January and February are great months to get away for a little R&R with your furry pal. With the holidays past, prices are at their lowest and crowds are almost non-existent, leaving more dog-friendly rooms available for spontaneous travelers.
Jake and I pawed through the manuscript for the upcoming 7th edition of our book, The Dog Lover’s Companion to California (in bookstores in June), and selected five stellar, dog-friendly lodgings. They’re close enough that it won’t take you long to get there, yet far enough that you’ll feel worlds away. The inns range from super luxurious to delightfully down-to-earth. They’re all brand-new entries in the 7th edition, and we’re happy to provide Bay Woof readers with a sneak peek.
The Andiron Seaside Inn & Cabins, Little River, Mendocino
If you love the quirky, fun, and unique, there’s no better place to stay than the cabins at the Andiron. Sunset magazine calls the Andiron “a retro-chic hideout.” The new owners have remodeled the 11 rooms and housekeeping cabins from the 1950s to create a cute and comfy, eco-friendly, vintage yet modern destination inn. Half of the lodgings are housekeeping cabins, so you and your pooch(es) can cook your own meals. Some rooms have wood-burning stoves. All are redwood and have a super warm and cozy vibe. They’re stocked with fantastic reused furniture and textiles, old-style games, and fun goodies like telescopes and vintage View Masters.
The rooms have different themes. The “Write” cabin, for instance, comes with an old-fashioned typewriter, writing reference books, old manuscript pages as decoration, a settee from a famous (now-closed) San Francisco bookstore, curtains from an old library, and a chalkboard wall. It’s connected to “Read,” which features lots of books and a mural of an old-fashioned library.
Happy hour here is outstanding, complete with local beers, wines, and fondue. Yes, fondue! There’s always to-die-for coffee in the morning, along with fresh, local artisan breads and jams. Dogs get a generous welcome kit upon arrival.
Casa Munras, Monterey
The rooms at this lovely hybrid hotel/motel are simple and clean, with comfortable beds and affordable rates. Some rooms have fireplaces. The inn is within walking distance of Fisherman’s Wharf, which dogs think is grand, but what they really love is the way they’re treated here. Canine visitors receive a welcome kit including a ball, treats, and poop bags. Kennels, beds, and bowls are available for the asking.
Inverness Valley Inn, Marin County
Feel like going on a farmy getaway with your dog, only clean and pretty, and without the cows? Look no further than this friendly inn, where the rooms and suites are airy and pretty, the 15 acres beautiful even in winter, and the farm animal population just right for the tastes of a city or suburban dog – one llama, one alpaca, and assorted goats and geese.
The inn’s rooms and suites come with kitchenettes, which is very appealing when traveling with a dog. When away from the city, it can be tiresome to seek out a dog-friendly eatery for every meal.
All units have fireplaces, and most have decks or patios. The inn even has its own grassy little dog run. It’s not large, but it’s a fenced area where you can let your dog enjoy a little off-leash time.
Dog guests here get a dog bed upon check-in, as well as towels and poop bags to help keep the farm tidy. If your dog asks nicely, innkeepers Alden and Leslie will tell him about some secret dog-friendly spots nearby.
PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn, Squaw Valley
If you like a little luxury feel with your mountain vacation, you’ll love the PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn. The rooms are furnished in a simple, elegant, mountain-chic style and are ultra comfy. Some look out on the mountains and one even has a piano! The hotel features a great little fitness center, outdoor pools (not open in winter), and hot tubs, plus free WiFi throughout. A really delicious gourmet breakfast buffet comes with your stay. PlumpJack’s chefs make all the breads, muffins, and even the granola.
But what does a dog care about WiFi and tasteful décor? Here’s what will set his ears to twitching: the canine package includes use of a luxurious dog bed and bowls, fresh-baked organic treats, and a little dog tag that reads, “I’m a guest of PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn.” It provides all the pertinent info in case your dog wanders off.
There’s even more to love about this place: PlumpJack’s bar/café welcomes dogs at the patio seating, and you can even dine together inside in colder months, as long as you’re at the table in the lobby, next to the bar entrance. How cool (or warm) is that?
Solage, Calistoga
For most of us, winter is the best season to visit this magnificent, world-class resort, as rates are lowest January through March. It’s still not a bargain, but the resort becomes more within reach for the budget minded.
Solage is top-rated by Conde Nast Traveler, Travel & Leisure, and just about any other entity that gives grades to hotels. It’s s a sprawling, luxurious, relaxing, utterly exquisite resort. The guest studios feature warm woods, polished concrete floors, gorgeous furnishings, organic bath amenities, super high-end bedding, and everything else you could desire of a sumptuous getaway. If you don’t want to get away completely, you’ll be pleased with your room’s WiFi connection, flat-screen TV, and iPod docking station.
Guests have use of fun cruiser bikes, but of course dogs prefer for you to stay firmly planted on two feet. The pool here looks like something out of a magazine, flanked as it is by royal palms. (Oh, it actually is something out of a magazine. Solage’s pool has been featured in publications all over the world.) The spa is also world-renowned. Dogs have it really great here, too. They’re welcomed with plush dog beds, water bowls, treats and special food. And they have 22 private acres to explore during their stay.
THE DETAILS
The Andiron Seaside Inn & Cabins
707-937-1543 or 800-955-6478; www.theandiron.com
Rates: $89-299; dogs $20 extra for one, $30/two, $40/three per night
Casa Munras
831-375-2411 or 877-411-3436; www.larkspurhotels.com
Rates: $119-249; dogs $50 for up to two per visit
Inverness Valley Inn
415-669-7250 or 800-416-0405; www.invernessvalleyinn.com
Rates: $149-219. You can bring as many dogs as you like here – another unique aspect of this inn – and your whole pack will cost you only $25 for the first night, $10 for each additional night.
PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn
530-583-1576; www.plumpjacksquawvalleyinn.com
Rates: $165-365; dogs $150 each per visit (ouch), so stay awhile. (A second dog is $50.)
Solage
866-942-7442; www.solagecalistoga.com
Rates: $295-595; dogs $75 for up to two per stay
Maria Goodavage and her yellow dog, Jake, travel all over California seeking out new entries for their indispensible travel guide, The Dog Lover’s Companion to California. Learn more about them and the book at www.caldogtravel.com.
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