Since I travel mostly on the West Coast I was especially interested in the regional guide, "A Selective Guide to the West Coast's Bed and Breakfasts, Inns, Hotels, and Resorts that Welcome You and Your Dog", which covers California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. Even if I weren't planning a trip to Washington and British Columbia with my Golden Retriever Genevieve I would derive great pleasure from reading the detailed and inviting descriptions of some intriguing and unusual properties. Unlike many other travel guides which summarize each residence in a paragraph or two this book provide two or three page descriptions including often an artists rendition of the dwelling. The writing style is exquisite, elegant, and well-informed as to period and style of the residence.

A resident of Santa Barbara, I decided to check out some of the dwellings for myself. The first, Casa Del Mar Inn at 18 Bath Street, was one I had previously visited, but I noticed that it had been somewhat remodeled and redecorated over the last few years. The ownership has changed since the book was written, but dogs are still welcome, with a $10 charge per dog. This intimate Mediterranean Inn, built in 1929, was formerly a series of beach bungalows, and is situated within a block of Santa Barbara's West Beach and Harbor. It offers quite a range of distinctive rooms as well as suites, some with kitchens and fireplace, each with a tasteful yet conservative decor. I found the book's description very accurately portrayed the property. Casa Del Mar has a very attractive web site, designed by the new owners, which states rates and availability of accommodation and includes a number of photographs which will give you a flavor of the ambiance.

The second one I visited was the Mary May Inn at 111 West Valerio Street. A resident of East Valerio, I had driven past this Bed & Breakfast thousands of times, yet did not know that it allowed pets, nor had I ever set foot inside. I arrived at a time when the owner Kathleen was about to leave, so I didn't get to inspect any of the guest rooms. The following quotation from page 116 should give the reader not only a flavor of the authors' writing but also a feel for this unique old abode: "The decor surpasses that of most traditional inns, with its highly selective group of furnishings, collectibles, and decorative items. The dining room is just one example of this. The 16-foot, coral pink, silk-covered ceilings are accentuated by a crown of beveled mirrors and a grand crystal chandelier. Italienate high-back chairs, covered with tapestry fabric, encircle the dining room table. We then proceeded into the equally impressive teal-toned living room, filled with elaborately carved wing chairs and sofas covered in lavish fabrics... (flagrant tail wagging is strictly forbidden in here.) ... Our favorite spot, though, continues to be the sun porch, where a pair of zebra finches chirp merrily from their cage set alongside the oversized sideboard." The pair of zebra finches was indeed there, and everything else was exactly as described. I found it hard to imagine that a "small house dog" would be welcome in such an elegantly appointed residence, so was pleasantly surprised when she answered that a well-behaved Golden Retriever would be considered.

The third listing that I inquired about on the phone, which sounded too good to be true, the "Ocean View House" was a disappointment since the very friendly owner reported that she had recently retired from the business of renting out rooms. I therefore encourage readers of this and any guide book in print to personally call, e-mail, or visit the web site when included in the listing, to verify rates and policies, since these do change over time. Recently I visited the web site of a wonderful cottage called the "Boathouse" in Victoria, British Columbia that I had read about in this guide. I was surprised to find that the lodging was described as "Inappropriate for Pets". I then sent an e-mail to the hosts explaining that I had read about it in "On the Road Again with Man's Best Friend" and wished to book a stay with my Golden Retriever. The proprietors replied that they had recently changed their policy regarding accepting pets, due to an unhappy experience with a water-loving black lab. I mention this only because it is extremely important to write, call, or e-mail well in advance of your intended travel period, and to state clearly that you will be traveling with a pet.

This book, as do also the other regional guides, reminds me somewhat of one of my very favorite travel books, "The New Zealand Bed & Breakfast Book", in its highly personal characterizations of each place visited. I have no difficulty in visualizing myself and my dog in the setting as described. I should however mention that the listings are by no means complete for a particular town, nor do they include many smaller, off-the-beaten track locations. For a broader array of accommodations and locations please refer to "On The Road Again with Man's Best Friend: A Detailed Guide to Over 16,000 Accommodations that Welcome Pets." This book contains capsule descriptions, phones, addresses, and URLs, and an excellent introductory section and will be reviewed in detail in a subsequent article. Other readers have also given this series of books excellent reviews. I would strongly recommend adding one or more of these guides to your travel reference library, even if you do not own a pet.

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