Traveling with Pets to Maine

Did you know that 19 million American families have or will travel with dogs this year? We learned this from new findings that HomeAway shared, which seems fitting as 2018 is the Year of the Dog or best year yet :) Our family is part of this vast number because as you know, we love traveling and experiencing new places with Knox, Bear, and Harper by our sides. Wherever we go, I make sure to accommodate the pup’s needs first, which is why I always choose HomeAway when searching for the perfect accommodation. With more than two million unique properties in 190 countries, there indeed is a vacation rental for everyone and every budget.

Earlier this month we embarked on a dog-friendly HomeAway getaway to Bethel, Maine, a new destination for us. We were excited to check a new New England town off the bucket list and were even more excited to find the perfect vacation rental on HomeAway. After entering all our needs on the site, I stumbled upon a picture of an ideal log cabin with a huge yard for the pups, and for us, close proximity to the ski mountain, Sunday River. The house’s location, about 5 minutes from the quaint and cute town of Bethel, and about 15 minutes from Newry where the slopes are located as well as lots of lively apres ski spots suited our needs.

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When we arrived at our 3-bed + loft, vacation rental cabin, we knew we were in for a treat! The interior decorating is incredibly well done and fitting for a log cabin, with high-end furnishings, impressive vault ceilings complete with antler chandeliers, and a sizable stone fireplace. The expansive yard was given four paws up from the pups, and an extra tail wag for the 3+ feet of fresh snow. We really couldn’t have timed it any better! Needless to say, Knox, Bear, and Harper spent most of their days romping in the fresh powder, while we enjoyed watching their wild antics from in front of the roaring fireplace.

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During our trip we spent most of our time enjoying the cozy cabin, spending much-needed quality time with the pups, and unplugging from our work emails and to do lists. We cooked in a few nights and were pleased with the amount of cookware the cabin had. The pups were especially delighted with our desire to cook in, due to the number of leftovers they were given to enjoy. If you’re visiting Bethel and prefer to go out to eat, we definitely recommend Brian’s in Bethel for upscale comfort food, and 22 Broad Street for authentic Italian cuisine.

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At the end of the night and quite possibly too much pasta later, it was refreshing to head to an incredibly comfy bed with top of the line sheets, and even a custom wood dog bed that matched the cabin’s interior. The charming dog bed fit two pup’s comfortably and also had a pillow and blanket to complete the coziness of their new bunk. Adorable!

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We’ve found that these, and so many more joyful moments always take place in a HomeAway. Midnight snacks (or pup treats!) in the kitchen, spontaneous board game competitions in the living room, and late night fetch in the private backyard, all make wonderful memories for years to come.

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If you too are hoping to create lifelong memories with your family both two and four-legged, head to HomeAway and type in your pup paradise destination. If you want to try Bethel, Maine out click here. And if you need a hand, HomeAway has recently released its Dog Friendliest Destinations of 2018, as they put their best paw-forward when it comes to welcoming dogs in vacation homes:

1.     Four Corners, FL

2.     Davenport, FL

3.     San Diego, CA

4.     Palm Springs, CA

5.     Big Bear Lake, CA

6.     Los Angeles, CA

7.     Kissimmee, FL

8.     New York, NY

9.     Miramar Beach, FL

10.   Hilton Head Island, SC

If you prefer to see the top Dog-Friendliest Properties (including one with a private dog pond and 60-acres of fenced-in dog bliss), click the below towns to see the top dog-friendly rental.. Let us know if we can answer any questions!

*Thank you HomeAway for giving us this stay at this beautiful home away from home. This post was sponsored by HomeAway.