Cool Spots in Hot Springs, Arkansas

Numerous sources to collect spring water for home use

Head Quarters of Hot Springs National Park

Walking from Embassy Suites to Bathhouse Row by the former Hot Springs rehabilitation center

Ready for a soaking in Hot Springs, AR

Hot water fountain of Hot Springs, Arkansas

Kissing the Barney Stone

The perfect sailboat for our dogs

Sailing to Moody Gardens, Galveston, TX

So easy to sail, even I can take the helm.

Update: We changed sailboats to a 34 foot Catalina sailboat in May 2010, and loving the wind in my ears at Galveston Bay and playing with the dolphins in the ICW.

Bud on the Hunter 27

Beachside in Corpus Christi

We drove the six hour journey from my home to see my extended family in Corpus Christi, Texas. Bud and I were so excited to play on the beach and in the water. We stayed at the Holiday Inn Emerald--which is right on the beach of the Corpus Christi Bay. We ran up and down the beach. The hotel was close to the downtown area, so we could walk everywhere.

The room was on the ground floor that walked right out to the beach. On the first night the wind was blowing hard and I didn't get to play on the beach much. On the second day one of the family members got really sick (maybe from the mold in the room), so we left to go back home.

The beaches were clean but had broken shells all over it. So if you go, be careful of your paws. Petsmart is way down (5 miles or more) from the hotel-- make sure that you have good directions if you are not familiar with Corpus Christi. We loved the drive down Shoreline Drive. The family loved Pier 99 restaurant next to the USS Lexington-good music and food.

No official dog parks in Corpus Christi yet. But the city officials are looking into it. There was a great skate park which was packed with all ages of boys.

Journey East to Tennessee

Biltmore, the Cradle of Forestry

Pond on the Biltmore Estate

The Biltmore, Asheville, NC

Planning stages to the Smoky Mountain area this May.

I shall get four new states on my log of visited states (TN, GA, NC, SC). At least they all have humidity unlike the southwestern states. I itch way too much when we go west.

Where to stay?
Pigeon Forge is so congested with cars and development-maybe no.
Gatlinburg has tons of people filling the sidewalks-maybe no.

Our best option is Townsend, TN, called the quiet side of the Smokies. Prices are a bit more reasonable, but for some cabins the cleaning fees, booking fees, administrative fees, and doggie fees can end up being about 200 dollars more. Where do we stay without breaking my piggy bank?

At Wild Mountain Rose Cabins I have found a quiet, lovely log cabin, and owned by one couple not a management group. They do not charge extra for my brother, Bud, and me or any hidden charges. They are super sweet people on the phone and cannot wait to meet them. They even have a bakery; maybe they will bake me some biscuits.

Around Townsend there is the following: a four mile trail to hike, streams which I would love to swim (they said no), bears and animals to chase (they said heck no), people and dogs to meet and play (they nodded ok-but no red wolves). Beware of ticks; I have been warned. I guess that I have to get a tick check done everyday. Not many ticks in east Texas (at least around my home)- too many fires ants.

NO DOGS ALLOWED. No Snoopy it is not the hospital. It is the trails in the Smoky Mountain National Park. I can hike all day in the adjacent Cherokee National Forest or Pisgah/Nantahala NF. The same type of animals are in all three places. But the nice Park Rangers will give my family a ticket if they see me on the trails. Me: pet therapy trainees, multiple state explorer, calendar girl, movie star, golden girl extraordinaire. Their trees are mostly dying anyway (I know sour grapes).

They have caverns in Townsend too. I probably won't be able to go unless I am super sweet. How could anyone say no to me?

I could go canoeing or tubing with my family. Sounds so fun. Maybe help do some fishing. Ok ok I shall sit on the riverbank and watch my family fish for trout. Temptation maybe too hard to fight.

Once we stop by the Smoky Mountain Doghouse in Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg for a snack at The Heidleburg (rumored to be dogfriendly). Sightsee from the car of the Smoky Mountain National Park to Cherokee, NC. I have not decided to go back to Sevierville and head to Asheville or go through Cherokee, NC and Dillard. Which way should I go?

We are off to the number 3 city for dog friendly resort areas, Asheville, NC. Hooray, my family loves Asheville. We shall be staying at the Crown Plaza Resort, and I get to go explore the Biltmore Estates. I get to feel like Cedric Vanderbilt and walk the Bass Pond Trail or all the gardens where he used to play. We get to go to the dog parks before we head to Clemson University where the matriarch of the family graduated a decade plus ago. Not very dog friendly but still a beautiful place before we head home.

Protect the dog from the sun too

Playing in the Surf in the Gulf of Mexico (TX)

Pace Bend on Lake Travis, TX

Near Surfside, TX

Lake Travis, cliffs in Pace Bend County Park

Tanning Bad

Sun tan and Health

Protect yourself and your four-legged friend. Careful because I was burned by Helioplex sunscreen when done as a test.

Dogs need their own kind of sunscreen in the high Texas Sun. Our yellow Labrador, Bud, loves to lie out in the sun, and he needs his own type of sun protection. Whitley wears her life jacket which helps protect her from the sun rays.

Remember to eat your cooked tomatoes to protect from the sun.

Little preparation for the Cold dry desert with stickers and snow

Jump in with booties and winter jacket is the way to go when your family travels across the Southwest in late December.

We drove to Stonewall, Tx and stayed the night in a nice tuscan style cabin with heater and woodburning fireplace by the bed. (absolute charming B & B) They lent us an extra dog bed that Bud loved and and I used the old bed. As the fire burned, the logs moved during the night and I got scared. I asked mom to move my bed next to hers and then I felt safe that nothing would fall on me. I made some new friends, Sophie, a standard poodle at the owner's home, and two dog friends next door.

The cabin had a little kitchenette to keep our food and they gave my family quiche and fresh fruit for breakfast. The bathroom had a jacuzzi tub which my mom and dad enjoyed.

The next morning we were off to Marfa, TX through the Fort Davis mountains. Tell the TX DOT to put real grass or stepping stone in the pet rest area; we both got stickers in our paws that hurt my parents when they pulled them out. Once in Marfa we walked the streets with our family and looked at the Galleries. The temperature was warm and the wind was still. I played with some new dogs at the Arcon Inn B&B, and met many dog friendly people around town.

We headed out of town to Valentine, TX to see the only Prada store around. It was closed; it is always closed. They call it art. But I did not see anyone named art around.

We drove on to Truth or Consequences, NM and I lay by my parents who were soaking in the hot springs. It is too hot for me. We left the desert and headed into the mountain and played in my first snow. It was cold, fluffy, and perfect. I rolled and dove in the snow. We met another dog who came to play in the snow in the middle of the National Forest. Wild time.

On the way back to Texas after Christmas we drove the northern route through Sedona, Flagstaff, Winslow, AZ, and Santa Fe, NM.  It was getting cold and snowy.  In Santa Fe we rented a house for New Years celebration.  I love the snow and rolled in it every chance that I could get.  I could plunge my head in the snow, eat the snow, and even catch the snow as a ball, but it broke apart in my mouth.  

My momma found some pet friendly snow trails for us to go snowshoeing or cross country skiing with dogs (5K trail in the Enchanted Forest), but we did not have a 4x4 vehicle and the volvo had little clearance in the snow.  We did not get to go.

We walked around the square in Santa Fe during New Years Eve.  There was an ice sculpture of Santa's sleigh and eight reindeers.  Don't lick the ice sculptures.  The streets were still lit up with Christmas lights.  

Bud and I both wore jackets, and Bud had dog boots.  He hated the cold.  In the morning he refused to walk in the snow and only pottied under the porch cover with no snow. 

When we were walking back to the casita from the square, one of Bud's four booties fell off.  He refused to put his bare paw down.  Momma had to go back down the street at night and find Bud's missing booty.  Thankfully she found it and wrapped it tightly around Bud's leg.  I can imagine seeing them carrying Bud back or him limping on three legs four blocks back home.

We stayed at the warm house as our parents ventured out to celebrate the changing of the year.  Not many places available or the prices were too high.  All they wanted was a drink and dinner.  So they went to one of the most expensive hotel close by and sat at the bar.  They meet a Flamingo guitar musician, Daniel ?, at the bar who was playing at the restaurant.  He was from NM and a famous musician to many, but not to us.  He gave them a CD for free, and they stayed at the bar until the new Year started, and walked back to our casita.  They had a wonderful time.