To the trees, if you please! El Dorado County is home to dozens of Christmas tree farms and apple growers that welcome dogs. (Please, no leg lifts on the host trees.) Some farms do double duty and grow both Christmas trees and apples. Your dog can help you sniff out a tasty apple pie or fresh bag of apples at the Harris Tree Farm fruit stand and picnic area starting in August, and toward Christmas, he can watch as you choose and cut your own Christmas tree. (Dogs get all the easy jobs.) Harris Tree Farm is in Pollock Pines; call 530-644-2194. For a full listing of El Dorado County Christmas Tree Growers farms visit www.visit-eldorado.com/christmas. Most permit leashed pooches.
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An old-fashioned escape at the luxurious Camellia Inn: Jake’s and my jaws dropped at the same time (not a pretty sight) when we learned that dogs are welcome to stay in two rooms at this exquisite 1871 Italianate Victorian bed & breakfast. The rooms look like they’re straight out of the 1800s, only with modern, super comfy bedding and amenities. A walk around the grounds is a must. There are more than 50 varieties of camellias around the inn. The inn’s website has a garden directory, so you’ll be able to identify all the foliage and trees. Canines have no problem sniffing out the dogwoods.
This Sonoma County inn may be an antique wonder, but it splashes into the present with a lovely pool, which is a blessing on summer days. In warmer months, an evening wine and cheese social is held poolside. In cooler months, they bring the goodies inside the inn’s cozy parlor. A delightful breakfast comes with your stay. “But we don’t make dog breakfasts,” an innkeeper explained apologetically. That’s OK. Dogs are thrilled to be able to set paw here. The Camellia Inn is in Healdsburg; call 707-433-8182 or visit www.camelliainn.com.
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A gift to yourself & your dog (especially if you order room service!) The Cottages at Little River Cove: Ever dream of a sweet little cottage with an ocean view, fireplace, warm-tone wood walls, huge windows, a deck, gourmet kitchen, down duvets, plush robes, and fluffy towels? Pretty hard to find but add “super dog friendly” to the mix and it’s a rare bird indeed. That’s why the Cottages at Little River Cove are so special. Not only do humans have everything they could want while relaxing in a knoll-top cottage overlooking the ocean, but dogs get great grounds to sniff around. It’s flowery, grassy, and very inviting. We’ve heard from readers who would live there if they could. And their dogs always concur. Pooches may not care about robes and windows, but they love the dog-friendly staff, and the feeling that they are truly welcome. Staffers here really love dogs, and upon arrival, supply them with a Pet Package, which includes a bed, some food, bowls, a towel, treat, and poop bags.
Feel like really treating yourself? You don’t have to make use of the gourmet kitchen, nor do you have to go out to eat: The cottages offer room service! The vegetable torta and Dungeness crab pot pie are to die for, according to a recent visitor. “It’s like someone took me from the city, and threw us into heaven, right down to the food we ate,” she wrote me. Have dessert while watching a movie on your room’s flat-panel TV via your room’s DVD player. It’s the best of all worlds here. The Cottages are in Little River on the Mendocino coast; call 707-937-5339 or visit www.cottagesatlittlerivercove.com.
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A winter wonderland experience at the Cedar House Sport Hotel: This 42-room contemporary, hip-yet-cozy lodging is the most attractive, comfortable, and welcoming dog-friendly place to stay in this neck of the woods. You won’t miss the big Christmas tree in the intimate, snug lobby. This is our paws-down favorite place to stay on or near Tahoe’s North Shore. The hotel’s cedar exterior, “green” roof, and bold architecture usher you inside to rooms that are worthy of a design magazine’s attention. They’re modern and open and kind of organic-feeling, with microfiber/leather beds topped by Euro-style mattresses, down comforters from Germany, bent plywood furniture, and luxurious, white towels and linens. All rooms have a fridge, flat-screen TV, and free Wi-Fi.
Dogs are welcome in all the downstairs rooms. They love it here. The owner, Patty, enjoys dog guests (“in truth, we have more problems with kids than dogs,” she said) and welcomes them with treats, special dog beds, and bowls. She said that insurance prevents her from allowing certain breeds, so call first to make sure yours isn’t one of them. There’s also a 100-pound limit, and a ban on dogs who are dribbly droolers. (Sorry on both counts, Saint Bernards.) The staff will be happy to point you and your dog to some “secret” fun spots that allow the hotel’s canine guests, but not necessarily every dog that walks down the block. The Cedar House is in Truckee; call 866-582-5655 or visit www.cedarhousesporthotel.com.
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Dash through the snow together in Tahoe City, Placer County: While you ski at the Tahoe Cross Country Ski Area your happy, leash-free dog can trot along beside you on five miles of beautifully groomed dog-friendly trails. (Leashes are required only at the trailhead and parking lot.) It’s a blissful experience for most dogs. In fact, Jake is so happy when he gets to ski with us that he leaves lots of cheery yellow marks all over the place.
For obvious reasons, dogs must be under voice control. The two dog-friendly trails are open to dogs from 8:30 a.m.to 5 p.m. M-F and limited hours on weekends and holidays. Humans pay $22 for a day of skiing. Dogs pay $4. Season passes are available. In fact, your dog’s season pass will have his photo emblazoned on it!
The ski lodge is just as welcoming as the trails. Inside the cozy lounge you’ll find plenty of dog biscuits. For humans, you’ll find hot chocolate and cookies. The ski area is in Tahoe City; call 530-583-5475 or visit www.tahoexc.org.
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When you need a respite from the snow, get warm at Mother Nature’s Inn: Each room at this renovated 1945 inn in the heart of Tahoe City features cozy lodge decor with wildlife and nature themes. The emphasis is on the great outdoors, very appropriate in these parts. This is Mother Nature at her best, especially where dogs are concerned: Dogs who come to this inn get treats, a doggy bed, poop bags, and a sheet for the bed, should your dog be interested in sharing your bed.
The owners love animals. According to Maizy Dog, who had her person, Sherry, write to us, they are “incredibly dog savvy and friendly… they treat people and dogs very nicely.” In fact, Maizy Dog met the inn’s owners alongside the highway after she got lost in a snowstorm. Despite her skittishness at being caught by strangers, with their own dog’s help, the innkeepers managed to persuade her into their car. Back at the inn, they phoned Sherry (Maizy had tags, thankfully), who was much relieved to be reunited with her runaway. Maizy got treated royally here, with biscuits and lots of love.
If you want to shop for little gifty items or home furnishings, look no further than the inn’s store, Cabin Fever. You’re welcome to bring your dog, of course. Mother Nature’s Inn is located in Tahoe City; call 800-558-4278 or visit www.mothernaturesinn.com
For more California dog travel tips visit Maria Goodavage‘s website caldogtravel.com. Her recently completed Soldier Dogs: Untold Stories of America’s Canine Heroes will be published in March, by Dutton (Penguin).
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