My husband and I recently visited Mendocino, California for a short trip. Mendocino is located about 160 miles north of Oakland, so is very accessible, and is a favorite spot to explore and enjoy life. I wanted to see the Mushrooms & Color Exhibit at the Mendocino Art Center, and my husband wanted to take photos of the sites and landscape. We decided to bring Bobo the Husky, thinking that a short, three-night trip would be a good test case for possible future trips.
This would be Bobo's first road trip with us, and possibly ever. He loves riding in the car, and took the very curvy Highway 128 from the 101 over to the coast like a champ. The stop at Navarro Vineyards & Winery and their wonderful dog park was the perfect place for a quick run and long drink of water. He needed to blow off some steam (I got a good work out as well, trying to keep up with him)!
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| Crossing the Richmond Bridge |
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| Farmstead on the way |
Our other trips to Mendocino have been in the fall, when the hills are golden and the leaves are sporting fall colors. This time the hills were green and lush from spring rains. Traffic wasn't bad either, especially once we got past Petaluma.
We checked into The Andiron Inn & Cabins and settled into The William and Maude Suite. The Andiron is very dog friendly, and we put their Pet Kit to use right from the start (protective sheets to cover furniture, towels for rubbing down a wet dog, poop bags, home made dog treats, and a personal greeting welcoming Bobo to the Inn). The suite has two rooms, a kitchenette, and a wide front porch. Bobo seemed right at home and enjoyed a walk around the grounds (the chicken coup and goat pen were especially compelling for him). He seemed a little nervous around his dinner time, but looked relieved when his dinner appeared at the usual time in his yellow bowl.
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| The cabins of The Andiron |
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| Bobo the Husky eating dinner at the usual time |
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| Cozy room with a hair dryer chair |
Mendocino as a community is also very dog friendly, which made our first trip with Bobo so pleasurable. We like to eat breakfast at GoodLife Cafe & Bakery, and learned that they have a small park behind the restaurant that is perfect for a dog family to eat together outside. We ate pizza for dinner inside at Frankie's, so Bobo experienced his first time eating at a restaurant (there was an outdoor seating area, but it was already dark and the staff was closing for the day, so they allowed it). For the other two evening meals, we ordered food to go from Flow Restaurant & Lounge and Patterson's Pub, and brought them it back to the Andiron to eat by the fire place. Very cozy.
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| Breakfast in the park at GoodLife Cafe & Bakery |
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| Taking a walk while waiting for our Patterson's Pub To Go order |
During the day we walked along the trails of the Mendocino Headlands and frolicked in the waves of Van Damme Beach. We brought a 15' leash to give Bobo a little more range, and he thoroughly enjoyed it! I photographed a few late-season mushrooms and harvested some lichen that had blown down in a big wind storm.
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| Van Damme Beach |
We left Bobo in the car for several very short stints, while we did a little shopping at the Mendocino Market, Mendocino Jams and Preserves, and The Highlight Gallery. It was probably harder on us than it was on him, but we wanted to see how he would do alone in the car in short bursts. After all, not every place is dog friendly, or appropriate for a big, energetic dog. Bobo did great, but always seemed happy to see us upon our return. Overall, we found Bobo to be an enthusiastic traveler who embraced every activity with gusto.
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| Driving back home through the coastal redwoods |
We learned a lot on our inaugural trip with Bobo. Advanced planning and research is vital for travelling with a dog. Unless you plan to camp, you need pet-friendly accommodations and restaurants (or order to-go). You need to understand the rules when staying in a pet friendly motel; there is typically a daily fee and you probably cannot leave a pet in the room while you are away. Some motels, attractions, or communities offer kennel service, but you may need to book in advance. Others do not offer such a service, so you may not be able to participate in some activities at your destination.
As when travelling with children, its probably best to stick with the same basic schedule for meals, downtime, and bedtime as you do at home. You also need to provide a water source, snacks and treats, and ensure your pet's comfort and safety. Exercise and downtime are as important on the road, as they are at home. We're looking forward to future car trips with Bobo the Husky!
