Shortly after Nick and I received our COVID-19 vaccines, we were in need of a quick getaway (this was in 2021). At the time, we still lived in Michigan and decided to do a 2-night trip to Chicago, which is an easy drive from Ann Arbor. Leia had just finished an intensive obedience training program, and it was her first time visiting a large city (look at her now, a Seattle city dogo and travel guru). We had a blast, which was partially because of our careful planning to ensure that she felt comfortable during her first “big city” experience. Below summarizes our tips, tricks and recommendations for successfully navigating a Chicago trip with your dog.
Your best bet is to drive into Chicago, as the Amtrak and airlines are not yet pet friendly. (Can we change that?) Once there, we used our car to drive from Chicago to Evanston and Montrose Beach. Otherwise, we walked to places that were close to our hotel. Because it was the summer, i.e., very hot, we also utilized Uber-pet and had a terrific experience with it (now that we live in a large city, we use Uber-pet fairly frequently).
**Note, this guide is mostly applicable to dog owners, i.e., there are better Chicago guides out there if you’re not bringing Fido.
LODGING
Claridge House,~$165+/night | Review: 4.4
Airbnbs are harder to come by in Chicago. We wanted an affordable option in a quieter location that was easily accessible to the restaurant scene. With that being said, there are many terrific dog friendly boutique hotels in Chicago. We opted for the Claridge House, a 4-star, lower-priced hotel in the Gold Coast. I would recommend the hotel for those looking for an ideal combination of affordability, location, dog-friendliness, and cleanliness. Note that the rooms are small and if you want to spend more, there are better options.
So, if you have a larger budget, I’d check out the Kimpton Hotel Monaco, which averages ~$350/night (prices dip in “off season”). The Staypineapple, An Iconic Hotelin the Loop is also a great option and average ~$325/night. Note that both of these options are in the heart of the city.
THINGS TO DO
Our time was short in Chicago, so we had three major day-time, Leia friendly activities.
We typically stay away from dog parks for many reasons. Nonetheless, this spot on Lake Michigan offers tons of space for dogs to swim, and if you get there at an off hour, it is nice. While it was packed when we were there, Leia, my little fish, retrieved her ball out of the lake for what felt like hours, and it was the purest definition of happiness.
During this trip, we had three criteria for picking a dine-in restaurant: 1) quality of food, 2) ability to make a reservation, 3) ability for the patio to give Leia a comfortable space, i.e., if we’re going to sit on a sidewalk corner, next to a busy road, then it might not be a good option for us. The below options satisfied our above criteria:
With it’s own pup menu, how could this place not make our final selection? The favorites here include Coccoli, Squid Ink Linguine, and Gnocchi. I recommend all of these dishes, though felt the Gnocchi impressed me more than the Linguine. A solid Italian-American spot, with a fun atmosphere. AD’s Review: 4.4.
Nico Osteria is located in the Thomson Hotel, but the restaurant is an easy walk from the Gold Coast. The Tuna Squid Inc Pasta was a fantastic dish that pleasantly surprised us (I would go again specifically for this dish). Leia was constantly replenished with cold water and lots of compliments. AD’s Review: 4.45
Brining dog to a city can be overwhelming and, depending on the dog, requires a bit more planning. If you think that bringing your dog is more trouble for both you and your dog, that’s fair. Leia is an interesting medium: she loves being with us, enjoys going out in public, has conquered almost all of her reactivity issues, and so as long as it is feasible, we bring her. She also, however, has a wild side, and thus we give her avenues to activate her high-drive tendencies when we’re traveling, e.g., intense play at the lake! We are also over-the-top millennial dog owners, and sharing experiences with her is fun for us. Below lists my TOP pieces of advice if you do bring your dog on a city vacation with you:
Give your dog a job to do: When we’re in large crowds and cities, because there’s SO much going on, focusing on us is the “easiest” thing for Leia to naturally do, BUT, we always give her a simple “job to do,” i.e., heal, sit, stay, place, etc.
Figure out the bathroom situation: We had a horrific time getting Leia to go “potty.” It is difficult to find luscious grass in Chicago. Look for parks that have grass ahead of time. If you have a male, you might not have a problem with it, but Princess Leia is far too proper to pee on the sidewalk .
Be careful of the heat: It was HOT when we went. We used Uber-pet to go short distances because it was not worth the risk. We also now use shoes if pavement gets hot.
RECALL: Make sure that your dog has recall before going into high trigger environments, such as a dog beach. Recall is so important in ensuring the safety of everyone (your dog, other dogs, people, etc.).
Asheville, NC, located ~250 miles west of Raleigh in the Blue Ridge Mountains, is one of our favorite US vacation destinations. The city, which has a population of 91,560, offers easy access to outdoor activities, has the most breweries per-capita in the US, and houses wonderful art galleries and delicious, yet diverse, restaurants. Perhaps the city’s best quality is its openness to letting well-behaved dogs accompany their owners on just about any adventure.
If you are traveling to Asheville without a fluffy companion, this guide will still serve you well. There are a handful of restaurants not mentioned, simply because they’re not as dog friendly, that are worth checking out. Nevertheless, the below reviewed restaurants are some of the best in the city (Admiral is arguably the best in the city).
**We highly recommend taking your dog to these spots only if they are well-behaved in public.
Asheville has a very small regional airport, so flying into Charlotte International and driving the 2-hours to Asheville is the best option. When we lived in Michigan, we would drive from Ann Arbor, ~10 hours, to bring Leia. If you’re in the south, or are bringing your pup, I’d recommend road tripping there. Having a car to get you to the mountains is a must. If you plan to stay within Asheville proper, Ubers are easy to come by.
We typically spend ~5 days-1 week in Asheville when we visit. You can spend less time, but with a few dedicated “outdoorsy days,” two+ days of exploring the art galleries, museums and downtown space, and a day of relaxing, we’ve found this to be the ample amount of time. Account for all of the eating and brewery hopping that SHOULD happen in-between.
LODGING
Quality lodging options in Asheville are abundant and tend to be reasonably priced when compared to other desirable travel destinations (maybe the rest of the world hasn’t caught onto how cool Asheville is). We’ve used Airbnb for all of our Asheville trips, but there are also numerous hotels that are worthwhile, i.e., offer a unique experience that justify a higher cost for a smaller space.
My recommendation is to create an itinerary that blends outdoorsy activities with city activities (the city part is THAT worthwhile). Thus, I recommend selecting lodging that is either walkable, or a short drive or Uber ride (~10-15 minutes tops) away from downtown. We’ve stayed in West Asheville, which has given us a yard and larger space, yet is walkable to great eateries and a quick drive to downtown. Personally, I would only stay further out if the lodging has a special mountain escape “feel” to it. Otherwise, the convenience of being close to everything wins.
For airbnbs, I’d recommend this Charming 1-Bedroom, 1 bath guesthouse in West Asheville. While it’s not dog friendly, it’s walking distance to many wonderful neighborhood eateries and shops. Pricing is ~$139/night. Another 1-bedroom, 1 bath option is this home in Historic Montford, which is walkable to Downtown Asheville and the river district. The space is thoughtfully decorated and pet friendly. Pricing is ~$200-$350/night, depending on the season. Finally, for a larger option, I’d book this 3-bedroom, 3 baths“Privacy by The City House,” which offers a country-side feel right in the city. Pups are allowed and it’s priced at ~$335/night.
Simply a must for everyone. There are two locations, one is on Haywood Road in West Asheville, and the other is on Biltmore Ave. Biscuit Head is the type of place that reminds you of what you’re missing out on if you don’t live in the South. These are real biscuits. Patio seating is good, but can fill up fast, so we always try to arrive early. There’s also ample indoor seating for those without furballs (dogs). AD’s Review: 4.75.
Sunny Point Café is a family-owned, comfort food stable in Asheville. The joint uses the freshest ingredients, quite literally… their garden is right behind the restaurant, and has an expansive, fun (dog-friendly) patio space. I usually get the Huevos Rancheros and Nick usually opts for one of their Fried Chicken dishes; however, you cannot go wrong here. Also arrive early before lines form. AD’s Review: 4.5.
We visit Asheville in the summer, when it is unbearably hot, which means that we take precaution to ensure that Leia doesn’t overheat. We usually stick to shorter, less intensive hikes and begin early in the morning to avoid peak temperatures (and crowds). Below are some of our favorites. If you go during cooler months, or without a heat sensitive, furry dog, then your options and ability to take on more will be greater.
The Mountains to Sea Trail: Cavern Gap to Haw Creek Valley is a 5.7M, moderate hike that features unique tree patterns and beautiful views. The Daniel Ridge Looptrek is a 5.1M, moderate loop that is fairly easy, not crowded and features a beautiful waterfall and stream. The Art Loeb Little Sam, and Flat Laurel Creek Trail is similar in landscape to Daniel Ridge and is also fairly easy at 5M, and a moderate AllTrails rating. It also has a nice swimming stream.
Looking Glass Rock Trailis an exceptional, not to be missed 6.2M, moderate hike. It’s elevation gain is slightly more than the other hikes listed and the views are superb. The trail gets crowded, so go early. And, Looking Glass Falls is a simple, 0.2M, walk-in, walk-out epic waterfall. We like bringing Leia here to swim early in the morning. We wade downstream, where it’s less crowded.
Be sure to look into a white water rafting trip with French Board Adventures, which offers half and full-day options, starting at $65 per person and a slew of other outdoor activities.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
Not listed below is the requirement that you spend time wandering around downtown. There are tons of cool shops, interesting record and book stores, etc. Around DSSOLVR (a brewery listed under my DRINK section), there are plenty of “fun” shop options.
Checkout the North Carolina Arb, ~20 minutes outside of downtown, on your way to or from the Sierra Nevada Brewery, which is also listed under my DRINK section. The Arb is located within the Bent Creek Experimental Forest on 434 acres. It houses incredible botanical gardens, statues, and peaceful walking trails. It is also dog friendly.
Checkout RAD before or after lunch at 12 Bones Smokehouse, which is listed below. Asheville’s RAD is home to 185+ artists with studios and art galleries in 25 different buildings along the French Broad River. Most, if not all, of the studios and galleries will let furry companions in; however, these places can be costly if your dog is not well-behaved (i.e., don’t let your dog break something).
We had a blast touring the Biltmore’s expansive grounds with Leia over the course of ~4 hours, which made the entry fee well worth it (note, dogs are not allowed inside, but can tour the entire outside). My hunch is that touring the inside is totally worthwhile. The Biltmore Estate, built by George Vanderbilt, sits on 8,000 acres. It has incredible gardens, a greenhouse, historic village, winery, etc., and is stunningly maintained. There are also drinking fountains specifically for the dogs on hot days.
12 Bones Smokehouse is so good. Seriously, if I was doing a food tour of my favorite spots in the US, particularly bbq spots, this place would make the cut. Go to the RAD location so that you can check out all the galleries while digesting your food. AD’s Review: 4.9 (it’s that good and President Barack Obama agrees).
White Duck Taco Shop offers a twist on your traditional taco. From combinations like Bangkok Shrimp to Korean Beef Bulgogi, to Duck w/ Mole, to Mushroom Potato w/ Romesco, it’s safe to say that you’ve probably never had a taco like a White Duck taco. We recommend the Riverside location, in West Asheville, for its fun outdoor area, trendy beer bus, and views of the river. Also, the margaritas are solid. AD’s Review: 4.8.
I absolutely adore The Admiral. There is casual picnic table seating outside of the restaurant, but there is also a terrific screened in porch that qualifies as “outdoor seating,” aka Leia friendly. The screened in porch has a beautiful stone fireplace and warm, rustic, up-scale feel (it remains one of my favorite outdoor patios ever). The indoor space matches. The menu changes based on what’s in season and every dish is thoughtfully executed. The cocktails are delicious. During our meal here, Leia was so exhausted from a full day of hiking that she peacefully passed out (lots of snoring) while we chowed down. The meal remains one of my favorite memories from our various Asheville trips. AD’s Review: 4.79.
Like The Admiral, Jargon has a beautiful, enclosed “upper-scale” patio. The inside is trendy. Jargon is a true farm-to-table place that features ingredients within a 50-mile radius of Asheville, so the menu changes often. You cannot go wrong here. AD’s Review: 4.7.
Vinnie’s also has a great, perhaps more casual, patio (and interior). The food is traditional east-coast, red sauce Italian, so get the red sauce stuff. The Garlic Knots are to die for, the Penne Vodka is wonderful, and I dream about the Chicken Parmesan. AD’s Review: 4.75.
Asheville is beer capital of the U.S. Not only do Asheville breweries have great drinks, but many also have fantastic elevated-bar food, great ambiances, and a love for furry animals. While what is listed below are our favorites (and guaranteed to be dog friendly), if you start in Downtown Asheville and work your way down the South Slope, you will find countless other fantastic options.
The Funkatorium is most famous for its Wicked Weed sours. However, I, as a non-beer drinker, enjoy this spot’s urban-made wine, great smash burgers, and creative appetizers. The patio is huge and overall super cool. I legit rank the Funkatorium as my favorite “bar” type spot in all the U.S.
The Sierra Nevada Brewery is Nick’s favorite brewery in the U.S. The brewery is committed to Zero Waste, promotes sustainability, and is situated in Mills River, just outside of Asheville. It has expansive gardens, hiking trails, outdoor games, a restaurant, and a stage for concerts. It is also located close(ish) to the Arb.
While pizza is pizza, aka usually always decent, homemade pizza is never quite the same as a takeout pie. Why? Most commercial pizza ovens cook anywhere from 700-900 degrees F. Home ovens can only get to ~500 degrees F and run into safety limitations shortly after.
At the peak of the pandemic, in a state of bored internet surfing, I stumbled upon a Scottish outdoor pizza oven company called Ooni. Ooni sucked me in with its social media marketing. The oven targets the trendy, traveling millennial (aka myself, or so I like to think…). Ooni ovens and authentic Neapolitan pies are photographed in national parks, on beaches, and at intimate dinner parties. Being a pizza fiend, I immediately knew that I had to investigate the product.
So began my research. I watched countless hours of YouTube videos that compared at-home pizza ovens. I learned that the Ooni could reach 932 degrees F in 10-minutes and cook a pie in 60-90 seconds. I also discovered the Roccbox, which is the most comparable competitor to the Ooni. Nonetheless, it was Kenji Lopez-Alt, an MIT grad, author of the Food Lab, and genius chef, who convinced me to go with the Ooni oven. Watch his comparison of the two ovens here.
I decided to purchase the Ooni Koda over the wood-fired option, because reviews stated that the convenience of the gas,
as supposed to using pellets for the wood-fired oven, was worth the unnoticeable difference of not having a truly authentic wood-fired pie.
Unfortunately, when I ordered my oven, the Koda 16 was sold out. We purchased the Koda 12, but for size and ease of use, I highly recommend the Koda 16. **We have since also purchased the Koda 16.
In addition, to the oven, I highly recommend purchasing the Bamboo Pizza Peel, Perforated Pizza Peel, and the Pizza Turning Peel. All of these supporting tools will add up in cost, but will also ensure that the pizza does not end up on fire.
When my pizza oven arrived, it was one of the most exciting days of my life (seriously). I used 00 Caputo Flour to make my fermented dough, and I was ready to go.
I cannot say enough good things about the Ooni oven; however, I will note that it takes practice to perfect using it, especially if you are working with the Koda 12, because of its size. While the oven can get up to 932 degrees F, we’ve found that preheating the oven at max temp for ~20 minutes, then reducing the temp to low works best. Remember to constantly rotate the pie with the pizza turning peel.
