What to Pack for a Cruise to Alaska
Having a hard time packing for your Alaskan cruise? We’ve got your back. We took an Alaskan cruise in 2023 and took note of everything we wish we had, and everything we wish we left at home.
Tag: travel
Alaska Cruise Travel Day
This travel day started in Boston, and ended in Leavenworth, Washington. All to head back to Seattle to board our cruise the next day.
Camping with a Dog
Camping is a great way to get out and enjoy nature, and being able to bring your best friend is an added bonus. It can be a bit complicated depending on your plans and the age and ability of your dog, as we have learned over the years. We’re going to go over our camping experiences and some tips for camping with your pup!
Tent Camping
We tent-camped with Riley from when she was a puppy up until she injured her knee. For context, she tore her ACL and had surgery to fix it when she was 6. We had a camping kennel for her, that she never used. She always ended up sleeping right on the air mattress with us. During this time period, we did a lot of hiking and always took her with us.
When you tent camp with a dog, it should go to say that you can’t leave them alone. A tent is not designed to hold a dog, nor should you want to leave them alone anyway. That would be a downfall to tent camping with a dog. The next downfall is that if it rains, you’re probably going to get wet. Riley got the biggest kick out of leaning on the tent walls and letting all the water in, then licking it off the floor. I would have to say the last downfall is when they get wet, all of your stuff is going to get wet. Unless you bring their kennel, then you stand a chance at keeping your things dry.
The key to tent camping with your pup is to make sure you are well enough prepared. You’ll want to bring extra towels, extra potable water, bed, kennel (optional), and leashes. Another thing we did to keep our sanity is bought a portable cabinet from Cabela’s. It made it so you didn’t need to keep your things on the ground, and kept it all dry.
RV Camping
We bought our first camper shortly after Riley healed from her ACL surgery. The decision was a good one to make because we could no longer bring her on the longer hikes we like to do. She now gets to rest in comfort on the couch and lounge in the AC all day.
It may seem like having an RV would solve all of your camping needs but sadly it doesn’t. The main issue is the restriction in freedom, whether it’s limiting where you can go with the RV, how long you can be away from your pup, and the power needs of your RV. In our current setup, we need to have shore power to feel comfortable leaving Riley in the camper while we step out. We are always very cognizant of the campground rules because some campgrounds do not allow dogs to be left at all. If the campground you’re staying at allows dogs to be left in RV’s, you should assess whether your dog will be stressed when left alone. Most dogs will bark when stressed and you don’t want to come back to an angry campground host and neighbors.
Riley is really well-behaved when left alone. How do we know? We set up cameras to keep an eye on her. We have Ring cameras at home and made a configuration that works for our camper as well. Being able to see what she is up to while we are gone gives us great peace of mind. It is always a good idea to test your pup’s ability to be left alone before you leave home. Try leaving them in the camper (fully set up of course) at home and get them used to it before you hit the road.
Camping Packing List for Pup
- Portable food container
- Food and Water
- Bed
- Leashes
- Long lead
- ID Tags
- Rabies tag or certificate
- Poop bags
- Safety lights or reflective collar
- Towel
- First aid kit
A note for the first aid kit item on the list- if you are traveling far from your local area you should research emergency vet offices that will be close to your final location. Knowing where to go if something happens will take a lot of stress off of you. We have had to use these resources before and know that it does happen.
What you bring and how much of it really depends on your camping style. Make sure to bring your pup’s rabies and vaccine paperwork or check in advance with the campground on their rules. Most campgrounds require proof of vaccination now, and it is good to have if something were to happen.
No matter what type of camping you’ll be doing bringing your pup is doable. It just takes extra planning to make sure everything goes smoothly. If I had to pick one piece of advice to leave you with out of all of this, is to train your pup for what you want to do. They won’t understand what you want from them on their first outing, especially if they’re still young or a puppy. The more prepared you are, the better your experience will be. Happy camping!
Best Donuts in Maine
Not all donuts are created equally, but we love them all the same. These are our favorite donut shops in Maine. Be sure to get there earlier in the day, they all sell out fast.
Best Small Maine Towns
This list is well debated amongst locals and visitors alike. It really boils down to what you’re looking for in a “small town” in general. Personally, I have a different opinion on what small town means. To me, it is actually a small town with one traffic light, no stores, or perhaps just a main street. This is not the ideal place to visit if you are up for exploring or just visiting for a small amount of time. This list is geared more towards small towns with things to do, which in my opinion would make them slightly more than “small towns”. Each one has a draw to it, whether it is natural beauty or some form of entertainment.
Before we get started here are our favorites for shopping, outdoor recreation and best views. Some towns have all three, and some only have one.
Shopping: Major-Freeport Local-Kennebunkport
Outdoor Recreation: Greenville
Views: Monhegan Island
All Three: Kennebunkport, Greenville, Camden/Rockland
Boothbay Harbor
Another coastal beauty, Boothbay Harbor is a gem that puts off coastal charm. There is no lack of things to do here if you want to plan a weekend or a week in the area. The main attractions to Boothbay are the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Burnt Island Lighthouse, Boothbay Harbor Shops, Maine State Aquarium and Boothbay Railway. If I had to pick only one of those places to stop at it would be the botanical gardens. From harbor cruises, restaurants to entertainment you’ll be kept busy.
Rockland and Camden
Rockland and Camden are both known for their love of the arts. You’ll notice right away in town that most of the shops give the flowing creative vibe. I bunched the towns together in the same category because they are neighbors, and are often visited on the same day or weekend. You don’t have to be an outdoor enthusiast to enjoy your time here, there are plenty of shops and restaurants to enjoy an afternoon of wandering. Some of the key highlights of the towns are the Farnsworth Art Museum, Maine Lighthouse Museum, Rockland Breakwater, Camden Hills State Park, and local shops. If you are an outdoor enthusiast there are plenty of hiking trails in Camden. Take a hike to the top of Mt. Battie to get amazing views of the harbor.
Freeport
This pick could be questionable for the “small towns” list. Freeport is a growing shopping district, but it still emanates small town charm. Freeport is mostly known for housing L.L.Bean, but is lined with other small local businesses that thrive with tourism. If you are a foodie or a brewery aficionado you will love Freeport. You could easily make Freeport your central hub for your trip to Maine, and not end up leaving the town limits.
Rangeley
If you love the outdoors, this town is for you. There are local shops and businesses to stop in during your visit, but they wouldn’t be the highlight of your trip. Rangeley is known for its amazing summer recreation on Rangeley Lake, hiking trails and relaxation. In the winter months the snowmobiles are active on the trails as well as cross country skiers and snowshoers. If relaxation and outdoor recreation are what you’re looking for then Rangeley is the right spot for you.
Ellsworth
I find it interesting when Ellsworth finds its way onto others’ lists of “where to visit in Maine” because honestly Ellsworth is pretty average. It is the surrounding area that you actually want to visit. We lived in Ellsworth for a little while and we spent most of our free time in Lamoine and Bar Harbor. Ellsworth is the major town outside of Acadia National Park. You heard me right. Bar Harbor is the closest town, but it is strictly a tourism town. Ellsworth is the first major town you will find the locals in. If you’re taking a trip to Downeast Maine it is a great spot to base your trip out of. There are hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations and plenty of amenities to support your trip Downeast.
Greenville
It is not a secret that Greenville is a popular summer destination, but I still find myself wanting to keep this knowledge to myself. I f*&#ing love Greenville. This is the destination you want to set your heading to if you enjoy the great outdoors with a hint of amenities. The main street has a coffee shop, outdoor gear store and atv rental location, restaurants, and town docks on the lake. Moosehead lake is generally what draws in the crowd, but don’t forget the major network of hiking trails, atv trails, moose watching and relaxing that will go along with it. If you check out our website we have an entire post dedicated to Greenville.
Kennebunkport
This town is what I would call a major small town. So close to Maine’s southern border it is really easy to access from out of state. When you visit you’ll be awed by the coastal views and downtown charm overlooking the water while shopping. A few stores are actually built on a pier over the tide. If you like fine dining you’ll find several options to love, and if you like breweries and local food you won’t be left wanting. Spend your day in Kennebunkport taking in the shops and restaurants.
Castine/Belfast
I tend to view Castine and Belfast as the smaller, unique version of Rockland and Camden. There are smaller crowds, more local shopping and restaurants. If you’d like a slower pace to your trip to Maine these towns have the actual small town feel to them. Castine is home to Maine Maritime Academy, and has a small hub of a town surrounding it. Belfast is slightly larger with local shops and restaurants. Their location on Route 1 allows easy access to other coastal towns for adventuring.
Monson
I put Monson on this list as a bonus, and it does fit the bill as an actual small town. Monson is on the way to Greenville, and west of Sebec and Dover-Foxcroft. This makes it a great spot to stop at if you’re headed to Moosehead Lake or Peaks Kenney State Park. You may even want to make it your central spot for visiting either area as day trips. My favorite spot is the Monson General Store, or having dinner on the lake at The Lakeshore House.
Monhegan Island
Located 10 miles off the coast of Pemaquid, Monhegan Island is only about a square mile in size. You’ll need to take the ferry or your own boat to get there. The main draw to the island is the natural beauty, hiking trails and small town charm. While you’re there check out the Monhegan Island Lighthouse then grab a drink from Monhegan Brewing Company. There are inns on the island if you’d like to spend the night as well.
This list of the best small Maine towns is a bit unconventional, but well worth it. It’s my personal opinion that some travel blogs and websites play up how much there is to do in each town. I would hate it if I was planning a vacation, got there and realized there wasn’t as much as I thought, or I was in the wrong spot for the activity I wanted the most. Hopefully this list will help you figure out if you’re looking for small town charm, shopping, outdoor activities or general relaxation. Happy adventuring!
