A Tale of Two Well-Traveled Scots

Bee Bee and Bella at Glacier National Park, Montana

Bee Bee and Bella at Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm, Oregon

Bee Bee and Bella at Mount Rushmore, South Dakota

Bee Bee and Bella at Red Rock Canyon, Nevada

Bee Bee and Bella in Vail, Colorado

Meet Bee Bee and Bella, two Scottish Terriers that have seen more of the United States than some of us will see in our lifetimes. Having set foot in 29 of the 50 states, these Scotties are two of the most well-traveled pups we've encountered yet. I know from firsthand experience that traveling with dogs isn't always easy and I wanted to know how their Scottie Mom manages to take Bee Bee and Bella to so many incredible places. So, we reached out to her and received some tips for those of us wanting to explore more of the world with our pups.

"What I love most about traveling with Bee Bee and Bella is to see how happy they are when we are checking in to new hotels," Scottie Mom Suzanne told us. "They will race down the hallway to get to the room we are checking in to and they get a lot of 'how cute' compliments from people."

Bee Bee and Bella travel with their Scottie Mom and Dad by car to their vacation destinations. They typically stay in dog-friendly hotels but have used Airbnb as well. A travel blogger with an impressive 6.6 million followers on Instagram, Scottie Mom Suzanne says the most memorable accommodations have been the St. Regis in Aspen, Colorado and any of the Ritz-Carlton hotels. 

"When we travel by car, we use collapsible, soft crates," Scottie Mom Suzanne said. "They will stay inside the crates during our trips - it is more safe for them that way - and they love having their own 'home' during the trips. Bella loves staying in the crate at the hotels."

To make the pups feel more at home while traveling, Scottie Mom Suzanne recommends bringing favorite toys and blankets in addition to the pups' usual food and treats. These small creature comforts can help a traveling pup relax and have fun so they are even more excited to explore their surroundings when they set out with their humans for an adventure. 

"I love taking Bee Bee and Bella to places we can walk a lot," Scottie Mom Suzanne said. "Some of our recommendations are Vail and Aspen in Colorado; Portland, Oregon; Glacier National Park in Montana; and Miami, Florida. People are very dog-friendly in Miami. One time, we were walking down the Lincoln Road Mall and somebody stopped us so they could take pictures of Bee Bee and Bella."

What are Bee Bee and Bella's favorite parts of traveling, you ask? According to Scottie Mom Suzanne, they love discovering new places to sniff and terrier-tories to mark! Tell us: what are some pet-friendly places you have traveled with your pups?

Introducing the New Scottie Mobile

Buckle up, friends! We're going for a lot more rides. The infamous Scottie Mobile that left Heather, Mr. K and me stranded on the side of a highway and got me through Snowmaggedon '14 took its last spin after 162,103 miles and 10+ years of service. It officially has been retired. The traveling Scots wanted a spacious vehicle fit for two Scottish Terriers (or more!). Comfort was key, too, in the decision making process as road trips are a relatively frequent occurrence for us. Alas, we'd like to introduce you to The Big Apple, a used Cadillac SRX we settled on to serve as the new Scottie Mobile.

Averaging just 22 MPG since I've owned this beauty, it is not the most fuel efficient vehicle but it certainly offers Heather and Mr. K considerably more space than our previous Scottie Mobile - a two-door, 2003 Pontiac Sunfire - did. We learned quickly that leather seats weren't going to work for Heather and Mr. K without a proper doggie seat belt contraption installed but The Big Apple does have one neat feature we use while we research the safest seat belt options: a secure space for Scottie beds! In the back of the SRX, Heather and Mr. K can rest in their Scottie beds and I can have some peace of mind knowing they're safely secured with the help of an adjustable "cargo fence."

Of course, this is just an interim solution. We haven't been able to travel nearly as much as we have in the past (but are hoping to take The Big Apple out for some adventures soon - please leave us suggestions for long weekend getaways!). So far, Heather and Mr. K have only ridden in The Big Apple to visit the V-E-T, which is right down the street, and the groomer a few times. What do you use to keep your Scottie safe on road trips? Any other road safety tips and tricks you have to share?

Scottie Adventures in Peru

Our Scottie friends in Peru recently convinced their Scottie Moms and Dads to take them for an outing. As you can see, it proved to be quite the scenic adventure for these happy pups! Scottie Moms and Dads met up with their fur kids in what might be one of the best kept secrets in the southern part of Peru: Cataratas de Capua. Near the city of Arequipa, this hidden gem was the perfect spot for a Scottish Terrier meetup as it offered a place for Scotties to trek freely, explore their surroundings and for Scottie Moms and Dads to do what we do best: talk about our beloved Scotties! Have a Scottish Terrier meetup in you area you want us to know about? Let us know in the comments below.

A Scottie Stay: Hilton Stamford Hotel

Heather and Mr. K taking in the view of the third and final hotel of our latest road trip.

The hotel was complete with a water feature in front of it...Mr. K just had to explore.

About two seconds after this photo was taken, Mr. K dunked his head into the pool of water and nearly climbed in for a dip!

Heather enjoyed the scenery from one of the many park benches located just outside the entrance.

Perhaps Mr. K's favorite part of this hotel was watching the passersby go through the mysterious revolving doors.

The view from the top wasn't too shabby, either, Mr. K said.

Heather was ready to write about her experience at the Hilton straight away.

Mr. K was just happy to be out of the car for a while so he could have some much-desired zoomie time.

Overall, Heather and Mr. K were pleased with the amenities.

Although there weren't two human beds this time, Mr. K made sure to score some snuggle time the next morning after Scottie Dad had vacated the bed.

 The third and final hotel of our road trip, Hilton Stamford Hotel in Stamford, Connecticut, was arguably the better of the three places we stayed all weekend if for no other reason than the ample green space available to Heather and Mr. K for their walks. It seems simple enough but any traveling dog mom can appreciate things like walkable, scenic outdoor space and a conveniently located doggie waste bin (complete with poop bags!) nearby. Truth be told, many of the dog-friendly hotels we've stayed at don't even have these simple features. 

Not only were we able to take dozens of great photos thanks to the beautifully-landscaped outdoors, the room itself had plenty of space for the four of us - even with Mr. K bounding back and forth from the door to the couch in a fit of zoomies later that night. And while we only had one human bed in the room, Heather and Mr. K didn't seem to mind making themselves at home on the couch located just two or three steps away from us. The only thing we took issue with was the hotel's pet fee. On the Hilton Stamford Hotel's website, it states there is a $50 non-refundable pet fee per stay. However, we were charged $100 for a one-night stay with Heather and Mr. K.

Overall, our experience was pretty good at all three of the hotels we stayed at on our road trip: Hampton Inn Pine Grove, Providence Marriott Downtown and Hilton Stamford Hotel. Now, it is time for Heather and Mr. K to enjoy the comforts of home for a while before we hit the road again just after Christmas for the Scottie Mom wedding in New York City!

A Scottie Stay: Providence Marriott Downtown

Photo courtesy of marriottprovidence.com.

By now, you must be wondering: what made us trek 15+ hours from Atlanta, Georgia to the city of Providence, Rhode Island? Well, a Scottie Mom cousin happened to get married that weekend (congratulations, guys!) and we just knew Heather and Mr. K would love to be part of the adventure so they could report back their findings to our friends.

We had high hopes for Providence Marriott Downtown as our last few stays at Marriott properties were exceptional. The reservations were made easily online, there was only a one-time, $50 non-refundable pet fee, the location was three minutes from the wedding reception venue and the photos of the hotel from the website looked gorgeous. What could possibly be wrong with this picture?

Check-in was a bit confusing. Though pets are allowed to stay at Providence Marriott Downtown, they are not allowed to stay in the room unattended, according to the hotel policy, and they require guests to sign off on a form promising not to leave pets in the hotel room alone and acknowledging the fact the hotel has the right to remove pets from the room for any reason. Needless to say, I didn't find this policy to be particularly pet-friendly. While I would love to take Heather and Mr. K with me everywhere I go, with a wedding on the weekend agenda, it just was not possible this time. Luckily, we worked out an arrangement but the added stress at the initial check-in was a bit of an unpleasant surprise.

All in all, our stay was just fine. The room had two human beds (each of which Heather and Mr. K made a point to claim separately leaving the humans - if they had their way - to sleep on the floor), an armchair by the window so Mr. K could keep watch over the grounds, and more. They also had a salon onsite that fit me into the schedule so I could have my hair done just before the wedding...which made me think: how pawesome would it be if hotels had a doggie salon so they could be all fresh and clean for the ride home?! Has anyone ever found a hotel that offers this and other super pet-friendly services?

Let's hear it for New York!

Heather and Mr. K hanging outside with their Scottie Grandmadre while Scottie Mom and Dad got their marriage license.

It was a chilly, drizzly and somewhat dreary day but that didn't stop Heather from looking her best for the camera!

Everywhere they went, Scottie Mom stopped them to snap a quick photo.

That is, until they rebelled and made silly faces at the camera as a means to prompt Scottie Mom and Dad to stop taking pictures and enjoy the limited time in New York!

Heather and Mr. K once again got to feel what it was like to be Scotties in the big city - if only for a short while. Because we were on such a tight schedule, Heather and Mr. K only had about two hours of sightseeing to enjoy with their Scottie Grandmadre while Scottie Mom and Dad were in the Office of the City Clerk obtaining their marriage license. Together, they strolled around the blocks and chased after every squirrel and bird that dared to pass by. Mr. K kept his nose to the ground and did his best to mark every spot he could find needing to be claimed as his own. Indeed, Heather and Mr. K gave their Scottie Grandmadre a workout in the cold weather before finally piling back into the car, grabbing some lunch and continuing on their way to Rhode Island that afternoon.

A Scottie Stay: Hampton Inn Pine Grove

After a long day of driving, Heather and Mr. K let Scottie Mom know it was time to call it a night.

Heather Beather climbed right onto the human bed as soon as we stopped at a nearby hotel.

So did Mr. K...but he was more interested in playing ball, not falling asleep.

The next morning, Heather requested breakfast in bed while she watched the morning news.

Mr. K, on the other hand, had serious business to attend to and opted to sit at the desk and keep friends posted on his adventures via Facebook.

Since the road trip got off to a late start, Heather and Mr. K only made it as far as Pennsylvania the first night. We stopped at Hampton Inn Pine Grove around 2 a.m. and called it a night. Heather and Mr. K were delighted by the fact they had a human bed all to themselves. Heather Beather curled up next to the white, fluffy pillows right away and prepared to get her beauty rest. Meanwhile, Mr. K was working off all that extra energy he hadn't been able to use being cooped up in a car all day. Back and forth he would run, chasing after his beloved squeaky tennis ball before he finally settled down. Though the four of us were only at Hampton Inn Pine Grove for a few hours before we continued our journey, we were very grateful for a place to rest our heads that offered a free continental breakfast (for the humans, of course) and a room conveniently located on the first floor near an exit so we didn't have to go far any time Heather and Mr. K had to go potty!

A Tale of Traveling Scots

All packed and ready to go!

Are there any snacks for the road in this thing?

Forget the Scottie Mobile! Scottie Dad was nice enough to let us ride in his car.

And we're back! After five days and a total of 30 hours on the road, Heather and Mr. K are enjoying the familiar comforts of the Scottie House once more. It was an eventful weekend. Heather and Mr. K got a taste of three states and were treated to stays at three different hotels. (Details to follow in the coming days.) Perhaps the most surprising element of the trip, however, happened before we even left the driveway when Scottie Dad announced we were taking his car - which is normally off-limits to Heather and Mr. K! While I can't say for sure that they preferred this car over the Scottie Mobile (both Heather and Mr. K tend to enjoy road trips no matter what we're driving), it is safe to say that these two arrived at our destination in style and proceeded to win everyone over with their Scottie charm! 

To Nashville and Back

The trip to Nashville, much to Heather and Mr. K's dismay, was rather uneventful. We attempted to go downtown one night but ended up spending an hour and a half in traffic and when we finally arrived, the streets were completely packed. Apparently, there was a major concert that night. (Note to self: check the Nashville concert schedule before attempting to go downtown and avoid the city at all costs if there happens to be a One Direction concert going on next time.) There were so many people on the sidewalks, I didn't think it was safe to walk with two small dogs in tow so we found a relatively quiet corner where I could snap a quick photo before we hopped back into the car and headed back to the hotel, just 10-15 minutes from downtown...when no traffic is involved. 

Here are a few snapshots from our stay at the Residence Inn in Brentwood, Tennessee. I would definitely recommend this hotel to anyone staying in that area. It is located in a beautifully maintained business park with plenty of green space and places to walk the dogs. To have pets there, they require a $100 nonrefundable fee per stay but there was more than enough room for me and two Scotties (I could have easily had four or more with me comfortably - listen up, Scottie Dad!) plus there was a wonderfully scenic area just to the side of the hotel perfect for walking the dogs. Heather and Mr. K practically took me on a walk trying to get at all the geese surrounding the pond on the side of the hotel! Which hotels have you found to be the most pet-friendly?

It was all fun and games until someone had to go to work.

Gone Country

Today, we're headed to Nashville, Tennessee. Scottie Mom's on the job and guess what? So are we. While Scottie Mom's at work, we'll be testing out our accommodations at the Residence Inn and ready to give Scottie Mom a full report of our findings at the end of the day. Then, we'll head out to find some dog-friendly restaurants and activities before returning to the hotel and calling it a night. We'll only be in Nashville for a few days but are eager to hear any suggestions you might have for us traveling Scots. Stay tuned and keep up with us on Facebook to hear about our travels. 

Scottie Staycation

Ok, Scottie Mom - let me out!

It didn't take us long to settle into our suite.

Playing with a new human friend before we go meet other puppers.

It was all fun and games...until some Scotties got a B-A-T-H.

We weren't upset too long...Scottie Mom arrived shortly thereafter to take us home!

Then, because it was Mother's Day, we took Scottie Mom to the nearest dog-friendly restaurant: Sonic Drive-In and I barked in her order. ArRRrOo!

I don't like to be away from Heather and Mr. K but when I have to be, it is good to know I have a place I can turn to and know that they will not only be safe but will enjoy themselves just as much as (if not more so than!) when they are with me. Initially, I was against boarding Heather and Mr. K at all costs. The only way I would vacation was if the Scotties came with us or someone I trusted could watch my precious pups. Now, thanks to a thorough (and somewhat neurotic) Scottie Mom hunt to find a place that met my standards, I have some peace of mind when I drop the fur kids off at Pet Paradise. With four weekend Scottie staycations behind us - all ending with smiling puppy faces - and round-the-clock access to a web cam, it is safe to say I am over any anxiety and reservations I had before I boarded them! An added and unexpected bonus? Mr. K seems to have lost his sometimes rough-around-the-edges nature around other dogs thanks to the consistent socialization! What do you look for in a place your pups can staycation while you're away?

Return to (Pet) Paradise

All packed and ready to go - let's hit the road!

New York, here we come (again)! Today, Scottie Dad and I venture north to meet and interview potential vendors for the Scottie Mom wedding. Heather, my maid of honor, has done a great job helping us narrow down the choices for a pawtographer and florist. Every night for some time now, she hops on the couch with me and props herself up on my lap to look over the pawtographer websites with me on the laptop. Our goal is to choose both the pawtographer and the florist by the time we return to The Scottie House so that Heather can make the announcement to all our friends when she updates everyone on the Scottie Mom wedding planning progress soon.

This time, the fur kids will stay in Atlanta at their favorite vacation spot Pet Paradise while we're in New York. Heather and Mr. K were a little bummed they wouldn't be returning to Central Park of Squirrels but as soon as I told them where they'd be going instead, they marched over to the kitchen, began packing their Scottie bag (made for them by a Scottie Mom reader!) and were ready to go in a flash. They truly love their time at Pet Paradise and I worry less and less each time they stay. You might recall the anxiety I had the first time I ever boarded them in January 2013 - if not, you can read about it here). It amazes me to think that how comfortable I am taking them there now. I know well that when I go to pick them up, they probably won't be ready to leave...

Wish us luck, friends! Paws crossed that we'll have some wedding news to report soon. Oh, and if you find any great ways to incorporate Scotties into the wedding like that fabulous wedding cake design we posted on our Facebook page yesterday, let us know! Much love, The Scottie Mom.