to leave the dogs behind when we travel!



Phoebe proved she's no prissy girl when she made it up this mountain in Sedona, AZ

Nearing sunset, we reach the end of this beautiful hiking train in Sedona

Iscy sits inside the famous Imagine Circle in Central Park's Strawberry Fields, a memorial to John Lennon

Icy in Central Park standing next to her idol, Balto, the last lead sled dog to reach Nome, Alaska, saving the town from a Diptheria epidemic during the Great Serum Run (aka Great Race of Mercy)

Icy chillin' on a beach in The Hamptons, NY

Phoebe refuses to get out of this super comfy bed during one of our road trips!

At the International U.F.O. museum in Roswell, NM.  The dogs weren't too sure about this place.

Icy gets up close & personal with a statue of one of our Founding Fathers in Colonial Williamsburg, VA

That was fun! Where to next, Mom!?

East Coast to West Coast, mountains to beaches and everything in between.... Take Your Dog With You!!  For tips on traveling with dogs, check out my post Road Trip With The Dogs.

Do you take your dog on vacay?  What's your dogs favorite vacation?

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY: Snowdog Dreamin'

My Husky, Isis, is SNOWDOG DREAMIN' on such a Winter's day! 

Isis is happiest when she's frolicking in the snow!  Here she is last Winter, visiting family on the East coast.  We live in Phoenix so we don't get any of the white stuff.

Gorgeous snow covered mountains, way in the distance could be seen from Northern Phoenix last month when a whopping 10 inches of snow fell in Sedona.  A real rarity!

The same snow covered mountains way in the distance as seen from Northern Phoenix, where it was in the 60's.  We wanted to head up North to Sedona, but much of the snow was gone in just a couple of days.  Isis was very sad, she wanted to go so badly!

Phoebe is no snow bunny.  She prefers to always be warm and cozy.  No Thank You mama, I will stay right here in my zebra bed where it's nice & warm!

THIS IS A BLOGPAWS WORDLESS WEDNESDAY BLOG HOP!!

100 Places To See With Your Dog: Sedona in the Fall

Less than 2 hours North of Phoenix, Arizona is the spectacular Red Rock Region known as Sedona.  When we lived in Phoenix, we were lucky enough to be able to visit Sedona often.  Each time we went, it was more spectacular than the time before.  It's our very favorite hiking place, with limitless hiking trails, nearly every one of them dog friendly.  A few weeks before Christmas we decided to head up there for a couple of days of hiking with Icy and Phoebe.

Here are some of my favorite photos from our trip.  I hope you enjoy them, and if you ever have the chance to visit Sedona I hope you'll go!  You will be amazed at the natural beauty and dog friendliness of this incredible town!




Little Phoebe surprised us with her endurance in making it so far up the mountain!

Pausing for a photo op on our way to the top.  OK, so really we "paused" because I was about to keel over - it's a long way up!

DOG FRIENDLY IN THE HAMPTONS, LONG ISLAND NEW YORK

The Hamptons.  The ultimate Summer playground conjures up images of celebrities and mega millionaires for many people.  But for most New Yorkers it's a weekend getaway where you can sunbathe on the most pristine beaches, dine on freshly caught seafood, shop 'til you drop (or run out of money, whichever comes first!), party all night long, and pick up fresh local produce at farm stands on the way home!

BEAT THE CROWDS IN THE HAMPTONS

But there's another side to The Hamptons, a quieter time when you can bring your dog along and have some fun.  I could have written a post about the Foo-Foo side of  The Hamptons, spotlighting chic doggy boutiques and people carting tiny dogs around as they shop for hours and attend polo games.  Instead, I opted to focus on the part of The Hamptons that may not seem as glamorous to most "Summer people", but would be an absolute blast for you and your dog! 

Icy enjoying an empty beach and plenty of sunshine at Road D beach in Southampton

Early Fall can be one of the best times to head to The Hamptons.  The crowds are thin and you don't have to worry as much about heatstroke, sunburn, hot walking surfaces or dehydration.   More importantly, restrictions to beach access for both humans and dogs are greatly relaxed after September 15th.  During the Summer, restrictions to accessing the fabulous Atlantic ocean beaches can be a bit insane. 

I love the sound of waves crashing on the beach, but Icy prefers to swim in the calmer waters of beaches on the Bay side.

DOG FRIENDLY HAMPTONS BEACHES

In Summer, beaches have both access and parking costs and restrictions for people, and access restrictions for dogs.  You need to study the rules for the beach you want to go to, each one is a bit different.  If you violate the rules, you'll end up with stiff fines and your car is likely to be towed.  You practically need a PhD to figure out which beach you can go to and when, whether or not you can park, and whether or not and when you can bring your dog! 

The good news is that many beaches on the Bay side of The Hamptons (on the Northern side of The Hamptons) are dog friendly all year long.  They are not as pristine as the Atlantic ocean beaches but the waves are gentle and there's always something interesting to see (and sniff!) along the shoreline.  Your dog will have fun romping along the shores of Bay side beaches, sniffing all the interesting stuff that has washed up along the beach!

Beaches on the Bay side of The Hamptons may not be as pristine as the ocean beaches, but they are pretty and interesting in their own way.

It looks more like a haunted house, but historic Cedar Island lighthouse, is on Cedar Point beach, on the Bay side in E. Hampton.  At the time of this writing, the light was being restored and had been temporarily removed from the top.

THE HAMPTONS IN THE FALL

We always look forward to heading out to The Hamptons between September 16th and late October.  The weather is still beautiful, warm and sunny in September.  In October the weather is cool & brisk and farm stands are loaded with pumpkins and apples!  The traffic and crowds have calmed down, everything goes on sale in the stores, and you rarely have to wait for a table at restaurants. Best of all, you can bring your dog to just about any beach.  It's divine!

There are a few dog friendly restaurants in the Hamptons.  We love to stop for breakfast at one of the dog friendly cafes before we hit the beaches and shops.

Beach Bakery Grand Café in West Hampton is dog friendly & Delish!

There are lots of shops where you can find the latest (human & doggie) fashions, unique home décor, and antiques throughout The Hamptons.  Shopping out there is Expensive, but you can score big with end of season sales in early Fall!


Shopping in The Hamptons is fantastic, but pricey so bring your credit card!

 

Job's Lane Restaurant, formerly the Tuscan House (as seen here) in Southampton, a fantastic Italian restaurant that is so dog friendly.  We love this place!

At the end of a beautiful Fall day in The Hamptons, we had dinner at the very dog friendly Tuscan House, recently re-established as the Job's Lane Ristorante for a heavenly meal and great service.  Of course, we had to stop at several farm stands on the way home! 

Plan your Fall trip to The Hamptons early, even in the Fall places book up fast.

If you enjoyed this blog post, you might also enjoy:

Dog Friendly Montauk, Long Island, right next door to The Hamptons.  

Pet Friendly Travel destinations & Tips in the PET TRAVEL tab on this blog's home page.

100 Places To See With Your Dog: NEW YORK CITY

After working long hours, commuting, and making their way through the hustle & bustle of the city each day, city dwellers love to come home to their adoring pets.  Nowhere is this more evident than in New York City where you have crazy commutes, stress, and hustle & bustle in spades!  New Yorkers cherish their pets, and New York City responds by providing all manner of dog friendly places and activities.  You'll find lots of pet friendly places in New York City to welcome your dog. 

One of many dogs walking their owners in New York City!

New York City truly is the city that never sleeps.  All day and all night long you'll find people on the streets.  You'll also find them walking or hanging out with their dogs at all hours! 

New York City is super dog friendly!

One of the best places to take your dog in New York city is the infamous Central Park.  The park is alive with activity every day of the week!  That activity usually includes dogs.  Dogs in the enclosed dog park, dogs walking or bike riding through the park with their owners, or just sitting out on the Great Lawn, people-watching and taking in the fresh air - well, as fresh as the air can be in over crowded, traffic riddled New York City!

Icy posing for a photo in the famous Imagine Circle. Icy imagines a world where all dogs have a peaceful, loving home.  What does your dog imagine?

Strawberry Fields is my favorite section of Central Park, where I spent countless hours when I lived in NYC.  Strawberry Fields is an area of Central Park that pays tribute to the late John Lennon, of the legendary music group The Beatles.  It's named after their hit song Strawberry Fields Forever.

At the center of Strawberry Fields you'll find the famous Imagine Circle, named after the famous song Imagine, which John Lennon wrote.  He lived in the Dakota apartments close to the park, where he loved taking walks with his wife, Yoko Ono.  This beautiful mosaic honors his life, music, and peace advocacy.  The dedication of Strawberry Fields and the Imagine Circle followed his tragic death in 1980, where he was gunned down outside the Dakota apartment building.



Icy poses with the statue of her idol, Balto.

On the East side of Central Park is a bronze statue of the hero dog, Balto.  Balto was the lead dog in the last relay team of sled dogs that saved the town of Nome, Alaska from a deadly Diphtheria breakout in 1925.  

Nome didn't have enough antitoxin serum to treat all the children and adults infected by the disease.  The only way to get the life saving serum to Nome was via sled dog.  20 relay teams of sled dogs delivered the serum over treacherous terrain to the desperate community of Nome.  Balto was the lead dog of the last relay team to deliver the serum, saving the town of Nome.  

The dedication plaque beneath the statue of Balto reads:

Dedicated to the indomitable spirit of the sled dogs that relayed antitoxin six hundred miles over rough ice, across treacherous waters, through Arctic blizzards from Nenana to the relief of stricken Nome in the Winter of 1925.  

* Endurance * Fidelity * Intelligence

Other fun things to do with your dog in NYC include visiting the many sidewalk cafes, a walk across the iconic Brooklyn Bridge, or a stroll along the waterfront downtown.  From Battery Park at the tip of lower Manhattan, you can see the Statue of Liberty in the distance.  There are a number of fun dog parks scattered across the city as well, just search for them online.

Dogs aren't allowed at the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, or the ferries that take you there, but they are allowed on the Staten Island Ferry.  You'll get a lovely view of the NYC skyline from the Staten Island ferry. You can see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island from the ferry as well.  Dogs must be in a carrier or muzzled to ride the ferry.  You can find a few pet taxi companies online that will take you and your pet anywhere in the city with advance notice. And of course, some Uber drivers will welcome your pet as well if you follow their individual instructions and requirements.

One thing to watch out for in New York City is the LOUD noises and heavy traffic that go along with NYC.  If your dog is very sensitive to loud noise, Sunday may be the best time to see the city.  Icy doesn't like the noise of the city so we take her to central park on a Sunday.  The park is so huge, traffic noise isn't an issue there. 

There are plenty of dog friendly accommodations in NYC, just do a Google search!  Plenty of stores are dog friendly too, including Bloomingdales, Bergdorf Goodman, and Ralph Lauren!  There are dog friendly boutique pet shops all around the city, and there's an Orvis store on 5th Avenue that is, as expected, dog friendly.  Bring plenty of Money & your credit card to Shop Til You Drop!! 

If you & your pooch do decide to visit, I hope you have fun in the City That Never Sleeps!!

TELL US!  If you've been to New York City with your dog, what was your favorite thing to do?   Share any tips or advice you have for traveling to NYC with dogs.

If you're traveling by air, click here to read my post on essential Tips For Air Travel With Pets   

Find other great Dog Friendly  travel destinations and Pet Travel tips in the PET TRAVEL tab on my blog's home page!



DOG FRIENDLY SEDONA, ARIZONA

More and more, my husband and I find that we don’t want to leave our dogs home when we go on vacation, especially if our travel is domestic. Over the years we’ve taken many vacations with our dogs across the U.S. but dog friendly Sedona, Arizona is by far our favorite dog friendly travel destination. Sedona is pure magic!

My dog Icy perched on a rock, hiking in Sedona Arizona

Our love of travel with our dogs started when we didn’t want to put Icy, our 50lb Husky, in the belly of an airplane plane. Instead, we decided to drive from Arizona to New York to see family one Christmas. Since it’s more than 2,500 miles I wanted to make a fun adventure out of it. We chose to spend 8 days traveling and stopping at some fun dog friendly travel destinations.  

That trip was such a fun, interesting adventure we decided to continue our trend of travel with dogs. We've developed quite a bit of expertise on how to travel with dogs successfully, and Icy has become a true connoisseur of dog friendly hotels!




Icy and Phoebe, piled in the backseat, ready for a Road Trip!

One of my absolute favorite places to visit with our dogs, is Sedona, Arizona.  Sedona is one of the most dog friendly places in the U.S., and one of the most breathtaking.  People head to the Grand Canyon in droves, but they often pass right by Sedona, which is only about 2 hours South of Grand Canyon.  But oh what they're missing!

The Red Rock Region, as Sedona is called, is spectacular.  The rock formations and deep red desert colors set Sedona apart from most other unique geographical areas. Sedona is nature’s beauty at it’s finest. 

 

Hiking In Sedona With Dogs

We love hiking in Sedona with the dogs. Our favorite hike in Sedona is the West Fork trail in Oak Creek Canyon.  It's just a few miles round trip, every inch of it displaying gorgeous scenery. You hike across Oak Creek at several points along the trail, but it's not difficult and it's shallow all the way through.  

We also love the Boynton Pass hiking trail. There are miles and miles of hiking trails that allow dogs throughout Sedona.  

Honestly, every part of Sedona is stunning and there's a photo op every where you turn.  Many of the old western movies were filmed there because of the dramatic backdrops.

  

Icy taking a dip to cool off during a hike in Oak Creek Canyon.  She won't go  near a pool, but we can't get her out of the creek!

Like most of Arizona, Sedona is super dog friendly.  You can take your dog just about anywhere.  Nearly every hiking trail, park and recreation area in Arizona is dog friendly, you’d be hard pressed to find one that isn’t.  

Bring the beauty of the Southwest and the magic of Sedona to your home. Right now, I'm offering a Printable Wall Art bundle of 4 digital art prints depicting the beauty of Sedona that you can print out and enjoy in your home or office. Visit my Etsy store to get these four digital prints for only $2.00!

Dog Friendly Hotels in Sedona, Arizona

There are lots of dog friendly hotels and Inn's in Sedona. Two of our favorites are The Lodge At Sedona, a gorgeous Bed & Breakfast. We love the beauty of the property, the quaint rooms and atmosphere, and the wonderful Chef!  Another favorite of ours is the Hilton Sedona Resort at Bell Rock.  

We also enjoyed staying at the beautiful, authentic Southwestern El Portal Sedona Hotel. If you want to step up the luxury, look into the Enchantment Resort. It was a bit too pricey for us, but we did have a delicious lunch on the patio. The mountain views from their patio were exquisite.

Dog Friendly Restaurants in Sedona, Arizona

Several restaurants in Sedona are dog friendly on their outdoor patios.  One of our favorites is the Creekside American Bistro (previously Ken's Creek Side).  They even have a dog menu with items like doggie beef stew, which our dogs devoured!

Wildflower is a casual dog friendly restaurant in Sedona. It's largely self serve, you can pick up your food and bring it outside to an outdoor table. They are up on the hillside, and the views from the outdoor area are gorgeous!  

There's a Starbucks up there as well. We enjoyed late afternoon coffees after a day of hiking with the dogs. We just relaxed and enjoyed the mountain view! Check out the photo below of John and our dogs taking it all in.

Icy enjoying eggs at breakfast, made just for her by the chef at The Lodge at Sedona, a B&B we frequent in Sedona.  They're serious dog lovers!

My husband John and Icy a the end of the West Fork trail in Sedona

Icy, Phoebe, and John enjoying a Starbucks after a long day on the Sedona trails.  This is our favorite way to end a day in Sedona.  Fun Fact: John and I met at a Starbucks!

What travel destinations have you ventured to with your dog?  What was your dog’s favorite travel destination?  Tell us in the comments, we Love hearing from you!

See my post Road Trip With The Dogs for tips on traveling with dogs.