Wisconsin Dells

Wow! It’s hard to believe that Things to Do & Places to Stay in Wisconsin has officially been up and active as a Wisconsin traveler blog for a full year now!

We kicked off last March with a very short post on Pet Friendly WI Vacations and thought it would be appropriate to circle back around and do it again, with more info, some great pet stories from our members & even a couple of pics of our own pets…

When Olive strikes a pose, Michelle, our guru of all things printed, posted or published, is always willing to snap a quick pic!

Also in 2009, WisconsinLodging.info was featured in a story on Pet Friendly Vacations in Wisconsin in Fetch magazine. Check out the story, including how Judy at  The Edgewater hotel in Madison will even do a little pet-sitting in her office when needed! You can find well over 350 Wisconsin properties that all welcome “pets with prior approval” when you search at WisconsinLodging.info including some of these great escapes:

Lake Delton/ Wisconsin Dells:
If your dog loves to splash and swim, Delton Oaks Lodge on Lake Delton is sure to be a hit. Dogs are allowed to swim in the lake and play on their beach. Fido may even find a new friend as, during a normal summer, they have about a dozen pets at the resort each day.

Door County:
Beach-loving dogs will also want to try out the Beachfront Inn in Bailey’s Harbor… Fido will find a treat bag in the room upon his arrival and all dogs are welcome on the beach and water area off leash to run and have fun.  Finally, be sure to ask at the front desk, as the Inn has been known to even find a dog-sitter for guests who wish to have a night out without their pet.

The lovable Homer enjoys traveling all across Wisconsin with Bill, our membership & revenue wizard.

Northwoods, Boulder Junction:
If a cabin in the woods is more your style, check out Evergreen Lodge on Little Crooked Lake. Whether you’re hiking the trails, trying your hand at fishing, or simply relaxing on the beach, there are plenty of ways for both you and Fido to enjoy your vacation in the Northern Highland State Forest.

Please be Courteous
Planning on taking Fido on your next escape? Remember to contact your destination prior to your stay to discuss their pet policies and please, never try to ‘sneak’ your pet into a property! Hoteliers and innkeepers want to ensure the safety and comfort of ALL their guests, so when you and Fido leave at the end of your stay, typically your entire room will be stripped, steamed, scrubbed and cleaned to remove all traces of pet dander. This protects future guests who may have allergies or pet sensitivities.

You just never know…
Those of us who have tried (see Fetch article mentioned above) to travel with our pooches know that funny, crazy, weird things can happen…

Phillip from the Sunrise Lodge in Land O’ Lakes shared this story with us recently:  Once, a “guest brought their expectant dog, she was not due for another week. He went out fishing for the day, returned to find….. Mommie had removed pillows from our NEW sofa, dug out the stuffing to make a nest and gave birth to four puppies.” (At least Mom had good taste!)

He's not much of a traveler, but he's all ours & we love him!

Beth from the Super 8 in Portage told us “We once had a guest who left their Houdini-German Shepherd in the room. Despite not being allowed to leave the pet unattended, they did – and the dog kept opening the door and coming out, even after multiple attempts to keep him in! We put a baby gate on the door, as well as the guest tried to put a heavy chair blocking the door as they left – he still got out every time.”

So, care to share your pet-travel stories with us?