Double Dog Dare: Pet-friendly 'Stay-cations'

There are, technically speaking, a zillion things to do in this area. The word "bored" should never leave any Northern Virginia or D.C. resident's lips.

Since moving here, I've happily adopted the term "stay-cation," which means, to me, a miniature vacation wherein I stay as close as possible to home. No overnight reservations, no long car rides or breathing in the recycled air as your Boeing taxis, yet again, up and down the runway.

Sounds great, right? When do we leave—or, if I may, stay? 

Not so fast. What about the furry children? Before calling the whole thing off and deciding to stay inside, attempting to watch all three Lord of the Rings movies before dinnertime, consider these pet-friendly, local(ish) options that are fun for humans and furry tag-alongs. 

• Go hiking at Great Falls Park. This park, situated a short drive away from Del Ray, allows leashed dogs and is certainly the most intense hike in the immediate area. I lived in the Appalachian mountains during college, and this is the closest I’ve come to a mountain experience. The trails are generally easy to moderate, in terms of difficulty, but the surroundings are extreme. Jagged cliffs and rock faces empty into the roaring Potomac, peaceful overlooks teeter on the edge of massive slopes. All in all, I left feeling satisfied and the pups immediately fell asleep in the car (major score).
• Go tour a winery in Northern Virginia. This website, VirginiaWine.org, has a filter option for location and pet-friendlyness. When I was browsing through the 30-some options, I stumbled upon this blissful description of Barrel Oak Winery: "Hang with your friends, dogs (on leashes, please) and family and watch our awesome sunsets after work. Great wine and lite fare served or bring your own picnic lunch or dinner anytime. Children are welcome and we have juice boxes for the kids!" (OK, so, see you guys there tonight, right?)
• Bring your dog to a Yappy Hour. in Old Town hosts a people-friendly dog party a couple nights a week—pets get treats, head scratches and complimentary water (in bowls on the ground, of course), while their two-legged chauffeurs can enjoy an inexpensive drink, served in pet-friendly plastic wine glasses and cups (smart!).

Here are a few quick tips to keep in mind:

• If you are driving to your staycation (hopefully not very far!), be mindful of the time your pet spends in the car. Never leave a dog unattended in a car in the summer—this can lead to death, and in less serious cases it can lead to brain damage or dehydration. Cracking the windows is a good practice when the temperature is low, but it is not a substitute for fresh air and proper temperature regulation. Plan your trip so that your stops are pet-friendly. For more information, check out this page. If you see a pet in a car and you believe it to be in danger, call the cops!
• Be mindful of other dogs and wildlife that your dog is not used to. The Great Falls hiking trip was supremely educational for both dogs—they learned what snakes look like. The snake seemed harmless, but I took a detour to another trail, just to be sure. 
• Keep up your routine. Dogs, like children or cranky adults, can get upset if their routine is thrown off too dramatically. If a dog is acting distressed (panting, pacing, drooling, trembling) try giving them a toy they like or making them follow normal commands. Petting them and cooing "it's OK" will only reinforce the behavior. Obviously, if the behavior increases in intensity or persists, take your dog home or to the vet. There's no sense in making her miserable. 

Hopefully these ideas have sparked some staycation desires. While looking for specific links to post on this blog, I found exactly a zillion more ideas. Just search, "pet friendly (insert whatever you fancy doing)" and I'm sure something will come up. Maybe except "pet friendly shopping for white carpets."