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Pet Friendly Things to Do in Colorado
Does
the thought of leaving the furry member of your household
behind during vacation adventures leave you blue? Chase
away this vacation buster and bring the whole family
to pet-friendly Gunnison County, Colorado. A walk down
the historic downtown districts of Gunnison and Crested
Butte, a drive along the picturesque roadways of the
county's 2 million acres of wilderness, or a hike along
the area's numerous trails quickly conveys that people
in this part of the Colorado Rockies love animals.
Are the towns of Gunnison, Almont, Crested Butte, and
Mt. Crested Butte worried about going to the dogs? On
the contrary, the hoteliers, merchants and residents
are innovative and sincere in their approach to welcoming
guests and their pets, because many have their own canine,
feline and equine companions at home or work. The Visitor
Centers in Gunnison and Crested Butte both have dog
treats and water bowls ready to greet Rocky and Fluffy.
"Gunnison County is 'Dog Country!' Crested Butte
and Gunnison offer quality lodging options which welcome
pets ... so you don't have to sacrifice quality just
because of Fido," says Bridgette Maxwell, author
of "Fido's Finest: Traveling with your pet …
IN STYLE!" and resident of Crested Butte. Maxwell's
book lists valuable Colorado lodging information for
people who travel with their dogs, including numerous
listings for Gunnison County.
Bringing the Whole Family on Vacation - Lodging
Three of Crested Butte's bed and breakfasts go the extra
mile to roll out the welcome mat for dogs and their
people. The Ruby of Crested Butte, Elizabeth Anne Bed & Breakfast, and Purple Mountain Bed & Breakfast
receive high marks for pet friendliness in "Fido's
Finest." Elizabeth Anne Bed & Breakfast has
pet treats and doggie blankets, while the house dog
River greets guests of The Ruby, where dogs are treated
to homemade healthy dog treats, food and water dishes,
beds and blankets.
The Ruby's doggie concierge can recommend great nearby
hikes and arrange pet spa treatments, walking, sitting
and portraits. Spa treatments include baths, trims,
and various other grooming services, conditioners, hot
oil treatments and more. Local artist Sarah Hausdoerffer
will take a digital photo of your pet and paint a custom
pooch portrait.
Coal Creek Cabin, Grand Lodge Crested Butte, Old Town
Inn and Pioneer Guest Cabins also welcome pets in Crested
Butte.
In the Almont area, located between Gunnison and Crested
Butte, Three Rivers Resort, Almont Resort and Harmel's
Ranch Resort believe in bringing the whole family on
vacation. In Gunnison, "Fido's Finest" mentions
Alpine Inn, Days Inn and Water Wheel Inn. Island Acres
Motel, Quality Inn, Gunnison Inn, Teller Street Cottages
and Ranch House Bed & Breakfast also are pet friendly.
For those who prefer a vacation by water, check out
Ferro's Blue Mesa Ranch Resort in Sapinero, located
on Blue Mesa Reservoir, Colorado's largest body of water.
Horses and dogs are welcome to stay, with a corral fee
and feed cost for horses. In Marble, Ute Meadows Inn
and Beaver Lake Lodge & Cabins are good options.
Horses stay in the paddock at Ute Meadows Inn, and dogs
and their owners will find a special "doggie box" in their room containing, treats, towels for swimming,
and clean-up items for those rare accidents. Outdoor
dog kennels are available in case owners want to take
a day trip without their canine companions.
Attractions for People & Their Pets
Ring in the New Year with the Crested Butte Nordic Center's
Canine Caper Relay Race on Dec. 31 which benefits
the Gunnison Valley Animal Welfare League.
Held on a 3K course at the Town Ranch loops in Crested
Butte, participants may tour, skate and trot the race,
with the owner and pet required to cross the finish
line at approximately the same time.
"The Town Ranch is a favorite place for people
to go skiing with their dogs. We love dogs at the Nordic
Center, so we thought this would be a good way to bring
the two together," says Nordic Center Director
Keith Bauer. There is no cost to ski these two groomed
routes that are open to canines. For more information,
contact the Nordic Center at (970) 349-1707.
In late June or early July, the Crested Butte-Mt. Crested
Butte Chamber of Commerce hosts an annual "Dog
Day Afternoon." Paw painting, doggie weddings and
photos, a pooch fashion show and look-alike contest,
agility contests, wellness reviews by Dr. Laura, and
music by Dog Daze DJs were all part of the fun in 2005.
Call the Chamber of Commerce at (800) 545-4505 for more
information.
While in Crested Butte, take a stroll on the paved walking
trail that connects the towns of Crested Butte and Mt.
Crested Butte. The walk is approximately 3 miles one
way.
Create your own special event by lining up an outfitter
to take guests and pets trail riding, fishing, hiking,
Nordic skiing and more. Visit www.GunnisonCrestedButte.com for a list of outfitters in Gunnison County.
Pet Services & Other Treats
Mountain Tails, located in Crested Butte's historic
downtown is a favorite of animal lovers, with gourmet
pet treats, toys, food and much more for browsing. The
Mountain Store, known for men's and women's apparel,
also carries stylish dog collars, accessories and bowls
as well as dog and cat treats.
Many merchants in Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte
have their own dogs and cats on "staff" to
greet shoppers and go the extra mile to welcome people.
Toby, a brown lab, is a well-known fixture at Colorado
Boarder, located at the ski base of Crested Butte Mountain
Resort.
Along Elk Avenue in downtown Crested Butte, Creekside
Pottery has a cool, shaded, north-facing deck for pets
and their companions to take a break, complete with
benches that line the nearby creek and a fresh water
supply that is always available. Lucille Lucas - Old
West Print Center has doggie cookies and water available,
and a culinary favorite, Cucina, allows dogs on the
deck and provides dog biscuits and a water bowl.
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