| Cool
your heels in Vermont this Summer - Four Fabulous
Vacation Ideas for Traveling with Fido
If you need a purse made of laminated newspaper,
some melted LP candy bowls, or a dog-bone picture
frame, then Virginia and Jay Sokoloff’s
store Mortimer Snodgrass in Montreal is the place
to go. If you need a vacation with your dog, the
Sokoloffs say, “Go to Vermont!”
Vermont has everything a dog could want: fields,
streams, lakes, farms, woods, and the excitement
of dog camps and other events that cater to canines.
It’s a great place for humans too –
with daily opportunities to fish, go antiquing,
hike, boat, and enjoy the myriad pleasures of
rural life up north. Even when the temperatures
soar (and they do, even here) there is always
the cool respite of a nearby stream or a green
canopy of hemlocks. And there is, of course, Stephen
Huneck’s Dog Mountain, which has become
a mecca for dog-lovers all over the world (Urban
Dog, Fall 2003).
For such a small state, Vermont has a lot to
offer the visiting canine and companion. Thanks
to the work of Trisha Blanchet, author of Dog
Friendly New England, you can find hundreds of
ideas to make your vacation fun for both of you.
There are more than 100 pet friendly inns and
hotels to choose from and many make a good home-away-from-home
while you explore surrounding parts of the state.
“If you want to see the real Vermont, skip
the fall leaf season and go in the spring,”
said Blanchet. “You’ll have the place
to yourself and you and your dog can explore to
your heart’s content.” Just keep in
mind that Vermont has five seasons, the fifth
being mud season, which can make some dirt roads
impassable. Summer may be less risky, road-wise!
When the Sokoloffs took their mixed-breed dog
Mortimer on his first overnight vacation, they
were a little nervous. Would he whine the whole
way? Would he bite a border guard? Would he go
crazy while the Sokoloffs enjoyed the museums,
antique shops and restaurants in Vermont?
You’ll be relieved to know that the answers
were no, no, and no. It’s partly because
Virginia and Jay knew that Mortimer would be less
stressed if he had his own bed, food and water
dishes, and toys with him. And because they found
an inn that also offered doggy day care –
where he had his first taste of agility training
and made many new friends.
“Mortimer got to play during the day and
spend the night in the room with us,” said
Virginia. “We got to do ‘grown up’
human things -- like shopping and eating, without
worrying.”
We think that if Mortimer had such a good time,
your dog will too. Here are four ideas about how
to spend your time in Vermont this summer.
Four Fabulous Destinations
One of the charms about Vermont is that when
you’re there, you feel a million miles away
from everything else. Of course, that makes getting
there a little more complicated. You can always
drive. You will definitely need a car to get around.
You can also fly (and rent a car). There is only
one major airport in the state, in Burlington,
but there are others in on every side.
We’ve highlighted the Lake Champlain Valley,
Northeast Kingdom, and central and southern regions
of Vermont with things to see and to do and where
to stay. Recent prices are listed, but several
also charge additional fees for dogs, so check
in advance.
Hiking is popular throughout the state and there
are plenty of trails, including the Long Trail,
maintained by the Green Mountain Club (www.greenmountainclub.org).
Check www.vtstateparks.com
for campsites, which are a very affordable way
to see Vermont with your dog. Other ideas for
summer events may be found in Yankee Dog (bowser@sover.net),
a free quarterly newspaper out of southern Vermont.
Lake Champlain Valley
Places to see and things to do
2004 All Breed Dog Show and Obedience Trials,
Essex Junction. July 10 – 11. Approximately
1000 dogs from all over the United States and
Canada compete at this show. For more information
see www.cvkc.org.
Camp Gone to the Dogs, Stowe. Honey Loring’s
infamous dog camps take place in southern Vermont
as well as in Stowe. There is a midsummer and
a fall session and costs range between $850-1,250
for the week. Participants can stay on-site or
off and enjoy all the meals and events. www.campgonetothedogs.com.
Shelburne Museum Goes to the Dogs!, Shelburne.
September 12. For four years the museum has welcomed
up to 1000 dogs to their annual party featuring
a dog parade, dog games and contests, agility
course, and rescue and guide dog demonstrations.
See www.shelburnemuseum.org.
For more ideas about what’s going on in
this region, go to www.vermont.org.
Where to stay
Many of the commercial hotels in the Burlington
area are pet friendly. If you want to get out
of the city (well, “city” is a relative
term; the population is under 100,000), try some
of the islands or outlying areas.
Black Bear Inn, Bolton Valley. This inn offers
an on-site kennel called the Bone and Biscuit
Inn with both indoor and outdoor runs. $53-185.
www.blackbearinn.com.
By the Lake Motel, Grand Isle. Housekeeping efficiencies
with lake access. $65. 802-372-6134.
Inn at Buck Hollow Farm, Fairfax. Set on 400
acres of horse fields, forests and lawns. “This
inn is run by an antiques dealer,” said
Trisha Blanchet. “It’s very isolated,
but he serves a great breakfast!” $63-103.
inn@buckhollow.com.
Shore Acres Inn and Restaurant, North Hero. Most
rooms have water views; there is tennis, swimming,
golf, and croquet. $89-155. vtshacres@aol.com.
Northeast Kingdom
Places to see and things to do
St. Albans Drive-in Theater, St. Albans. One
of the last New England drive-ins and a great
way to spend an evening with your pooch. 802-524-2468.
Stephen Huneck’s Annual Dog Party, Dog
Mountain, St. Johnsbury, August 8, 1-4 p.m. Dedicated
to dogs every year, this event provides live music,
good food (including a hot dog barbeque for dogs),
art, the opportunity to mix with new friends and
with artist Stephen Huneck. Admission is free.
www.dogchapel.com.
Where to stay
Inn at Maplemont, Barnet. Yuri and Cooper, two
Bernese Mountain Dogs, are the hosts at this friendly
inn. There are 43 acres of pastures for exploring
and the Connecticut River for canoeing or kayaking.
$90-110. www.maplemont.com.
Quimby Country Lodge and Cottages, Averill. A
600-acres lakefront resort right on the Canadian
border. $51-151. www.quimbycountry.com.
Willoughby Vale Inn on Lake Willoughby, Orleans.
Water views, luxury suites, cottages, on-site
restaurant. Size limit to 50 pounds. $79-249.
www.willoughby.com.
Central Vermont
Places to see and things to do
Auction for the Animals, August. Woodstock is
one of the most beautiful towns in Vermont and
this benefit and walkathon (in May) are excellent
ways to become familiar with the place while helping
out the local shelter. Call 802-457-3080.
Ben & Jerry’s Factory Tours. Route
100, Waterbury. A fun and educational guided factory
tour. You’ll see a “moo-vie,”
get a bird’s-eye view of the production
room and sample flavors of the day. Open seven
days, year-round. See http://www.benjerry.com.
Four Dogs and a Wish, Middlebury. This store
features funky hard-to-find products like the
Sokoloff’s in Montreal.
Mutt Strutt, July. This annual Stowe fundraiser
can’t compare with New Orleans’ Barkus
Parade or Dog Days in the Park but it provides
a flavor of New England at its canine finest.
Call 802-888-5065 or visit www.ncal.com.
Stephen Huneck’s Annual Dog Party, Stephen
Huneck Gallery, Woodstock, August 7, 1-4 p.m.
See Northeast Kingdom description. Admission is
free. www.dogchapel.com.
Where to stay
Champlain Valley Alpaca and Farmstay, Bridport.
This working alpaca farm welcomes dogs (and other
animals) and offers hiking, biking and participation
in farm life.$55-255. www.wcvt.com.
Paw House Inn, Rutland. This inn is centrally
located, near Killington and Okemo mountains.
This 18th century farmhouse is first class and
offers a cozy bed for dog guests in each room.
Best of all, Mario’s Playhouse provides
quality dog daycare. and offers on-site dog
care, so that enjoying the local arts, shops and
restaurants is much easier. $135-155. www.pawhouseinn.com.
Southern Vermont
Places to see and things to do
Calvin Coolidge State Forest and Park, Plymouth.
A vast protected forest that stretches for 16,000
miles through seven towns along scenic Route 100.
800-299-3071.
Camp Gone to the Dogs, Marlboro. $900-1,050 per
week with housing, $800 without. The summer session
fee covers meals, classes, obedience, agility,
herding, flyball etc. Visit www.campgonetothedogs.com.
Mount Equinox, Manchester. This is the highest
peak in the Taconic Mountain Range and offers
a six picnic areas at the 3,838 foot peak reached
by driving or hiking. Don’t miss the granite
monument to honor the founder’s first and
only dog, Mr. Barbo, a Norwegian elkhound/Siberian
huskey mix who was shot by a hunter in 1955.
Summer concerts on the Green in Manchester, Manchester.
Friday nights from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Admission is
free and dogs are welcome as long as they are
quiet and on a leash. Settle in for a peaceful
evening with a picnic, blanket and chairs. Call
800-362-4144.
Where to stay
Grafton Homestead, Grafton. Close to historic
Grafton, this inn also offers a large suite with
a private entrance. $100-122. www.graftonhomestead.com.
Inn at Quail Run, Wilmington. Dogs enjoy complimentary
dog biscuits and run free on 15 acres. Companions
enjoy gourmet breakfasts and spacious rooms. $90-200.
www.bbonline.com/vt/quailrun/.
Knotty Pine Motel, Bennington. Dogs are welcome
here, as long as they agree to follow the posted
“petiquette” rules. $44-89. www.bennington.com.
Stone Hearth Inn, Chester. A historic inn located
in Chester’s unusual and historic “stone
house village.” $79-139. www.thestonehearthinn.com. |
