Every year since I’ve worked at the newspaper I have taken the week of my birthday off (whatever week August 11th falls in). In 2018, I left the dogs at home and went to Portland, Oregon. I realized I missed them too much to do that again. In 2019, I spent the week at home going to different places each day and hanging out with both of my dogs. Caesar and I did spend two days in Columbus that year. This year, I have something a little more grand planned.
At first, I booked a hotel in Cuyhagoa Valley National Park the days leading up to my birthday. CVNP is Caesar and I’s go-to hiking spot. In the summer, it’s important that I take Caesar to places with lots of water, and CVNP has just that. But as I began to think, I realized I wanted to go somewhere new. What I really wanted to do was make a few day trip to Maine to see the Atlantic Ocean – with Caesar in tow. But… Maine is closed to visitors (thanks COVID!), so I put my thinking cap back on.
Many people started suggesting Michigan, specifically the Upper Peninsula. If there is one place that has a lot of water sources, it’s the UP. So, I began to research.
The more I looked into the UP, the more things I found to do. I reached out to some family in Michigan and one of my boyfriend’s aunts encouraged me to just go with the flow. She was certain that Caesar and I could find a place to stay once there and that we would have a better time not being “tied down by a reservation.” It’s 2020 and the year has been crazy, so I figured why not!
I did invite my mom on this trip. We were supposed to be in Minnesota that weekend anyway (again, thanks COVID!). Plus, when going to a new place that is almost 8 hours away, I find some comfort not being the only human in the car.
While this trip is mostly unplanned, there are still a few things I knew were important to look into before deciding to trek 6+ hours through Michigan to the UP.
Here’s a few things to consider if you’re thinking of taking your dog on a trip (even if the trip is spontaneous):
1. Lodging
The most important thing to consider when taking your dog on a trip with you is what kind of pet-friendly lodging is available.
The first thing I do is Google “pet-friendly lodging in *insert destination here*.” I often stay at La Quinta Inn so I did check to see if there were any La Quintas in the UP. I couldn’t find any, but I did find many hotels available that are dog-friendly.
I did this before talking to my boyfriend’s aunt, Sue. Even with my preliminary research, I wasn’t sure where we would end up. My plan was to basically drive north.
With Sue’s suggestion, I decided, for the first time, to not book a hotel. She reassured me that mom and pop-type lodging could be found in small towns in the UP for cheap – towns that weren’t coming up on my Google search. One of my goals on this trip is to conserve money, so I liked the sound of that and, if nothing else, I do know that more costly dog-friendly lodging does exist if we need it.
As an added precaution, we are taking my mom’s tent with us. Plus, I just got a new Jeep (much more room than my Ford Focus). So, if all else fails, we can take a nap in the Jeep or pop a tent up in a woods and get some rest.
2. Finding The Right Trails
While my aim is for this trip to be far more spontaneous, it is still important to make sure I know which trails Caesar is allowed on. Hiking with a dog can mean that there are restrictions. You can’t always go wherever you want when you have a dog in tow. Often, National Parks are more restrictive than State Parks and Forests.
One destination that was at the top of my list when I was first looking into the UP was Pictured Rocks National Park. However, after some research I found that Caesar will only be allowed on a limited number of trails. We will likely still go, but at least now I won’t be disappointed when I find out we can’t go everywhere.
According to Michigan’s park website, dogs are allowed on any and all State trials, so those destinations will likely play a bigger role in our trip.
3. Know What To Bring With You
Even with an unplanned trip, it’s important to consider where you are going and what you may need to take with you. We will be away from home for 4 days and in a totally new area, so it’s vital to have some supplies just in case.
Water will be a huge must-have. While we will be surrounded by lakes and other bodies of water, you never want to be caught in the August heat without plenty of water to drink. We will pack both water bottles and gallon jugs, mostly for Caesar. Speaking of water, this will be the first trip I take a swim suit with me as well! There’s no way I’m going to let Caesar have all the fun on the beach without me.
Being in the woods, we will also likely need bug spray. I don’t normally use bug spray on most trips, but where there is water and woods, there is likely to be bugs. I don’t want to drive 8 hours north and be attacked by flying monsters. I put an order in on Chewy.com for dog-friendly bug spray so Caesar will have relief too.
Researching the area you are in is always a good idea so you know what to expect. I’ve been told by a few people that taking a physical map or physical directions may be a good idea, since cell phone service can vary in the UP.
If you’re looking for a full list of suggestions on what to pack when taking your dog on a hiking trip, check out my blog on What To Pack When Taking Your Dog on A Hiking Trip. (always remember a towel!!!)
This trip will be totally different for Caesar and I. Typically, I am a planner. I like to have everything set and know exactly where I am going, especially when it comes to a place to stay. But 2020 has been weird and I think we’ve all just been going with the flow, so I figured my vacation should match.
My mom, Caesar, and I will certainly have a good time in the UP and I can’t wait to share our experience with you all.