Guide to a Conejo Valley Weekend Getaway

Conejo Valley.  Where is that?  That’s the question we asked at the Conejo Valley booth at the San Diego Travel and Adventure Show.  So let’s start with a short geography lesson.  Conejo Valley is northwest of Los Angeles and touches both Los Angeles County and Ventura County.  Conejo Valley includes the communities of Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, Westlake Village, Oak Park, and Agoura Hills.  Conejo Valley’s most well-known tourist site is probably the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum.  Even people who live in Los Angeles don’t necessarily know Conejo Valley by name, yet Conejo Valley is a great weekend getaway destination for people who live in Los Angeles, San Diego, or other parts of Southern California.  Conejo Valley is also a great side-trip for people traveling to Los Angeles.  Here is our Conejo Valley guide for a great weekend getaway. 

Remember at a Presidential Library

Technically President Jimmy Carter was in office when I was born.  However, President Ronald Reagan is the first president I remember, so it is fitting that the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, located in Thousand Oaks, was my first presidential library to visit.  I remember seeing Ronald Reagan on TV all the time.  (“No wonder your president has to be an actor.  He’s gotta look good on television.” – Dr. Emmett Brown)  I remember when he was up for reelection and I couldn’t understand why someone would want to change the president.

America’s best days are yet to come.

Our proudest moments are yet to be.

Our most glorious achievements are just ahead.

A visit to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library is a recollection of every aspect of Ronald Reagan’s presidency.  Nelle Reagan’s bible, the one Ronald Reagan placed his hand on at both inaugurations, is on display.  An album of quotes collected by the president, handwritten on index cards and inspirational to his speeches, perhaps helped him earn the title “The Great Communicator.”

More than anything else, I want my candidacy to unify our country;

to renew the American spirit and sense of purpose.

A grim reminder of one of the scariest times of his presidency is the suit he was wearing when he was shot.  The hole where the bullet passed through is still surrounded by dried blood.  There is also a display of some of the get well canes that were given to him, including one with Jelly Bellys, Reagan’s favorite candy.

A replica of Reagan’s oval office can be viewed, though some of the items are copies as the originals are still in use, like the president’s desk, which is currently being used by President Obama and has been used by all but two presidents since President Hayes.

I believed—and intended to make it a theme of my

campaign—that America’s greatest years were ahead of it.

The highlight of visiting the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library is seeing and walking through President Reagan’s Air Force One, which recently served as a backdrop for the Republican presidential debate.  It’s funny to see the little elements that date the plane, like rotary phones and typewriters.

A visit to the Reagan Library finishes with a piece of the Berlin Wall, a reminder of one of Reagan’s most memorable moments when he said, “Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate.  Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.”

Bike through Movie Sets

Speaking of actors, Conejo Valley is also home to Paramount Ranch, a movie ranch, a popular location for filming Westerns.  A portion of Paramount Ranch is part of the National Park Service, including the Western Town, which was used as the set for Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.  Paramount Ranch has several miles of hiking trails.

We explored Paramount Ranch, along with other parts of Conejo Valley, in an unusual way, on electric bikes.  This was without a doubt the most fun part of our weekend getaway to Conejo Valley.  While Rome is a good bicyclist, I am an adequate bicyclist at best, so riding an electric bike for the first time was awesome!  I got used to it pretty quickly.  Even in the extreme heat of summer, riding for long distances and up hills was a breeze.  All it takes is a push on the peddle to bring the bike to speed and, on steeper hills, a turn on the throttle. 

We took our electric bike tour with Pedego 101 located in Westlake Village.  Pedego 101 offers electric bike rentals.  They can suggest a route, or you can book a guided tour.  Most of the roads we followed had little to no traffic, and those that did have some traffic had bike lanes.  If you want to cover some ground without the effort a regular bike ride would require, an electric bike is the way to go.

Another pretty location we visited on our ride was Malibu Lake, another film location which is seen in films like Frankenstein, Gone with the Wind, and Must Love Dogs.

If you want to include a meal in your ride, The Old Place is a popular spot that has been in business for over 45 years.  While waiting for a table, you can have some wine next door at the Cornell Winery & Tasting Room.

For old movie lovers like me, another possible stop on an electric bike tour of Conejo Valley is at the house from Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House, a 1948 movie with my favorite actor, Cary Grant.  The country home from the movie can be found in Malibu Creek State Park, which used to be owned by 20th Century Fox Studios.

Visit a Piece of History

Stagecoach Inn Museum is one of Conejo Valley’s 30 museums.  While the museum looks like it could have been a grand home, it actually opened in 1876 as the Grand Union Hotel and was the first business in Conejo Valley.  Back then it took three days to travel from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara, so the hotel served the stagecoach route.

The building did not just work as a hotel.  It was also used as a post office, a tearoom, a military school, and a restaurant.  The building was moved in 1966 to make way for the Ventura Freeway, and then it burned down four years later.  The current museum is a reconstructed version of the original.

In addition to the restored inn, there are a number of exhibits on the grounds including the Tri-Village with a pioneer house, Spanish adobe, and Chumash village, the Timber School, a blacksmith shop, and more.

Hike the Hills

There are a number of hiking opportunities in Conejo Valley.  One of those is the Los Robles Trail to Angel Vista.  Confession, we didn’t make it to the vista as the weekend we visited ended up having record high temperatures.  But we still had a nice hike through nature and with views of the valley below.

Stop to Smell the Roses

Another escape into nature is the Gardens of the World.  This little piece of land in the middle of Thousand Oaks is an effort by the Hogan Family Foundation to showcase cultures of the world in a garden setting.  The lands of the world represented include Japan, France, England, and Italy.

Taste Wine, Beer, and Cider

Conejo Valley is in California, so that means wine and beer.  We stopped in at Sunland Vintage Winery in Thousand Oaks, a family-owned winery creating mostly Italian wines.  For beer, we visited an industrial park in Westlake Village where we enjoyed flights of beer at Five Threads Brewing Company and Westlake Brewing Company.  As an added bonus, we found 101 Cider House, a craft cidery, sharing space with Westlake Brewing Company.

Related: Tasting the Wine, Beer, and Cider of California’s Conejo Valley

Eat Well at Conejo Valley Restaurants

A vacation in Conejo Valley doesn’t mean you have to eat unhealthy food.  There are so many delicious yet healthy restaurant options.  For breakfast, we visited Jeannine’s Gourmet Food Hall and Wildflour Bakery & Café.  For lunch, we ate at Lemonade and Ladyface Ale Companies.  Dinners were at Hugo’s and Sabor Cocina Mexicana.

Sleep Well at the Sheraton Agoura Hills

During our Southern California weekend getaway, we stayed at the Sheraton Agoura Hills.  The Sheraton Agoura Hills is centrally located within Conejo Valley.  In fact, we rode by it on our electric bicycle tour.  It is clearly one of the most popular Agoura Hills hotels as it was crowded the weekend we stayed.  Rooms are big and nicely decorated and beds are super comfortable. 

While our room was a comfortable place to hang out, we also enjoyed the Sheraton Agoura Hills’ public spaces like the spacious bar, the outdoor seating areas where we could enjoy a glass of wine and a fire, and the abundance of lounging areas around and above the pool. 

Thank you to Conejo Valley Tourism for hosting our weekend getaway and making this post possible.  As always, all opinions are our own.

Read More

3 Top Scottish Golf Courses (That Aren’t St. Andrews)

When a golfer goes to Scotland, everyone asks if they are going to play the Old Course at St. Andrews, the most famous golf course in the world.  But since Scotland is the birthplace of golf, there are a ton more Scottish golf courses  beyond St. Andrews, and many of them are top golf courses in their own right for various reasons.  The following is my account of three fanfreekintastic Scottish golf courses I was able to experience on our trip about Scotland starting in Edinburgh and finishing at the end of Loch Ness.

Musselburgh Links

You know those two old wood-shafted golf clubs your weird Uncle Frank has hanging in a decorative X pattern on the wall in his man-cave across from the dart board?  Well, I actually played golf with those and loved it.

Musselburgh Links is arguably the oldest golf course in the world (it was recognized by Guinness as such) and Mary Queen of Scots is said to have played there in 1567.  In fact, the size of the hole in which the game is still played was determined by a tool at this place.  Open Championships were played here centuries ago.  Of course, the debate is often made for St. Andrews, which has recorded golf being played on the land dating back to 1552.

I’m not here to try to figure all that out.  All I know is there’s a gigantic banner on one of the gates which reads: MUSSELBURGH LINKS, THE OLD GOLF COURSE - THE OLDEST GOLF COURSE IN THE WORLD.  They’re quite proud of it, as they should be, and that’s enough for me.  Be sure to visit the old Clubhouse which is basically a museum showing the history of the old Club.  They’ll be happy to give you a more convincing argument.

I’m not going to lie to you. I made an attempt to get in at St. Andrews to play the Old Course. I established my handicap and I found out you need to play a round at one of the other St. Andrews’ golf courses. It’s basically a lottery and I didn’t get lucky. I’m sure that’s the case with many golfers hoping to play those storied links and I was, needless to say, disappointed when I found out I wasn’t going to get to play the most famous of the Scottish golf courses.

But, when I was informed I was going to play Musselburgh Links and found out what it is, I became very excited.  It’s an easy fifteen minute, three quid roundtrip bus ride from Edinburgh.  You’ll find Musselburgh Links in the middle of the Musselburgh Racecourse.  That’s right, this Scottish golf course is mostly in the “infield” of a horseracing track.  How funny is this local rule?  When a ball lands in a hoof-print, following verification by a playing partner, the rule for ground under repair applies.

Musselburgh Links, for the most part, is fairly flat, especially by today’s standards.  The course is nine holes (remember, they hadn’t settled on an 18-hole format yet) where the wind swirls and can blow your ball 20 yards pull or fade.  Now imagine facing that while gripping what seems like a leather-handled garden tool.

I was provided with a set of five clubs.  The Brassie is like your driver.  The Brassie was invented at Musselburgh Links when a metal plate was mounted to the bottom of a wood.  The set also included a Mashie, which I’m told is the 150-yard club for most golfers; a Mashie Niblick, good to 125 yards; a Niblick, your 100 and in club; and, finally, a putter. 

My playing partners were club members and happy to see someone take the old hickories out for a spin.  They’re surprisingly powerful and workable to a degree, but a mishit is a catastrophe.  There’s a small chipping area to get acquainted with the “wedge,” and a putting area too.  But there’s no full range to figure out the bigger clubs, so it’s a baptism by firing away.  Grip it and rip it, so they say.

Sure, you can play your round with a modern set of clubs and maybe enjoy it as much as any other course, but I suggest giving the old hickories a try.  It’s a once-in-a-lifetime round and a memory for a lifetime. 

Braemar Golf Club

My second round at a Scottish golf course found me in a mountain town in the middle of the Scottish Highlands, at around 1,200 feet above sea level.  Braemar is home to the Highest Golf Course in Scotland, Braemar Golf Club, another track I thoroughly enjoyed.  The course had seen a bit of rain and snow before I played, and yet it wasn’t soggy.  I get a feeling the grounds here are a little more accustomed to the moisture than our sunny southern California courses.  

It was here I was introduced to the mighty rough these Scot folks brag about.  I can personally say it’s no joke. Do not venture off the mowed area!  I only managed to really hide one ball in there.  When you can no longer see your feet from knee-high foliage, it’s time to call it a loss.

This course also has not a solitary sand bunker.  They don’t need them. Instead, they have these grass mounds which protect the greens.   I was lucky enough to not have to deal with any directly, but I did have to pitch over top of a few, having barely missed the green.

Another feature which promises this is no cream-puff of real estate is the fact that there is the possibility of four par-threes which measure over 200 yards depending on which tees you hit from.  Honestly, it’s one of those places you would be happy to play more than once if your visit keeps you in the area long enough, as it is a national park, but there would be no guarantee you’d score any better.

What I found most memorable was that the mountains surround the entire course and provide an amazing snowcapped view from every angle.  I saw a few deer wandering about the hills.  Wildlife is always a plus as far as I’m concerned so long as I don’t have to worry about getting bit somehow (we have rattlesnakes in our neighborhood).

The course is raised around the edges, which not only makes for interesting looks at pins, but also a fine glance at the scenery this land is so famous for.  The staff is super friendly and helpful.  They set me up with everything I needed, even extra balls just in case.   I normally only travel with one sleeve of three and a glove.  I felt like I had the whole place to myself the day I played, so I’m going to go with an often overused phrase and call this one a hidden gem.

Fort Augustus Golf Club

The captain of our Scottish Highlands barge cruise with Caledonian Discovery suggested I make my final round at the Fort Augustus Golf Club at the foot of Loch Ness, plugged by Scotland’s Golf Now as possibly being “the hardest nine-hole golf course in Scotland and the hardest par 67 layout anywhere in the country.”  The article continues, saying this Scottish golf course “could certainly be the hardest course in Scotland without a drop of water anywhere on the premises.”

Space being limited, you play the course twice from different tee locations.  The Fort Augustus Golf Club is no grand establishment.  There’s no posh clubhouse to speak of.  We weren’t even able to contact the starter by phone when trying to make a tee time on our visit.  We found the greens keeper mowing the fairways, which we found in very good order, and he was able to get us a round. 

They can provide you with clubs, tees, and balls.  What else do you need?  There is even a green fees box available for folks wanting to play when no one is available.  It works on an honor system.  (Can you even imagine?)  For just a bit more they rented us clubs and we were instructed to just leave them in the water closet on the side of the clubhouse.

The Fort Augustus Golf Club has its own funny local rules for sheep poop and wool on the greens and fairways.  You basically clean and replace as necessary.

It’s a beautiful place to get a round in.  I met a new buddy on board our cruise who, just like me, would have been happy to play any of the many Scottish golf courses.  What a bonus that it turned out to be this amazingly quaint, yet picturesque, walk in the park.

From the lochs, it seems a lot flatter than it actually is.  In fact, there’s quite a bit of undulation.  The greens are fair and roll true.  Hats off to the nice folks who keep and maintain this rustic course located where, when the wind blows (and it always does), it can be a real test for even an experienced golfer but, more importantly, a fun experience for a not so serious one.

If you’re a golfer traveling to Scotland, I hope you’ll consider giving one of these Scottish golf courses a try.  There’s more to Scotland than the big famous golf courses you hear about all the time.  Each of these golf courses has something to put it into the list of top Scottish golf courses.  Musselburgh Links is arguably the oldest golf course in the world.  Braemar Golf Club is the highest golf course in Scotland.  Fort Augustus Golf Club is the hardest nine-hole golf course in Scotland.  And as for Musselburgh Links, when are you going to have the chance to play with hickory clubs they used back in the 1500s, unless you steal your Uncle Franks?

Thank you to Musselburgh Links and Braemar Golf Club for hosting my rounds and making this post possible.  As always, all opinions are my own.

Read More

Pet-Friendly Vacations: 10 Tips for Traveling with Dogs

Henry and Charlie in New York City.

For some of us, our pets are like our family and we don’t like to be separated from them for too long.  When we travel, the only thing that really makes us want to come home is being able to see our two tiny dogs again.  So, while we don’t always travel with our pets, we are always looking for travel opportunities like weekend getaways where we can bring our dogs along.  However, traveling with pets is no walk in the park.  Here are our 10 tips for traveling with dogs to make your pet-friendly vacations as stress-free and enjoyable as possible.

Call Ahead for the Hotel’s Full Pet Policy

Henry trying out glamping in Buellton.

Sometimes hotels advertise themselves as pet-friendly, but the hotel website doesn’t always list all the terms of their pet policy and sometimes those pet-friendly hotels are anything but.  One of our pet peeves (pun intended) is when “pet-friendly” hotels won’t allow pets to be left unattended in the room.  We don’t like to leave them alone all day, but it’s rare that you can take your pets with you for every single activity, especially meals, like breakfast or dinner at the hotel’s restaurant.  Also, exorbitant pet fees like $150 per pet per day indicate to us that the hotel isn’t really interested in having our pets visit.

Charlie likes glamping too.

We find it best to call the hotel ahead of time and ask for the terms of their pet policy, including (1) can they be left alone in the room, (2) are they required to be contained in a crate or pen when left alone, (3) what are the pet fees, and (4) are there any dog friendly restaurants and activities nearby.  Listen for other restrictions, like pets not being allowed on the furniture or not being allowed in common areas.  Get the name of the person you talk to.  Once we called the hotel ahead of time and were told pets were allowed to be left unattended, but when we arrived we were handed a policy saying the exact opposite.  Since we had called ahead of time and I was able to give the name of the person who had told me the policy, we were allowed to leave them unattended as long as we left a phone number so we could be reached immediately if there were any complaints.  We loved that when we checked out, our hotel bill had a note saying it was a pleasure to have our very well-behaved dogs visit. 

Henry and Charlie at the Grand Canyon.

Our favorite dog-friendly hotel chain is Loews Hotels.  Loews loves pets (it says so on their dog bowls) and they even have a separate room service menu for dogs, cats, and even birds.  We have also had good luck with Radisson, Best Western, and Holiday Inn Express, though the pet policy varies among properties, so be sure to call about the pet policy before booking a room.

Booking.com

Bring Extra Delicious Food and Treats

Loews loves pets and has a pet room service menu. 

If your pet eats as soon as a bowl is put in front of him or her, feeding during a trip may not be a problem.  Our dogs self-feed throughout the day when they are home, rather than having scheduled meal times, plus everything is new and distracting, so it can be difficult to get them to eat their food on demand when they have the opportunity.  We bring a Tupperware of chicken we cooked at home to mix into their food in small amounts to entice them to eat when we want.  Just be sure the extra treats you bring are something your pet is used to, is healthy, and isn’t too rich, as you don’t want them becoming sick.

Henry and Charlie in Oregon.

Charlie has a very bad habit of sometimes howling for a few minutes when we leave.  This can be disconcerting and embarrassing for us, and surely is annoying to other hotel guests if they happen to hear him.  We have found that giving him a Greenie, a chewy treat that takes a few minutes for him to eat, keeps him occupied for long enough that he forgets to be upset when he’s done.

Bring the Appropriate Equipment

Henry and Charlie feel safe when confined to their pen.

Even if a hotel doesn’t require pets to be crated when left alone in the room, we have found that we have the best results when we confine our two small dogs in a dog pen.  They get nervous when staying in a place that is unfamiliar.  They are much more relaxed when we enclose them in their familiar pen with potty pads, food and water, and their favorite dog beds and toys.

A pet car seat keeps pets safe while driving.

If heading out on a road trip, we suggest using a pet car seat or pet seatbelts to keep your pet safe in the car.  While our dogs would prefer to sit in our laps, this isn’t the safest place for them.  We use a pet car seat that is stabilized with the seatbelt plus has leads connected to it to attach to their harnesses.  For larger dogs, you can use pet seatbelts to keep them in place and safe.

Henry and Charlie keep an eye out while we take photos.

It is important to use the right equipment when traveling by plane with pets as well.  When our friend moved cross country, she brought her cat with her on the plane.  The airline’s online pet policy said to use a hard-sided crate, but when she arrived at the airport she learned it actually needed to be soft-sided so it could slide under the seat.  We have used soft-sided pet carriers when we have traveled by air with our pets, as they can travel in the cabin with us.  Pets that have to travel in the cargo hold need to be contained in hard-sided crates.

Sometimes Charlie's a daredevil.

It is important to keep dogs hydrated.  We carry with us a water bottle and collapsible water bowl so our dogs always have access to water and a squeeze water bottle with a built-in bowl that drains back into the bottle for the car.

Henry and Charlie at Mission San Xavier del Bac.

While we have our dogs take care of business outside whenever possible, we always bring a supply of dog potty pads for the hotel room.  This way, if they do decide to take care of business inside, they have a place to do so without damaging the hotel carpet.

When we bring our dogs on trips with us, we bring a bag dedicated to their supplies.  We bring dog bowls for food and water, water bottle, collapsible water bowl, Ziploc bag of dog food, Ziploc bag of treats, Tupperware of cooked chicken (which we store in the hotel room refrigerator), potty pads, sweaters or jackets in case it gets cold, travel-size dog shampoo and conditioner for when they get filthy, and their favorite blankets and toys which make them feel more at home.

Walk the Perimeter

Fancy free on the bridge at Arroyo Hondo Vista Point.

This might seem like an odd tip for pet travel, but it really works.  Have you ever noticed that your dog walks the perimeter of your yard?  Dogs do this because they want to ensure that the borders of their family pack have not been breached by an intruder.  This makes them feel secure and able to relax.  We tested this theory with our dogs when staying at hotels.  Staying at an unfamiliar hotel in a strange room can be stressful.  We found this was especially the case with our Yorkie, Henry, who is an alpha dog and is very protecting of his four-member pack.  When we arrive at a new hotel, we walk the dogs around the perimeter of the hotel so they can become familiar with their new temporary home.  We’ll also take a walk up and down the hallway where our room is located.  We have found that our dogs are calmer and get comfortable in the room quicker after we have walked the perimeter. 

Build in Dog-Friendly Activities

Charlie goes from white to orange in Sedona.

No pet wants to travel with their family just to be left in the hotel room alone all day.  If traveling with dogs, be sure that your travel itinerary includes a number of fun dog-friendly activities so your pet feels included and can have fun traveling too.  We like to take them on a walk or hike in the morning, keeping them active, so when we do leave them alone in the afternoon to visit museums or go out to eat, they are tired, ready to nap, and don’t mind that we’re leaving them alone.  We also try to find dog-friendly restaurants so we can leave them alone as little as possible.  It’s an added bonus when we find museums that allow dogs.  Many wineries are dog-friendly, which is fun for both us and them.

Slow Down

Photos mean a break from walking.

When traveling with dogs, you may need to travel at a slower pace than usual.  When we travel, we like to do a lot and have full itineraries.  However, this doesn’t work so well when traveling with the dogs, so we slow down, plan fewer activities, and build in fun walking time for the dogs.  Also, frantic owners make frantic pets, so doing everything in a calm and collected manner helps keep your pets relaxed so they can enjoy their travels too.

Pay Attention to the Weather

Henry's not sure about the snow at Crater Lake.

It’s a lot harder to travel in extreme weather situations with pets.  It’s important to know what the weather will be like before you go and when making the decision whether or not to bring your pet.  If it’s going to be hot, it won’t be safe to leave them alone in the car.  It might be hard for them to walk because the hot pavement might burn their feet.  You’ll also need to make sure to carry plenty of water so your pet doesn’t get dehydrated.  Extreme cold can also be stressful on dogs that aren’t used to that type of weather.  You may want to bring sweaters or jackets for dogs that aren’t fans of cold weather.

Henry and Charlie brave the wind at Monument Valley.

Weather is also extremely important to consider when flying with pets.  Airlines won’t allow pets to fly in the cargo hold if the temperature is going to be below or above certain points at any time during the day.

Make Sure Your Pet is Healthy Enough to Travel 

Henry's favorite part of a road trip is looking out the window . . . and the french fries.

Before traveling with your pet, make sure it is up-to-date with all its vaccinations and certifications.  Your pet will be exposed to more opportunities for catching something while traveling than at home and the stress of travel may also make it more susceptible to getting sick.  If your pet is already in poor health, it may not be a good candidate for travel.  Senior dogs may also have a harder time traveling as a lot of walking might be hard on their joints and they may not be as active as they were in the past.  Conversely, older dogs are sometimes easier to travel with because they are more relaxed and don't mind taking advantage of some in-room alone time.

Bring a List of Emergency Veterinarians

Henry and Charlie at Montezuma Castle National Monument, just before Charlie inhaled a foxtail and we had to find a vet.

On a recent road trip, one of our dogs became ill.  We were up all night with him and it was an incredibly stressful situation.  At 5:00 in the morning I made the decision to take him to a veterinary emergency center I had found prior to leaving for our trip.  The last thing you need is the added stress of having to find someplace to take your pet when something goes wrong.  Before you leave, do a little research and make a list of veterinarians in every town you will visit, preferably that are near your hotel.  Be sure this list includes an emergency vet hospital that is open 24-hours a day.

Consider Leaving Your Pets at Home

Henry and Charlie won't speak to us if we go without them.

We love traveling with our pets, but sometimes it is better to leave them at home.  While our dogs love to be with us, traveling can be stressful for them.  Staying in an unfamiliar room is stressful.  Being left alone in the room or the car is stressful.  Not being on their regular day-to-day schedule is stressful.  As pets get older, walking long distances becomes more difficult and can be painful.  Traveling with dogs can also be stressful on the humans, which can make for a less enjoyable trip.  We stress that they are going to bark at an inappropriate moment.  We stress that we’ll get a call from the hotel about bad behavior when leaving them alone.  We stress they might have an accident.  If the trip will be enjoyable for both the humans and pets, by all means, bring them along.  But if traveling with dogs will be more stress than fun, leave them at home.

This post contains affiliate links.  If you purchase through them, it costs you nothing extra but we earn a small commission which helps us bring you more travel stories.

Read More