The cruise takes you out on Jackson Lake to Elk Island surrounding by breathtaking views of the Tetons. As the boat docks, you can smell the coffee brewing and the pancakes cooking.
You are greeted by a fun and friendly staff. The food is ready as soon as you arrive. Pancakes, scrambled eggs, trout, potatoes, bacon, sausage, fresh fruit, and yogurt. And you can go for seconds! They don’t miss a beat; everything you need is at the tables. Once you finish eating, you can explore the island.
Then back on the boat for a relaxing ride to the marina.
We highly recommend taking the breakfast cruise! Honestly, I wondered if they would be able to pull off good food on the island, and it exceeded my expectations. It was a treat eating breakfast outside surrounded by such grand views! Jackson Lake Lodge is a class act, and this was a fun, unique experience.
Vermont is truly something special to see in the fall. The colors are glorious especially the amount of bright red maple trees. They seem to be in high definition as you drive the curvy country roads and around every next turn is a spectacular view. Enjoy our list of best places to visit in Vermont.
Best Cities to Visit in Vermont
Burlington, Vermont
First stop, Burlington. Burlington is our kind of town. It’s the perfect size, not too big and not too small. It is walkable and dog-friendly. Plus, it is located on Lake Champlain offering panoramic lake views. We stayed at Hotel Vermont and wished we could have extended our reservation. Our advice, stay at least two nights in Burlington! We loved the downtown location yet close to nature. You can walk to Battery Park by the lake and then head to Church Street in the middle of town.
Hotel Vermont is an independent hotel and authentic Vermont, including the locally made flannel robes in the rooms. Their onsite restaurant, Juniper, is awesome. I got the charcuterie and salad to go. Plus, there is a great patio in the back of the hotel with hanging lights, a fire pit, and music.
Jay, Vermont
Next, we drove up to Jay, and visited Jay Peak Resort. The views from Jay Peak are incredible! This is a great spot to stay with the whole family and is so much more than a ski resort. Jay Peak offers skiing, snowboarding, a huge water park, championship golf, ice haus indoor arena, athletic fields, hiking, mountain biking, spa, arcade, indoor climbing gym, a movie theater. Even after all that, I’m sure I’m forgetting things. Plus, it’s a wonderful spot for lunch by the bonfire.
Stowe, Vermont
After visiting Jay Peak, we made our way down to Stowe, Vermont. I loved Stowe so much, I dedicated a full blog post about it HERE. The fall colors seem unreal and impossible to capture which is what makes it magical. We highly recommend this drive. Below are Stowe highlights.
In Stowe, we stayed at Sun and Ski Inn and Suites. This is a great location, walking distance to restaurants, activities, and the recreation path. The Sun andSki Inn and Suites offers so much fun, they are the only hotel in New England that has a bowling lounge, indoor pool, and miniature golf. We appreciated that they are dog-friendly with a huge open grassy area in the back for dogs to play and river views.
Views from the back…
One of our favorite things about Stowe is the Recreation Path. It’s a 5.3 mile path that runs through the village up to Top Notch Resort on the mountain side. It’s great for exercise, to walk the dog, to visit restaurants and shop, and views.
There are many other options for dog-friendly hikes. Below are views from Smugglers Notch which we highly recommend, the fall views will take your breath away. Stowe offers delicious food, breweries, and plenty to see and do including finding the covered bridges. All of this and more on the dedicated Stowe post HERE.
Waterbury, Vermont
A couple of must stops just minutes from Stowe, in Waterbury, are Cold Hollow Cider Mill and Waterbury Center State Park. Go to Cold Hollow get an apple cider slushy with a side of fresh, warm, apple cider donuts and then head over to the state park for a picnic. The 90-acre day-use state park is located on the Waterbury Reservoir in the Mount Mansfield State Forest. The way the colors of the trees were reflecting in the water was so beautiful.
I’m still dreaming of this day and the apple cider slushies.
Cold Hollow Cider Mill is filled with amazing gifts, maple syrup, honey, and there is a hard cider tasting room. You can also shop online including ordering their apple cider donuts! I’ve ordered since we’ve been back in Minnesota and it’s so nice to have a taste of authentic Vermont.
Other best places in Vermont and stops in Waterbury Center are Ben & Jerry’s Factory (super busy so expect to wait in line), Danforth Pewter of Vermont, Lake Champlain Chocolates, Cabot Farmers’ Store, and Smugglers’ Notch Barrel House Tasting Room.
Quechee and Woodstock, Vermont
Our last stop in Vermont, was the Quechee/Woodstock area. We stayed at the Quechee/Pine Valley KOA. This is a beautiful location next to the Quechee Gorge (great hiking spot) and 10 miles to Woodstock. The KOA owners go above and beyond including awesome decorating!
We got up early to go visit the iconic Sleepy Hollow Farm, Sugarbush Farm, and Vermont Flannel in Woodstock. On our way to Sleepy Hollow Farm, we went under the Taftsville covered bridge. It looked so cool on this spooky, foggy, morning. Same with Sleepy Hollow Farm which has become a social media sweetheart. There are so many beautiful homes/farms to capture but this one really gets the attention, when we arrived there were at least 10 photographers there with their tripods ready to go. The main house was being worked on when we were there, it was also still very foggy, so I took a bit of a different angle. The Sleepy Hollow Farm has interesting history so make sure to click it to read more. It was once owned by Aerosmith guitarist, Joe Perry. The whole area is worth driving through.
I loved Sugarbush Farm and doing the cheese and maple syrup tasting. It all was so good!! I recommend adding this to your itinerary.
On our next trip, we will definitely stay in Woodstock for a night. The town is absolutely adorable. But, what Vermont town isn’t? 🙂 You can’t really go wrong and it’s so easy to day drive the state. We had breakfast at Mountain Creamery and I can’t say enough about this cute unassuming off the highway spot. Look at that piece of ham! The bread was gluten free and was the best I’ve tasted. Make sure to stop at F.H. Gillingham & Sons too for any grocery needs – they also sell individual cans of beer if you want to try a variety of local beers!
We can’t wait for our next visit! Please let me know your best places in Vermont.
Life is short, never stop searching for what stirs your soul. ❤️
I could be wrong, but I think Old Town in Albuquerque is a bit of a hidden gem for visitors driving through New Mexico. It took us a few times to travel through before we discovered it. Once we did, we stayed a couple of nights while on our way to Sedona, Arizona. We loved it so much that we stayed again on our way home!
Things to do near Old Town, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Visit Old Town! Look at all these beautiful storefronts and colors! There are over 150 galleries, shops, restaurants, and museums. Each one is individually owned. This area offers something for everyone and is historically fascinating dating back to the 1700s, predating the formation of the United States. All within a short distance are the Explora-Science and Learning Museum, Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, Albuquerque Museum of Art and History, New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, and the Chapel of our Lady Guadalupe.
Tiguex Park is within walking distance of the museums and just .5 miles to Old Town Plaza. It’s a great park to get fresh air, sit in the shade, and walk the dogs. There is a playground, basketball courts, and workout equipment. We really enjoyed walking around this Tricentennial Park with the dogs.
Dog Friendly Hotel Albuquerque, New Mexico
We love staying at the Best Western Plus Rio Grande Inn; it’s easy access off I-40 and Route 66 and is close to modern and old fun. The hotel is only .7 miles from Old Town. It is convenient with an onsite restaurant and cocktail lounge and is dog-friendly. We appreciate that they have a little kennel in the back, a designated spot for the dogs to go to the bathroom.
Favorite Restaurants in Albuquerque, New Mexico
The Range Cafe is only .2 miles from Best Western. My favorite is the blue corn pancakes!! We always took our food to go and the service was fantastic. Hot food packed nicely and easy to eat in the car. My mouth is watering thinking of the pancakes. 😉
Our other favorite food spot was the Sawmill Market with multiple yummy food options. I really liked the salad from Meso Grill. It was fresh and huge! They offer beer tastings, yoga, live music, and other events. Check their website for updates.
We really loved the pizza from Hawt Pizza Co. and so did the dogs! They give you an option to add burrata to your pizza. Do it!
If you’re like us and get sick of eating out while traveling, we always try to find the local co-op. La Montanita Co-op didn’t disappoint. The fresh bread and deli is amazing. We also really love the Albuquerque Whole Foods hot food section.
Albuquerque is a great stop on Route 66 on your way west or back east! Allen approves! 🐾
We have visited Sedona, Arizona, for extended stays over the years. One of the best parts about Sedona and the surrounding area is that there are endless adventures and things to do. Our favorite activity is hiking! We love how accessible the hiking trails are and the range of difficultly. Below are highlights from some of the best Sedona hiking trails.
Bell Rock and Courthouse are the first two iconic formations that you see as you drive into Sedona coming north on the Bell Rock Scenic Byway/SR 179. The Courthouse Butte Loop is a moderate 4.3-mile trail. This area is very popular so depending on the time of year, it’s best to go early morning (plus it’s the best time to beat the heat). We normally visit in January when it’s not quite as busy or too hot.
There are pay machines for parking that take credit cards. Parking can sometimes be a challenge but if you wait a few minutes, turnover usually happens quickly. Another option is to purchase a Red Rock Pass to display in your window or America the Beautiful passes are also honored.
Dog-Friendly Sedona Trails
Almost all the trails in Sedona are dog-friendly as long as your dog is on a leash. Please make sure to clean up after your pup. #LeaveNoTrace
If you love climbing rocks, Bell Rock Trail is the hike for you! Look how small all the people look in the picture below. You can see all of Sedona as you make the climb. This hike is considered moderate but if you’re afraid of heights, you might find it difficult.
Little Horse Trail tends to be our go-to hike. We love the views. This is a 3.8-mile moderate hike. You can make it easier by not going as far, the view below is less than a mile on the trail. It’s incredible to hike this trail at sunset, the rocks turn a beautiful orange.
I was super excited to hike Soldier Pass and see the Seven Sacred Pools. They are easy to walk past, so keep an eye out for them. There’s also a large sinkhole on your way called Devil’s Kitchen which is very cool. This trail is considered moderate but we felt like it was a little more difficult especially beyond the pools. We ended up turning around on our first hike (which was still an amazing hike).
Red Rock Crossing/Crescent Moon Picnic Site is another go-to spot for us. This is a great area to relax, picnic, leisurely walk, swim in Oak Creek, or play with your dogs. There is a lot of open area with grass, picnic tables, and benches. All of this with the beautiful backdrop of Cathedral Rock. This is also a vortex site and a sacred area in Native American history.
My favorite thing to do is to visit after it rains and take pictures of all the reflections in the puddles. You have to find the perfect angle to see them.
ALWAYS be careful after a rain, pay attention to the news, and ask questions before you go. Even when the rain stops, the runoff can be very dangerous and catch you by surprise.
The staff and owners at The Hike House are super helpful. They will answer any questions and make sure you are geared up correctly for your hike. It’s important to be prepared even if you think the hike will be short.
Another great resource is the Sedona Hiking App. This app gives you all the details of each hike, directions to the trailheads, and a map to follow as you hike. You can also search by the difficulty of the hike. For more details about Sedona, visit the official Sedona Tourism Site – visitsedona.com
If you’re looking for other fun things to do besides hiking, visit my blog post HERE.
It truly is the most pet-friendly hotel! Our dog, Allen, gives it 5 stars. He loved sleeping on the pullout bed. He also was impressed with the small touches like his personalized nameplate, welcome treats from the staff, and his very own drinking fountain. His favorite is the fenced pet park for running, playing ball, and meeting new friends. All of this and the pets stay free.
Look at that smile at the Best Friends Roadhouse pet park.
The pet park is spacious with plenty of running room and has a splash zone for hot summer days. There is also a small run area. Other pet amenities include a pet washing station, pet walking service, or pet visits from the staff. There is a fee for the walking service and visits.
This is the walk back to the pet park area. The mural is so beautiful and there’s a great spot to sit and enjoy a bonfire.
Allen enjoyed shopping at the mercantile and visiting with the staff.
Best Friends Roadhouse has a stage for upcoming community events and entertainment.
We were also super impressed with the technology. The internet worked great and these iPads were so nice with all the information about the Roadhouse and surrounding area.
Another added benefit is that you can walk to restaurants from Best Friends Roadhouse. You can read about our Top 5 Restaurants in Kanab by clicking HERE. This time we checked out Jakey Leigh’s Coffee Shop and the fresh-baked bagels lived up to the hype.
Our February 2020 stay was unexpected. Our dog, Utah, passed away while we were traveling in Arizona. We brought her back to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary to lay her to rest at Angels Rest within the sanctuary.
The staff at the Roadhouse went above and beyond to help us through this hard time. I can’t say enough about their warmth and hospitality. We are incredibly thankful for them and everyone at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.
Sunset view from our room…
Please message me with any questions about Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, Roadhouse, or Kanab. It’s a magical place!
What an incredible find while traveling in Southern Utah! Our home base was Kanab, Utah because it’s perfectly situated for exploring Southern Utah and while volunteering at Best Friends Animal Society. We wanted to take a short trip to Lake Powell. I did some research but wasn’t finding an ideal location for our dog and to make it a quick trip.
I visited the Kane County Office of Tourism. It’s my go-to information spot in Kanab. They are always so helpful, friendly and have the best advice for your unique situation. They told me about Lone Rock Beach. It was so worth stopping in and asking questions, we would have never come across this spot and it was amazing!
