Archives for March 2016

Santa Barbara Dog-Friendly Guide

March 20, 2016

Grab your pup and some water and head to Arroyo Burro Beach (aka Hendry’s Beach) — Santa Barbara’s only off-leash dog beach!

For some gorgeous photo ops, make sure to visit two iconic landmarks: the Old Mission and Courthouse.

Get in your shopping and walking with the old Spanish style stores on State St; almost all are dog friendly.

You can’t leave Santa Barbara without hitting the wine trail! Check out the hip Municipal Winemakers (pictured above) or Deep Sea Tasting Room: located on the pier, sit on an outdoor deck while getting a view of the big blue ocean. They even have a wine named after their pup Ringo! $1 from every bottle of Ringo’s Rescue Red goes to Dog Adoption Welfare Group (DAWG).

….aaaand the famous McConnell’s Ice Cream! No other ice cream compares. The original location on Mission St (201 W Mission St) has an outdoor patio with plenty of chairs and tables.

Doubletree Hotel: 24 acre, Mission-style resort with a doggie room service menu! Only $30 pet fee per night. Rooms start at $189.

Canary Hotel: be right in the center of Downtown SB in this gorgeous hotel and enjoy the rooftop pool. No pet fee! Rooms start at $290.

Bacara Resort: We love this hotel on the beach. Read my full review here. About 15 minutes away from downtown SB (in a quiet neighboring town called Goleta), there are bunnies hopping around on the grounds and world class service. Rooms start at $425.

Brewhouse. Casual restaurant/bar only a block from the Amtrak station. They even have a doggie menu — Weston got the chicken strips! 229 W Montecito St.

Le Cafe Stella. French fare with a roomy relaxing outdoor patio! 3302 McCaw Ave.

Boathouse at Hendry’s Beach. Enjoy your meal with a panoramic view of the ocean and a heated outdoor patio. 2981 Cliff Dr.

Must Haves For A Dog Friendly Road Trip

March 12, 2016

Have you traveled with your dog by car?

Road trip, anyone? Road trips are sooo necessary. Something about the open roads, wind in your hair, mountains against a blue sky and wild fields stretching for miles and miles (or yellow flatlands — depending on where you’re going).

There is always that certain tinge of remembering something you didn’t know you missed (classic American nostalgia?) and gratitude for the kindness of strangers. I’ve always loved traveling on the road but this was the first time I did a long road trip with Weston.

We set out from California to our final destination in Missouri stopping in Palm Springs, Tucson, Santa Fe, Marfa TX and Oklahoma.

Almost 3000 miles and the anticipation of meeting Weston’s new little sister Fira made it so memorable (you can find the rest of the Instagram photos under the hashtag #westonmeetsfira)!

I’ve put together a list of road trip essentials (including apps and accessories!) that will make traveling with your pup easy, enjoyable and as always, stylish. 😉

This travel bag will keep you so organized! It has multifunctional pockets of different sizes and even comes with collapsible bowls. You can keep your kibble or treats in the zip-up containers. $39.

Here’s another nice travel bag for those who prefer this black color! So chic and won’t show any dirty stains. $33.

A car seat cover is a must with dogs, especially if they shed as much as French Bulldogs! Beyond the shedding, protect your car from muddy paws and slobber. $36.

Love these cute collapsible dog bowls — they have lids! $13.

Earth Rated Lavender dog grooming wipes are always with me when I’m with the pups. These are a generous size so they really clean and smell super nice. $9.

Your pup will thank you for this comfortable dog car seat. Keep them safe and buckle them in this plush, cozy seat. $60.

SAINT RUE Le Bon Waist Belt Bag. Chic hands-free belt bag for storing essentials like your phone, keys and treats! $145.

Fujifilm Instax Mini. I bought myself the original size Instax several years ago which they don’t make anymore but the Mini is adorable and takes pocket size photos! I love bringing mine on trips and it makes all the difference! $57.99+.

GasBuddy App. This app was just what I’ve been looking for! It looks for the nearest gas stations around you and lists the prices (updated frequently by fellow users) so you can find the cheapest fuel! My friend travel blogger Olivia at OChristine shared this tip with me and it is a lifesaver. Price: FREE.

Don’t forget your pup’s favorite blanket! It’ll smell like home and keep ’em comfy in the car AND hotel. 🙂

Marfa TX Getaway

March 1, 2016

On our roadtrip to pick up baby Fira in Missouri, I knew we definitely had to make a stop in Marfa TX. It’s a tiny town (population: 1800!) filled with artists, writers, singers, poets and just a quirky group of people. I loved it.

First stop was PRADA MARFA!

We stayed at El Cosmico — a 21-acre campground with teepees, caravans, trailers and yurts. IT WAS SO COOL. Total gypsy vibes. And it’s only $10 extra to bring your pup!

My favorite spot (and probably the most popular spot in this town) was Marfa Burrito. No English — only Spanish spoken here but the owner Ramona is so sweet and smiley, you feel right at home. Literally. It’s a small kitchen and dining room where they whip up huge burritos with thick homemade tortillas (top 3 tortilla of my life). I got the breakfast burrito 2 days in a row and I still think about it all the freaking time.

For dinner, Cochineal is a must. Farm to table dishes with an amazing cocktail bar and a dog-friendly outdoor patio. For brunch the next morning, head over to Squeeze Marfa for waffles, sandwiches and soups with a dog-friendly patio.

Archives for March 2016

Have you traveled with your dog by car?

Latest from Instagram