If you plan on staying in hotels, motels, or Bed and Breakfasts be sure to take along the pet's bed, toys, water and food bowls, vaccination certificates, and for a dog, certificates of completion for any obedience training you have done. It's also helpful to take along a dog kennel, such as the kind used for airline travel, if you have one. Also, be armed with one of the several excellent books available on lodging that welcomes pets. I will be reviewing all of these books in subsequent issues of AllOurPets.com. New Review: "On the Road Again with Man's Best Friend" by Dawn and Robert Habgood.

It's always best to make reservations in advance when traveling with a pet, especially in popular recreational areas, but some of my best discoveries have been made when I had no reservations. I travel frequently to Mammoth Lakes, CA to ski in the winter and to hike with my dog in the summer. Two summers ago I had found midweek accommodations at the Executive Inn, a delightful dog-friendly lodge, but they were fully booked for the weekend. After exhausting every listing that allowed pets, the local visitors' bureau told me about a very new small Bed & Breakfast called Katherine's House. Katherine had just gotten back into town and happened to have a room available for the weekend, which turned out to be the master bedroom with a lovely balcony of its own.

Katherine has very tastefully restored a hundred-year-old farmhouse in the old part of Mammoth. She has only two guest rooms available but her privileged guests feel at home throughout the house and grounds. Her home is filled with marvelous antiques and photographs of all her current and past dogs, cats, and horses. She is a very interesting and sympathetic women whom I enjoyed getting to know. She cooks wonderful breakfasts for her guests and brings tea or coffee accompanied by special dog treats to your room before breakfast. I had planned to stay only two days, but ended up staying five.

During this stay Genevieve and I took daily long hikes driving as far as Tioga Pass, the East entrance into Yosemite, for one of our most memorable hikes. While dogs are not allowed on any hiking trails in Yosemite Park itself, one of the most scenic and relatively easy hikes I have ever taken is the Saddlebag Lake loop which commences just before the Tioga Pass entry to the park. For a dog who loves to swim in lakes like mine does, this is Paradise. I recommend taking the boat at least one way, since the walk around Saddlebag Lake itself is a bit long and tedious. The rest of the hike, passing five or six other lakes, is infinitely more rewarding.

When I don't stay at Katherine's House I am always welcome with Genevieve at the Wildwood Econo Lodge in Mammoth Lakes. A wonderful Indian couple owns and runs this lodge, as well as the Executive Inn. When people arrive with a dog they are greeted with "That is no problem. We love dogs". They have a large outdoor Jacuzzi and heated pool, complimentary continental breakfast, and comfortable and reasonably priced rooms. They have recently built and opened a Holiday Inn in Mammoth Lakes as well. All of these are located on the main route through Mammoth, highway 203.