April 2021

Before I start today’s review, I want to update you on a few New Year changes for my blog. I am planning on transitioning our blog into a photo blog (more photos with captions, less writing between pics). The reason I’ve decided to take this route is to save time on writing while placing increased focus on our new YouTube channel. The videos take many hours throughout the week to edit, and it’s not feasible to do both while maintaining good quality. We’re working on quality over quantity, so please bear with us on this transition!

Thank you for reading my pups!

On that note, I am going to play catch-up and introduce last week’s video and adventure first. We had a lovely rainy day adventure in Portland, and we hiked Latourell Falls in the Columbia River Gorge. To read more about Latourell Falls, check out this post on the hike I wrote a couple of years ago: https://bigdogtravelblog.com/2017/08/24/hiking-spotlight-latourell-falls/

Our rainy day adventure video:

Sammich is an amazing sandwich spot; they gifted me a brisket treat! The cute storefront. Smelling the delicious meat! Mom didn’t gift me any of her sammie, which was quite rude! Spotted this cutie who was serious about no solicitors on his property. Mom and Dad wanted a tea and coffee break. The obligatory sign shot 🙄 No pups allowed inside! Mom taunting me with a picture of the treats! I get her back in the video 😉 The rain subsided just in time for our hike. Looking dope in front of the falls.

Our next video adventure is our hike in the old growth forest in Mount Hood National Forest. Roughly one hour east of Portland, this hike is worth the drive for the stunning views, mossy ancient trees, and the swift raging river.

Our Mount Hood hiking trail video:

The trail welcomes leashed pups! A rec pass is required from May to October. Someone left these cute painted rocks along the trail. My friend Luna’s Mom took some beautiful photos while Mom was filming! This was my favorite 😂 such a diva! My Aunt Kathy cartooned this picture too 🥰 Me and my little bestie. I love her! Derpin! Enjoying the views. I was so happy that day!

Rating for both hikes:

You really can’t go wrong hiking in the Pacific Northwest. From the mossy trees to the stunning waterfalls, there is beauty for every hiker and their pup to enjoy. I may be a bit bias because I live here, but I think these are some of the best hiking spots in the United States. Both hikes are relatively easy and good for pups of all skill levels. As always, remember to bring plenty of water for your pup to stay hydrated. If an area of the trail looks too hard for your pup to traverse, don’t be afraid to test it and turn around if it’s too tough. I hope you are enjoying our new YouTube content. Let me know what else you would love to see on this channel!

Pin this, pups!

Happy trails pups!

If you know anything about me, you know I’m a foodie. I love pup cups, and I’m here to rate the best of the best in the Pacific Northwest. Pup cups are a coffee shop delicacy that traditionally consist of a squirt of whipped cream. They are free for pups! I took a fun adventure around Portland to rate pup cups at the city’s biggest drive-thru competitors.
The first stop was Starbucks. After the traditional greeting of, “Your pup is so cute, can she have a pup cup?” I tried my first one.

Where did all the whip go so fast?

The second stop was Dutch Bros. Coffee. This drive-thru coffee chain was born in Oregon, and locals are pretty addicted. Their pup cup was a surprising step up from Starbucks’ squirt of whipped cream.

A treat on top? Yes! This one is my favorite so far.

The last stop was Black Rock Coffee, another born-out-of-Oregon drive-thru coffee chain. We didn’t get any pictures because the employee gave me a Milk-Bone right when we got to the window. They don’t do pup cups, but Mom thinks they’re the best, since they’re healthier than pup cups! I have to disagree.
Watch this week’s video to see who won the battle of the pup cups:

Rating for Starbucks, Dutch Bros., and Black Rock Coffee:

I honestly thought at least one of these chains was going to lose a paw or two, but they all treated me so sweetly. All three employees said “cute dog” and, “Would she like a pup cup?” immediately upon driving up to the window. They trained them well! I was surprised we didn’t have to ask. I want to go to more local coffee drive-thrus to keep performing this test. Mom says we can only go occasionally since whipped cream has sugar, so it’s not supposed to be eaten by pups very often. She thinks they should just do dog treats, but she is not always right! I think they all deserve their two paws up. I hope you are enjoying our new channel. Please let us know if there is anything else you’d like to see from us!

Pin this, pups!

Happy trails pups!

After our long, incredible day hike in the Willamette National Forest, I was pooped from running around on the ice all day. Mom and Dad bought me a delightful, comfy hotel room at the dog-friendly Lodge at Eagle Crest Resort in Redmond, Ore. Unfortunately, I didn’t get my own bed because Jena, Brian, and Pluto spent the night.

Please let me have my own bed tonight, guys!

In the morning, we went to look for a yummy breakfast around Redmond when Mom and Dad started freaking out. I thought there must have been some great meaty bones, a dog park, or a fun dog waiting for me, but they ended up taking me to the oddest place.

Blockbuster still exists?

Apparently, Blockbuster was a nostalgic part of Mom and Dad’s childhood, so we explored.

The sign that specified Blockbuster is now dog-friendly.

We walked around, and I was appalled to find out that Blockbuster was just a bunch of smelly old movies and video games. Boring! The lady there said the famous chain closed, and now they only have individually-owned franchises, with two locations in Oregon. My parents said they used to spend hours in there as children. Alrighty then.

Panorama by Papa.

Do you recognize the lady floating in the star of the panorama pic? Peanut butter points if you do! The nice lady at the counter gave me a treat, and we finally left Blockbuster to go on a real adventure.

View from the top of Mount Hood.

We drove a few hours and finally made it to the famous Timberline Lodge, where the outside of “The Shining” was filmed. Mom and Dad love scaries, so they played creepy music on the way up the mountain until we arrived at the iconic resort.

The Timberline Lodge.

It looked like a scary movie, and I honestly didn’t want to go in. But in we went!

Me scared in front of the main entrance.

I was not smiling when we took this picture. I could feel that this place was haunted, and I was ready to go home! (We found out later that the Timberline lodge is rumored to be haunted.)

Waiting to see if the lodge is pup-friendly. All work and no play makes Scarlett a dull girl.

Mom went to check and found out that fortunately the lodge wasn’t dog-friendly, and only allowed service animals. My dream came true, and I was lucky enough to hang out outside while Mom explored.

Picture of the Timberline Lodge dog.

Mom was very upset that the lodge wasn’t dog-friendly, since this dog was pictured enjoying the lodge all over the hotel. She read that since the 1930s, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the lodge, Saint Bernards were the lodge’s resident dog and roamed the resort freely. Over the years, many St. Bernard mascots lived at the resort, with names such as Hansel, Gretel, Heidi, Bruno, and more. Heidi even had a famous children’s book written about her in the ’80s! There are currently two new resident St. Bernards named Heidi and Bruno, who live on a 40-acre farm nearby and visit the Timberline often to greet guests.

Skier descending the slope. Come play with us, skier. Forever. And ever.

It was beautiful out, so we enjoyed the snow and watched the skiers and snowboarders having fun. I tried to catch them as they sled by us. It was overall a fun little day trip back home to Portland, and we watched “The Shining” as soon as we got home. It was really woofing scary, and I’m again happy I didn’t have to go in there!

Ratings: 

Lodge at Eagle Crest Resort:

I only gave the lodge one paw up because although it was pet-friendly and had comfy beds, the resort charged us a hefty pet fee of $25 per night, and you know how much we don’t like pet fees!

Blockbuster:

I gave Blockbuster a paw because even though it was a weird, old, smelly video store, they did let me in and gave me a treat.

Timberline Lodge:

Although the Timberline Lodge is a wonderful, beautiful destination for humans, they were not dog-friendly — unless you are a service dog. However, I don’t recommend it because it’s haunted and I’m a scaredy pup.

Stay tuned for my next blog post for more dog-friendly reviews of Oregon.

This blog is a member of the #feetdotravel community on Facebook; 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.

After our long, incredible day hike in the Willamette National Forest, I was pooped from running around on the ice all day. Mom and Dad bought me a delightful, comfy hotel room at the dog-friendly Lodge at Eagle Crest Resort in Redmond, Ore. Unfortunately, I didn’t get my own bed because Jena, Brian, and Pluto spent the night.

Please let me have my own bed tonight, guys!

In the morning, we went to look for a yummy breakfast around Redmond when Mom and Dad started freaking out. I thought there must have been some great meaty bones, a dog park, or a fun dog waiting for me, but they ended up taking me to the oddest place.

Blockbuster still exists?

Apparently, Blockbuster was a nostalgic part of Mom and Dad’s childhood, so we explored.

The sign that specified Blockbuster is now dog-friendly.

We walked around, and I was appalled to find out that Blockbuster was just a bunch of smelly old movies and video games. Boring! The lady there said the famous chain closed, and now they only have individually-owned franchises, with two locations in Oregon. My parents said they used to spend hours in there as children. Alrighty then.

Panorama by Papa.

Do you recognize the lady floating in the star of the panorama pic? Peanut butter points if you do! The nice lady at the counter gave me a treat, and we finally left Blockbuster to go on a real adventure.

View from the top of Mount Hood.

We drove a few hours and finally made it to the famous Timberline Lodge, where the outside of “The Shining” was filmed. Mom and Dad love scaries, so they played creepy music on the way up the mountain until we arrived at the iconic resort.

The Timberline Lodge.

It looked like a scary movie, and I honestly didn’t want to go in. But in we went!

Me scared in front of the main entrance.

I was not smiling when we took this picture. I could feel that this place was haunted, and I was ready to go home! (We found out later that the Timberline lodge is rumored to be haunted.)

Waiting to see if the lodge is pup-friendly. All work and no play makes Scarlett a dull girl.

Mom went to check and found out that fortunately the lodge wasn’t dog-friendly, and only allowed service animals. My dream came true, and I was lucky enough to hang out outside while Mom explored.

Picture of the Timberline Lodge dog.

Mom was very upset that the lodge wasn’t dog-friendly, since this dog was pictured enjoying the lodge all over the hotel. She read that since the 1930s, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the lodge, Saint Bernards were the lodge’s resident dog and roamed the resort freely. Over the years, many St. Bernard mascots lived at the resort, with names such as Hansel, Gretel, Heidi, Bruno, and more. Heidi even had a famous children’s book written about her in the ’80s! There are currently two new resident St. Bernards named Heidi and Bruno, who live on a 40-acre farm nearby and visit the Timberline often to greet guests.

Skier descending the slope. Come play with us, skier. Forever. And ever.

It was beautiful out, so we enjoyed the snow and watched the skiers and snowboarders having fun. I tried to catch them as they sled by us. It was overall a fun little day trip back home to Portland, and we watched “The Shining” as soon as we got home. It was really woofing scary, and I’m again happy I didn’t have to go in there!

Ratings: 

Lodge at Eagle Crest Resort:

I only gave the lodge one paw up because although it was pet-friendly and had comfy beds, the resort charged us a hefty pet fee of $25 per night, and you know how much we don’t like pet fees!

Blockbuster:

I gave Blockbuster a paw because even though it was a weird, old, smelly video store, they did let me in and gave me a treat.

Timberline Lodge:

Although the Timberline Lodge is a wonderful, beautiful destination for humans, they were not dog-friendly — unless you are a service dog. However, I don’t recommend it because it’s haunted and I’m a scaredy pup.

Stay tuned for my next blog post for more dog-friendly reviews of Oregon.

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

The original plan was to head to Seattle for the second part of my birthday excursion. Unfortunately, we were rained out of Washington, so we headed back to Oregon to explore more of the beautiful Columbia River Gorge. On the way, we recalled hearing about what locals call the Thousand Acre Dog Park, formally known as the Sandy River Delta Park. The Sandy River Delta Park, located in Troutdale, Oregon, is a dog’s paradise. The park has 1,400 acres of looping trails to explore, endless open fields to run around in, two rivers to swim and play in, wildflowers to adore, and wetlands to admire. The park, which is part of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, is also very popular for mountain biking, birding, and horseback riding. I have decided that this is my new favorite dog park in Oregon, and I hope to be able to visit often!

Stretching before the hike. There were miles of looping trails to explore. Beautiful wildflowers lined the trails. The colors were beautiful. Dad brought my new birthday present to kick around the trails for me! I popped it almost immediately.  There were paw prints everywhere.  Mom and Dad did not want to play in the muddy parts. We finally happened upon the Sandy River, where buttloads of dogs were playing! Like this one. And this one. To my parents’ surprise, I jumped right in! (I am known to not love swimming in the pool/ocean.) It took me a bit to understand where to go!  I finally got the hang of it when Mom and Dad started playing fetch with this big cigar-looking branch. All the doggies were racing for the cigars! I couldn’t stop smiling because it was one of the happiest days of my life.  After a long, successful day of swimming and hiking, I was pooped!

Rating for Sandy River Delta Park

I gave this park two paws up because it was lively, scenic, and full of adventure. The trails are very easy, and dogs are allowed off-leash unless they are on the handicap-accessible trail, which is marked throughout the park. Always remember to assess your pup’s health before hiking or swimming, make sure to bring plenty of water, and stay close to your pup on your adventure.

Pin this, pups:

Stay tuned for my next blog post, where I explore the Oregon coast!

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.

Before I start today’s review, I want to update you on a few New Year changes for my blog. I am planning on transitioning our blog into a photo blog (more photos with captions, less writing between pics). The reason I’ve decided to take this route is to save time on writing while placing increased focus on our new YouTube channel. The videos take many hours throughout the week to edit, and it’s not feasible to do both while maintaining good quality. We’re working on quality over quantity, so please bear with us on this transition!

Thank you for reading my pups!

On that note, I am going to play catch-up and introduce last week’s video and adventure first. We had a lovely rainy day adventure in Portland, and we hiked Latourell Falls in the Columbia River Gorge. To read more about Latourell Falls, check out this post on the hike I wrote a couple of years ago: https://bigdogtravelblog.com/2017/08/24/hiking-spotlight-latourell-falls/

Our rainy day adventure video:

Sammich is an amazing sandwich spot; they gifted me a brisket treat! The cute storefront. Smelling the delicious meat! Mom didn’t gift me any of her sammie, which was quite rude! Spotted this cutie who was serious about no solicitors on his property. Mom and Dad wanted a tea and coffee break. The obligatory sign shot 🙄 No pups allowed inside! Mom taunting me with a picture of the treats! I get her back in the video 😉 The rain subsided just in time for our hike. Looking dope in front of the falls.

Our next video adventure is our hike in the old growth forest in Mount Hood National Forest. Roughly one hour east of Portland, this hike is worth the drive for the stunning views, mossy ancient trees, and the swift raging river.

Our Mount Hood hiking trail video:

The trail welcomes leashed pups! A rec pass is required from May to October. Someone left these cute painted rocks along the trail. My friend Luna’s Mom took some beautiful photos while Mom was filming! This was my favorite 😂 such a diva! My Aunt Kathy cartooned this picture too 🥰 Me and my little bestie. I love her! Derpin! Enjoying the views. I was so happy that day!

Rating for both hikes:

You really can’t go wrong hiking in the Pacific Northwest. From the mossy trees to the stunning waterfalls, there is beauty for every hiker and their pup to enjoy. I may be a bit bias because I live here, but I think these are some of the best hiking spots in the United States. Both hikes are relatively easy and good for pups of all skill levels. As always, remember to bring plenty of water for your pup to stay hydrated. If an area of the trail looks too hard for your pup to traverse, don’t be afraid to test it and turn around if it’s too tough. I hope you are enjoying our new YouTube content. Let me know what else you would love to see on this channel!

Pin this, pups!

Happy trails pups!

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 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.

After our long, incredible day hike in the Willamette National Forest, I was pooped from running around on the ice all day. Mom and Dad bought me a delightful, comfy hotel room at the dog-friendly Lodge at Eagle Crest Resort in Redmond, Ore. Unfortunately, I didn’t get my own bed because Jena, Brian, and Pluto spent the night.

Please let me have my own bed tonight, guys!

In the morning, we went to look for a yummy breakfast around Redmond when Mom and Dad started freaking out. I thought there must have been some great meaty bones, a dog park, or a fun dog waiting for me, but they ended up taking me to the oddest place.

Blockbuster still exists?

Apparently, Blockbuster was a nostalgic part of Mom and Dad’s childhood, so we explored.

The sign that specified Blockbuster is now dog-friendly.

We walked around, and I was appalled to find out that Blockbuster was just a bunch of smelly old movies and video games. Boring! The lady there said the famous chain closed, and now they only have individually-owned franchises, with two locations in Oregon. My parents said they used to spend hours in there as children. Alrighty then.

Panorama by Papa.

Do you recognize the lady floating in the star of the panorama pic? Peanut butter points if you do! The nice lady at the counter gave me a treat, and we finally left Blockbuster to go on a real adventure.

View from the top of Mount Hood.

We drove a few hours and finally made it to the famous Timberline Lodge, where the outside of “The Shining” was filmed. Mom and Dad love scaries, so they played creepy music on the way up the mountain until we arrived at the iconic resort.

The Timberline Lodge.

It looked like a scary movie, and I honestly didn’t want to go in. But in we went!

Me scared in front of the main entrance.

I was not smiling when we took this picture. I could feel that this place was haunted, and I was ready to go home! (We found out later that the Timberline lodge is rumored to be haunted.)

Waiting to see if the lodge is pup-friendly. All work and no play makes Scarlett a dull girl.

Mom went to check and found out that fortunately the lodge wasn’t dog-friendly, and only allowed service animals. My dream came true, and I was lucky enough to hang out outside while Mom explored.

Picture of the Timberline Lodge dog.

Mom was very upset that the lodge wasn’t dog-friendly, since this dog was pictured enjoying the lodge all over the hotel. She read that since the 1930s, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the lodge, Saint Bernards were the lodge’s resident dog and roamed the resort freely. Over the years, many St. Bernard mascots lived at the resort, with names such as Hansel, Gretel, Heidi, Bruno, and more. Heidi even had a famous children’s book written about her in the ’80s! There are currently two new resident St. Bernards named Heidi and Bruno, who live on a 40-acre farm nearby and visit the Timberline often to greet guests.

Skier descending the slope. Come play with us, skier. Forever. And ever.

It was beautiful out, so we enjoyed the snow and watched the skiers and snowboarders having fun. I tried to catch them as they sled by us. It was overall a fun little day trip back home to Portland, and we watched “The Shining” as soon as we got home. It was really woofing scary, and I’m again happy I didn’t have to go in there!

Ratings: 

Lodge at Eagle Crest Resort:

I only gave the lodge one paw up because although it was pet-friendly and had comfy beds, the resort charged us a hefty pet fee of $25 per night, and you know how much we don’t like pet fees!

Blockbuster:

I gave Blockbuster a paw because even though it was a weird, old, smelly video store, they did let me in and gave me a treat.

Timberline Lodge:

Although the Timberline Lodge is a wonderful, beautiful destination for humans, they were not dog-friendly — unless you are a service dog. However, I don’t recommend it because it’s haunted and I’m a scaredy pup.

Stay tuned for my next blog post for more dog-friendly reviews of Oregon.

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