Dog Camp Comparison

So many dog camps and so little time.

How do you and your dog just pick one?

Sometimes picking just one isn't possible. My Westie dogs and I have been to two dog camps and loved them both.

Both Camp Unleashed and Glen Highland Farm's Canine Country Camp offer wonderful off-leash experiences. Campers can spend as much or as little time socializing with other dogs and dog lovers as they like. Each camp offers numerous optional inclusive activities both outdoors and in. Dog Camp is dog heaven!

What are my favorite camp activities?

I love sitting waterside alone with my dogs. Or hanging out in a barn or on a porch after dinner sipping a glass of wine with other campers. Basically, I like to do a lot of nothing at dog camp. And a lot of nothing is exactly what my dogs and I happily did alongside some more activity-inclined campers who could not get enough of agility, hiking or indoor classes.

So what exactly are the differences between the camps?

	Camp Unleashed	Glen Highland Farm
Location; distance from NYC	Berkshire Mts., MA 150 miles from NYC	Upstate NY 200 miles from NYC
Length of camp	3 nights; 4 days	5 nights; 6 days
Price (activities and dining)	$799 - $899 per adult	$1,300 per adult
Price (accommodation)	Included in price.	Depends upon accommodation (tents: $55-$75 /night; cabins: $110-$125 /night; RVs:$700 or $750 /5 nights).
Dates for 2009	June 4 – 7 September 4- 7 (Labor Day weekend)	July 18 - 23
Site description	YMCA camp on 1,300 acres that includes woods, fields and lakes.	Former Forbes farm on 175 acres that includes woods, fields, creeks and a pond.
Type of dogs catered to	Friendly dogs of all sizes although, because activities are for all dogs, very small dog owners should take care during hikes and athletic activities.	Medium and large friendly dogs. Because the owners run a border collie rescue and own border collies themselves, there tend to be a lot of this wonderful breed present.
Accommodations	Large multi-room cabins (without electricity or running water) that sleep from 1 to 10.	Luxury tents (on platforms with futons), cabins (without electricity or running water) or RVs (heat, hot water, electricity)
Dining	Kid camp quality food—hey it isn't about the food. Or is it?	Excellent quality catered food; complimentary beer and wine may be served in the evening.
Dog safety	The site is not fenced in (although it is fairly remote) so it is imperative that your dog not roam. Cars are left in a lot except for loading and unloading on arrival and departure. Garbage trucks do an on site pickup.	The entire 175 acre farm is fenced in with a series of paddock-style fences. Cars must be left in a lot at all times. Driving on the grounds is not permitted. The owners deliver camper's belongings via golf cart.
Extra special features	--An absolutely beautiful lake with a beach and a wrap-a-round dock. --Cabins with very large porches that are perfect for socializing on during rainstorms. --A self-service dog wash on the last day.	--A fantastic big beautiful barn to hang out in complete with overstuffed dog-friendly couches. --Waterside massages for humans. --Tours of the on-site border collie rescue and knowing that camp fees support the rescue. --A totally awesome world class party on the last night!

Still undecided? Attend both camps.

That's exactly what I did.

Anchor's Hold Beach House (Outer Banks, NC)

Getting Away From It All! (Really.)

Now that I have dogs, and can no longer run off to Europe at the drop of a hat, I am always on the lookout for easily accessible dog-friendly vacation spots. I want more than a dog-friendly hotel--I want to vacation in a place where I can have fun with my dogs. Fun with my dogs usually means off-leash activity. This luxurious rental house, The Anchors Hold, on Carova Beach on the Outer Banks of North Carolina fit the bill perfectly.

Vacation Highlights:

• Luxury beach house (pool, hot tub, fireplace, jacuzzies, porch, grill)
• Dogs off leash on the beach;
• 4 wheel drive access only (via an 8-mile drive on the beach);
• Wild horses (really!);
• No civilization (stores, banks, bars or restaurants).

Imagine letting your dogs run off leash on the beach for an entire week! Imagine staying in a luxury summer home with all amenities without any of the trappings of civilization. This was, hands down, the best dog-friendly vacation ever! I know, I know. I say that after all of my vacations, but this time I really, really mean it. And my sister and her husband and their dogs, who shared the house with me and my Westy Girls, totally agree.

The house. OMG. Spacious! Beautiful. Luxurious. Fantastic views. The living area is on the top floor (with ocean views) with a gated porch that runs the width of the house. Not only could I see the ocean, but I could hear it too.

About Carova Beach & Getting There

This is tricky. Anchor's Hold is located on Carova Beach, one of several communities located on the northernmost part of the Outer Banks--a paved road free resort area. Travel to Anchor's Hold is via 4-wheel drive only on the beach (preferably at low tide). There are no stores, bars or restaurants in Carova Beach.

The Blennerhassett Hotel (Parkersburg, WV)

Pure elegance and luxury in the middle of nowhere.

I happened upon this wonderful world class hotel when I traveled to West Virginia to visit a neice. What a find. It is well worth a trip to the region if only to stay at this luxurious spot.

About the Hotel
The Blennerhassett Hotel, built in 1889, is a member of the Historic Hotels of America (HHA), a national trust for historic preservation. The Blennerhassett is also listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Our favorite room was the library. Much to our delight it was filled with paintings of dogs and other dog-themed antiques. We happily took all our meals in the library and entertained my neice and grand nephew there.

In addition to a Starbucks coffee shop and Wine Spectator rated restaurant, Spats, in the lobby, hotel amenities include a business center with online computer access.

This lovely hotel is a perfect splace for a luxury dog-friendly mini vacation.

Peter's Pond Lane Beach (Sagaponack, New York)

Peters Pond Lane Beach is beautiful . . . serene . . . and empty--even during the height of the summer season.

About Peter's Pond Beach

Peter's Pond Lane Beach in Sagaponack, on the south fork of Long Island, is one of the Southampton Town Access Road Beaches, meaning that it is an unprotected waterfront without amenities. That means there is no snack bar, no bathroom, no nothing except the sun, the sand and the sea (and you and your dogs, of course!).

Beach Rules

Of course, no place in a resort area can be so beautiful without rules to ensure that it remain so. Even so, the rules regarding dogs are quite liberal. Dogs are permitted on the sand in season before 9 a.m. and after 6 p.m. And from Labor Day until June 30, dogs are permitted on the sand during all hours. How cool is that?!

Parking: Full-season permits are required at all Trustee/Town Access Roads July 1—Labor Day.

PERMIT FEES (2008)
SOUTHAMPTON TOWN RESIDENT PERMIT $ 25.00 SEASON
SOUTHAMPTON TOWN RESIDENT SENIOR CITIZEN $ 15.00 SEASON
NON-RESIDENT FULL SEASON PERMIT $200.00 SEASON
NON-RESIDENT DAILY PERMIT $ 15.00 PER DAY
OLD PONQUOGUE BRIDGE MARINE PARK PERMIT $ 30.00 SEASON

Note that a non-resident full season permit is $200. Daily permits are not available. CLICK HERE for additional parking permit information and locations of places to buy permits.

Town Access Road Beaches (Including Town Trustee Access Roads):

• Cold Spring Road, Tuckahoe
• Dolphin Lane, East Quogue
• Flying Point Road, Mecox Inlet
• Gibson Lane, Sagaponack
• Mermaid Lane, Hampton Bays
• Ocean Road, Bridgehampton
• Peters Pond Lane, Sagaponack
• Roads H, I, L, and K, Hampton Bays
• Sunset Avenue, Hampton Bays
• Triton Lane, East Quogue
• West Landing Road, Hampton Bays

Regarding rights for people in the community to walk (but not park at) Southampton beaches from the Town of Southampton website:

From the mean high water mark to the land that lies beneath the waters are properties that are held in public trust, meaning that one can walk along the shoreline miles and miles on town-owned beach front. Under the Dongan Patent, a doctrine from colonial times, the Town Trustees have managed to continue the community's right to pass and repass along this shoreline easement of the Atlantic Ocean and the town's bays.

Travel Suggestion
I like to have excellent detailed maps with me when I travel. For jaunts out to the Hamptons, I bring Hagstrom's Suffolk County Atlas ($16.95). Not only is every street clearly and legibly marked on the various maps but the atlas contains listings of State Parks, Vineyards, Points of Interest, etc. Coupled with information garnered from the internet, it is not difficult to find ones way around and to learn exactly what the rules that that you are breaking are.

Dog Days of Summer at the Adirondack Museum (Blue Mt. Lake, NY)

In August for two years now, the Adirondack Museum, in Blue Mountain Lake, New York, has held a special one-day Dog Days of Summer exhibit using special activities and demonstrations to illustrate the history of the working dog in the Adirondacks. This is the only day of the year that dogs are permitted on the museum's pristine grounds.

A friend (and her two Westies) and I (and my two Westies) went together the first year, while my Westies and I went by ourselves the second year. We hope to go again in August 2009.



About the Adirondack Museum
The museum's setting is picture perfect situated on 32 acres overlooking Blue Mountain Lake. There is a picnic area as well as a cafe that serves beer and wine. The museum itself consists of a main building and several separate smaller structures that house exhibits. Some of the smaller structures are authentic historical buildings such as a 1907 Schoolhouse, an Adirondack Artist's Cottage (of landscape painter Gustave Wiegand) and an 1876 Log Hotel.


The dogs had a wonderful time. Later in the day, after the crowds had thinned, we let them run off leash. There was a great fountain--just perfect for Westie wading. And there was a small lake--some of our dogs fell in because they thought the algae growing near the shore was solid ground!

The Adirondack Museum's staff were lovely and genuinely seemed to enjoy being over run by dogs for a day! We met Hallie Bond, Museum Curator, who had conceived of this fantastic dog-friendly special event. Thank you Hallie Bond! See you next August.

Getting There
The museum is 270 miles north of NYC, about a 5-hour drive.

Hiking in Harriman State Park

Hiking with your hound is a fantastic outdoor experience and hiking in Harriman State Park is super fantastic.

The sun (maybe), the sky and the earth--make for a beautiful backdrop to an excellent work out for every one--man and dog alike.

About Harriman State Park

Harriman is located in Rockland and Orange counties 30 miles (48 km) north of New York City. It has over 200 miles (320 km) of hiking trails and 31 lakes.

Rules Regarding Dogs

While dogs are not allowed in buildings, camping, picnic or bathing areas, they are allowed on the 200 miles of hiking trails.

OMG. According to the rules, dogs must be muzzled and on a leash not more than 6 feet. Muzzled? That's just weird. I am going to assume that that rule is not enforced except in the case of a complaint regarding an unruly dog. Not only did my dogs hike unmuzzled, but they did so off leash as well.

Remember: You must bring water for your dog unless it is a wet day. Do not count on being able to find a stream. Many of them are dry most of the year unless it has very recently rained.

Rockaway Beach (Queens, NYC)

Do you dream of walking for miles on a beach with your dog?

If so, Rockaway Beach is just the place to go.

DOG SEASON opens on the first of October. After that date, leashed dogs are permitted both on the sand and boardwalk on Rockaway Beach until May 1.

About Rockaway Beach:
Rockaway Beach, the largest urban beach in the United States, is located on the Rockaway Peninsula in the borough of Queens in the far south of New York City on the south shore of Long Island. This amazing beach, extending from Beach 3rd Street to Beach 149th Street, has a length of 146 city blocks--over 7 miles!

To see New York City's Official Rockaway Beach Rules, CLICK HERE

How can my dog and I get to Rockaway Beach?
While a car is probably the most convenient way to go, you and your dog may also get there via subway. According to the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA), if your dog can travel in an enclosed container in such a way so as to not annoy other passengers, you may take it on the subway. Got a big dog? Get a big container. They make them. Both the A and S trains go to Rockaway Beach.

Rockaway Beach is so big! Wherever to go? What are the neighborhoods like?
Rockaway Beach traverses 8 distinct neighborhoods, from the swanky Neponsit and Belle Harbor neighborhoods with their million dollar private homes (and no direct subway access) to the much more modest Far Rockaway whose residents are mainly apartment-dwelling renters. Read the detailed descriptions below to find out which of Rockaway's neighborhood beaches is best suited to you and your dog.

Rockaway Beach's seaside neighborhoods: (West to East)

1. Neponsit
2. Belle Harbor
3. Rockaway Park
4. Seaside
5. Hammels
6. Arverne
7. Edgemere
8. Far Rockaway
   

Neighborhood Descriptions:

1. Neponsit (Beach 142 to Beach 149 Streets) A or S train to Beach 90, transfer to Q22 bus; On street parking Oct. 1 - May 15 ) Very upscale neighborhood. Because housing consists mainly of single family homes and because of the neighborhood's secluded beach location (with Jacob Riis State Park to the West), homes in Neponsit can be mansion-like, with prices exceeding $1 million. The ethnic makeup of residents in this enclave is practically all white of Italian, Irish and Jewish descent.
   
2. Belle Harbor (Beach 130 to Beach 142 Streets) (A or S train to Beach 90, transfer to Q22 bus; On street parking Oct. 1 - May 15 ) Upscale neighborhood consisting primarily of single-family homes owned by 3rd and 4th generation Irish Catholics. The community also has a substantial Jewish population. The boardwalk to the eastern part of Belle Harbor is lined with high rise apartment houses.
   
3. Rockaway Park (Beach 116 to Beach 130 Streets) (Subway: A or S to Beach 116) This middle class mostly white neighborhood has been called the "Irish Riviera" due to the high proportion of the population claiming Irish ancestry. The boardwalk of Rockaway Park is lined with high rise apartment houses.
   
4. Seaside (Beach 94 to Beach 116 Streets) (Subway: A or S to Beach 98 or Beach 105) Although Seaside is dominated by expensive high rise apartments along its south shore beach front, in general, this neighborhood is less affluent than its neighbors to the west, becoming increasingly lower income as one moves east. The ethnic makeup of west Seaside is mainly white (80%) becoming more ethnically diverse to the east (with equal percentages of white, black and Spanish residents).
   
5. Hammels (Beach 74 to Beach 94 Streets) (Subway: A or S to Beach 90) The Hammels neighborhood closest to the shore consists of middle to lower middle class ethnically mixed residents (55% white, 25% black, 15% Spanish). The north portion of the Hammels (away from the beach) is less affluent and contains the Hammels Houses, Federal public housing (pop. 2,000).
   
6. Arverne (Beach 59th to Beach 74th Streets) (Subway: A to Beach 60 or Beach 67) Averne is a lower income neighborhood with a high unemployment rate (almost 30%). Ethnically the neighborhood is mostly black (65%) with smaller percentages of Spanish (17%) and white (9%) residents.
   
7. Edgemere (Beach 32nd to Beach 59th Streets) (Subway: A to Beach 36 or Beach 44) Edgemere, a lower middle class neighborhood, is ethnically black (66%) with a significant Spanish population (20%) and a smaller white population (8%). The north (away-from-the-beach) part of Edgemere contains a significant Federal housing projects that includes the Beach 41st Houses (pop. 1,650) and Edgemere /Ocean Bay Houses (Beach 51 Street) (pop. 4,400).
   
8. Far Rockaway (Beach 3rd to Beach 32nd Streets) (Subway: A to Beach 22 or Mott Ave.) Far Rockaway is not easily accessibly by subway. The walk to the beach from the subway station is 8 or 15 blocks depending upon the station. Far Rockaway can also be reached via the Long Island Rail Road from Penn Station in Manhattan (with a 20 block walk to the beach). The lower numbered streets (Beach 3rd to Beach 15th Streets) are without subway access. The Far Rockaway neighborhood contains a large black population although the western section is mainly Irish and the border to Nassau County has a large Orthodox Jewish population. Federal public housing--the Redfern Houses (pop. 1,700) is 15 blocks north of the beach (near the Mott Ave. subway stop).
   

Information for this article regarding Rockaway Beach neighborhoods is from http://www.queensny.org/NED_Pdf/CB14DistrictProfile.pdf(whose information comes from the US Census 2000) and from the web site of Trulia Real Estate. Information (other than that relating to public housing) concerns neighborhood portions (census tracts) only that border Rockaway Beach (the Atlantic Ocean) and does not reference entire neighborhoods.