Top Ten Reasons to Visit Lodge at Sierra Blanca in Ruidoso...by the Pet Travel Expert Himself!

Let's STEP IT UP and talk about one of my all-time FAVORITE getaways---The Lodge at Sierra Blanca resort in Ruidoso!  So for starters, let's check out our TV segment on the subject.  

 http://kasa.com/2014/09/03/travelin-jack-the-lodge-at-sierra-blanca/

But just to make sure you got ALL 10 REASONS TO VISIT THE LODGE AT SIERRA BLANCA......Here is the actual countdown!

Top 10 Countdown.....REASON #10

"TAKE A LOOK AT THIS PLACE, WOULD'JA?  IT'S GORGEOUS!"

A lovely resort in a beautiful setting.  AND........

It's PET-FRIENDLY!  Check this out!  They have a special Treat for their pet guests.  Now THAT's what I-Travelin' Jack like! 

REASON #9

 And the place is lovely inside and out!  "PAW-SOME DECOR! YES, JUST PAWSOME-AWESOME!"  Inside and out it is pure luxury.  Check out this view from the 2nd floor. 

REASON #8

 And of course their suites are roomy, comfortable and very nicely decorated.  "ONE SWEET SUITE! ONLY THE BEST FOR ME!"

REASON #7

 Plus their public areas are fun, friendly, and relaxing.  Like this Lounge Pub.  "FOOTBALL AND A COLD BEER IN THE LOBBY LOUNGE...NOW THAT'S WHAT I-TRAVELIN' JACK AM BARKING ABOUT!" 

REASON #6

 Why it's just a grrrrrreat place to relax and check out all the good things.  "I HEARD THROUGH THE BARK-VINE THERE ARE SOME SPECIAL OFFERS RIGHT NOW!"  and sure enough it is TRUE!  This brochure shares the deal...and here is a link for YOU to check out the special End-of- Summer Deals at the Lodge at Sierra Blanca.  www.thelodgeatsierrablanca-ruidoso.com

REASON #5

"HOW 'BOUT A FIRESIDE SUNSET CHAT ON THE VERANDA?" Every evening they light a fire in the patio firepit.  A great way to wind down the day...with views of the  mountains to enjoy the cool summer evenings. Aaaaaaahhhhhhhh NICE!

REASON #4

Now this is what I'm barkin' about..."A GRRRRRRRRREAT WAY TO START THE DAY!"

Complimentary hot buffet breakfast is included in your room rate! Which makes for an even greater bargain.  AND you can enjoy your breakfast inside in the dining area or outside on the patio!  I dog-personally will take my tasty chow on the patio where the sun shines down on me! 

REASON #3

And there's some great shopping right at the Lodge at Sierra Blanca.  They have all those must-have travel items that you forgot...or maybe some gorgeous New Mexico jewelry...or why, what about some Lodge logo merchandise.  "HEY...LOOK AT THIS.  I FOUND A COFFEE MUG AND CAP THAT MATCHES MY OUTFIT! MINE!"   

REASON #2

There are lots of activities right at the Lodge!  Like the Links Golf Course right next door...or my pawsonal favorite---an Off-Leash Dog Park directly behind the Lodge!  Now that's what I am barking about!  "WOOF! HEY...PSSST....YOU---BIG DOG OVER THERE----ARE YOU VISITING THE LODGE AT SIERRA BLANCA TOO?"   

REASON #1

"CUZ I SAID SO!"  And after all...I AM the Pet Travel Expert!  And the Lodge at Sierra Blanca in Ruidoso gets my prestigious 5-PAW RANKING!  For many more reasons than these Top Ten Reasons.  So do yourself a favor....TAKE A BREAK....and head over to the Lodge....my pawfect idea of a way to wind down the summer! 

Tiptoe Thru the Lavender Fields Today!

AAAAHHHH.....smell that sweet lavender fragrance wafting through the air? I DO!  Because it is Lavender Season here in New Mexico.  So I'm off to explore the lavender fields of my dreams. And perhaps I'll paw a verse about it too!  From a pup's perspective of course!

LAVENDER FIELDS. 

By Travelin’ Jack, New Mexico’s Pet Laureate



Today I spied a Lavender Field

Along the Rio Grande

I thought to myself “must check this out”

To see if it’s really so grand!



I wandered amidst the Lavender bushes

So tall, so stately, so Purple.

I sniffed and tasted and pawed a bit

Why I even made up some Lavender wishes!



This lovely Lavender so tender to touch

A pup can hardly resist

I’ve sniffed a dog-zillion Lavender sniffs

Now I’m sprinkled in Lavender dust.



Some folks eat it, some folks smell it,

Some folks plant it and watch it grow.

But from a pup’s perspective the Lavender bush is created

To ponder life as it does merrily go!


(This verse was created for Lavender Fest, 2013)  Photos by the magnificent photographer Daryl Custer.


A couple of tips for the Lavender Lusting Wanderer.

There are many fields around the state where lavender is grown and open for public visits.  Many allow the dog too!  Make sure and call ahead to verify if Fido is welcome in the lavender fields.

Travelin' Jack's Pet Tip of the Week.  When you travel in the hot summer weather always make sure to take plenty of water for a thirsty pup.  We carry a gallon of water and a bowl in our car all the time.  That way we don't worry about whether there is water available at our stopping points.

You are welcome!  And have a LAVENDER kinda week!

DOGGY HUGS AND SLURPY KISSES!    

   

 



101 Things to Do In Silver City!

OK.....you all know this Travelin' Dog loves a Challenge.  And when I heard through the (very reputable) bark-vine that Silver City was talkin' up a storm about ALL the things you can do there.....like "101 Things To Do In Silver City" I thought it was high time to put it to the Travelin' Jack test!  

So when I heard Jill say "Let's Hit The Road Jack".....I was ready to go!

We headed to Silver City.....a 5 hour ride, and enroute we ran into a summer storm.......

we drove through the clouds and the rain and back into the sunshine....

 where a rainbow welcomed us on the other side of the storn.  I'm guessing that means the pot at the end of the rainbow will be filled with SILVER, right?  (HA!  Another one of my fantastically hilarious bulldog jokes....get it?  Pot-o-gold/silver....Silver City!  I am just so DOGGONE clever)
But I doggress....back to the story...and to Silver City.

 Just as dusk settled in, we pulled into our home-away-from-home, the pet-friendly Bear Mountain Lodge! Now you tell me....is that not an amazing sight to behold after a long ride?  Can't wait to check it out in Travelin' Jack style....but right now, think I'll just settle in for a comfy night of rest. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ........................................

  AH....morning time at Bear Mountain Lodge!  Now is this grand or what?  YUP...you can bark that again!  But I'm gonna stop right here on my little porch and enjoy a cup o' joe!  Know what would go really really good with that?

 Yup....you guessed it. Dog biscuit treats JUST for me.  SEE.....no dog doubt about it....this is ONE pet friendly Lodge!  Thanks BEAR MOUNTAIN LODGE!  This is the PAWfect way to start the day.  But they don't just cater to the dogs....they take care of the people guests in a doggone grand way too.

 We met up over breakfast on their veranda (where I can go too!), with Mr. George of the Silver City Arts & Cultural District....our man-about-town to see if in fact there are 101 THINGS TO DO IN SILVER CITY!  Wer'e puttin' Mr. George to the Travelin' Jack test!  So here we go.  I've got this dandy card

and I've been highligting the things I want to check out!  So we've got a rockin' head start with #s 24 Eat New Mexican food.  That tasty breakfast had green chile scrambled eggs.....double green yum! 

And #45 Stay at a lodge or B&B. We're doing both at Bear Mountain Lodge.

But now it's time to check out Silver City...and see how many more we can discover along the way!  Ready?  Let's go!

   

 

 #30  Buy Fresh at the Farmers' Market!   A dog-friendly open air Farmers' Market....now THAT is pretty doggone cool!  I see other dogs here too, cruisin' the market.  And there's live music.......

 

Tasty fresh produce.....hand made baskets and wares.....

 and I even got to visit with lots of friendly Silver City folks!   Oh and that would be #20 Chat with a local! A great little market and dog-dandy way to start the day...but let's #16 Stroll historic old town. and # 17 Go Gallery Hopping.  Now THIS is what I call a well marked Art Tour.....and I'm not even the one doin' the marking (if you get my drift! HA! )  Think I'll stroll down this road to see if there are any Pet Friendly Art Galleries!And that would be YES!  We dog-scovered "Space-A studio Art Gallery"...and they welcomed me, Travelin' Jack right in!  LOTS of cool stuff......much of it is repurposed articles.  (although I would call it Re-PUPosed!  Lots of cool stuff to choose from...somethin' here for everyone!

I like this one.  Can you wrap it up for me please?  With a slurpy kiss on top?  OKAY....got it!  And I think that takes care of #60 SHOP and  we can add # 47  Buy Art. 

And let me just bark this.  There's LOTS of art and cool galleries in Silver City......and some of them give you major Vibrations like Vibrations Gallery, which has some art, some music and some framing....BUT the very bestest thing at Vibrations is the new friends I made there 
                                                like Miss Rebecca (hint to all you traveling dogs--she gives dog treats)....but even better is little Teddy...see him behind me.  He is the BEST Dog-Host!  He shared his Mom and his treats with me.  WOOF! to you Teddy.....keep up that Facebooking too!  I LUV that you are a fellow dog-FaceBooker!  We'll meet up again I dog-guraantee!

But you know...those biscuits can make a pooch thirsty....and the shopping along the historic downtown, so when I got invited into the local YARN shop for a cold drink of water.....I didn't pass it up!     Instead, I dipped right into that bucket amidst the color and the yarn and all these sheepy things in this shop....and you'll never believe the name of the store either.  It's YADA YADA YARN.....cool name for a cool place and a cool drink of water.  The owner is TOP PAW in my dog-pinion!  You gotta check this place out.

But now that my thirst is quenched.......I'm continuing my quest for that bad boy that is spose'd to be hidin' around these here parts.....he goes by the name "THE KID"....at least that's what all the history books say!  So we're heading through downtown....and what do I see but another shop I just GOTTA check out.    
   It's the THREE DOG COFFEE HOUSE! And that would bring me to #32.....Linger at a coffee house.........so I did just that!  And wouldn't ya know it....even THEY had a bowl of water waiting for me (and for other pooches too).  This is DOG-DEFINITELY a pet-friendly little town!  I'm LUVin' my visit to Silver City.  But gotta keep tracking...in search of that "KID" named Billy!  And as we meandered through Silver City, we turn a corner and WHOA!  What is this?

 One colorful wall mural...and there we have another one on the list...#5 Enjoy over 40 murals.  Well I found one anyway! 

And as I am hiking through Silver City #22 HIKE LIKE CRAZY........I take a bit of a break to #99 Slow Down.  Maybe I should #8 Pan for Gold. This is a grrrrreat spot to slow down....or maybe I can catch a bird in these trees.  There's one!  Oh and that's #18 Spot 339 species of birds.  One down....338 to go!  Back on the trail, I also happened to spy a sign that let's me know that I am near.......   

 

 the DOG PARK!  And that would be #12 Go to the Dog Park! Thanks Silver City for having a dog park dedicated for all us pooches....locals and visitors! I'm on a roll now....we're really hitting a lot of the great things to do on the 101 Things to Do in Silver City! Wonder what else I can find?    How about the beginning of the Continental Divide Trail!  Now THAT is one grand discovery if I do bark so myself!  And that would be #4 Hike the Continental Divide.  WoW!  Am I good or what?  They don't call me Travelin' Jack for nuttin.,.ya know!   But guess where this sign is located?  #46  Relax at the Big Ditch....which is right by # 101.  I'm still looking for the kid...maybe here at #101 I can Get the Details at the Silver City Visitor Center. I'll just step inside here to get the insider's scoop.  The good folks there know ALL the facts about Silver City......and just as I enter the air conditioned AND pet-friendly visitor center........WOAH!
 THERE HE IS!  The Kid himself!  I found him!  And I've got him tied up on the end of my leash...he ain't gettin' away---this bad boy of the Old West! My job is done here...but I did hear that the Kid's Cabin # 91 Check out "Billy's" Cabin is around here somewhere close....I'm on the search again......

 And here it is!  Think I'll put on my sheriff outfit....just in case I see some wild west action out here by that kid's cabin!
And just in case yer thinkin' about followin' in the footsteps of that famous BAD BOY....I'd recommend NOT! You'll have to deal with the NEW Sheriff in town, ya hear?

OK.......time's a-flittin'...and my tummy's a-growlin' so I'm gonna kill this outfit and look for a cool place to take a break....or #61 PICNIC at Little Walnut. 

 This is a great spot...to eat.....to #100 Slow Down Some more....and maybe even #90 Witness Wildlife.  Gotta be some animals around here somewhere....and I'm feelin' more and more like I'm a......  
#27 ROCKHOUND!  But leave me alone.....I'm on the search for #21 Find Fossils!

Wheweeeeee....this has been one busy day!  I'm whooped for sure!  It's time to head back to my very fine home-away-from-home, Bear Mountain Lodge  #19 where I can Enjoy wonderful hotels......

Here we are BACK at the stately and LUV-a-lee Bear Mountain Lodge!

I'm callin' it quits for now.  I've found most all the 101 Things to Do In Silver City!  But not all.....so I'll be back very soon with MORE adventures down Silver City way! In the meantime.....tune in to 2KASAStyle - TV on Wednesday.  I'll be tellin' you even more about just how pet-friendly (AND PEOPLE FRIENDLY TOO) Silver City is!  They love visitors!  For now....I'm out!

DOGGY HUGS AND SLURPY KISSES!

  
 For more info on Silver City
www.silvercity101.com
For info on Bear Mountain Lodge
www.bearmountainlodge.com

Feelin' the summer heat? Travelin' Jack's TIPS on a COOL mountain getaway-RUIDOSO NM

Back again to one of our favorite resorts in New Mexico... That would of dog-course be the Lodge at Sierra Blanca in Ruidoso!  But this time we're here for a BUSINESS trip.  Of course that doesn't stop me-Travelin' Jack (New Mexico's pre-eminent Pet Travel Reporter) from doing his job!  Which is checking out new finds and great things to do in and about Ruidoso!

First off, the fact that the resort welcomes pets, not just verbally but with a doggy treat bag upon arrival is NOT a bad thing at all!

Secondly, the additional fact that there are big roomy suites that allow a pet to relax in comfort at the end of a long day is always nice too. Rooms and suites include in-room refrigerators (some have full kitchens too), so that I-Jack can keep my favorite treats cold and fresh for a tasty in-room dinner.

Third, the Lobby Lounge is so relaxing for both people and pets. You can sit in the comfortable chairs in this beautiful setting.....gigantic stone fireplace, in-Lobby bar, a gift shop and boutique options with everything from logo sportswear to beautiful locally hand-crafted fine jewelry. Why you might even meet up with a TV celebrity here... Like I did on this trip.  Michael, the Host of the new TV show NEW MEXICO TRUE TV was shooting a segment and we met up in the lobby and discussed LIFE! And while "TRYING" to relax in the Lobby Lounge.....I got caught by the PUParazzi!  Look at those phones snapping pics of me!  Ahhhh....the life of a celebrity dog!  It's RUFF for sure!   Next on the list of favorites here......the outdoors setting. The Lodge at Sierra Blanca has a large grassy campus that is great for pets to roam around in.....and the lodge borders the Links Golf Course.

One of our favorite pet-friendly amenities is the fenced off-leash dog park directly behind the lodge. So Jack....and all the other Fidos, both visiting and local, can stretch their running and play legs in the comfort of either a Large Dog park or small dog park, both right there within walking distance from your room at the Lodge. LUV this feature. Thanks to both the town of Ruidoso and the Lodge for welcoming traveling dogs with this great add-on feature.
But now it's time for some adventure trekking!  I heard through the dog-vine that there was LOTS of fun things to do at Grindstone Park....so off we headed to check it out!  And find action we did!
DISC GOLF!  That's right...I met up with some of the local guys and they gave me some top-dog tips on how to throw a disc and play the course.  THANKS guys!  You're the best!
This is the basket that you try to get the disc in.....BTW a disc is a special type of frisbee, for those of you not in the dog-know!  WHAT? You expect ME....a dog to throw a disc?  Heck no!  I'll leave that fun to the humans.....I'm gonna explore the park....and have a dog's day in paradise!  Now THIS is what I call FUN!
And that's not ALL there is to do here either!  There is a geo-caching site right at the park.  Here I am with Mr. Steve.....we are searching for that special. treasure box....and we found it!  Yup-Pup.  This is FUN for everyone....people and pups.  This is a great little side trip while in Ruidoso.  A trip to the park.....now that's what I'm barkin' about!  And of course we ended our day at the park  with a  PICNIC  of dog-course!    And with friends made along the way...even this cute little wooden carved bear!  Seems that  Ruidoso is known for its chain saw carved bears.....they come in ALL sizes and shapes.  Ain't he a cutie!?!

Yep,I love my trips to Ruidoso and the Lodge at Sierra Blanca.  There so much to see and do....for everyone, whether you're a PuP or a People!  They get my prestigious 5-PAWS rating! For more info on the Lodge or Ruidoso check out these links.
www.thelodgeatsierrablanca.com
www.discoverruidoso.com

If you are ready to get outta the heat....and into the cool  mountains.....I dog-recommend RUIDOSO! There you have it...my latest travel report.  But never fear...there's more to come so keep tracking behind this travvelin' dawg....I'll keep you informed!

DOGGY HUGS AND SLURPY KISSES!