July 2021

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.

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!

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!

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!

A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to take my first international trip to British Columbia, Canada. We took a girls trip that included me, Mom, Mom’s sister, and one of Mom’s best friends. We found an amazing hiking expedition in Golden Ears Provincial Park at Gold Creek Falls. The hike was an easy 3.5 mile trip with little elevation gain, but the mossy rain forest views were like nothing I had ever seen before.

A misty view of the forest. The water was incredibly clear. I was so ready to go for a dip. A view of the pristine Allouette Lake. C’mon, Mom, it’s time to swim! I found the perfect stick to play fetch with. Oof, actually it was slightly awkward. After over an hour of fetch, I was ready to hike! Me and Mom’s friends exploring the foggy trail. The views were captivating. This picture looks like the beginning of a horror movie. We finally reached Gold Creek Falls after about 1.5 hours of hiking. At this point I was over it because it started pouring out, and Mom forgot my raincoat! After the long, beautiful hiking day, I was ready to be bundled up in the car for my nap.

Rating for Gold Creek Falls

I gave this hike 2 paws up because the views were impressive and there were tons of refreshing lakes where I could grab a stick and play fetch. The mossy trees and clear lakes made a stunning backdrop for exploring or a picnic lunch. The trail is rated easy, though it is probably safer to have your dog on a leash on this hike since bears live in the park. According to the park’s site, dogs can be off leash once they are at least 1 km into the trail. I recommend assessing your pups health before the hike, making sure to bring plenty of water, and staying close to your pup throughout the trail in case any creepy critters decide to visit you.

Pin this, pups:

Stay tuned for my next blog post, where I explore Vancouver, British Columbia.

This blog is a member of the #feetdotravel and #weekendwanderlust 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.

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.

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.

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!

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.