Road Trip! NYC to Venice, FL (now with Florida SPAM)

cmmookiecmmookie
edited February 2009 in General
Hello everybody!

We are planning a week long road trip to visit Craig's parents who live in Venice, FL. We plan to stay 2 nights on the way down and 1 (possibly 2) on the way home. We used to fly there every March, but haven't been there the past 2 years since we got Mookie. Now that we have Penny also, we decided a road trip could be fun. Plus, Craig's mom LOVES her "grandpuppy" and begged us to come down so she can meet Penny!

Just looking for any advice on places you think we should definitely stop and see on the way. So far, we plan to stop in DC to visit my cousin and Savannah has also been recommended.

Any traveling with doggy advice would also be appreciated. We don't think we will have any issues with them since they don't mind being in cars and have stayed in hotels with us before (Mookie has, not Penny.) The longest trip we took with him was up to Buffalo, twice, which was about 7 hours driving. Maybe there is something we aren't thinking of that you guys have had experience with.

Thanks in advance!!
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Comments

  • lindsaytlindsayt
    edited February 2009
    Bring a plastic vari kennel for each of them. I think for car trips those are safer than wire cages or seat belts (thinking of a roll over accident). That's one of the most important parts for road trips and can double as sleeping quarters. I pack food in ziplocks to save space, vaccine records, location and number of vets in area of travel, medicines, towels, crate bed, snap on water bowls, crate fans, leashes, id tags, no slip collar/harness, maybe an expen once at the relatives house to keep them contained, and treats. And a sunshade for the windows. I also carry all my grooming stuff but you won't need to. When all of this stuff is packed in my case, there is room for maybe 1-2 bags for me unless I upgrade to a hatchback/van. Have a fun road trip, when you have everything you need, it can be so much fun going places with your dogs.
  • ljowen123ljowen123
    edited November -1
    I'll look up the site that I have for dog parks throughout the US - may give you some stopping options on your way down. I love Savannah, but not that much around St. Patrick's Day. When are you guys planning on coming through?
  • sunyatasunyata
    edited November -1
    Hmm. I think you should stop by Lynchburg, VA on your way down and pick me and two silly Shibas up for the trip down! And then of course, stop in Atlanta and see all the Atlantians. ;-)

    As for traveling, the furthest we have ever traveled with one of our pups was when we brought Nola home as a puppy. (5 hours) So I am not sure how much help I can be... Other than just make sure the pups are comfy and safe! Here is a link that has a directory of dog parks:

    http://www.usadogparks.com/

    Another site that I have used to find dog friendly hotels:

    http://www.bringfido.com/

    They have a $5 off coupon, I believe if you register with their site.

    Best of luck with your trip, and make sure to take LOTS of pictures!
  • ljowen123ljowen123
    edited November -1
    Casey - thanks for the website - I was looking for the link, but with everything changing over to work today - I haven't had a chance to get to it.
  • cmmookiecmmookie
    edited November -1
    Lindsay- Wow! You are super prepared. I can't believe I never thought about the vaccine records and vet information in the area! We will be bringing our expen with us just in case the zoomies get out of control! :)

    LJ- As of now, we are planning our trip for the first week of March. We will be there and back before St. Patty's. Does it get really crazy around then??

    Casey- Thanks for the links! I just browsed through them and they seem like they will be really helpful.
  • ljowen123ljowen123
    edited November -1
    As long as you aren't in Savannah during the 16-19, you'll be good. They used to dye the river green (I don't remember if they still do) and it used to be a major excuse for anyone in driving distance to come down and go crazy - a mini mardi gras or spring break, if you will.
  • ZinjaZinja
    edited November -1
    I got Sasuke from Venice. I have done that trip several times. Once with Ninja. She got really sick on the way back. She pooed blood on the ride home, it was not fun cleaning :(
  • SangmortSangmort
    edited February 2009
    I really want to go to Venice Beach! They have shark teeth there :)


    I need to get my friends to hop in the car with me, but it's like...a 2.5 hour drive. I'd rather go to Tampa :p



    HAVE FUN!!! If you swing through Orlando & want to meet up let me know :) ~
  • KaddyKaddy
    edited November -1
    Lindsay pretty much hit everything I could possibly think of!

    I take my hiking list and pretty much adapt from that - I got it from a great book about hiking with dogs...

    We haven't taken a 'long' road trip with Keiko yet, mostly because she tends to poo in the crate in the car if she's too stressed (ie on the way home from the vet). And I don't deal well with cleaning up poo - I can do it, but it takes a lot of gagging on my part ;o)

    Hopefully we'll soon have a place to vaca with our doggy!
  • lindsaytlindsayt
    edited February 2009
    Great Hikes with dogs-I have the Western Washington version, some really good trails. That's partly what we were doing up in Port Angeles, the Olympic National Park and the Peabody Trail. Neato book. Anyways, it tells you about what to pack and prepare for "in case of".
  • ZinjaZinja
    edited November -1
    Osy: Someone made fun of me when I brought a large shovel to that beach lol
  • SangmortSangmort
    edited November -1
    Joe, I do NOT blame you! I SO would've brought a shovel too! lol ~
  • KaddyKaddy
    edited November -1
    Yep that's the book I have too Linday!! Of course I have the OR version :oD

    Actually I think I linked to it a while back when I bought it.
  • cmmookiecmmookie
    edited November -1
    Thanks for all the dog tips!

    Osy- We might pass through Orlando. I will keep you updated. Do you know of any good dog parks in the area?

    Does anyone else have any places they recommend that we stop and see or is the East Coast just really boring?? LOL
  • KaddyKaddy
    edited November -1
    I can honestly say I don't have any particularly 'special' memories of the East Coast from when I was touring... 3 years and I can't remember being super excited to return to any of the East Coast cities. I did love Portland, Maine, but I think that's a bit out of the way ;o)

    Tybee Island in GA was pretty cool... although really teeny :o)
  • StaticNfuzzStaticNfuzz
    edited February 2009
    The problem here on the east coast is that many of the big national parks do not allow dogs.
    When you get to some of the southern states they really are not all that dog friendly. Meaning they do not put their tax dollars
    into a lot of dog amenities. For many of the smaller rural towns it is lucky to have an animal control facility. Mostly there is a mind set to just open the back door and let fido take a track tour of the neighboring town.

    So at this juncture it is difficult to point you in the right direction for the type of venue you are looking for.

    Quiet Waters Park in Annapolis MD in very nice but it is off the beaten path from any route off of 95 if you are going south.

    There is a dog park in Richmond called Barker Field. http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM121X

    There also a Dog park in Asheville NC. NC would bring you about halfway to FL. http://www.doggeek.com/Dog%20Parks/North%20Carolina.shtml
    (NC always seems like such a long state when driving....a stop will surely be necessary when you travel with dogs.)

    For SC if you plan to stay a day or to take a look at http://www.dogfriendly.com/server/travel/guides/dogpark/dogparkstateSC.shtml

    I hope you find something to meet your needs from these links.

    Snf
  • ZinjaZinja
    edited February 2009
    hiking in the Carolinas is beautiful. There is also ”South of the Border” which is an interesting tourist attraction. lol

    You will probably travel south of i-75 through Gainesville and Tampa. We have an awesome park with two filtered clean ponds here in Gaineville if your interested. www.dogwoodpark.com

    If you travel on i-4/i-275 south, you can visit Osy at disney and if you go more south, you will want to check out Fort DeSoto. There is a dog park, beaches, kyaking, fishing, camping... Really nice place.

    Other places to hit is St. Augustine (supposeably pet friendly but I still haven't been there and an awesome place to visit). which is north of G-ville. > also recommend St. Armands circle on Lido Key which is a little south of St. Petersburg. The area is very chill with dogs and they are seen with their owners while they shop the outdoor strip on the coast. Many restaurants have outdoor seating so you can eat with your doggies. I will bring Sasuke and Ninja here sometime soon. www.visitstarmandscircle.com

    Oh, also make sure you do not let your dogs go near Florida freshwater. There has been reports of alligator attacks on small dogs!
  • KaddyKaddy
    edited November -1
    I hate I-75.... especially through Atlanta (scary people cutting across the like ... 9 million lanes!!!)
  • ljowen123ljowen123
    edited November -1
    Evan, you wound me - I-75 isn't that bad unless you hit during rush hour. The key to 75 in ATL is knowing not to merge all the way the left (or right) on the downtown connector (where I-85 joins in for a few miles). I prefer to go through downtown than to get on I-285 (the Perimeter) - then again, I grew up driving in and around Atlanta. I don't feel that it's worse than Boston's Big Dig or St. Louis, MO.
  • SangmortSangmort
    edited November -1
    lol "Osy @ Disney" is probably the best description of my location ever. haha I see the Disney fireworks from my window :)


    Good point about the gators Joe! Gators love to snack on dogs here D: [ & show up in people's swimming pools...& bedrooms...]




    Wish I could recommend some good dog parks, but seeing as I have no dog yet...Sorry!~
  • KaddyKaddy
    edited November -1
    I should be honest, LJ. I had to drive on I-75 in Atlanta 2 weeks after I passed my driving test (with a permit) lol. We were on vacation and the adults did a little bit too much adult imbibing to be able to drive back to the hotel :o)
  • ljowen123ljowen123
    edited November -1
    Okay - that makes a little more sense - it can be a little overwhelming at times. I've taught all of my nieces to drive and they all hated the "Atlanta drive", which is where I make them drive into Atlanta, go around the perimeter and then come back through the connector. However, they've been thankful for it when they have to back into town and are much more comfortable now.

    Melissa - if you have time to stop in Atlanta (and it's on the weekend), I'd be happy to meet you at one of the dog parks in ATL.
  • cmmookiecmmookie
    edited November -1
    Ok, so based on the availability of dog friendly hotels and such, it looks like we have our basic route down. We plan on staying overnight in Richmond, VA
    and then driving to Savannah and staying there the next night. Both of these towns have dog parks so we can get them all tuckered out each morning before departing. Then we are off to Venice. We plan on stopping about halfway in Gainesville since we checked into Joe's recommendation of Dog Wood Park which looks like Doggy Disney!! All of these distances are approximately 6.5 hrs apart, which is not too bad. The pups can't wait to visit the doggy beach in Venice. It is right next to our favorite place to eat, Sharkey's on the Pier. I guess we are pretty pumped too!!

    We are still looking for some dog parks between the first two stops. Hopefully we can find different stops on the way back to keep it interesting. Also crossing our fingers in hopes of avoiding all alligators. :P

    Thanks for all the helpful suggestions.

    LJ- we will most likely be past Atlanta by Saturday, but if our plans change, we would love to meet you and Jazz.
  • ZinjaZinja
    edited November -1
    Yeah, dogwood park is the best dog park imho here, but you have to pay $10 to get in and an additional $3 per extra dog. I am going to try to get a month's membership in a few days. I haven't tried the heated doggie baths in our 30 degree weather. Let me know when you plan on getting here. I bet Sasuke would love to meet other Shiba Inus!

    Also, dogwood is super close to I-75. If you have done any agility training, Dogwood would let you use their facility provided you have paperwork or something. Also, they only allow neutered males, and you need to bring your tags. Other than that, the park is great!

    Sharkey's is awesome!
  • cmmookiecmmookie
    edited November -1
    Joe- $13 isn't bad at all for a fun play time. We are planning on getting there on Tuesday, March 3rd. If you aren't busy we would love to play with Sasuke. Mookie is neutered already so it wont be a problem. What tags besides rabies will they need?? Oh, and Sharkey's does rock, when you can find a table :P LOL
  • ZinjaZinja
    edited November -1
    I'm pretty sure it's just the rabies tag. Depending on the time, I'm pretty sure I can make it. I do have classes from 2-5pm though. Hopefully the weather is nice and warm :) I think I will also have Ninja. I am stealing her from my parents so I can babysit her and her skin condition. Hopefully by that time, Ninja will be up to her normal self again.

    If anyone else on this forum wants to meet up, a giant meetup at dogwood would be great! The more the merrier!
  • cmmookiecmmookie
    edited November -1
    The kids got some custom made martingale collars so that they look super cool for the trip. Thanks Pam!!

    No one really wanted to sit still for our photoshoot though. :/


    "What momma, you wanna take a picture of my new collar??"
    IMG_0085

    "It's real pretty! See??"
    IMG_0087

    "Why is she getting all the attention?? I look handsome with my new collar too!"
    IMG_0095

    "Okay, we both look good. Let's kiss and make up!"
    IMG_0089
  • ljowen123ljowen123
    edited November -1
    very cute! I guess I need to take pics of Jazz's new collar, too.
  • dlrobertsdlroberts
    edited November -1
    LOL. Love the narrative!
  • SangmortSangmort
    edited November -1
    Awwww! ~
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