By Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com

If you are looking for another historic and dog friendly spot on Long Island to take your dog on a Doggie Day Trip too – you’re in luck.  In our article series Historic Dog Friendly Long Island, and another of our series of Doggie Day Trips – this is combo of the two!

When we think of Montauk, aside from the beaches and laid back vacation vibe, you may not realize that there is a Suffolk County Park that is a piece of history, and dog friendly.  Montauk County Park is located just before the oldest horse ranch in America on the left hand side heading east on Montauk Highway.  It’s a bit of a secret spot because you may just be driving by out to the lighthouse and pass right by not realizing what you are passing.  On a recent Doggie Day Trip, I was accompanied by Snoopy Brunn, the cutie pie Boston Terrier in all the photos.  She an east end native, but this was her first visit to these MTK spots!

Montauk County Park is packed with history, being the home to the first cattle ranch in the United States, and the historic “Third House” on the property was home to the early cattle keepers.  The home also played a significant role in the Spanish American war as it was Camp Wikoff – and served as the quartine area after the war for nearly 30,000 troops including Teddy Roosevelt.

While it’s not the biggest county park on LI – it’s a great stop to make on your way out to the lighthouse, especially if you’re traveling a distance to get there.  The park is dog friendly and the very historic grounds over look the horse ranch, and when we were there, there were no other dogs.  So if you have a dog that maybe doesn’t do great with other pups – this is a nice spot to visit, maybe bring a picnic for you and your dog and enjoy the quiet, beautiful scenary and clean crisp fresh air that seems to be just a bit different in Montauk.

Snoopy was very good observing the horses, don’t let your dog harass or get to close to the horses, respect their space – this is their home after all.

After hanging at for a while or if your just want to go straight out to the Montauk Point Lighthouse, while this is a state park that are generally not always dog friendly, (although we have a few state parks on LI that are dog friendly state parks), you can bring your dog to MTK lighthouse.  He is just not allowed on the lighthouse grounds or near the restaurant…but other wise you can walk the hilly trails which are great for hiking.  You can bring your dog down to the beach – leashed of course at all times, and have him pose in front of the lighthouse.  The beach is very rocky – but incredibly beautiful – the color of the water is gorgeous!

If you want to do the trails – it’s a great place to do a hike with your dog – I have personally done the trails a few different times with my dog in the past – and we always had a great workout.  Just be sure to check yourself and your pup for ticks after the hike if you go this time of year.  Also if you go during the off season – or in winter, be very careful as it is hunting season, and not all hunters abide by the rules of where they should be hunting and that they shouldn’t be doing so on the weekends.  (My friends and I learned that the hard way when we hiked in December on the weekends and heard gun shots very close to where we were the hunters were not supposed to be there). A suggestion is to have your dog and yourself wear bright colors and never take your dog off the leash while hiking the trails.

Snoopy posing at the beginning of a hiking trails.

The secret of Montauk? September is probably one of the most amazing months to visit, the weather is perfect, it’s not hot and less people. You can bring your dog through town and enjoy the beauty around you.  Have your pup pose for some pictures in MTK – and post them in the Facebook comment section below!  For a LOT more pictures of Snoopy’s adventure in Montuak, click here. And remember bring water, treats, a pet first aid kit and if you do the hike, be sure to check your pup for any buggers.   I have been many times in the past it’s a beautiful spot to visit, almost like you have left LI altogether. 🙂  Enjoy – and stay tuned for our next article Historic Dog Friendly Long Island – and Doggie Day Trips – coming very soon!

By Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com

Doggie Day Trip – Cold Spring Harbor, NY

If you are one that likes to hike with your dog and do a challenging trail – you have to head to Cold Spring Harbor, NY on the North Shore of Long Island and go to the Cold Spring Harbor State Park.  One of the few State parks on Long Island, (Montauk, Belmont Lake State Park), that are dog friendly.  The entrance to the trail is on Harbor road right past the village, you will pull into a gravel parking lot on the east side of Harbor Road and across the street from the boat ramp.  Recently I went with fellow Long Island Pet Professional Member Ellen Ganci of SnapDogDesigns a good friend of mine and her dog Dobby –  who you will see is the star of this doggie day trip.  A short drive from Huntington, you will find the quaint village of Cold Spring Harbor, NY.  I remember going their as a kid, never to hike but to go into their shops and have lunch – it always seemed so far away as a kid.  I did not know about this trail until the fall and have already hiked it a few times – the best part is that you can bring your pup with you, leashed of course.

This is not a hike for the faint of heart, however there were kids on the trail as well as very fit seniors hiking, as long as you and your dog are walking regularly on decent distance walks, you can do it.  The best part is you can decided how long or short you want to go. This trail is part of the greenbelt trail system on LI and you can go all the way to Plainview following this particular part of the trail.  We did about 4.5 miles round trip with Dobby and that was the perfect distance for a day trip hike with a dog.  The elevation according to my MapMyWalk app on my phone was 228 feet high – and that was multiple hills up and down!

Dobby on the way up the first part of the hike, yes, lots of steps and watch where you’re going!

Almost to the top of the very first climb. As you can see beautiful views!

If you do go for the hike, be sure to have water with your for yourself and your dog, a doggie first aid kit couldn’t hurt as their are many steps to climb over, roots,and rocks on many parks of the trails.  You should wear good sneakers for this (or hiking boots).  Watch your dog and take breaks if you need to for yourself and your pup.  If it is too warm out – it might be too much for your dog who could get easily overheated.  An morning or early evening hike, (before it gets too dark to see), may be a suitable time for this.  We went around 9am and it took under 2 hours to do the hike.

Dobby taking a sip of water!

Can you see Dobby is smiling in every picture?

Another pup we met along the way!

Here is a map of the hike we did.

Dobby was on leash the entire time, we had him pose for a few pictures ahead of us so you could see the trails.

Mini me? Little Chihuahua we met along the way, adorable!

After the hike we went into Cold Spring Harbor Village, and while some of the stores were closed there is plenty of window shopping to do with your pup, you can grab a quick bite to eat and sit outside in the village or walk down to the shore.  See some interesting facts about Cold Spring Harbor below the photos!

BOL! Couldn’t resist! That sign was in front of one of the boutiques in the village.

Cold Spring Harbor is about a 1 hour drvie from New York City and a 5 minute drive from down town Huntington Village, NY. Once a whaling village there is also a whaling museum and also home to the Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery.  It’s easy to feel like you’ve stepped back in time while wandering the village and you may also see some guinea hens walking town around too!  If you do go on a doggie day trip with your pup to CSH, post your comments below and let us know!

From the NYS Parks website:
“The park is comprised of 40 acres of hilly terrain that offer scenic vistas of the Cold Spring Harbor. It features a mixed hardwood forest with notable large oak specimens that measure three feet in diameter, as well as thickets of wild mountain laurel. The area is ideal for observing spring and fall migrations of a variety of songbirds, and is home to great horned owls and red-tailed hawks. The park serves as the northern trailhead of the Nassau Suffolk Greenbelt Trail that extends to Bethpage State Park and eventually the south shore of Nassau County.”

by Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com

Doggie Day Trip – the NoFo! (That’s North Fork of Long Island!)

If you have yet to visit the North Fork (NoFo) of Long Island with your pup – you are missing out!  The NoFo is the perfect day-trip destination if you are looking to do wine tasting, pumpkin or apple picking, a walk on the beach or to enjoy lunch or dinner in one of the quaint towns with your dog!

Recently I took my dog Max, who is 12 years old on a doggie day trip to the NoFo for all of the above.  My cousin came with me and we had such a relaxing day, and Max had a great time exploring some old haunts and new ones too – pretty dog-gone good for a senior pup!

We first went to Martha Clara Vineyards in Riverhead – and it is pet friendly, leashed of course, and offers some of the most spectacular grounds to walk along.  You can bring a picnic lunch and hang outside at one of the many tables or picnic benches provided, and sip some MCV wine as your dog chills out.  I prefer to walk Max around the grounds, being respectful of all the beautiful farm animals they have there (goats, sheep, turtles, cows, horses and more), and then back to picnic area to enjoy wine and cheese.  This way you get some of that puppy (or senior dog) energy out first.

Meet n greet!

After an hour or so, we headed to Love Lane in Mattituck – to go where else, but Love Lane Kitchen for lunch.  They have a lovely little outdoor patio next to the restaurant where we could sit with Max and enjoy a delicious lunch.  After lunch we walked around Love Lane visited some of the shops (please note: I didn’t bring Max into the stores, but there is a pet boutique on Love Lane you can visit with your pup).

Our next stop, the bay beach of course, so Max could dip his toes in the water!  There is a dog friendly beach called Bailey’s Beach in Mattituck, but we actually just drove to a bay beach in Jamesport and just stopped there for a little while, there were no ‘no dog’ signs and since it was off season no one was there – perfect.

Love it!  Max stayed on his leash – a good recomendation to do so with your dog, and be respectful of the surrounding neighborhood and beaches, and obey any signs posted.  We then headed to one of the many local pumpkin farms to get pumpkins, mums, sunflowers and a few farm stand veggies that are in season.

There are so many things to do, see and enjoy with your dog on the NoFo and people are very friendly.  It is doable for a day trip, for sure.  I am baffled when I hear of people that have been born and raised on LI – but have never been to the NoFo – it’s crazy! 🙂  Dogs like to get out and explore new areas and see new things – the NoFo is the perfect fall getaway, for a daycation, that is not too far away.  You and your pup will be so relaxed by the time you get back home and the sceenary is beautiful no matter where you go on the North Fork.

But if you want to spend a weekend there – lucky for us there are now two hotels that I know of that are also pet friendly close to the NoFo!  The first is the Hyatt East End in Riverhead – they are pet friendly for dogs up to 50lbs and have beautiful accomodations.  Located right next to the Long Island Aquarium, in Riverhead village, you can walk your dog along the beautiful river front steps from the hotel.

The second hotel is the Hotel Indigo East End also in Riverhead, but closer to Calverton and also offer pet friendly accomodations.

And if you are looking for a dog trainer or pet sitter while on the NoFo, contact Dawn Bennett of North Fork School of Dog Training – she might even give you some info on places to go with your dog that I haven’t mentioned above.

And some tips if you do take a Doggie Day Trip:

• Go during the week if you can, it is less crowded and that means less traffic.
• Bring supplies for your dog: water, food, pet first aid kit (just in case), poop bags to pick up.
• Be sure to stop and walk your dog and let him or her do his business along the way (and of course clean up after your dog).
• Ask if you can bring your dog onto the property of a vineyard (although most are dog friendly), and the same for any of the pumpkin/apple farms.  Be courteous and know your dog!  If your pup is going to freak out if he sees a cow – be sure to have something with your to distract him (think high value treats, toys, ball, etc.)
• If your dog is not used to long car rides, start taking him for some rides each day longer and longer that lead up to a daycation trip, so he gets used to it.
• Bring an extra leash and collar with you – and be sure to have up-to-date ID tags on him, just in case.
• And most of all have fun, take lots of pictures and enjoy!

Another favorite spot is Greenport, a photo of Max there from a few years ago!  To see More Pictures of our NoFo Doggie Day trip, CLICK HERE!

By Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com

Welcome to our new series of articles, “Doggie Day Trips” on Long Island and beyond!

It might be August, but there is still plenty of time left to take a Doggie Day Trip with you pooch to Fire Island, NY.  If you have never been to Ocean Beach and are looking for that mini daycation getaway with your pup – this is the perfect getaway!

Recently we took the Ferry from the Bay Shore ferry terminal over to Ocean Beach with two local dog celebrities, Titus & Hailey!  Getting there, when you drive down Maple Avenue towards the ferry terminals, you want to drive to the first parking lot on your right or west side – they have the cheapest parking.  The parking there is only $8 bucks for the day Monday – Friday.  You will then head across the street (through a parking lot) to the Ocean Beach ferry terminal.

It’s cash only for ferry tickets, but there are ATM machines at the terminal. An adult round trip ticket is $17 and for your pups, yes you have to pay for them to go to, they go aboard for a child rate of $7.50 for a round trip ticket.  (I used to make my dobie sit on the bench – hey her ticket was paid for! BOL!).  It seems silly to have to pay a child rate for your dog, but let me tell you it is well worth it to be on a slice of paradise that is pet friendly.  I mean wouldn’t it be nice if we could bring any size dog on the LIRR to NYC for the day? And pay a fare for them?

As you can see it was a crowded ferry for a Monday! But Hailey was loving the boat ride and all the attention she was getting, which takes about 25 minutes.

Titus & Hailey were excited to arrive at the dock at Ocean Beach!

When we arrived and met a friend there, we decided to walk around town and the all the walkways for a while to let the dogs get some energy out and explore! Fire Island doesn’t allow cars, so all the streets are actually ‘walks’ and labeled as such.

So refreshing to be somewhere where cars are not around.  The dogs seemed to be loving that too!  And yes there are deer there, that are pretty tame, so remember that when bringing your dog!  Titus and Hailey didn’t seem too interested as this young male buck who walked across the walk and then was eating grass.

So what to do with the pups while there?  The beach of course!  Now the beach at Ocean Beach is actually not dog friendly, but don’t fret because you can walk over (east) a couple of walk ways to the town of Seaview and that beach is dog friendly – you just have to keep them on a leash.

After some time at the beach in Seaview, we walked around the walks and enjoyed the most spectacular day – the weather was just perfect.  And if you didn’t know Titus and Hailey recently got married and they wanted to pose at a few church steps along the way. (BOL!! )

On our way back through the Village of Ocean Beach, we made sure to check out what the town had to offer.  There are plenty of places to shop to buy beautiful jewelry, home items, clothes, doggie items and much more.  And if you are looking to head inside, you can even park your puppy right outside some of the stores (of course if your pup is friendly and you can see him from inside the store!) Come on this is just too cute!

We also met some cute resident dogs along the way.

If you are hungry after all the exploring, hitting the beach, shopping, you have to head to the Mermaid (The Island Mermaid).  Not only do they have a beautiful outdoor deck over looking the water, but we had lunch with the pups hanging out under our table.  The waitress even brought over a bowl of water for the dogs.  The food was great and so were the drink specials. 🙂 There are a lot of other great places to eat, looking for amazing pizza, go to Michaels get a couple slices of their tomato basil and sit on their benches outside to eat them if you have your dog with you.  Delicious!

There are many things about Fire Island that are iconic, such as their wagons used by renters and home owners to bring their belongings with them from the ferry and bikes that you see everywhere. If you are not hoofing it around town, taking a water taxi from town to town – your best mode of transportation is a bike.  There were a few rental places dotted along Ocean Beach where you could get a regular bike or the new cool beach crusiers with the fat wheels.

There is so much to do at Fire Island, that if you are so inclined renting a house for the summer, a month or week – start looking in January for the following summer to find a dog friendly rental. There are plenty of real estate agents there that can help you find your favorite spot.  Years ago my friends had houses every summer in either Ocean Beach or Ocean Bay Park, and the rented houses were always pet friendly.  My doberman Shanna was a regular Fire Island doggie visitor!

Fire Island was hit pretty hard by superstorm Sandy – as many of us know all too well.  It was wonderful to see how well Ocean Beach has recovered, it really looks fantastic considering it was under how much water?  There are still signs of the destruction (see below), houses being raised and a lot of workers there, but for the most part it really looked great.  So head to FI with your pups for a daycation, (show FI some love), and enjoy what it has to offer, you will want to come back, I guarantee it!

For more pictures of our doggie day trip adventure CLICK HERE!!