For anyone who has had to board their best friend to go on vacation, you know the agony involved. You are packing up, and the best friend senses something fun is about to happen! Best friend starts racing around the house, leaping through the yard excitedly. If you could read his mind he would be thinking "Hurray! We're going somewhere new; we're going somewhere special, somewhere fun, somewhere outside!"
"Where we goin'?"
"Are we there yet?"
Best friend leaps into the vehicle, clambers over the pillows and travel bags, gets to his seat and has a big teethy grin on his face. Best friend can't help but let his tongue hang out in anticipation, being careful not to drool too much.
The vehicle pulls up in front of the kennel of choice, and best friend looks out the window, then over at you, sighs, makes eye contact and basically says without speaking it "I've been duped!"
And so it goes. Into the kennel or vet for boarding, best friend thinks "These are not the outdoor smells I had in mind!" Tucks tail between legs, digs toenails in as you try to drag him across the linoleum to check him into his B&B (Bed and Biscuit) for the week.
As you drive away, you can't help but feel the guilt well-up inside, the whole family is silent in the car. Dad says "Well it IS a long drive, he will be happier here playing with the other dogs than stuck in the car for hours."
But deep down, you know there is nothing more best friend would like than to go with the family, anywhere, even to the drive thru for a milk shake…
So how is that for a sad story? It is one our family has encountered too many times, even to the point of shedding tears and wanting to call off our whole vacation! Then, somewhere somehow I caught a glimpse of a blog article featuring Yoda the Dog (Yoda Heltman) visiting Chippokes Plantation State Park, and Yoda was IN THE CABIN!
You mean dogs are allowed in the cabins at Virginia State Parks, or is it just this one state park, or, was this an exception? Thanks to social media I was able to comment and ask the blogger (who was Nancy Heltman) if dogs are allowed in the cabins. YES! She told me, if you pay a daily fee for them, they are allowed in the cabins.
Jumping for joy, I booked our summer vacation at Bear Creek Lake State Park for that coming June, we had with us two daughters, their two close friends, my niece visiting from Washington State, and our dog. She was the life of the party, she led every hike! She directed the kayaks, letting us know where the turtles were basking in the sun on the logs around the lake. She kept watch from the deck of the cabin, alerting us to any squirrels or dragonflies that would shoot past.
Since then you have met her online, Junie B and she says to you "Paws were meant to get muddy!" In other words, pack up those kibbles, water bowl and leash and bring your best friend along. Not many other state park systems allow us to come along and be with the fam, thank you Virginia State Parks!
"Paws were meant to get muddy!" Junie B.
Choose from35 Virginia State Parksthat are all about Family – Friends and Fido!