|
Carmel Has "Gone To The Dogs"
California's Pet Friendly Dog-Beaches and Dog-Parks include some fantastic locations along the California Coast where you can let your dog romp and play with other pets in the ocean, streams, parks and forests. Nowhere in California - or for that matter, the United States - is this more true than in Carmel. Carmel topped the list of the 10 most "dog-friendly" cities and towns in America as #1, according to DogFriendly.com.
Maria Goodavage (former staff writer for USA Today), writer of "It's A Dog's World : True Stories of Travel with Man's Best Friend" calls Carmel "the most dog-friendly village in the United States" for good reason. Rarely will one find a leash-free playground as pretty as Carmel City Beach, with its white sand beaches and stately cypress trees. The local newspaper "The Carmel Pine Cone" features the column "Sandy Claws," which profiles one of the town's canine citizens each week, including his or her photograph and biography. The 2006 election for Carmel mayor promises to be a closely watched election for canines throughout the country as the local dog lover "Dogman" has announced that he will challenge incumbent Sue McCloud for the office.
In Carmel there are pet-friendly hotels, pet-friendly shops, pet-friendly restaurants, and of course, pet-friendly boutiques catering exclusively to up-scale pooches. Shopkeepers maintain full water bowls to greet the "patrons" and usually have plenty of doggy treats on hand. At the restaurant PortaBella's, thirsty pooches will be presented with a champagne-bucket water bowl on a chic napkin-covered plate. Several of the local eateries have dog menus. For instance, the "Dog Pound Menu" at The Forge In The Forest offers such doggie treats as "Plain Ol' Kibble," "The Quarter Hounder," a "Hot Diggity Dog," and an eight ounce grilled and sliced New York steak for $12.95 - for your dog!
At "Phideaux", you can buy a wine bottle full of dog biscuits, a dog bed with matching duvet, or a Scotty dog flag. Shops such as "Diggidy Dog" and "Mackie's Parlor" sell feather beds, canine cologne, and squeak toys. At our store, European Jeweler & Goldsmith in the Carmel Crossroads shopping center, custom paw-print jewelry is created for dog and cat owners in 14k gold and silver by taking a mold of their pet's precious paw prints (see photo at bottom of page). And for the thirsty shopper: the Fountain of Woof, a "dogs-only" drinking fountain in the Carmel Plaza shopping center.
Pet-friendly accommodations include animal lover and Animal Rights Campaigner Doris Day's Cypress Inn, (800) 443-7443, where dogs and cats are frequent guests. Pooches are welcome to join their people for afternoon tea in the garden or happy hour in the library bar at the Cypress Inn, and there is a doggy-biscuit turndown service in your room. Alternatively, you and your pooch can check into Carmel's Wayside Inn, which offers a cookie jar full of dog biscuits in the lobby. So, pooches of America, get your paws in gear; pack up your owners and plan on a purrrfect vacation in paradise!
"Paw Print" Pet Jewelry
Top 10 U.S. dog-friendly sites named
Reprint of original UPI article
Jul 18, 2005, 20:13 GMT
"POLLOCK PINES, CA, United States (UPI) -- Monterey and Carmel, Calif., topped the list of U.S. dog-friendly travel destinations compiled by DogFriendly.com.
In its annual ranking, the Web site Monday cited Carmel for having dog-friendly beaches, trails, outdoor restaurants and said, "This region truly welcomes dogs."
Black Hills, S.D., was second, and came with an assurance Mount Rushmore was visible from the pet area. Jekyll Island, Ga., was ranked third, and the site suggested taking the dog on a carriage tour of the millionaire`s island.
For pooches who like quaintness, Key West, Fla., was recommended in the fourth spot, followed by Cape Cod, Mass.
Wyoming`s Yellowstone Park was noted for hiking, while Mackinac Island, Mich., has no cars and therefore is a safe spot for dogs. Canines who aren`t afraid of ghosts can take the guided tours of old St. Augustine, Fla., while Acadia/Bar Harbor, Maine, in ninth spot is cited as having "the most dog-friendly national park."
Hocking Hills, Ohio, rounded out the top 10, and was noted for its cliffs and caves at the state park."
Article Copyright 2005 by United Press International
Dog Friendly Links
General Info on all things DOG
Dog Shows
Dog Books
Dog Forums
Back To General Information
|
|
|
Doggie Drinking Fountain
Mayor Sue McCloud at "Dog Art" show
|
Site Map