The hotel’s comprehensive welcome kit includes a welcome letter for each dog, a special pets-only menu, a map of local parks, a list of dog-friendly businesses, and a light-hearted “hydrant walk” through the charming seaport town. The materials also emphasized pets are allowed in the dining room and on the hotel’s boat, which was docked out front waiting for summer. These additional assurances made us feel even more confident the boys were more than welcome. After breakfast in The Library, where Ted and Jiggs were among nearly a dozen dogs happily dining with their families, we set off with our map and umbrellas provided by the valet. In town, our dogs were greeted warmly by one shopkeeper after another. We stopped in at Beau Tyler where a sign proclaiming “Dogs Welcome – Good or Bad” caught our attention, along with their customized collection of t-shirts, collars, and other delightful items for dogs and their proud owners.

We were greeted at Brenton Hotel with “Hey guys! Which of you is Ted? Which is Jiggs?” A pair of wagging tails let us know they approved of the treats and the attention received at the front desk, which is next to The Library, a warm and welcoming space overlooking the (currently) drizzly Newport Harbor. Four families and their pups were enjoying late afternoon snacks. Approaching the elevator, we stepped back to allow a friendly Saint Bernard to pass. Clearly, we were entering pet-friendly territory. Ted and Jiggs raced ahead from the elevator and into our room, disregarding the beautiful views of the city and the harbor, making a beeline for the special space created for them – soft beds, two bowls carefully placed on a spill mat, and a bag full of treats and toys. We assumed a knock on the door later was for our turndown, but were surprised to find out it was for the dogs – warm cookies and cool, fresh water for their bowls. The boys devoured the cookies and easily settled in for the night.

Ted and Jiggs, two extremely social Chinese Crested Powder Puffs — also known as our Canine Council — are, at ages 2½ and 6, quite the travelers. They enjoy flying, riding in cars, boating, sledding, dining out, attending concerts, and visiting the office with us. This spring, we took them along to experience New England's pet-friendliest hotels and resorts.

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Volume 22 2023

Jiggs gets cozy on the soft bed provided for pets at Brenton Hotel

At Chatham Bars Inn, pups are presented with special menus when they dine on the extra-wide wraparound porch that looks out over the property and the ocean beyond. Our cottage –outfitted with beds, water bowls, treats, and special towels for a quick clean-up after a romp – sat on the lawn, close to the tennis courts and the beach. In no time, the boys know which cottage is theirs and at the end of the day make themselves happily at home. We plan to return to the inn for the holidays. Once Thanksgiving festivities have finished, “elves” turn the inn’s historic main building into a magical Christmas wonderland. Special seasonal activities include gingerbread house building, Teddy Bear tea parties, caroling, and (one I am looking forward to) a special bedtime treat: an elf hand-delivers milk and cookies and reads a holiday storybook to your little ones – believers, non-believers, or canine. Just up the road in Harwich, Wequassett Resort and Golf Club introduced its “Pets Welcome” program for this summer season. “We felt Wequassett was perfectly suited for pets, with 27 acres of winding paths, a private beach, and accommodations spread amidst 23 different buildings,” said Alton Chun, Area Managing Director. “It just seemed like a natural fit.”

From Maine, we headed to Cape Cod and two very special resorts. Chatham Bars Inn sits close enough to the center of historic Chatham that guests and their pups can walk easily into town to eat and shop. While dogs aren’t permitted inside restaurants, they expand to fill the sidewalks during the high summer season and diners are encouraged to sit outside with their dogs. Pets are also welcome when everyone gathers with picnic baskets and blankets at Kate Gould Park, where the Chatham Band has been delighting audiences every Friday night in the summer for almost a century.

Dressed in colorful bandannas on the lawn at Chatham Bars Inn

Cape Cod

accommodations are conveniently located on the ground floor, with gated porches that provide security for dogs anxious to join the activity on the lawn. Families and their pups sit next to the firepits in the evening and, as people who love pets will do, get to know each other as they connect over the antics of their dogs.

In Cape Elizabeth, Maine, just seven miles outside of Portland, we met Melvin, a friendly pup at the front desk at Inn by the Sea. The Inn has worked with the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland for nearly a decade to help save lives and foster shelter dogs, like Melvin, at their beautiful seaside resort. Altogether, more than 170 dogs have been adopted by guests and staff members, usually after just a few days at the inn. The team at the inn is always excited to see happy, healthy rescues they’ve fostered return with their “forever” families year after year. Spacious accommodations – one- and two-bedroom residences with full kitchens, fireplaces, and balconies – circle the wide green lawn. Our second bedroom was outfitted for the boys with custom beds, embroidered with their names, and a warm fleece L.L. Bean blanket, among other treats. Pet-friendly accommodations are conveniently located on the ground floor, with gated porches that provide security for dogs anxious to join the activity on the lawn. Families and their pups sit next to the firepits in the evening and, as people who love pets will do, get to know each other as they connect over the antics of their dogs.

Jiggs and Ted on their customized Inn by the Sea L.L. Bean dog beds

Coastal Maine

Our next stop, The Preserve Sporting Club & Resort, wasn’t far from Newport, but the massive, wooded estate felt like a world away. They welcomed the dogs with beds, treats, bowls, chew toys, and other supplies. It was clear an advantage to choosing a pet-friendlier location is knowing that basic needs for our pups would be taken care of – hauling around beds and pads and bags and bowls was unnecessary. The Preserve Sporting Club & Resort offers a wide range of accommodation types – from spacious two- to four-bedroom homes and one-bedroom condo-like residences to cozy, remarkably luxurious tiny houses and glamping sites. With 3,500 acres of land and endless sporting experiences – golf, shooting, tennis, a rock climbing wall, kayaking, and more and more – there is plenty of space for two active pups to roam. We met two brothers, serious fishermen at the ages of three and five, who ran around an open field with Ted and Jiggs while we relaxed and enjoyed a glorious picnic lunch. Dogs are not allowed in the signature restaurant, but a special dogs-only menu was offered for in-room dining, and a hotel staff member picked up the pups so they could join us at the firepit for s’mores after dinner. The next day, we visited the equestrian center, which offers trail rides through a protected forest adjacent to the Preserve. Ted made new friends there, too, approaching horses and sheep with little reserve while Jiggs remained skeptical. When you arrive at a place where everyone loves dogs – and when you are traveling with such sociable pups, of course – there are plenty of friends to be made everywhere.

Ted isn’t shy when it comes to meeting other animals

We were thrilled to discover the restaurant welcomes dogs on the patio as well as in the dining room and lounge. It was damp and chilly, so we were equally thrilled to find a table waiting for us beside a roaring fireplace – and two dog bowls and a special menu waiting for our pups. In the intimate bar area, every table had a canine companion or two, and staff members stopped by to say hello to every four-legged guest. "We have been warmly welcoming dogs and their families to the Inn for more than 30 years,” said Michael Briggs, Managing Director. “So, treating our visiting pets as family members is well-embedded into the Inn by the Sea's DNA." Locals and visitors walk through Portland's quaint downtown with their dogs, wandering in and out of shops and relaxing in bars and restaurants with an eye on the street scene. We returned in the evening to a restaurant recommended by guest services, who also arranged for a dog sitter to keep Ted and Jiggs entertained while we experienced the city’s growing food scene.

It was. The very first reservation of the season included dogs and the trend continued throughout the summer and into the fall. Elegant and charming, Wequassett offers private cottages, suites, villas, and a three-bedroom home – all boasting stunning views. Ted and Jiggs loved the brick walkways that curved between the resort’s Cape Cod-style buildings and along the sea, often distracted by the rabbits who live within the beautiful gardens. The boys were thrilled with the welcome treats waiting for them and quickly claimed their spots on the chaises on our sunny deck. We loved the club-like atmosphere and innovative cuisine at Thoreau’s, but the special in-room dog menu looked so good that we thought about ordering the Wagyu burger and dining in with them.

Ted and Jiggs relaxing at Wequassett Resort and Golf Club

August 2023 (Volume 22)

Without a doubt, pets are an important part of our lives at home, and lately, we find it harder to imagine leaving furry family members behind when we travel, which creates a need for hotels that welcome pets as warmly as the humans they accompany. Knowing that our pets will be welcomed and cared for makes planning easier and stays more relaxing. There are many pet-friendly hotels, but as we discovered, it's pet-friendlier hotels we look for that provide services and amenities to make every family member feel at home – and they always receive a “two paws up” rating from our Canine Council.

When you arrive at a place where everyone loves dogs – and when you are traveling with such sociable pups, of course – there are plenty of friends to be made

Our second bedroom was outfitted for the boys with custom beds, embroidered with their names, and a warm fleece L.L. Bean blanket

Like many of the pet-friendliest destinations we visited, XV Beacon charges a small fee that is turned over to a local charity. The hotel provides a list of animal-related organizations, allowing guests to choose where their donation will make an impact. XV Beacon has welcomed pets for decades. General Manager Amy Finsilver’s Bernese Mountain Dog, Heidi, was a regular presence at the hotel, so it seemed natural to welcome pets, no matter their size. The hotel uses third-party services for dog walking and pet-sitting for guests who want to experience Boston’s restaurants and nightlife or attend business meetings during the day. Dogs are welcomed as VIPs at The Colonnade Hotel, Boston, where its VIPets program was implemented by Vice President and Managing Director David Colella. When the hotel redesigned its trend-setting dining spot, naming the restaurant after the owner’s beloved dog, Lucy, was an easy decision.

We were enjoying the Cape, but Boston was waiting. Our first stop, XV Beacon, is a turn-of-the-century landmark building in one of my favorite Boston locations – close to The Common, Public Garden, and Freedom Trail. Luckily, we showed up in this sports-crazed city in fan gear – a plan-ahead purchase at Uncommon Paws in Portland – and Ted and Jiggs were instant heroes. From the doorman who greeted us to the bellman who escorted us to our room, and the concierge who provided a map of pet-friendly stops in the neighborhood, every member of the staff offered Ted and Jiggs plenty of attention. Welcome treats included healthy homemade dog biscuits and exceptionally fluffy beds. And to make sure we felt just as welcome, a photo of the boys was placed right next to our bed.

Ted and Jiggs kitted out in fan gear made them popular at XV Beacon

Historic Boston

The hotel sits at the intersection of Boston’s main shopping districts of Copley Square and Newbury Street and the cobbled sidewalks and green parks of the city’s Back Bay neighborhood. The front desk cheerfully provides maps of the most scenic neighborhood walking routes, along with a treat for the dogs – a jar of snacks is always on hand.

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The pups enjoy a very warm welcome at Brenton Hotel

menu was offered for in-room dining, and a hotel staff member picked up the pups so they could join us at the firepit for s’mores after dinner. The next day, we visited the equestrian center, which offers trail rides through a protected forest adjacent to the Preserve. Ted made new friends there, too, approaching horses and sheep with little reserve while Jiggs remained skeptical. When you arrive at a place where everyone loves dogs – and when you are traveling with such sociable pups, of course – there are plenty of friends to be made everywhere.

Jiggs and Ted enjoying the sun at Inn by the Sea

Sorry to leave but vowing to return, we asked about the beautiful personalized L.L. Bean dog beds. “Oh, the beds are for you to take and keep,” they exclaimed, “and don’t worry, we will ship them to you.” Every gift we received was included in their INNcredible Pet package.

Ted and Jiggs loved the brick walkways that curved between the resort’s Cape Cod-style buildings and along the sea

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