It’s not much of a secret around the office (or anywhere, basically) that I’m a little obsessed with my dog, a one-year-old terrier mutt named Dublin, pictured to the left. He is essentially the cutest creature on Earth, even when he’s destroying antique necklaces passed down from great-grandparents, or going wherever he pleases. If something is as awesomely precious as he, you can get away with just about anything.
So, when I was searching for a nice getaway place to stay somewhere in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, a little establishment called “Paws and Reflect” caused me to do just that. A self-described “mountain getaway for people and dogs that go everywhere together,” Paws and Reflect has more posh pooch amenities than most luxury resorts offer humans. And it’s just a two-hour drive from D.C., nestled in the Shenandoah Valley.
I figured my latest discovery might be of interest to the 29 million Americans who travel with their pets (usually dogs). Often, traveling with Fido means lugging along bulky pet supplies (although check out ABO Gear's line of canine camping equipment for convenient pooch packing), but Paws and Reflect provides it all for you.
Here’s a ruff run-down of the canine touches:
1. A different type of dog bed in each room
2. A ramp in lieu of steps outside, and pet steps & a ramp inside
3. Pet music CDs (to reduce separation anxiety)
4. A dog door to a small contained area outside the cabin
5.
A screened porch with a hot tub (no, dogs won’t soak in the hot
tub,
but they won’t have to be separated from you or otherwise confined when
you do!) . . . while you're in the hot tub, your pal
can do his own
lounging on the doggie water bed there!
Even the amenities for people are described as “planned with dog guardians in mind,” and include pet throws for the furniture and a heaping supply of poop bags. It’s unclear whether this type of getaway would be the owner’s vacation or the dog’s vacation. Which one is just lucky to be brought along? Who knows. Hilariously, the website points out that, “children are permitted, but please note that there are no special accommodations for children.”
The cabin rents for $950 a week, with mid-week, weekend, and long weekend stays an option, as well. A little pricey for what it seems to provide, but consider the amount of money you’ll save by not having to dole out dollars to dog-sitters or kennels! Eh, throw me a bone...
Photo by Taylor Hart, Dublin's proud daddy
Finally,the perfect place!
Posted by: Chelsea | June 25, 2008 at 11:02 AM