August 2022

This was a brief trip so it shall be a short and sweet post for me.
Me and Mom took our first solo girls trip to the Columbia River Gorge, and did an enjoyable mini hike up to see Latourell Falls. This 2.4 mile loop hike is the closest gorge hike to Portland, and it is easy for pups, kids, and families to enjoy.

A glimpse of the sun through the trees. Mom tried making me pose on this rock. I finally posed so we could hike on. Halfway up the hike we diverged off the trail for a fresh waterfall treat. We finally spot the lovely falls. The beautiful Latourell Falls.

Rating for Latourell falls

I gave this hike two paws up because it was easy and fun for anyone to enjoy. There are many unique areas to stop, rejuvenate, and have a relaxing picnic lunch which we will definitely take advantage of next time we go with Dad. The trail is rated easy and your dog should be leashed throughout the trail. I recommend assessing your pup’s health before the hike, making sure to bring plenty of water, and staying close to your pup throughout the trail in case any stinky critters visit you.

Pin this, pups:

Stay tuned for my next blog post, where we hike Forest Park in Portland.

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

Looking up at the palace made of corns

South Dakota is exploding with endless dog-friendly adventures. After our rejuvenating hiking day in Sioux Falls, we headed out to Rapid City, South Dakota. We had a few stops to make on the way, starting with one of Mom and Dad’s favorite quirky roadside attractions in America: the Corn Palace.

Mom’s favorite picture from the Corn Palace

The locals in Mitchell, South Dakota, are extremely proud of their palace of corns, and boast that it is the “world’s only corn palace.” It was built in the 1800s to show the abundance of corn present in South Dakota and to attract new residents to the area. Every spring, this building is completely adorned with thousands of bushels of corn from South Dakota, and the art is changed annually. To be honest, staring at the corns just made me super hungry.

Me with my spirit animal

We stopped at another quirky roadside attraction, Wall Drug, after being on the road all day. Wall, South Dakota, is a massive tourist trap town, with tons of little shops to get local souvenirs and delicacies such as chokecherry jelly.  Mom took some hilariously weird pictures of me in their backyard area.

Me with the derpy version of Mount Rushmore

We drove 10 minutes from Wall, and we stopped at one of our new favorite national parks in America: the Badlands.

A view of the beautiful Badlands

I could not keep my head inside the car! My jowls were blowing in the wind, but I didn’t care. The Badlands were like nothing I’d ever seen before. Mom said the geology of the Badlands is made up of intricate pinnacles, spires, buttes, and grassy prairies. The park is home to buttloads of prairie dogs, white-tailed deer, bison, and more. I wanted to play with the prairie dogs, but they kept chirping angrily at me, so Mom and Dad vetoed my plan. Plus, dogs have to stay on a leash and aren’t allowed to hike through the park because of the dangerous wildlife.

White-tailed deer chillin’ on the side of the road Picture of Dad lookin fly Picture of Mom taking pictures

We went off the beaten path and met a bison. He smelled delicious!

Here is the big-belly bison Dad took a pretty shot of the Purple Pie Place

After a long day of nature-watching, we drove a bit out of the way to get to Bobkat’s Purple Pie Place near Mt. Rushmore. Mt. Rushmore doesn’t allow pups, but Mom and Dad had already visited. Mom and Dad think the Purple Pie Place has the yummiest raspberry rhubarb jalapeno pie, and I even got to indulge in some vanilla ice cream. I always cry when I eat ice cream; it’s just that amazing. We met a purple pig, and Mom was a little overexcited to make me pose with it.

Awkward moment

We finally ended our long, quirky day at the Best Western Ramkota hotel in Rapid City. The hotel had a rustic lodge-style theme, buttery beds, and, the best part, no pet fees or breed restrictions. We had a lovely, cozy night before our last long drive out to Portland, Oregon.

We will definitely make a point to visit South Dakota again in the future for its raw and rugged beauty and dog-friendly, fun activities.

Sweet landscape Dad shot at the Badlands

Ratings for South Dakota: 

The Corn Palace:

The Corn Palace is a silly and quirky destination for people, but pups will be bored and confused by the stop. If you decide to go with your pet, I recommend making it a quick pee and picture stop.

Wall Drug:

Wall Drug is another quirky roadside attraction with some interesting local delicacies. The backyard area is pet friendly and you can take silly pictures with your pup.

Badlands National Park:

As stunning and gorgeous as the park was, unfortunately it was not as dog-friendly as we hoped. There are no hiking trails for dogs due to the dangerous wildlife and enormous prairie dog population. However, taking a drive through with your pup and having a picnic lunch would be well worth the trip.

Purple Pie Place:

The Purple Pie Place had remarkably delicious food, and the owners are so sweet, they will bring pups out their own water bowls.

Best Western Ramkota Hotel:

Best Westerns are a great dog-friendly hotel chain. Not every Best Western allows pups, so make sure to call in advance, see if they have dog-friendly room availability, and check that they don’t have expensive pet-cleaning fees. I gave this particular location two paws up because it had a fun theme, the beds were great, and there were no pet fees or breed restrictions.

Stay tuned for my next blog post, where we finally move to Portland, 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.

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.

Did you know I don’t like camping?

Over the years, I’ve brought up how much camping terrifies me. All the sounds and smells are a lot for a pup to handle. Plus sleeping on the ground is not as cozy as a hotel bed. I can, however, get behind a warm and cozy glampsite. Mom recently found a beautiful yurt in Springfield, Oregon.

Here is a link to the yurt AirBnB if you are interested in checking it out: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/36519937

We also did an amazing snow hike in Mount Hood National Forest called the Pioneer Bridle Trail. We had tried this hike before, but it was even more magical in the snow. I found out I love to eat lots of snow to stay hydrated on our adventures.

The beautiful Pioneer Bridle Trail I’m a snow dog at heart The magical yurt The bed was cozy and warm The stars in the skylight at night

Ratings for the Yurt and Trail:

Are you surprised? I rate a lot of my adventures two paws up because I love most of the places we go. We only have a couple of one paw up ratings, and I don’t believe I’ve ever rated anything no paws up. Both of these adventures were so magical, I had to give them a top dog rating. I hope you’re enjoying our new channel. Please let me know if there is anything you’d like to see from us!

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.

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!

Looking up at the palace made of corns

South Dakota is exploding with endless dog-friendly adventures. After our rejuvenating hiking day in Sioux Falls, we headed out to Rapid City, South Dakota. We had a few stops to make on the way, starting with one of Mom and Dad’s favorite quirky roadside attractions in America: the Corn Palace.

Mom’s favorite picture from the Corn Palace

The locals in Mitchell, South Dakota, are extremely proud of their palace of corns, and boast that it is the “world’s only corn palace.” It was built in the 1800s to show the abundance of corn present in South Dakota and to attract new residents to the area. Every spring, this building is completely adorned with thousands of bushels of corn from South Dakota, and the art is changed annually. To be honest, staring at the corns just made me super hungry.

Me with my spirit animal

We stopped at another quirky roadside attraction, Wall Drug, after being on the road all day. Wall, South Dakota, is a massive tourist trap town, with tons of little shops to get local souvenirs and delicacies such as chokecherry jelly.  Mom took some hilariously weird pictures of me in their backyard area.

Me with the derpy version of Mount Rushmore

We drove 10 minutes from Wall, and we stopped at one of our new favorite national parks in America: the Badlands.

A view of the beautiful Badlands

I could not keep my head inside the car! My jowls were blowing in the wind, but I didn’t care. The Badlands were like nothing I’d ever seen before. Mom said the geology of the Badlands is made up of intricate pinnacles, spires, buttes, and grassy prairies. The park is home to buttloads of prairie dogs, white-tailed deer, bison, and more. I wanted to play with the prairie dogs, but they kept chirping angrily at me, so Mom and Dad vetoed my plan. Plus, dogs have to stay on a leash and aren’t allowed to hike through the park because of the dangerous wildlife.

White-tailed deer chillin’ on the side of the road Picture of Dad lookin fly Picture of Mom taking pictures

We went off the beaten path and met a bison. He smelled delicious!

Here is the big-belly bison Dad took a pretty shot of the Purple Pie Place

After a long day of nature-watching, we drove a bit out of the way to get to Bobkat’s Purple Pie Place near Mt. Rushmore. Mt. Rushmore doesn’t allow pups, but Mom and Dad had already visited. Mom and Dad think the Purple Pie Place has the yummiest raspberry rhubarb jalapeno pie, and I even got to indulge in some vanilla ice cream. I always cry when I eat ice cream; it’s just that amazing. We met a purple pig, and Mom was a little overexcited to make me pose with it.

Awkward moment

We finally ended our long, quirky day at the Best Western Ramkota hotel in Rapid City. The hotel had a rustic lodge-style theme, buttery beds, and, the best part, no pet fees or breed restrictions. We had a lovely, cozy night before our last long drive out to Portland, Oregon.

We will definitely make a point to visit South Dakota again in the future for its raw and rugged beauty and dog-friendly, fun activities.

Sweet landscape Dad shot at the Badlands

Ratings for South Dakota: 

The Corn Palace:

The Corn Palace is a silly and quirky destination for people, but pups will be bored and confused by the stop. If you decide to go with your pet, I recommend making it a quick pee and picture stop.

Wall Drug:

Wall Drug is another quirky roadside attraction with some interesting local delicacies. The backyard area is pet friendly and you can take silly pictures with your pup.

Badlands National Park:

As stunning and gorgeous as the park was, unfortunately it was not as dog-friendly as we hoped. There are no hiking trails for dogs due to the dangerous wildlife and enormous prairie dog population. However, taking a drive through with your pup and having a picnic lunch would be well worth the trip.

Purple Pie Place:

The Purple Pie Place had remarkably delicious food, and the owners are so sweet, they will bring pups out their own water bowls.

Best Western Ramkota Hotel:

Best Westerns are a great dog-friendly hotel chain. Not every Best Western allows pups, so make sure to call in advance, see if they have dog-friendly room availability, and check that they don’t have expensive pet-cleaning fees. I gave this particular location two paws up because it had a fun theme, the beds were great, and there were no pet fees or breed restrictions.

Stay tuned for my next blog post, where we finally move to Portland, 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 was a brief trip so it shall be a short and sweet post for me.
Me and Mom took our first solo girls trip to the Columbia River Gorge, and did an enjoyable mini hike up to see Latourell Falls. This 2.4 mile loop hike is the closest gorge hike to Portland, and it is easy for pups, kids, and families to enjoy.

A glimpse of the sun through the trees. Mom tried making me pose on this rock. I finally posed so we could hike on. Halfway up the hike we diverged off the trail for a fresh waterfall treat. We finally spot the lovely falls. The beautiful Latourell Falls.

Rating for Latourell falls

I gave this hike two paws up because it was easy and fun for anyone to enjoy. There are many unique areas to stop, rejuvenate, and have a relaxing picnic lunch which we will definitely take advantage of next time we go with Dad. The trail is rated easy and your dog should be leashed throughout the trail. I recommend assessing your pup’s health before the hike, making sure to bring plenty of water, and staying close to your pup throughout the trail in case any stinky critters visit you.

Pin this, pups:

Stay tuned for my next blog post, where we hike Forest Park in Portland.

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

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!