RUFFING it at Elephant Butte Inn & Spa.....NOT Roughing It!

                                  

With Memorial Day loominng and summertime around the corner, I-Travelin' Jack, decided that Jill and I would beat the crowds and head to Elephant Butte....AND especially to avoid the crowds at the lake who are 'roughing' it in their tents.


We chose to go the other direction and luxuriate in the 'casual elegance' of the Elephant Butte Inn & Spa, that is...

....pet-friendly! Not only do they welcome registered pets with a doggy treat, they also have a very reasonable pet fee. $15 for small dogs, $20 for large dogs...and that is FOR THE ENTIRE STAY, not per night.

Before heading to our room, we took a little walk about the property.  Ya know it's a double dog good thing when you have to stop and smell the roses along the route!  Lovelee property.  OH....and take note here you dog people out there......I love it when they post signs telling everyone what they expect.  We ALWAYS obey the rules.....OK...got it.  I'll carry my leash with me whereever I wander around this dog-fabulous Inn.

The Inn is full service with 2 restaurants, large outdoor pool area, gift shop, and full service Spa on property. The majority of the rooms face the lake, with an outdoor porch for enjoying the lovely views and weather right from your room. The rooms have been recently redecorated with lovely decor as well as accommodating to your every need.

We especially enjoyed the large sweeping lawn area with lots of roaming area for the pup. A complimentary full service hot breakfast is part of the room rate for all guests...but perhaps even better than that is the on-property Ivory Tusk Restaurant and Tavern...with a Pet-Friendly Patio!

Whether you want a late afternoon happy hour beverage or a full steak dinner (or both...which is what we did!), Jill and I  (especially me!) enjoyed this nice element of our vacation experience. Followed by a nice afternoon refresher, we decided to hit the Ivory Spa.

Jill decided to take a much needed personal treatment and luxuriated in the Ivory Spa right on property. But....dog-alas!  They don't allow Pets in the Spa.....

so I enjoyed a cool Iced Tea with my new Gal Friend, Susie, while Jill got her Massage. I hear through the dog-vine that their Massage Therapist, Debbie, works magic in the spa.  Jill said it was a totally wonderful and relaxing part of the stay here.

But.....lucky for me.....Lucky DAWG that I am, I found the answer to this dog-lemma!  Right across the street at the Elephant Butte RV Resort!

Not only do they have NICE DIGS....'er RV pads for those RVers out there, but they have LOTS of great stuff on site for the travelin' pet....like a DOG WASH!

So Yippity Doo Dawg!  I got my PAW SPA treatment too! 

Why Jill and I felt so refreshed after our little spa treatment, we decided to check out the nearby hiking trails....they have several right there by the Inn

and they even come with their own Pet Potty Stations....NICE! 

But back at the ranch...or the Elephant Butte Inn & Spa as the case may be for this trip......we decided it was dinnertime! Yippee! 

So I got all spruced up....and we meandered over to the Ivory Tusk Restaurant & Tavern....on the PETIO where I could dine right along side Jill.   We picked out a table by the gurgling Water Feature (I've got an eye for all the niceties, you know!)

and then WHAT do I SPY.... a cute little doggie lass also dining on the Petio with her family.  Got to know her TOOT-SWEET....her name is Bella.  I do believe she was quite taken with my Dog-anaire looks....but then who wouldn't be!

But the Dinner Clock is ticking.....gotta get back to the dog-portant stuff now.  I'll just sit here and peruse the menu with my glass of Red Dog-ernet!  (some people call it Cabernet...but that sounds too much like cat for my choosing, so I'll just bulldog-erize it...if ya follow me!)

But I dog-gress.  Dinner.  Think I'll have Steak & Shrimp......Yup-Pup, that is my decision!  It looks yummy!

 

                                                                                                                       Do I have to share with Jill?

All right...maybe just a bite! 

How was it you ask?  It was DOUBLE DOG YUM!  And that is no exaggeration!

Yep, this has definitely been a nice little visit.  Without stepping foot off property for our little quick getaway from the city to Elephant Butte Inn and Spa, we were able to enjoy a full service luxury experience together.....me and my best pal-gal, Jill!

My official Travelin' Jack review you ask?  Why Elephant Butte Inn & Spa get my 5-PAWS RATING....and as you all know...it just doesn't get any better than that!

Now....this is our idea of RUFFing it.....NOT roughing it! We WILL be back!

For MORE info on Elephant Butte Inn & Spa, check out their website....
www.elephantbutteinn.com

or if you are RVing it...check out www.ebresort.com.

See you round the bend in the road!

DOGGY HUGS AND SLURPY KISSES! 

Alamogordo is TOP DOG....and TOPS for People Too!

 When I hear the name Alamogordo, I think of White Sands National Monumennt....but let me tell you..that's ONLY the beginning of fun times in this great New Mexico city!

Of course NO one can discount the fun in the sun at White Sands.....but here's a few tips for the pup visitor....well even the people visitors to this big sandbox in the desert! 

1. Wear proper attire and bring your shade with you.  It's SUNNY there!

2. Drink lots of water. 

3. I got a Junior Bark Ranger Bandanna (photo 1) that is not only snazzy looking but if you wet it down with water, it keeps you cool too!

4. Bring your sled!  And if you don't have one, you can buy (and resell afterward)  one right at the Gift Shop.

5. HAVE FUN!

It's just a hoot to check out all the families having fun on the sand dunes!  Course you gotta wear your shades too!  But the FUN has just BEGUN!  

 Next stop on our Outdoors Alamogordo adventure is Oliver Lee Memorial State Park.  They have several trails to hike.....and I found the coolest springs to cool my jets in....and my feet too! 
Well actually ALL of me!  There's nothing more fun on a warm spring day than to dip your toes into cool clear clean water!  I highly dog-recommend Oliver Lee State Park for just such an adventure.

BUT WHAT!  DOG-FORBID!  What has Jill got planned now!

 DOG WASH?    Hey wait a minute....just because I'm a wet (and dirty) dog....let's think about this a minute!

 Aw-Oh.....guess my begging didn't pay off.  Looks like it is Bath Time in the Self-Service Dog Wash!  Dog-nab it!  Actually it's not that bad...but don't tell Jill I said that!

 A full day of fun in the sun, on the trail and in the water.....time to check in to a DOG-FRIENDLY hotel.  Yep....we found one!  SEE....it says so right on the sign.  Thanks Magnuson Hotel and Suites!  We LUV dog-friendly.

Why look at this!  They don't just advertise dog-friendly....the SPEAK dog-friendly too!  A welcome Biscuit from my man John at check in!  NICE touch Magnuson Hotel & Suites!

 Hmmmm...gotta check out the lobby.  It's been renovated in full southwestern style.  Just what this dog personally likes!

But of course the real test is the Room!  Snazzy!  Yup...it passes the Travelin' Jack test!  BTW, in case you are not familiar with the name Magnuson...here's a Jack tip....it used to be called the Best Western Desertaire....till it changed brand names about a year ago.  And with that change they have renovated the property!  Pretty nicely done if ya ask this travelin' dog!

DAY 2.....of our Alamogordo Adventure.  We're off to check out the histric district!  Here I am at the Plaza.....great murals and other snazzy pieces of history to take in....and don't forget New York Avenue.....lots of fun shops and walking area to explore too!  Ya know.....a trip is not complete without shopping, right?  Right!  

But there's more to Alamogordo than OLD history...

How 'bout SPACE HISTORY!  They have a truly OUT-A-THIS-WORLD museum here in Alamogordo..the New Mexico Museum of Space History!  Here I am in the outdoor exhibit area. Look at all this cool stuff would'ja? 

 Why no matter where I look.....or SIT...there's cool stuff all around!  I'm dog-pressed!  HINT....the museum inside and their IMAX theater are only accessible to service dogs....BUT there are several dog sitting businesses in town that you can leave your pup at (for a fun pup outing) and then go explore the INSIDE of the museum and take in a grand IMAX movie too!  Everyone has fun that way!

Even Rocket Man Jack! 

But Hey...we're not done yet!  There are just so many doggone cool things to do in Alamogordo. 

 
Like the Toy Train Depot!  Just my size...I'm a thinkin'.   Where IS that train?  Not waitin' around though because my tummy is growlin' and it's time for a Picnic! Right next to the Toy Train Depot is a City Park filled with LOTS of giant trees, grass, picnic tables.....well, just all the goods for a nice outdoor picnic.  And then right next to THAT park is the Alamogordo Zoo!  ALL located right on White Sands Blvd...easy to see...easy to get to!  It's so easy...and fun...to explore ALL the super duper things here!

But...they say...there's another thing I need to check out.  Are they NUTS??????  

You betcha!  Nuts about Pistachio nuts that is!  Why look...it's the Worlds' Largest Pistachio Nut....together with the world's smallest nut....named Jack...NAW not true...but that is one of my bulldog jokes!   

 You too can get your picture taken here at McGinn's PistachioLand USA farm and vineyard.

 And just as I was done posin' by the nut....what do I see but a cute lookin' lassie and a very interesting Green Tour bus!  What's this about eh?  Well, let me tell you....Michelle clued me in...they take you on a Farm Tour in this snazzy bus....and WHAT?  Well behaved and leashed dogs can go too?

 OK....I'm IN!  Let's get this baby rollin'....I want to check out those Pistachio trees and those vineyards where you harvest your own grapes!  Let's Roll!

Tour's done....BTDW  (that means By The Dog Way in case you don't talk bulldog!)  there is one snazzy Gift Shop at McGinn's too!  We went shopping inside (Yes...I was invited in too!) and lo-and-behold....do I spy ICE CREAM?   Yup-pup  I do...so Jill quick got a cup of Pistachio Ice Cream  and I sure did enjoy that sweet cool treat at the end of my tour.  Thanks McGinn's for being so pet....and people friendly!  This was one great stop on our adventure!   

Yup-Pup.....Alamogordo is one cool place to visit!  Sand...Sun....Fun galore!  Take it from me.....Travelin' Jack, Roving Bulldog Reporter...this is one cool place to visit.......and I give it my PAWstigious 5-PAW review!  And we all know it doesn't get better than that!

You too can create your very own special Alamogordo Adventure.  Start by checking it out on their website www.alamogordo.net

Gotta go now...the sand and sun await Mr. Sandman....AKA Travelin' Jack!  See ya soon 'cause I'll be BARK...er BACK!  WOOF!