I’m heading out to Las Vegas for a few days in the middle of this month, moving on to Seattle afterwards. It would seem that a certain Border Collie has not made enough friends in his 15 weeks on the planet to find a congenial berth in the Boston area, so the beast is going to get an introduction to desert life.
Some questions for readers…
- good dog-friendly hotel in Las Vegas? I don’t want something on the Strip due to its concrete wasteland aspect and the fact that it can take 15 minutes to get from one’s room to the outdoors (one option: Lake Las Vegas)
- good activities to do with a dog? Dog parks? Trails?
- good options for pet-sitting in Vegas in case I want to park Ollie the Collie for a few hours?
- and all of the same questions about Seattle.
Thanks in advance.
In Seattle, where dog parks abound, all you need to visit is the Magnuson Park off leash area: http://www.yelp.com/biz/warren-g-magnuson-park-off-leash-area-seattle
Go to http://www.petsit.com and try the Locate a Pet Sitter function. There are dozens of PSI members in Las Vegas who will be able to help you with pet care for your “beast” while you are there. The Web site also has great information for pet owners about finding the right pet sitter for your pet. Check it out and let me know if you have additional questions, etc.
Ellen Price
I’ve asked my friend Shelly who lives in Vegas with a dog to give you her advice. One thing I know is that the ground gets so hot that she puts shoes on her dog.
Note that Phil wrote that he’s going to Vegas this month, not during summer. The highs will likely be in the 70s and 80s, so doubtful if he’ll need doggie shoes.
About 15-20 miles from the Strip is the Red Rock Canyon. $7 admission, open until 4:30 p.m., has a 13 mile driving circle with multiple stops for hiking trails and the like. The nearest significant park to the Strip is Sunset Park, located to the east off Sunset. ‘Fraid I don’t know the dog policies/specific dog activities at either.
Also, even when not on the Strip, you won’t find much grass or similar ground level greenery around hotels. Due to the very long drought (which has them digging a lower level tunnel for Lake Mead water since the level’s dropped so much), there’s been a major push for desert landscaping as opposed to grass.
Lake Las Vegas would be a great place to stay. Leows Hotels are dog-friendly. On the other end of the spectrum, La Quinta is dog friendly, too. There is also a campground near Ed Rock. It is illegal to leave your dog in the car in Vegas & people will call the cops on you. After a hike I left my dog in the car (sun was down) windows down & she was not panting, so I could get her a frozen yogurt. When I came outside w/ it a woman was standing by my car calling the police. There are lots of parks and dog parks all over Vegas, and great hiking at Red Rock. Yes, my dog does wear shoes due to the heat & dryness.
the hampton inn in henderson allows dogs, at least it did as of 3 months ago. Their webpage still lists pets allowed source I have stayed at this hotel and it is ok, and the staff are nice. I hate the strip so usually stay here or the doubletreee, which doesn’t take dogs. If you are flying yourself into here instead of commercial, unless you are flying Janet Airlines, you’re probably going to land at KVGT which is over 20 miles away from here. You should probably rent a car.
Shelly tried to leave her advice but couldn’t make this page work from her cell phone. She might try again later from a PC.
Depending on how soon the trip is, it might be useful to point out that puppies younger than four months aren’t allowed in off-leash areas of Seattle. Otherwise, just about any public park is dog friendly (beaches excepted). Cowen Park and the Washington Park Arboretum are good woodsy places to go with a dog.
Is this collie with all of 15 weeks shuffling along the mortal coil miraculously potty trained at this point or is Ollie wearing Depends?
The Marriott’s Residence Inns and TownePlace Suites in and around Las Vegas allows pets in the guest rooms (for a reasonable additional fee). The Residence Inn I’ve stayed at in Las Vegas was kept up well, had a good and free breakfast buffet and all the guest rooms (all suites) had exterior doors to a nicely landscaped exterior with lots of green space (for a hotel) located close (but not on) the Strip.
Steve: Ollie is sweet and calm when riding in a car or plane on a person’s lap. The beast is pretty well house-trained, as long as what you want is a substantial redecoration of your house with shredded paper and chewed-up shoelaces. I still have “strangle Ollie with bare hands” on my calendar for three weeks from now.
Everyone else: Thanks for the Vegas suggestions. What about a Seattle suggestion for a hotel near a good park/quiet neighborhood?
I can second the recommendation of Red Rock; 20 minutes west of town, many canyons to hike, beautiful in October.
If you want a good kennel for a day, try Siena Animal Hospital, on the west side, S Grand Canyon Drive, not too far out of the way between Red Rock and the strip.
Stay near the UW. Specifically, near the UW/Ravenna/Wedgewood/View Ridge/Sand Point neighborhoods.
Magnusson Park is near View Ridge/Sand Point and about a ~5 minute drive from the Silver Cloud Inn: http://carg.atmos.washington.edu/sys/Hotel.html
Be sure to check out the UW campus. Also be sure to check if there will be a UW football game when you’re there. If so, don’t stay anywhere near the area.
and don’t forget to check out the Museum of Flight.
You might want to have one of these while in Las Vegas.
http://www.foundfootagefest.com/videos/palmer-electric-vehicles
This promotional video for a line of three-wheel electric vehicles somehow managed to cast everyone’s eccentric grandpa. You know, the one who takes his dog to Las Vegas and tells long, boring stories that don’t really go anywhere.