FROM PAGE 59 Palmer, are big dog lovers themselves and graciously welcomed all eight people and our six dogs to dine on their patio overlooking the harbor on the Columbia River. Thirst specializes in premier Oregon wines and serves wonderful salads, gourmet appetizers and scrumptious main courses. TRANSPORTATION TIP During our stay in Portland, we had the pleasure of taking the MAX light rail, as well as riding in Radio Taxis both of which are pet-friendly! The Oregon Coast After a week in Portland, we took a scenic drive down Highway 101 along the scenic Oregon Coast. We stopped in many quaint seaside towns and beaches along the way to our hotel: The Whaleshead Beach Resort just north of Brookings and the California border. We were given an enchanting holiday cottage called Summit House at the top of a hill and overlooking the rugged beauty of Whaleshead Beach, one of the most stunning locations along the Oregon Coast. Offshore there is a sea stack that looks like the head of a whale. The sea stack is cut with a rock channel, and when a wave hits it, it spurts a spray that actually looks like a whale spouting, hence the name. Our cottage was tastefully decorated in a nautical theme, had a fully equipped modern kitchen, picture windows and a hot tub perched on a cliff-side deck with breathtaking views overlooking the ocean. The cottage, with its mountain top privacy and to die for Serrano Hotel in San Francisco, CA. Valentino checking out the welcome package from the Hotel Monaco in Salt Lake City, UT. views immediately gave us an overwhelming sense of peace and relaxation. We could have easily settled in for a week or month or more. The Whaleshead Beach Resort has been in the McNeely family since the late 1800s when they initially used the land as a large sheep ranch. The property, still owned by the McNeely family, boasts individually decorated Park Model Nor West Cottages with ocean, creek or forest settings. It has its own access to Whaleshead Beach via a 700- foot tunnel. Pets are welcome in 18 of the 55 rental homes, or if you have an RV, they have overnight RV space rentals as well. San Francisco The next day we traveled south through the great redwood forests and the extensive wineries of northern California to eventually arrive at the luxurious Serrano Hotel in downtown San Francisco. The Serrano Hotel, once known as Hotel California, is in a beautifully restored 17-story Spanish Revival building, just a short walk from the bustling Union Square. Both the lobby of the hotel and its 236 designer hotel rooms are lavishly designed with large windows, plush bedding and the original high ceilings, adorned with exotic Spanish and Moroccan accents. The hotel was purchased by the Kimpton group in 1999, adding to its collection of 45 luxury boutique hotels. All Kimpton Hotels are pet-friendly with no pet fees. DINING TIP Our choice for Fido-friendly dining in San Francisco is the The North Beach Italian Restaurant. Lorenzo Petroni founded the restaurant some 30 years ago and claims that it is the oldest Italian restaurant in North Beach (the Little Italy of San Francisco). They have delightful outdoor seating where you may dine with your well-behaved pup on their delicious home-cured prosciutto and sip fine Italian wines from the Italian-style vineyards they established almost 20 years ago in Sonoma, CA. They have also imported Italian olive trees and serve the best homemade olive oil I have ever tasted sprinkled of course with imported Sicilian Sea Salt. The North Beach restaurant is a mere half block from Washington Square, a great place to walk your dog before or after your gourmet lunch or dinner. Lorenzo Petroni and his wife, Maria, are avid animal lovers and have rescued many dogs from the local humane societies over the years. Finish: Salt Lake City, UT On the home stretch of our trip, we stayed at my favorite Fido-friendly hotel in Salt Lake City: the historic Hotel Monaco, which also belongs to the pet-friendly Kimpton Hotel Group. It boasts luxurious amenities, petfriendly staff and great treats for one s pooch upon check-in. It is next door to a nice grassy park for your dog to play and potty in and centrally located in downtown Salt Lake City. DINING TIP The Hotel Monaco also boasts a fantastic restaurant called the Bambera, where one can dine on delicious, gourmet dishes, yet remain not too far from one s hotel room and resting pup. D E C E MBE R 2009 89