An Ahhhhhhhsome Wintertime Getaway--The Lodge at Sierra Blanca in Ruidoso

Ahhhhhhh!

.....yes, pull up a chair would ya please.  And I'll share a few of my secret finds with you. 

You know this AHHHHHH-some trip all started at The Lodge at Sierra Blanca. 

www.lodgeatsierrablanca.com

My down-time winter getaway.  It's the Ultimate Relaxation Headquarters for Couples, Families....why even Pets!  And what better place to relax......

.....than by the fireplace on a chilly winter's morn.

   

After our first busy day at Ski Apache......I relaxed in style at the Lodge at Sierra Blanca.  And AFTER I woke up from my snoozy nighttime dreams....why I just had to go out on the deck of my suite  to check out the day's dawning.  Nice!  Looks like a great day is ahead of us! 

 So...I had to get Jill going....a little TUFF-RUFF love to get her up and ready!  Let's GO!  No more lollygagging around that nice fire in the suite!  The day has begun!

First stop---

                                                        BREAKFAST! 
And bark about a Yummy Breakfast!  Their complimentary Breakfast at the Lodge at Sierra Blanca is a Complete HOT Breakgast which even includes their Made-To-Order Omelette Station. I told Jill to order a MEAT omelette....of dog-course!  And they stuffed that tasty omelette with sausage, bacon, ham, cheese...and of course topped it off with our famous New Mexico Green Chile.  I'm also partial to Biscuits and sausage gravy...which they also had.  Delectable!  Gets a 5-paw rating from this dog-scriminating diner!

Now THAT is what I mean when I bark about a great start to a day in Ruidoso!  And speaking of Ruidoso...while Jill is enjoying her breakfast,  guess I'll just settle down with a cup of Cowboy Brew by the fireside and peruse the Ruidoso Visitor Guide  www.discoverruidoso.com to plan our day.

 
 OMD...this might be TUFF!  There's SO many doggone fun things to do in Ruidoso...where's a dawg (and his people) to start...must ponder this doglemma!

 Maybe we should just head down Sudderth Drive....THE shopping MECCA of Ruidoso!  They have everything from Souvenirs....to Art....to clothing....why they even have BEARS for sale!

 

They have BEARS of ALL sizes and shapes at Grizzly's Workshop....Hmmmm......maybe we should take one home....

 But somehow I don't think this BEARY BIG guy will fit into our car!  Maybe I'll just take a carved dog home instead!

Should I get the little guy who looks like ME....or the big Fido with the duck in his mouth!  Gotta think on this awhile.   But either way...a chainsaw carved bear (or dog) is a doggone grand souvenir from Ruidoso!

But it's time to mosey on down Sudderth Drive to see what else we can explore.....how about a bit of history?

 Well...that would of course mean a quick stop at the Dowlin Mill.....been there since 1869 and is Ruidoso's OLDEST BUILDING!  See.....not only am I doggone good lookin' but this dawg is a brainiac too!  I KNOW very important stuff!  That's right...just stick with me and you TOO can learn very important good-to-know stuff about New Mexico!

And speaking of MORE history......let's roll on down the road a ways past Ruidoso Downs Race Track and Hubbard Museum of the American West.....and roll on to check out some Old West tidbits of information about New Mexico's BAD BOY.....and I'm NOT talkin' about me.....but rather.

 Billy the Kid.  And where better to learn about him than at the Billy the Kid National Scenic Byway Visitors Center.

 It's got cool stuff outside.....like this lifesize mural of a grand elk....native to New Mexico!  And other animals who are "tracking'  around our state and the Ruidoso area.

 WoW!  Look at all these tracks on their wall!  Wonder how those animals got their painted paw prints on that wall.....I WANT MINE ON THERE TOO!  Ya hear?

Or maybe I should put my pawprint in their little walkway where you can take a fun little walk-about at the BTK Center.

But time's awastin'....and I need to learn all there is to know about New Mexico's "KID"....so think I'll just go inside and sit down and take in more dog-knowledge to add to my already BIG HEAD!  Did you know that there is a Billy the Kid Scenic Byway you can explore!  True!  And did you know that you can even get your PICTURE with the KID? 

                                                                                TRUE!
AW-OH!  He's so lifelike that I'm not sure about his intentions....bein' the bad boy he was!
HE'S BEHIND ME....ISN'T HE?  Don't do anything bad to me please.... I'm checkin' out, Mr. Billy!  Why I think I better check out some other fun displays here....like my crazy DEER PHOTO OP with none other than New Mexico's most famous bear ever.....SMOKEY BEAR!  (Hint....if ya don't see me right off....look close at Bambi!)  Yep that would be me!  Jack the Deer!  HA!  This is one fun museum! I highly dog-recommend it for both people and their pets.......seeing as they are in fact pet-friendly!

 We had so much fun at the museum that by the time we left this glorious Winter Day was half over...and it was time to EAT! (BTW...one of my favorite things to do on vacation.....at home......just everywhere!)

So we moseyed on down the road...and when we saw this cute little eatery....The Village Buttery www.thevillagebuttery.com.  we decided to test it out....AND to see if it passes the PET-FRIENDLY test.
So while I settled in at one of theire fancy-dancy tables on their Deck area....Jill went inside to check out the doggone true facts!  Do they allow pets?  Is there food good? What are their specialties.....ALL those important things to know when you are hungry.
So Jill met up with the owner Elliot Taylor.....He was guarding his delightful, delectable deelicious pies in the Pie Case.  YUM...can't wait to get my lips on some of those sweet taste treats.  But first things first.  Jill asked him all the important questions and his answers were ALL "YES!"  So Jill real quick...ordered a tasty lunch for us to share on their PET-io deck.And quick as two shakes of the tail....they served it up to us.

 We enjoyed their Soup & Sandwich Combo of the day.....(gluten free) Tomato Basil Soup, A Chicken Salad Croissant with a side of chips.  Some hot tea in a mug to cut the chill of the day...and of course ......

 we HAD to try out their house specialty  GRANDMA GUTHRIE'S FAMOUS BUTTERMILK PIE.
                                                 DOUBLE DOG YUM!
THANKS Village Buttery for being such a dog-fabulous Eatery!  We'll be BARK...er I mean BACK for
sure!

But the day is still young....and we decided on our way out of town...on our tour of WHY Ruidoso is such an Ahhhhhhsome Wintertime Getaway.....we would check out their RUIDOSO WINTER PARK
                                                                         WWW.ruidosowinterpark.com
the "PREMIER PLAYGROUND for a winter time day.    

The Park DOES allow dogs in the picnic area by the Bleachers.  So that's where we headed.  We wanted to check out the action

 

And action we found!  There were kids of ALL ages, shapes and sizes that were riding their magic carpet...moving conveyors to the top of the hill....so NO schlepping up the side of the mountain....nope whisked up their easy as one-two-three!  They have 1200 tubes to rent......from one man to 10 man.  BARK about fun!  Why they even have a Zip Line!  Pretty doggone cool place for the whole family to have some wintertime fun! 

                                               
 So.....on our way out of town.......we dogcided it was necessary to let the good folks at The Lodge at Sierra Blanca.....know how much fun we had on our Ahhhhhhhhsome Wintertime Getaway.  From relaxing by the fireside at the Lodge to having fun in the snow.......RUIDOSO is just a doggone grand winter escape.

And then.......imagine this.  While I was just sitting around looking handsome on their Lodge Lounge Round Settee....who shows up but my good buddy....Mr. Steve-the General Manager of the Lodge.

And what--do dog-tell----did he have for me?  A tasty Doggy Treat Bag (that they give out to ALL the dogs who visit)......another one for me for the road!  Now THAT....my friends is an ABOVE-AND-DOG-BEYOND fabulous way to end our Ahhhhhhsome winter getaway.

And here is our latest TV segment about this very same subject.....Winter Wonderland Ruidoso....available to you right here.  See what the Host of 2KASA Style TV, Chad and Jill and I talked about on the show. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtLjdxthxT0

And now....my recommendation to you.............................

PLAN YOUR VACATION at the Lodge at Sierra Blanca in Ruidoso  NOW!

just barkin!

My not-so-humble dog-pinion.....

because after all....I AM the Pre-eminent Pet Travel Reporter of New Mexico! 

And Travelin' Jack KNOWS!

So if you are as smart as me....you'll listen up and plan your trip now.

DOGGY HUGS AND SLURPY KISSES!

Who Says a Dog Can't Ski?

I heard through the bark-vine that dogs were allowed at Ski Apache in Ruidoso

www.discoverruidoso.com.....so of course being the Pet Travel Reporter that I-Travelin' Jack-am.....I headed right down to Ruidoso to see what I could learn....both for me and for my 4-footed cousins who love to travel with their people too!

 So......here I am at Ski Apache......this sure is a nice gondola....it's all enclosed for a safe trip up the mountain.

But being the absolutely must-be-doggone-right-on-all-my-details Pet Travel Reporter....I went right on over to the ticket counter to get the scoop.  So's I asked the nice folks at the Ski Apache Ticket Counter

"Can a Dog Ride the Gondola" 

And they told me "YES....dogs ARE allowed to ride their new state-of-the-art 8-passenger gondola up to the top of the mountain.

And here's the REAL kicker!  Dogs ride for FREE...your person just has to sign a waiver for you to ride. So I got my ticket.....but first I thought to myself..."HMMMMM....maybe I should check out the scene BEFORE I go to the top!" 

 So that is just ex-dog-actly what I did!  I checked out the skiers......and I thought to myself  "YUP-PUP.....I'm pretty doggone sure I can do that skiing thing".......
But first....maybe I should just sit here a bit and soak in the winter sun and have a nice little snack on the Deck of the Ski Apache Restaurant.....and YES....dogs are allowed here too!  And bark about a view!  Why I don't know what's more fun....watching the people action or eating.....NAAAAH....I know the answer to that one.  I'll just take a sec and chow down on these nachos, thank you very much! 

 After I was saved from starvation by those tasty nachos......why what do I see here?  Is this what they call that SNOWBOARD rider thing?  Hmmmmm......now THIS looks pretty interesting.  I think I'll take this blue one here....it matches my outfit! 

 OK....so I'm ready....got my snowboard....and I'm headed to the TOP of Ski Apache!  Pretty awesome view.....and boy we are goin' UP...UP....and even more UP!  All the way to the TOP!

And here I am.....getting off the gondola...ready to hit the slopes!  I'm gonna be a snow dude dog for sure! I don't think I need any lessons...bein' the cool snow dude dog that I am!

 WOAH! What?  Where did my snowboard go?  Where are my Legs?  Why am I slip-sliding away?  Hey! This is a lot doggone harder than it looks!  

Hmmm.  Maybe, just maybe I DO need lessons!  But that's another day....for now, I'll just relax up here at the TOP and watch how the People do it!  And maybe I'll just LEAVE skiing and snowboarding to the PEOPLE!  Yup.....that's what I am gonna do!  No more boarding for this dog..... 

                                         
 This is as close to skis as I wanna get...until I have a Ski Instructor handy to teach me the tricks!  Yep..that's the plan and I'm stickin' to it by dawg!

Instead, maybe I'll just make some new friends.......(I know how to pick the cute ones...don't I?).....and as this beautiful day at Ski Apache comes to an end.....I'm ready to head to my favorite RESORT....the Lodge at Sierra Blanca!
www.lodgeatsierrablanca.com
 LUV this place...can't wait to get there and relax by the fireplace in the lobby!  It's especially special because they treat BOTH people and their pets royally...from the moment you step through the door into the plush, luxurious, and cozy interior.  It gets a 5-PAW rating from this discriminating dog reporter!     

 'Course....first things first.  ya gotta check in....and they ALWAYS have a special treat for the visiting dogs!  I was greeted by the GM, Mr. Steve, himself!  He's my bud...even when he isn't welcoming me with a treat...but today he is my double dog bud....because he has this tasty treat bag just for me!  Thanks a dog-zillion!  All that skiing....er....snow play....makes a dog hungry ya know!

 And a little dog-tired too!  So....as soon as I spied this nice cozy setting in the Lounge....I jumped on it!  Dog-literally!  Right in front of that cozy fire.....just a great spot to warm the derriere, ya know!  And then....all of a sudden...I spied something else!  Their Lobby Bar............

 BEER TIME!  Yes...it's all okay...I'm over 21 (in people years)....they checked my ID to make sure....and they told me I had to share with Jill too!  OK.....I can live with those rules!  Beer is gone in a split-dog-second...and as I looked around a bit more...I realized it had turned to Dusk.....and what better way to end the day than....... 

 to go outside and toast my toes by the outdoor Fire Pit and watch the sun set.  Ahhhhhhh!  Now this is the Life!  And the place to get away to when you want both Action on the Slopes and a Cozy Place to Relax! The Lodge at Sierra Blanca is just PAWFECT! 

 Back inside by the fire....and I'm gettin' pretty drowsy.  It's been a good day.....I wonder what tomorrow will bring.....

But for now...I'm heading to my room where there is comfort and style surrounding me as I slip into doggy dream land.

And while I take this small break......and regenerate for tomorrow....here's what YOU can do!  Tune in....on Wednesday to KASA 2 Fox TV  for 2KASA Style.....and I'll be barking about this dog-fabulous trip!  Then...I'll blog about Day 2 after that!  So don't despair.....I'll be BARK.....I mean BACK!

DOGGY HUGS AND SLURPY KISSES!  zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZ Goodnight!

A Negative Experience can be a Positive---or maybe I should say PAWsitive!

The phone rang this morning.  It was an Emergency....but not mine Thank Dog!

It was another pup in need at the dog hospital.   And so they called ME----Travelin' Jack....to come to the rescue!  So off we went to Veterinary Emergency Specialty Center of New Mexico!
                                       
 You see  I-Travelin' Jack...besides all my travels and writings...and places I go to...and things I do....I am a "BONE-IFIED" Canine Blood Donor!
                                                             
"WHAT?"  you are probably saying about now.  And then you would follow that up with "Do dogs donate blood?"  And the answer would be "Your doggone right.....dogs can be blood donors...and so can cats!"  Why my 4-footed furry cousins have to have surgery...and sometimes that requires extra blood.......so it's very dog-portant to have a good supply of healthy blood available in those emergencies.
                                              
You see.....I learned about this the hard way.....way back in 2010 when I had to have surgery on my torn CCL.  And I went to the good specialists at VESCNM.....Dr. Schwarz was my angel surgeon then.  While I was there having surgery...I saw the "WALL OF HEROES" there.....and that's when I learned that you can get ON that wall of heroes by becoming a Canine Blood Donor.  So....soon's I was out of surgery....and not groggy-goofy any more (I know I am still goofy...but that's just the Bulldog in me after all!).....I put my paw on the dotted line and signed on to be one of New Mexico's Canine Blood Donors.
                                            
      But I dogress.....back to today!  So...I got the call....Jill and I jumped in the car and headed right over to the hospital....and in I went...to give some of my healthy blood to a canine cousin in need.  It's no big deal....sometimes they give me a little sedative....sometimes not...just depends on how much energy I have that day.  They draw some blood and put it right into that poor little pup in the Operating Room.  Simple as that!  I get some goodies to take home......sometimes it's a toy, sometimes it's a bandanna, sometimes it's a doggy biscuit or two...and sometimes it's ALL of the above!

Today...I got a snazzy bandanna and a whole bunch of doggie treats....Thanks Mr. Brian!  He's the Blood Donor Tech at the hospital...and he takes good care of me when I come.  I'm doggone proud to be a blood donor.  It's easy, it's painless....and I'm helpin' out my buddies.  BUT...there's more to it than just that!

They have a whole list of benefits that I get from it too!  If you check out this link to their website...you can find out interesting stuff 

http://vescnm.com/blood_bank.htm

Here are SOME of the Benefits

• All potential donors will receive free blood analysis
• Canine preliminary testing consists of blood typing, Ehrlichia, heartworm, Babesia gibsoni and Babesia canis for some breeds, CBC full chemistry panel and blood typing.
• Results will be forwarded to your pet’s primary care veterinarian.
• If your pet meets the qualifications for becoming a blood donor, we will schedule four donations each year.
• For each unit of blood donated, your pet will be entitled to receive a unit if needed during its lifetime.
•  Your pet will also receive a gift bag at each donation as our way of saying Thank You.

and of course the satisfaction that your blood might JUST SAVE A PET'S LIFE!  And I like that a lot! 
And everybody thinks you are a Canine Good Citizen too! Which isn't a bad thing either.

Now that I have shared the benefits of this program with you....you wanna sign up and be a Canine Blood Donor too, don't you?  Well, just go back to that website link above....and the registration form is right there.....fill it out...send it in and VOILA!  You'll get that first call to come for a check up.  After they confirm you are ALL HEALTHY....(and they send that info to your primary veterinarian too!), they'll give you a call to come in.  But HEY...don't forget to take a picture of you in too!  You'll be added to that special Wall of Heroes!  Go ahead....do it!  You know you wanna, don't you?     

So............................you are wondering why I entitled this blog post....A NEGATIVE EXPERIENCE CAN BE A POSITIVE!  Lesson #2 of being a Canine Blood Donor. 

DOGS CAN HAVE EITHER NEGATIVE OR POSITIVE BLOOD TYPE.  I just happen to have a Negative Blood Type...and that means....MY blood is more needed.  It's Universal...and can be donated to either a positive or a negative receiver.  Where positive blood can only be donated to a positive blood dog!  SEE?  You always knew I was special didn't ya!   There's even proof in my blood!

OK......I've done my dogly duty today......blood donated.  And let's just hope I helped save a pup's life!  I sure do doggone hope so!  Right now, I think I'll relax on the ride home...and gnaw on some doggie treats back at the ranch (house). 

For now....I hope you learned something today.  That being NEGATIVE really can be a PAWSITIVE!  So that's your lesson for the week.  Next week...I'll be ready to "HIT THE ROAD JACK" again....to somewhere else very dog-citing!  So tune in again very soon!

DOGGY HUGS AND SLURPY KISSES!