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Tag Archives: dog friendly travel
New York Auto Show and pet-friendly vehicles | thepupdiary.com
1 AprThe New York Auto Show (North America’s first and largest attended auto show) is in town this week at the Jacob Javits Center. We checked out the show last year to learn about dog-friendly car choices and safety features.
New York Auto Show
This year, over 1000 vehicles are on display. Edmunds.com just released their list of the top 10 most pet-friendly vehicles – listed below with some of their cool features. Mom will have to head to the auto show to check them out! The show runs through April 7 and adult tickets are $15.
- Dodge Journey – Available features include an in-dash cooler that can be used to store beverages, medicine or pet food.
- Ford Flex – The crossover offers ample legroom and wide door openings for your pet’s easy ingress and egress.
- GMC Acadia – The Acadia’s tri-zone climate control helps monitor temperature in the rear of the vehicle, thus ensuring that pets secured in back aren’t exposed to extreme heat.
- Hyundai Tucson – This Hyundai offers privacy glass that helps block the strong rays of the sun.
- Jeep Liberty – The Jeep brand offers specialized pet travel gear, including crates, carriers and a ramp.
- Kia Soul – The Soul comes standard with side-curtain airbags that can keep both two-legged and four-legged passengers safe in the event of a collision.
- Mazda 5 – The Mazda 5 has tethers and anchors in both the second and third rows, helpful since pet safety seats need to be secured in the same way as a child’s seat.
- Mitsubishi Outlander – The SUV also boasts fold-flat seating and stowable third-row seats – both of which increase the amount of room available for larger pets.
- Subaru Tribeca – Pet owners will appreciate the Tribeca’s five-star crash test scores, steering-wheel-mounted auxiliary controls and rear back-up camera.
- Volvo XC70 – The XC70 is available with a Volvo-designed pet barrier, created to remain intact during a collision.
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- New York Auto Show
Dear Diary. It’s me, Cubby | thepupdiary.com
15 MarWe made a short video for the Dog of Hamann – Canine Lifestyle Fashion Award nominations. We had to summarize what we do in less than three minutes. That was ruff since we are always so active and on the go! Of course, mom left lots of important information out of the final version! But we did have fun going through photos and putting it together.
Pet Twitter Parties – Join the Fun | thepupdiary.com
11 MarOur doggy friend and pet expert, Charlotte Reed, has been hosting pet twitter parties the past few months and we finally had a chance to participate in one last week. Being new to Twitter (we are @thepupdiary) we wanted to see how the party worked and more importantly, we were interested in the topic – traveling with your pet. Char had a great lineup of experts who offered tips and tricks on pet travel. We couldn’t type fast enough – #gopettravel – to keep up! Giveaways included Sherpa Bags, AAA PetBook, and a 2-night stay at the Bolongo Bay Beach Resort!
Camping at Glen Highland Farm
So, what did we learn? Plan, plan, and then plan some more! Here are a few sites we love that can give you a great start:
GoPetFriendly.com is a great source because they are actually out on the road and visit the places they recommend. They cover thousands of miles and several states each year with two large pups as doggy guides. (They also picked our very favorite vacation spot – Glen Highland Farm – as their top pick for last year!)
The AAA PetBook has more than 14,000 pet-friendly accommodations in North America so be sure to pick up a copy. (They also have a fun pet travel photo contest every year!)
The upcoming Go Pet Travel Facebook Q&A on March 25 from 12:30 to 1:30 pm ET will offer more great advice.
And don’t miss the next Twitter Party – #getpetclean – April 9 at 7 pm on Twitter!
Phineas Swann Bed and Breakfast Inn | thepupdiary.com
4 MarWe are always on the lookout for pet-friendly travel destinations. Especially if they are within driving distance of New York City since mom has two terriers in tow plus all of our gear. Our friends at Celebrity Catwalk told us about Phineas Swann Bed and Breakfast, a renovated farm and carriage house in northern Vermont, and we were hooked. Lanier Travel Guides have awarded the Inn the “Most Pet Friendly” award for both 2010 and 2011. TripAdviser.com gives a paws up, too. And The Bark magazine just gave the B&B pawvery high marks in their recent issue.
Getting there: The B&B is located in Montgomery Center, Vermont. This is a scenic 7-hour drive from New York City with several stops along the way including Ben & Jerry’s, the Stephen Huneck Gallery at Dog Mountain, the Stowe shopping district, and many quaint cheese, chocolate, maple syrup, and cider stands. Maple season opens the end of March!
The rooms and rates: Pups are invited to stay in the Carriage House and River House. (The Inn is kept dog free for people with allergies.) The first dog stays for free and there is a $25 fee per stay for each additional dog to help with cleaning costs. We stayed in the Carriage House in the Terrier Suite and loved it! The thoughtful staff had homemade doggy cookies on our nightstand, plush doggy beds on the floor, doggy dishes, poop bags, dog towels for paws, chew toys, and more. The fridge was also stocked with wine, beer, and other beverages! Additional human snacks and treats are kept on hand at the Inn for munchies at any time of the day. And the breakfast each morning is amazing. Rates start at $149 a night depending on the season.
Things to do: Explore the beautifully decorated Inn. There are doggy antiques in every nook and cranny of the renovated farmhouse. Visit Stowe or another shopping area for quaint shops and Vermont novelties. View the covered bridges and cemeteries in the area. Participate in outdoor activities in the area — skiing, hiking, kayaking. (The staff was very willing to dog sit if needed.) Doggies are welcome to swim in the Trout River that borders the property and hike on the trails. Watch a movie by the fire in your room. Bring your passport and head to Montreal. Check out the Stephen Huneck Gallery at Dog Mountain. We stayed two nights and definitely could have stayed longer!
Bottom line: This is truly a dog-friendly destination. We will be back for sure! The staff and owners love the dogs and you will love them! Check availability to book your trip. There are many return guests, so book in advance.
We hope your pup diary is filled with great plans, too!
Sleigh ride in Vermont
Covered Bridge in Vermont
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