This is a photo memoir of my first year of dedication to dog-friendly travel. In the past, Mom and Dad took me on plenty of mini road trips through Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee. They took an America road trip without me and missed me every single day. As we became increasingly obsessed with traveling together, we realized we wanted to learn and explore dog travel more. We decided to move to Portland, Oregon and our lives changed forever. In the past year, we’ve journeyed across America, explored the Pacific Northwest, and hiked through Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia, Canada. My purpose is to show dog owners the beauty of traveling with your best friend while raising awareness of breed discrimination. I hope you enjoy these memories and that they inspire you to take your dog along on your next family road trip.

Kayaking with Dad on the Rainbow River in Dunnellon, Florida.  Kayaking with Dad on the Rainbow River in Dunnellon, Florida.  Posing at the Tennessee Welcome Sign.  Hiking with Mom on the Gatlinburg Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Enjoying downtown St. Louis, Missouri.  Enjoying the arch in downtown St. Louis, Missouri.  Fearing the corn fields in Nebraska. Observing Sioux Falls with Dad in South Dakota.  Observing Sioux Falls with Mom in South Dakota.  Looking majestic in front of Sioux Falls in South Dakota.  Observing Sioux Falls with Mom in South Dakota.  Observing Sioux Falls with Mom in South Dakota.  Enjoying cozy hotel beds. Posing with goofy roadside attractions. Posing with goofy roadside attractions. Posing with goofy roadside attractions. Enjoying the Badlands National Park.  Hiking through the snowy Willamette National Forest.  Hiking through the snowy Willamette National Forest.  Hiking with Pluto through the snowy Willamette National Forest.  Enjoying more delightful hotel beds. Checking out Mount Hood and the hotel from the Shining in Oregon. Tiptoeing through the tulips at the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival in Oregon. Tiptoeing through the tulips at the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival in Oregon. Hiking to the top of Angel’s Rest in the Columbia River Gorge.  Hiking to the top of Angel’s Rest in the Columbia River Gorge.  Staying at a haunted hotel in Centralia, Washington. Discovering my new favorite hobby at the Sandy River Delta in Troutdale, Oregon.  Discovering my new favorite hobby at the Sandy River Delta in Troutdale, Oregon.  Hiking Latourell Falls in the Columbia River Gorge.  Hiking Latourell Falls in the Columbia River Gorge.  Discovering the beauty of the Oregon coast.  Discovering the beauty of the Oregon coast. Discovering the beauty of the Oregon coast.  Hiking Golden Ears Provincial Park in British Columbia, Canada.  Hiking Golden Ears Provincial Park in British Columbia, Canada.  Hiking Golden Ears Provincial Park in British Columbia, Canada.  Hiking and exploring the Painted Hills at the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. Hiking and exploring the Painted Hills at the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. Hiking and exploring the Painted Hills at the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. Hiking and exploring the Painted Hills at the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument.

How lucky can one dog be? 

Pin this, pups:

Stay tuned for my next blog post, where I hike the Painted Hills!

This blog is a member of the #feetdotravel community. Join us to share travel stories, get travel advice, or read travel inspiration. Scarlett is also a regular contributor for Travel Pass magazine where you can read more of her work: www.travelpassmag.com.

This Spring, we’ve been taking advantage of the sunny weather, and we’re trying to get out to parks and outdoor dining more often. We’ve been vaccinated, so we are feeling more comfortable being out and about with friends. Our last couple adventures were relaxed compared to our usual hiking destinations.

Smelling the cherry blossom trees

A few weeks back, we had a beautiful day enjoying the Cherry Blossom trees at Tom McCall Waterfront Park near Chinatown in Portland. These trees bloom all over the city, but there is a massive row of them at the waterfront to enjoy. Learn more about this gorgeous annual event on my YouTube:

Last week, we had a hotel staycation at a Hilton property in downtown Portland. We checked in, ordered Chinese food, and just relaxed and cuddled. Scarlett loved people watching at the window. I work for another Hilton in town, so we will not be giving a “paws up” review on this property. Check out the story on my YouTube:

We are trying to spend as much time enjoying Portland and the PNW as we can this summer, because my husband is graduating, and we have other destinations and travels in mind. Please let us know if there is anything you want to see us do in Portland or the surrounding area in the meantime.

Stay tuned for our next adventure, when Scarlett visits Lucky Lab, a dog-friendly brewery in Portland.

Thank you for reading and watching our adventures this week. Please send any feedback on our videos, and let us know what you would like to see in the future or how we can improve.

Happy Trails, Pups!

This Spring, we’ve been taking advantage of the sunny weather, and we’re trying to get out to parks and outdoor dining more often. We’ve been vaccinated, so we are feeling more comfortable being out and about with friends. Our last couple adventures were relaxed compared to our usual hiking destinations.

Smelling the cherry blossom trees

A few weeks back, we had a beautiful day enjoying the Cherry Blossom trees at Tom McCall Waterfront Park near Chinatown in Portland. These trees bloom all over the city, but there is a massive row of them at the waterfront to enjoy. Learn more about this gorgeous annual event on my YouTube:

Last week, we had a hotel staycation at a Hilton property in downtown Portland. We checked in, ordered Chinese food, and just relaxed and cuddled. Scarlett loved people watching at the window. I work for another Hilton in town, so we will not be giving a “paws up” review on this property. Check out the story on my YouTube:

We are trying to spend as much time enjoying Portland and the PNW as we can this summer, because my husband is graduating, and we have other destinations and travels in mind. Please let us know if there is anything you want to see us do in Portland or the surrounding area in the meantime.

Stay tuned for our next adventure, when Scarlett visits Lucky Lab, a dog-friendly brewery in Portland.

Thank you for reading and watching our adventures this week. Please send any feedback on our videos, and let us know what you would like to see in the future or how we can improve.

Happy Trails, Pups!

If you are ever lucky enough to drive up or down the Oregon coast, there is a tiny beach with views of a gorgeous lighthouse that is worth the detour. Between Florence and Yachats on the Pacific Coast Highway lies Cape Cove Beach and the Heceta Head Lighthouse. The beach and lighthouse are located in Devil’s Elbow State Park, which is home to miles of hiking trails, amazing bird- and seal-watching, and stunning views of the coastal sea stacks. We took a family trip and spent the day playing fetch in the ocean.

The beautiful Pacific Coast Highway. Me, ready for adventure! The Heceta Head Lighthouse above the shore.

We spent the day mostly playing fetch until Mom got tired.

It was a perfect day.  C’mon, Mom, let’s play! I chased her around the shore. Until we finally found a stick!  The water was freakin’ freezing.  We had to take a break when our feet were numb. Dad was exploring the rocks around the shore.  I wanted to join them, but I couldn’t climb up! So I did my own thing for a bit. When it was cloudy, Mom took pictures of the lighthouse.  The old lighthouse keeper’s house was renovated into a bed and breakfast. Inside the lighthouse was an iron, swirly staircase.  We couldn’t climb up because the lighthouse was under renovation.  Overall, it was a perfect family trip, and I hope to be back soon!

Rating for Cape Cove Beach:

I gave this beach two paws up because it was scenic and packed with adventure. There are many spots to have a picnic lunch, hike around the lighthouse, and relax by the shore. I would recommend pups to be careful if they plan on playing fetch in the Pacific Ocean. Although I make it look easy, I am a very strong swimmer. The currents of the Pacific Ocean are very swift and strong, and the water is lined with sharp and jagged rocks. Be careful, bring plenty of water, and assess your pup’s health before letting them play in the Pacific.

Pin this, pups: 

Stay tuned for my next blog post, where I explore more of the Oregon Coast.

This blog is a member of the #feetdotravel, #weekendwanderlust, and #theweeklypostcard communities; join us to share travel stories, get travel advice, or read travel inspiration.

For my 6th birthday, I thought it would be fun to go off the beaten path and explore a small town in Washington called Centralia. Centralia has a perfect name, located centrally between Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, Washington. We found a pretty sweet dog-friendly hotel that I’ve been excited to share with my pups.

McMenamins Olympic Club Hotel.

McMenamins is a unique chain based out of Oregon that specializes in renovating old historic buildings into charming hotels, brewpubs, venues, and movie theaters. They offer some of the best movie brewpubs in Portland, so we knew they would be a unique place to stay. Plus all of their locations are dog-friendly, which is a major woof in my book.

Exterior of the hotel. 

This particular Mcmenamins hotel, the Olympic Club or Oly club, has a fascinating history. The hotel was built in the early 1900s and was originally a gentlemen’s resort and Old West railroad hotel. The hotel featured a card room, pool room, barbershop, bar, shoeshine stand, and elegant furnishings. The hotel was recognized for hosting high rollers, miners, loggers, and ladies of the night. The hotel became significant after the notorious train robber Roy Gardner was captured in one of the rooms in the 1920s. The hotel has a history of paranormal activity, which includes reports of laughter in empty rooms, mysterious music playing in the halls, candles being mysteriously lit, and ghostly apparitions. Based on the history, I was prepared to protect Mom and Dad throughout the night.

Old railroad behind the hotel.  Exterior of the hotel. 

Upon arrival, I was immediately given treats by the front desk lady. She then proceeded to give me a dog bowl, more treats, and poop bags. Win!

My welcome package. 

We went to explore our hotel room and were surprised by our accommodations. Our room was called the Don Iverson and featured the history of his time working at the Oly club painted all around the room. There were bunk beds! I was so confused by them. The room had well-thought-out, intricate details, and we felt like we were back in the 1900s. I started immediately growling at the ghosts, which terrified Mom and Dad.

The history of our room.  The history of the hotel. The history of our room.  Lovely details. Bunk beds? Me enjoying my water bowl. How the heck am I going to protect you up there? Mom and Dad played cards all night to go with the hotel theme.

This hotel was one of the coolest, most unique hotels we have ever been to. Style-wise, the hotel was absolutely perfect. The beds were actually comfy, even though we had a bunk bed room. I only had two complaints: One, there was a $15 pet fee for accidents, and you know how much we don’t like pet fees; and two, our particular room had no air conditioning, fans, or windows. We all felt very claustrophobic and had to sleep with the covers off because it felt roughly a million degrees. The room had a skylight that was too high to reach and open. Other rooms had windows, and we will definitely spring for a better room next time we stay at a McMenamins hotel.

Ratings:

McMenamins Olympic Club Hotel:

I only gave the hotel one paw up because although the hotel had treats and beautiful accommodations, the pet fee and the hot rooms would deter us from staying here often. We will definitely spring for a nicer room next time. However, McMenamins hotels are unique, and I would recommend staying, eating, or watching a movie there when you have a chance!

Pin this, pups:

Stay tuned for my next blog post, where I tell the interesting story of my birthday trip to Centralia, Washington.

This blog is a member of the #feetdotravel, #weekendwanderlust, and #theweeklypostcard communities on Facebook; join us to share travel stories, get travel advice, or read travel inspiration.

If you are ever lucky enough to drive up or down the Oregon coast, there is a tiny beach with views of a gorgeous lighthouse that is worth the detour. Between Florence and Yachats on the Pacific Coast Highway lies Cape Cove Beach and the Heceta Head Lighthouse. The beach and lighthouse are located in Devil’s Elbow State Park, which is home to miles of hiking trails, amazing bird- and seal-watching, and stunning views of the coastal sea stacks. We took a family trip and spent the day playing fetch in the ocean.

The beautiful Pacific Coast Highway. Me, ready for adventure! The Heceta Head Lighthouse above the shore.

We spent the day mostly playing fetch until Mom got tired.

It was a perfect day.  C’mon, Mom, let’s play! I chased her around the shore. Until we finally found a stick!  The water was freakin’ freezing.  We had to take a break when our feet were numb. Dad was exploring the rocks around the shore.  I wanted to join them, but I couldn’t climb up! So I did my own thing for a bit. When it was cloudy, Mom took pictures of the lighthouse.  The old lighthouse keeper’s house was renovated into a bed and breakfast. Inside the lighthouse was an iron, swirly staircase.  We couldn’t climb up because the lighthouse was under renovation.  Overall, it was a perfect family trip, and I hope to be back soon!

Rating for Cape Cove Beach:

I gave this beach two paws up because it was scenic and packed with adventure. There are many spots to have a picnic lunch, hike around the lighthouse, and relax by the shore. I would recommend pups to be careful if they plan on playing fetch in the Pacific Ocean. Although I make it look easy, I am a very strong swimmer. The currents of the Pacific Ocean are very swift and strong, and the water is lined with sharp and jagged rocks. Be careful, bring plenty of water, and assess your pup’s health before letting them play in the Pacific.

Pin this, pups: 

Stay tuned for my next blog post, where I explore more of the Oregon Coast.

This blog is a member of the #feetdotravel, #weekendwanderlust, and #theweeklypostcard communities; join us to share travel stories, get travel advice, or read travel inspiration.

For my 6th birthday, I thought it would be fun to go off the beaten path and explore a small town in Washington called Centralia. Centralia has a perfect name, located centrally between Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, Washington. We found a pretty sweet dog-friendly hotel that I’ve been excited to share with my pups.

McMenamins Olympic Club Hotel.

McMenamins is a unique chain based out of Oregon that specializes in renovating old historic buildings into charming hotels, brewpubs, venues, and movie theaters. They offer some of the best movie brewpubs in Portland, so we knew they would be a unique place to stay. Plus all of their locations are dog-friendly, which is a major woof in my book.

Exterior of the hotel. 

This particular Mcmenamins hotel, the Olympic Club or Oly club, has a fascinating history. The hotel was built in the early 1900s and was originally a gentlemen’s resort and Old West railroad hotel. The hotel featured a card room, pool room, barbershop, bar, shoeshine stand, and elegant furnishings. The hotel was recognized for hosting high rollers, miners, loggers, and ladies of the night. The hotel became significant after the notorious train robber Roy Gardner was captured in one of the rooms in the 1920s. The hotel has a history of paranormal activity, which includes reports of laughter in empty rooms, mysterious music playing in the halls, candles being mysteriously lit, and ghostly apparitions. Based on the history, I was prepared to protect Mom and Dad throughout the night.

Old railroad behind the hotel.  Exterior of the hotel. 

Upon arrival, I was immediately given treats by the front desk lady. She then proceeded to give me a dog bowl, more treats, and poop bags. Win!

My welcome package. 

We went to explore our hotel room and were surprised by our accommodations. Our room was called the Don Iverson and featured the history of his time working at the Oly club painted all around the room. There were bunk beds! I was so confused by them. The room had well-thought-out, intricate details, and we felt like we were back in the 1900s. I started immediately growling at the ghosts, which terrified Mom and Dad.

The history of our room.  The history of the hotel. The history of our room.  Lovely details. Bunk beds? Me enjoying my water bowl. How the heck am I going to protect you up there? Mom and Dad played cards all night to go with the hotel theme.

This hotel was one of the coolest, most unique hotels we have ever been to. Style-wise, the hotel was absolutely perfect. The beds were actually comfy, even though we had a bunk bed room. I only had two complaints: One, there was a $15 pet fee for accidents, and you know how much we don’t like pet fees; and two, our particular room had no air conditioning, fans, or windows. We all felt very claustrophobic and had to sleep with the covers off because it felt roughly a million degrees. The room had a skylight that was too high to reach and open. Other rooms had windows, and we will definitely spring for a better room next time we stay at a McMenamins hotel.

Ratings:

McMenamins Olympic Club Hotel:

I only gave the hotel one paw up because although the hotel had treats and beautiful accommodations, the pet fee and the hot rooms would deter us from staying here often. We will definitely spring for a nicer room next time. However, McMenamins hotels are unique, and I would recommend staying, eating, or watching a movie there when you have a chance!

Pin this, pups:

Stay tuned for my next blog post, where I tell the interesting story of my birthday trip to Centralia, Washington.

This blog is a member of the #feetdotravel, #weekendwanderlust, and #theweeklypostcard communities on Facebook; join us to share travel stories, get travel advice, or read travel inspiration.

If you are ever lucky enough to drive up or down the Oregon coast, there is a tiny beach with views of a gorgeous lighthouse that is worth the detour. Between Florence and Yachats on the Pacific Coast Highway lies Cape Cove Beach and the Heceta Head Lighthouse. The beach and lighthouse are located in Devil’s Elbow State Park, which is home to miles of hiking trails, amazing bird- and seal-watching, and stunning views of the coastal sea stacks. We took a family trip and spent the day playing fetch in the ocean.

The beautiful Pacific Coast Highway. Me, ready for adventure! The Heceta Head Lighthouse above the shore.

We spent the day mostly playing fetch until Mom got tired.

It was a perfect day.  C’mon, Mom, let’s play! I chased her around the shore. Until we finally found a stick!  The water was freakin’ freezing.  We had to take a break when our feet were numb. Dad was exploring the rocks around the shore.  I wanted to join them, but I couldn’t climb up! So I did my own thing for a bit. When it was cloudy, Mom took pictures of the lighthouse.  The old lighthouse keeper’s house was renovated into a bed and breakfast. Inside the lighthouse was an iron, swirly staircase.  We couldn’t climb up because the lighthouse was under renovation.  Overall, it was a perfect family trip, and I hope to be back soon!

Rating for Cape Cove Beach:

I gave this beach two paws up because it was scenic and packed with adventure. There are many spots to have a picnic lunch, hike around the lighthouse, and relax by the shore. I would recommend pups to be careful if they plan on playing fetch in the Pacific Ocean. Although I make it look easy, I am a very strong swimmer. The currents of the Pacific Ocean are very swift and strong, and the water is lined with sharp and jagged rocks. Be careful, bring plenty of water, and assess your pup’s health before letting them play in the Pacific.

Pin this, pups: 

Stay tuned for my next blog post, where I explore more of the Oregon Coast.

This blog is a member of the #feetdotravel, #weekendwanderlust, and #theweeklypostcard communities; join us to share travel stories, get travel advice, or read travel inspiration.

This is a photo memoir of my first year of dedication to dog-friendly travel. In the past, Mom and Dad took me on plenty of mini road trips through Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee. They took an America road trip without me and missed me every single day. As we became increasingly obsessed with traveling together, we realized we wanted to learn and explore dog travel more. We decided to move to Portland, Oregon and our lives changed forever. In the past year, we’ve journeyed across America, explored the Pacific Northwest, and hiked through Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia, Canada. My purpose is to show dog owners the beauty of traveling with your best friend while raising awareness of breed discrimination. I hope you enjoy these memories and that they inspire you to take your dog along on your next family road trip.

Kayaking with Dad on the Rainbow River in Dunnellon, Florida.  Kayaking with Dad on the Rainbow River in Dunnellon, Florida.  Posing at the Tennessee Welcome Sign.  Hiking with Mom on the Gatlinburg Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Enjoying downtown St. Louis, Missouri.  Enjoying the arch in downtown St. Louis, Missouri.  Fearing the corn fields in Nebraska. Observing Sioux Falls with Dad in South Dakota.  Observing Sioux Falls with Mom in South Dakota.  Looking majestic in front of Sioux Falls in South Dakota.  Observing Sioux Falls with Mom in South Dakota.  Observing Sioux Falls with Mom in South Dakota.  Enjoying cozy hotel beds. Posing with goofy roadside attractions. Posing with goofy roadside attractions. Posing with goofy roadside attractions. Enjoying the Badlands National Park.  Hiking through the snowy Willamette National Forest.  Hiking through the snowy Willamette National Forest.  Hiking with Pluto through the snowy Willamette National Forest.  Enjoying more delightful hotel beds. Checking out Mount Hood and the hotel from the Shining in Oregon. Tiptoeing through the tulips at the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival in Oregon. Tiptoeing through the tulips at the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival in Oregon. Hiking to the top of Angel’s Rest in the Columbia River Gorge.  Hiking to the top of Angel’s Rest in the Columbia River Gorge.  Staying at a haunted hotel in Centralia, Washington. Discovering my new favorite hobby at the Sandy River Delta in Troutdale, Oregon.  Discovering my new favorite hobby at the Sandy River Delta in Troutdale, Oregon.  Hiking Latourell Falls in the Columbia River Gorge.  Hiking Latourell Falls in the Columbia River Gorge.  Discovering the beauty of the Oregon coast.  Discovering the beauty of the Oregon coast. Discovering the beauty of the Oregon coast.  Hiking Golden Ears Provincial Park in British Columbia, Canada.  Hiking Golden Ears Provincial Park in British Columbia, Canada.  Hiking Golden Ears Provincial Park in British Columbia, Canada.  Hiking and exploring the Painted Hills at the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. Hiking and exploring the Painted Hills at the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. Hiking and exploring the Painted Hills at the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. Hiking and exploring the Painted Hills at the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument.

How lucky can one dog be? 

Pin this, pups:

Stay tuned for my next blog post, where I hike the Painted Hills!

This blog is a member of the #feetdotravel community. Join us to share travel stories, get travel advice, or read travel inspiration. Scarlett is also a regular contributor for Travel Pass magazine where you can read more of her work: www.travelpassmag.com.

If you are ever lucky enough to drive up or down the Oregon coast, there is a tiny beach with views of a gorgeous lighthouse that is worth the detour. Between Florence and Yachats on the Pacific Coast Highway lies Cape Cove Beach and the Heceta Head Lighthouse. The beach and lighthouse are located in Devil’s Elbow State Park, which is home to miles of hiking trails, amazing bird- and seal-watching, and stunning views of the coastal sea stacks. We took a family trip and spent the day playing fetch in the ocean.

The beautiful Pacific Coast Highway. Me, ready for adventure! The Heceta Head Lighthouse above the shore.

We spent the day mostly playing fetch until Mom got tired.

It was a perfect day.  C’mon, Mom, let’s play! I chased her around the shore. Until we finally found a stick!  The water was freakin’ freezing.  We had to take a break when our feet were numb. Dad was exploring the rocks around the shore.  I wanted to join them, but I couldn’t climb up! So I did my own thing for a bit. When it was cloudy, Mom took pictures of the lighthouse.  The old lighthouse keeper’s house was renovated into a bed and breakfast. Inside the lighthouse was an iron, swirly staircase.  We couldn’t climb up because the lighthouse was under renovation.  Overall, it was a perfect family trip, and I hope to be back soon!

Rating for Cape Cove Beach:

I gave this beach two paws up because it was scenic and packed with adventure. There are many spots to have a picnic lunch, hike around the lighthouse, and relax by the shore. I would recommend pups to be careful if they plan on playing fetch in the Pacific Ocean. Although I make it look easy, I am a very strong swimmer. The currents of the Pacific Ocean are very swift and strong, and the water is lined with sharp and jagged rocks. Be careful, bring plenty of water, and assess your pup’s health before letting them play in the Pacific.

Pin this, pups: 

Stay tuned for my next blog post, where I explore more of the Oregon Coast.

This blog is a member of the #feetdotravel, #weekendwanderlust, and #theweeklypostcard communities; join us to share travel stories, get travel advice, or read travel inspiration.