Pet Companion Magazine PCM_Spring 2023 Page 18
[ travel ] The ins and outs of pet travel Preparation and flexibility are key By Brady Rhoades solid start. The trip was like the city: ups, downs, way-ward and wacky, great sport. The drive went well, for the most part. And that other part? Bow’s bladder and bowels cared not a whit about our best-laid plans, which called for three breaks at rest stops off the 5, 152, and 101. At those stops, she was as suspicious as a CSI detective. Her wingman—me (or was I her assistant?)—would have to be as patient as an elephant. And flexible. Can’t go at Coalinga? We’ll try 30 miles up the road. In the Bayshore neighborhood where we stayed, Bow warmed up to a Rottweiler named Toby and a 13-year-old Papillon who was as charming as your favorite granddad—and just as hard of hearing. At Fisherman’s Wharf, Bow was a living, breathing vacuum. We used the “Leave it” command about 212 times. Maybe more. Nearby Ghirar-delli Square proved a better option. It’s a little fiefdom of dogs. There’s a YAPS store that sells dog clothing, accessories and harnesses, among other items. And folks rave above Fairmont Heritage Place hotel, which allows two pets per room for a fee of $75 per stay. The main lawn of the Presidio inside the Golden Gate National Recre -ation Area is a social hub for pups. From there, we walked the California W e’re planning to take Bow on va -cation later this year, so we figured a road-test to San Francisco was a Coastal Trail, which offers sweeping, stunning views. If you’re interested in native wildlife, the Tennessee Hollow Trail might be a go-to. And other flourishing trails and stop-in-your-tracks views can be found all along the Pacific’s edge. John Steinbeck’s golden city, with its “eve-ning fog rolled like herds of sheep coming to cote,” was grimacingly cold. Days in the low 50s, nights in the low 40s. We made sure Bow was warm and dry after outings in the wet winds. For more on keeping your pet warm on those chilly evenings at the beach, see our “Winter Beach Tips,” on page 7 of our winter 2023 issue: https://bit.ly/PCMtravelHB. Bow’s potty paranoia persisted throughout the trip. We didn’t get much sleep and I’ll leave it at that. It was a lively three days. We’re planning another getaway in July. Our first thought: a cruise to Alaska—but that’s not going to happen. There are some pet-friendly cruises, but, for obvious reasons, there aren’t many pet-centered options in that travel genre. So we’re not going west. East of our home in Orange County is desert. South is Mexico. The compass has made its general point: North it is! The possibilities are endless. Pet travel is evolving. More hotels, restaurants and the like are build -ing pet-friendly services into their business models. People and their pets are trekking around the country—even the globe—in a way we’ve REAGAN CHEONG 18 petcompanionmag.com
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The ins and outs of pet travel
Brady Rhoades
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