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Dog-friendly Glacier National Park | thepupdiary.com

6 Aug

There are over 400 national parks with over 84 million beautiful acres to explore.  Each national park has a doggy policy with rules, so be sure to read the rules before you go — and lucky for us that dogs are welcome at many of them! Our friends at Go Pet Friendly have listed what they consider to be the best dog-friendly national parks.  This summer we toured five of the parks and we’ll start with our favorite, Glacier National Park in the northwest corner of Montana.  In Glacier we were allowed in developed areas including frontcountry campgrounds, picnic areas, boating areas, and scenic lookouts.

Here we are boating on Lake McDonald.

Where we stayed
We stayed in the Best Western hotel in Whitefish, which was a 20-minute drive to the park’s west entrance. The hotel charged a $20 pet fee and allowed up to two pups per room with a maximum weight of 80 lbs. Although nothing special, the hotel did have a very convenient location and friendly staff. Unfortunately pups are not allowed at any of the Glacier Park historic lodging.

Glacier National Park west entrance

Glacier National Park west entrance

What to do in Glacier National Park
We drove the Going-to-the-Sun road and made several stops along the way. The road spans 50 miles through the park, but you should allow several hours to take in all of the scenery. We stopped at Lake McDonald for a boat ride. Dogs are welcome on their tour boats if there is not a sell-out crowd of people. In general, the late afternoon and evening boat tours do not sell out and welcome the pups. We rented our own small motor boat and toured the lake for $23 per hour. Bring a picnic to Glacier because there are several very beautiful dog-friendly picnic areas along the driving route. We stopped at several of the scenic lookout spots and saw mountain goats, bears, waterfalls, lakes, and rivers. We even saw snow!

Snow in Glacier National Park

Snow in Glacier National Park

Where to eat
We recommend bringing a picnic to the park. There are just so many beautiful places to stop and enjoy the scenery. We also enjoyed snacks on the outdoor patio of The Huckleberry Patch a few miles from the park. We stopped at Betty’s Diner outdoor patio on our way up north. And if you are in town for cherry season, be sure to stop at a roadside stand for some of the best cherries you have ever tasted!

Cherries are yummy
West entrance
Mother carries a baby
Baby ducks
Lake McDonald boat rentals
Beautiful view
Waterfall
Snow in Glacier National Park
Baby goat with mother
We met a mountain goat
We are high in the sky
Tunnel and walkway

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Dog-friendly ferry ride on New York’s East River | thepupdiary.com

24 Jun

We don’t have to go far for a dog-friendly cruise around Manhattan. Departing from east 34th Street, the East River Ferry allows dogs in bags, and at $4 per ride or $12 for a day pass, the ferry is a fun way to travel the city. (We use the stroller since it gives us more room and extra storage space.) Bring your camera for great views including the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge, and more!

On the East River Ferry

On the East River Ferry

We left 34th Street and headed to Brooklyn Bridge Park/DUMBO for brunch at the dog-friendly Sunday Smorgasburg in the Tobacco Warehouse. (NOTE: The Saturday Smorgasburg in the East River State Park is not dog friendly.) The park offers beautiful views of the Manhattan skyline, plenty of paths to explore, and 2 dog runs. Unfortunately, dogs are not welcome on the lawns. Luke’s Lobster and No. 7 Sub have a cute walk-up cafe under the Brooklyn Bridge – a pawfect place to stop for a drink! It’s also fun to sit near the water and Jane’s Carousel.

Smorgasburg at the Tobacco Warehouse welcomes pups

Smorgasburg at the Tobacco Warehouse welcomes pups

From Brooklyn Bridge Park we took the ferry back to Manhattan and Wall Street/The South Street Seaport. We headed to our favorite doggy boutique with the best doggy snack bar, The Salty Paw, at the end of Pier 17. From there we checked out the new SmorgasBar, part of the Seaport’s SEE/CHANGE lineup for this summer. SmorgasBar is open daily through October. The Seaport will show outdoor movies every week during the summer and also has new retail container pop-up shops. We headed a few blocks north to check out the New Amsterdam Market and then back to the ferry for our trip to 34th Street. A fun day on the water!

The East River Ferry

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8 summer activities for New York dogs | thepupdiary.com

21 Jun

There was a lot of tail wagging in our house this morning! Not only is it national “Take Your Dog to Work Day” it is also the first day of summer! Check out some summer activity and event ideas for New York dogs and the people who love them!

Camp Time
We head to Glen Highland Farm in upstate New York every summer for outdoor fun and relaxation. The farm, home to a Border Collie rescue group, features 175 acres of beaches, trails, woods, and pastures. Best of all, the entire farm is dog friendly. Also check out Camp Unleashed and Camp Gone to the Dogs.

Ginger explores at Glen Highland Farm

Ginger explores at Glen Highland Farm

Polo
Doggies are welcome at many polo matches in the area. The Greenwich Polo Club season began earlier in June. Gates open at 1 pm and games begin at 3 pm. There is a $40 fee per car. Bring a picnic and enjoy the beautiful scenery!

Get some History
We love visiting the Hyde Park, NY area for beautiful scenery and historic sites. The home of Franklin D Roosevelt allows leashed dogs on the outside grounds. It is about a 2-hour drive from NYC. While there we also toured the grounds of the Vanderbilt Mansion and Val-Kill.

Kayak and Hound
Discover Outdoors is offering some cool Kayak trips this summer that are dog friendly! The day trips feature kayaking on a beautiful section of the Hudson River in Upstate New York. Speaking of Discover Outdoors . . . They also offer fun day-long hiking trips with your dog or an adoptable pup! The trip with the adoptable pup also includes a volunteer orientation at Animal Haven Shelter.

Brooklyn waterfront

Brooklyn waterfront

Wine Time
We love the wineries in Riverhead on Long Island. Many are dog friendly and offer a relaxing setting for a lazy afternoon. We head to Martha Clara Vineyards at least once every summer. They feature vines and canines vineyard walks several times a year where you can take an educational walk through the grounds. Another great dog-friendly winery is Robibero Vineyards in New Paltz.

Take a Walk
Last summer we checked out Bideawee’s Love on a Leash walk in Westhampton Beach. This year the walk will be held on August 17 and we hope to attend again! We did the walk, checked out a great farmer’s market nearby, hit the shopping district, went to the beach after hours, and then toured a winery the next day. Or check out the Walkway over the Hudson River – an old railroad bridge turned into a 1.28 mile walkway over the river. It is the longest elevated pedestrian bridge in the world.

Doggy vacation out west

Doggy vacation out west

Pawty Time
There are many local doggy events during the summer. We like the annual L’Oreal Your Dog is Worth it Too event held on August 17 this year. Check the calendar for many other summer events! The annual Broadway Barks is another big celebration!

Staycation
August weekends in New York City are great because everyone else is out of town! Many of the activities we listed in 10 Memorial Day Weekend Activities are still relevant this summer. We know we will head to the Hester Street Fair, Smorgasburg, and South Street Seaport!

Have a happy and safe summer!

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It’s Flag Day – beautiful flags on dog-friendly South Bass Island | thepupdiary.com

14 Jun

Today is Flag Day, the anniversary of the adoption of the Stars and Stripes as the official US flag back in 1777. Mom just googled “flag day” to find some historical details. She found an article posted today on 6 Things You Probably didn’t know about Flag Day. (Today is also the birthday of the US Army, which explains the big Army event in Times Square this morning!)

Flag at sunset on Put-in-Bay

Flag at sunset on Put-in-Bay

One of our favorite places to see flags is on South Bass Island, a small island in Lake Erie. There must be a lot of patriotic pups on the island because there are flags everyone – on boats, monuments, and homes! Mom spent her summers on the island growing up and she loves to go back!

Getting there: It is about an 8-hour drive from Midtown Manhattan to the boat dock in Ohio. We take the dog-friendly Miller Boat Line ferry from Port Clinton, Ohio to Put-in-Bay. Adult fare is $14 RT. We don’t bring our car because they have golf cart rentals all over the island.

What to do: You can tour most of the island in a day trip. (The island is approximately 3.7 miles long and 1.5 miles wide.) The annual island pooch parade is this Saturday, June 15 in downtown DeRivera Park. We were welcome on some outdoor patios for dining (it is hit or miss) and we were welcome in most of the downtown shops. Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial grounds are open to leashed dogs. (Dogs are not able to enter the actual monument.) This year there will be many special events to commemorate the bicentennial of the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812. During the summer high season, it is fun to people and pup watch! Put-in-Bay tends to have a big party scene.

Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial

Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial

Where to stay: Dogfriendly.com lists many hotel and camping options in the area. (We stayed with relatives.)

Day trips: Kelleys Island, another island in Lake Erie, is a fun stop in the area. While more family oriented, it does feature dog-friendly parks, beach areas, and wineries. The Erie County Humane Society is hosting a doggy event on Kelleys Island this weekend.

Put-in-Bay – South Bass Island

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Dog-friendly vacation on Martha’s Vineyard | thepupdiary.com

7 Jun

Martha’s Vineyard is a pawfect location for a long-weekend getaway from the hustle and bustle of New York City! We especially like the two words – “off season” – when things on the island are a bit relaxed and not as crowded. The Martha’s Vineyard high season begins the end of June through Labor Day. Here’s how we spent a few days on the island!

On the Steamship Authority Ferry to Martha's Vineyard

On the Steamship Authority Ferry to Martha’s Vineyard

Getting there: We rented a car and drove 4.5 hours from Midtown Manhattan to Woods Hole, MA for the 45- minute dog-friendly Steamship Authority ferry to Vineyard Haven. Leashed dogs are welcome in all areas of the ship except the food stands. The vehicle fare is expensive ($137 round trip!), but having a car on the island is pretty much a necessity if you want to visit all the sites. Book your car ferry reservation in advance. Spaces are limited and it sells out!

Where we stayed: We stayed in the Mansion House hotel in Vineyard Haven for one night. They are conveniently located near the dog-friendly Vineyard Haven beach areas, shopping, the ferry, but they do charge a non-refundable $50 pet fee per dog per stay. Our hotel room rate and pet fee combined was over $400 for one night- yikes! Dogfriendly.com lists some other options. If you have a group of people or are staying for a longer period, check VRBO for options – they do have a filter for pet-friendly homes.

Nancy's walk-up snack stand in Oak Bluffs

Nancy’s walk-up snack stand in Oak Bluffs

Dining options: There are seafood “shacks” with walk-up windows in most of the towns. Other than that, we did not find any restaurants where dogs were welcome on outdoor patios. We were offered to keep the dogs on a leash just outside the patio, but that is not an option for us. We had yummy food at all of the walk-up stands and then just ate at benches which were plentiful in most areas.. Nancy’s in Oak Bluffs had a nice patio by their walk-up stand and did allow the dogs. We ate at Quarterdeck in Edgartown and The Galley in Menemsha.

Aquinnah Cliffs

Aquinnah Cliffs

Activities: Shopping, exploring, walking, beaches — there are lots of fun activities! We were welcome in all of the shops and there are “main street” shopping areas in Vineyard Haven, Oak Bluffs, and Edgartown. We especially loved The Black Dog stores! There are several beach areas and many do not allow dogs at any time. We found the Vineyard Haven beach area to be the most dog friendly. The Oak Bluffs area allows dogs at certain times depending on the season. The state beaches did not seem to allow dogs at any times. Signs are clearly posted at most beach areas with their dog policy. We loved visiting Aquinnah and seeing the Aquinnah Cliffs, but dogs are not allowed on those beaches. They do have walk-up snack stands with picnic tables, so it is a nice stop for lunch and a gorgeous view! Menemsha is a cute little salty stop with a few shops, pretty water views, and walk-up snack shacks. Once again, no dogs on those beaches! We loved walking through the Campmeeting Association campground area in Oak Bluffs! We stopped in Good Dog Goods, a cute dog boutique in Oak Bluffs, and they had tips for us on off-leash dog areas and beaches.

Oak Bluffs Beach Rules

Oak Bluffs Beach Rules

Day Trips: Provincetown on the end of Cape Cod is extremely dog friendly and a great place to visit if you are out on the Cape.
It is about a 2-hour drive from Woods Hole, MA (Steamship Authority ferry terminal). Gopetfriendly.com has a nice review of the P-town area.

You can definitely tour most of Martha’s Vineyard in two days! It really is a beautiful place for a dog-friendly getaway! Have fun!!

Martha’s Vineyard

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