Dogs

Top 10 Best Dog Friendly Cities in the USA!

Hey internet friends! Its been a while! How are you? How has your summer been going? Been anywhere fun? Basil and I have been super busy working on relaunching this blog (good stuff coming soon) and going on all sorts of wacky adventures.

Todays post we are going to dive into the brain of a Boston terrier. Don’t worry you won’t have the sudden urge to pee on everything and hump every warm body, unless thats your life and then, by all means, do you boo! No, we are going to count down the 10 best dog friendly cities in the United States of America – A Boston terriers opinion!

#10 San Antonio, Texas

Southern hospitality + good food + pet friendly hotels = Happy puppy!

Basil takes The Alamo
Basil takes The Alamo

#9 Bend, Oregon

Outdoor loves dream! Beer for you, 1 billion trees to pee on for your dog!

#8 Charlotte, North Carolina

An up and coming city growing faster than that 8 week old great dane puppy at the pet store.

Dog Friendly Charlotte
Dog Friendly Charlotte

#7 Austin, Texas

Great music, BBQ, and hipsters as far as the eye can see… So, pretty much heaven!

Banger's Sausage House - Austin, Texas
Banger’s Sausage House – Austin, Texas

#6 Leavenworth, Washington

Modern mountain town meets Bavarian village. Grab a brat and a beer and then hit the river!

Dog Friendly Destinations - Leavenworth, WA
Dog Friendly Leavenworth, Washington

#5 Portland, Oregon

I don’t have anything clever to say here. Seriously, just go!

Dog Friendly Portland, Oregon
Dog Friendly Portland, Oregon

#4 Friday Harbor, Washington (San Juan Island)

Feels like its a world away but only a few hours from Seattle or Vancouver. Do some shopping downtown, every shop has dog treats, and relax on the beach.

4 hipsters and 2 dogs on South Beach, Friday Harbor, Washington
4 hipsters and 2 dogs on South Beach, Friday Harbor, Washington

#3 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 

The birthplace of this country and home to some amazing pet friendly hotels!

Dog Friendly Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Dog Friendly Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

#2 Asheville, North Carolina

I can’t say enough good things about this “sleepy” mountain town. Beautiful, fun, and not what you are expecting. If you get the chance to go please do. Do it for us! DO IT!

Dog Friendly Asheville, North Carolina
Dog Friendly Asheville, North Carolina

#1 Seattle, Washington

What can I say? I am totally biased! We love this amazing city and you (and your dog) will too!

The Best Dog Friendly City Ever! Seattle, Washington
The Best Dog Friendly City Ever! Seattle, Washington

 

So, now that we have told you where we like to visit how about you tell us where some of your favorite places are. Where should we travel next?

Like I said up top we are working on a relaunch of Basil’s Travels so keep an eye out for some new amazing content soon. Also, make sure you are following us on Instagram, http://www.instagram.com/basilstravels for daily cuteness and the dog friendly information.

Until next time! Xoxo

Travel well, nap well, live well!
-Abbey & Basil

 

Puppy meet Boston Terrier

Yesterday Basil got to meet and play with our friends new 4 month old mini Aussie puppy. Athena is a tiny, deaf, super fluffy pup who has no fear! She jumped right in to wrestle with Basil and every other larger dog that came her way.

As well as getting to play with Athena, Basil found a few other Boston friends.

All and all it was a successful trip to the dog park. Thanks Farrah for sharing your new fluffiness with us. I think Basil & Athena will be life long friends!

“He’s behind me, isn’t he?!”

Its been a pretty good Blogiversary weekend. Today is time for relaxing and doing some planning for up coming travel plans. I hope your weekend is going well! Until next time!

Travel well, nap well, live well!
-Abbey & Basil

Two Years Already?!

Happy Saturday friends! Today marks the 2 year anniversary of Basil’s Travels! We couldn’t be happier from all the love and support you have given us these last couple years. We have gone on so many adventures and can’t wait for all the ones to come.

Thanks again! Here is to many more! Cheers!

Happy anniversary Basil!

Travel well, nap well, live well!
-Abbey & Basil

Basil Presents Dog Friendly Destinations – San Juan Island, WA!

Hello Travel Tuesday friends! As many of you know we spent last weekend up on San Juan island visiting my grandmother and showing around some friends. It was an amazing time and we are so glad that we were all able to go and enjoy ourselves.

Todays Basil Presents DFD check out where we like to hang out when we are on this incredible island. If you get a chance to explore San Juan island or any of the other San Juan islands, like Shaw or Orcas, let us know. I would love to hear of all your favorite places!

Infographic San Juan Island Dog FriendlyWhere should we travel next? We have a few trips in the works but would love to hear your ideas!

Travel well, nap well, live well!
-Abbey & Basil

 

“I feel sorry for people that don’t have dogs…”

“I hear they have to pick up the food they drop on the floor!”

Club Fetch owner Blaire & 4-legged owner Jackson with Nate & Basil
Club Fetch owner Blaire & 4-legged owner Jackson with Nate & Basil

Happy Throwback Thursday internet friends! These amazingly adorable photos are from a June 2014 event where Club Fetch “took over” The Unknown Brewing Co.

Dogs + Beer = Happy Humans
Dogs + Beer = Happy Humans
Jackson holding his own leash! "I've got this dad!"
Jackson holding his own leash! “I’ve got this dad!”
Club Fetch take over!
Club Fetch take over!

If you are in the Charlotte, North Carolina area and are in need an upscale doggie day club or over night boarding make sure to check out Club FetchBlaire, Julia, Jackson, and the whole staff are truly amazing and we are so happy to able to call them our friends.

Check our Basil’s review of Club Fetch here,to see just how much we love them! You can also find all their information by clicking the Club Fetch banner our right side bar, at http://www.clubfetch.com, or by giving them a call at 980-237-7778, tell them Basil’s Travels sent you! (This is NOT a sponsored post! They are just a small business that became our friends and we really truly believe in them!)

The weekend giveaway is still going. No one has guessed where we are headed this weekend. If you want to leave a guess in the comments below and you guess correctly by 4pm Friday (Pacific time), you will win a special prize for you and your dog!

Here are the clues so far…
1) We have to take a ferry to get there.
2) Its in the USA but you can see another country from its shores.

Hurry leave us those clues!

Travel well, nap well, live well!
-Abbey & Basil

Re-Make it Monday! DIY Dog Bow Ties!

Its Monday and life is crazy! ICYMI Check out this Make it Monday! post for DIY Dog Bow Ties. I’ll be back next Monday with a new MIM so let me know what you want me to make. 


Happy Monday friends! For years Basil, being the 1st class hipster that he is, has been wearing bow ties. And for almost that same amount of time I have been purchasing him those bow ties. Okay so the cost isn’t that much each time, 1 bow tie retails for about $10-$20 but in the long run, that cost really adds up! So after buying Basil’s 20th bow tie (I know, I’m crazy!!) I figured I could make these, so I did!

Below you will find my simple DIY No Sew bow tie tutorial. Hopefully it works for you and your dog can look like a gentleman without breaking the bank! DIY No Sew Bow Tie Tutorial DIY No Sew Bow Tie Tutorial Step 1Step 1: There is a few things you’ll need!

• Large flat work area
• Hot glue gun
• Double sided Velcro
• Sharp scissors for cutting fabric
• Fabric
• Optional: elastic

The great thing about this project is most people have a lot of these craft supplies already in the their home. If you need anything on this list all of it can be found at your local craft store. I highly recommend using double-sided Velcro and it can be a little tricky to find. I ordered mine online(http://www.etsy.com) at a great deal. I also use a standard hot glue gun on the high setting. For my fabric, I found an amazing deal in the remnant fabric bin at Hobby Lobby. It was 1/8th a yard and only .59 cents! Also, I couldn’t pass up the Elvis in the 50’s pattern!
DIY No Sew Bow Tie Tutorial

Step 2: Cut out a square!

The size I picked was about 6 inches by 6 inches. This bow tie is going to be a little large for a medium size (20 lb.) dog but that how I like it. If you want a smaller tie make the square smaller. DIY No Sew Bow Tie Tutorial Step 3

Step 3: Flip square over and glue edges down!

It doesn’t have to be perfect! I glued the “hot dog” sides first and then the “hamburger” sides. You really just want to make clean edges for the front of the bow tie. DIY No Sew Bow Tie Tutorial Step 4

Step 4: Cut a small rectangular piece for the center of the tie!

I cut a 2×6 inch piece of fabric. Make sure the length is 3 times the size of the width. I flipped the fabric over and glued the edges down like I did with the first piece of fabric. DIY No Sew Bow Tie Tutorial Step 5
Step 5: Pinch to make your bow tie shape!

Pinch the large square that you created, from the back, to make the bow tie shape that looks best to you. When I did this it made Elvis’s face a little weird.DIY No Sew Bow Tie Tutorial Step 6

Step 6: Tie the long rectangular piece around the pinched square. Knot in the back!
Make sure the fabric is laying flat on the front. Knot fabric in the back and glue flaps down. This is also a great time to glue down what doesn’t look right!

DIY No Sew Bow Tie Tutorial Step 7DIY No Sew Bow Tie Tutorial Step 7

Step 7: Measure & Attach Velcro!

I grabbed one of Basil’s everyday dog collars and placed the double sided Velcro on top to see how much I needed. For a 1 inch collar I recommend at least 2 inches of Velcro.

I cut the Velcro and glued the strip on to the center, back of the bow tie. Make sure to place the glue on the soft side of the Velcro! This way the Velcro teeth can grab onto the collar as well as the other side of the strip. If you prefer to use elastic you can glue a loop of elastic band in the same spot.DIY No Sew Bow Tie Tutorial Step 8

Step 8: Attach to collar and look awesome!

Wrap the Velcro around the collar in your preferred area. Think about how the collar is going to hang and sit once on your pet.

DIY No Sew Bow Tie Tutorial Look how cute he is! This bow tie is cute, easy, and lightweight. I hope you enjoyed this tutorial. Show me your pictures of your creations!

Tomorrow is Travel Tuesday and the featured city is San Antonio, Texas! So make sure to check back then!

Travel well, nap well, live well!
-Abbey & Basil

Just Keep Swimming… Just Keep Swimming….

Basil, Luna, my sister-in-law Sara, and I headed to the dog park yesterday for some play time and a swim in the lake. Luna (Sara’s black lab mix) is a grade A water dog. The moment she spotted the beach she was off!

Basil isn’t that much of a swimmer. He just likes to dip his paws in the water and play with other dogs on the beach. Recently we got him a life jacket. The thought was that maybe if he felt a little more comfortable in the water he would want to swim with us. Well, it worked! It only took a few times in the water and Basil became swimmer dog.

Check out the this video of Basil first official swim with his life jacket on.

If your dog needs a life jacket this summer we recommend the Aussie Life Jacket. I got it at TJ Maxx for a steal at only $16.99. Brightly colored, handy top handles, and floats like a champ. (Not a sponsored post. Just really happy with the product!)

I can’t wait to hit up the water again and see Basil do some more swimming. So proud of him!

Does your dog love to swim? Let me know!

Travel well, nap well, live well!
-Abbey & Basil

Basil presents Dog Friendly Destinations – Leavenworth, WA!

Dog Friendly Destinations - Leavenworth, WA Happy Travel Tuesday! Have you ever wanted to travel to Bavaria but don’t want to leave the US? Head to Leavenworth, WA. A little bavarian village in the mountains outside Seattle, Washington.  Dog friendly, family friendly, and a serious good time!

Travel well, nap well, live well!
-Abbey & Basil

Basil presents Dog Friendly destinations – Seattle, WA

Its another Travel Tuesday and I know I said I was going to do San Antonio, Texas but I changed my mind. I’m so excited to get back to the beautiful city of Seattle I thought I would do part 1 of probably many Seattle, Washington dog friendly destinations! These are only a few of the great spots in Seattle, it really is an amazingly dog friendly place. I’ll be posting more on other Travel Tuesdays so make sure to check back!Dog Friendly Destinations - Seattle, WA Soon we will be back on the West Coast and be going to a lot of West Coast destinations. Where do you want to see us go?

Travel well, nap well, live well!
-Abbey & Basil

 

Rainy weekend can’t hold us down! 

It was another Boston Terriers of Charlotte meet up but it was also another rainy spring day. We didn’t let that hold us down and joined our friends are the local dog bar! They ran around like crazies and a good dry time was had by all!

 This was one of our last Charlotte meet ups before we head back west. I’m so glad it was a great one!

Today Basil is having a lazy, sleepy Sunday on the sofa. I think yesterday was a little bit too much fun!

Tomorrow I’ll be posting the No Sew Bow Tie DIY tutorial so make sure to check back then!

Travel well, nap well, live well!
-Abbey & Basil

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