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.