Quick Pet Friendly Getaway on Riverwalk

My trips are usually planned pretty far in advance. This one was different.

It was toward the end of a summer spent mostly at home and Teddy and I were getting restless. I was also looking for something to talk about for my upcoming CI Living show.

 

Since I live just two hours south of Chicago and the windy City offers endless things to do, it was the obvious choice. I wanted something a bit different this time around. A focus on the Riverwalk sounded like the perfect idea.

Even though Teddy is a service dog and allowed everywhere, I wanted a pet friendly place where people could have the same experience we did. The Sheraton Grand Riverwalk fit all the requirements and it was a hotel I had not previously been to.

 My friend, Kim, came along for the short trip. We checked in quickly and went up to our large accessible room, with a king bed, a pullout couch, and a bed and bowl set up for Teddy that was much bigger than he was.

We also had a welcoming charcuterie plate. It was filled with meats, cheeses, and vegetables. We  just nibbled on a bit since we had plans for dinner.

 

When I go to Chicago I usually check out a restaurant I haven’t been to before, having multiple courses and tasting as much as I can. This was planned differently. I wanted a pet friendly experience.

We went downstairs and walked through the large lobby bar and to the Riverwalk, where we entered Chicago Burger Company. This venue is open at the Sheraton Grand in the spring, summer, and fall.

At first it looked just like a fast food restaurant. We soon learned they had a lot more to offer. Along with the usual burgers, hot dogs, fries, and milkshakes, Chicago Burger Company has frozen cocktails, beer, and smoothies. They also have a food menu for dogs.

 

We ordered our food and drinks and went to sit outside overlooking the river. While we waited we did some people – and dog – watching. The area had a bit of a Paris vibe with the waterfront. The Sheraton Grand even has its own dock so you can come and go by boat.

 

Although I can’t say his food looked overly appealing, Teddy loved the CBC Burger. Kim was equally satisfied with the Chili & Cheddar Burger and her side of fried pickles. I decided to go meatless with a Mushroom Swiss Impossible Burger and sweet potato tots. It was the right choice.

 

We also tried out the frozen cocktails It was a Mango Rum for me and a Lakeshore Lemonade for Kim. Teddy stuck with the water.

 

After we ate, Kim and Teddy walked while I rode my wheelchair along the Riverwalk. It was a beautiful scene at night as it had been during the day and I found it to be very accessible.

 

We slept very well at the Sheraton Grand. As expected, Teddy preferred my bed to the one set up for him on the floor. In the morning, we had coffee and the rest of that delicious charcuterie plate before heading home.

I received complimentary accommodations and food on this trip, but opinions are my own.

Furry Fun at StayPineapple in Chicago

I've been to many Chicago hotels, but StayPineapple is one of my best discoveries in years.

I love pineapple and was very intrigued about a hotel built around the fruit. When I heard they were very dog friendly, I knew I had to go. I brought my friend Kim and my Yorkie Teddy along to enjoy the fun for a quick trip.

Even though Teddy is a service dog and is welcome everywhere, I try to take him to pet friendly places so he gets the dog perks. We received welcome drinks (Sauvignon Blanc for me and pineapple beer for Kim), pineapple shaped cookies, pineapple water, and, of course, dog biscuits for Teddy, as soon as we arrived at the hotel.

My corner suite was perfect, with a king bed in the large bedroom, and a couch, chair, and second television in the living room. Kim had the room next door to herself. We had a beautiful view from the window. 

Teddy had a bed set up for him and bowls for water and food next to it. In his goodie bag was also a yellow container with a clip, filled with poop bags (there are areas nearby where you can walk your dog).

 

Both rooms had the consistent pineapple theme throughout. Our robes were yellow with pineapples. Even the bathroom had toilet paper designed as a pineapple! I could detect the faint smell of pineapple in the air. 

I enjoyed my wine while I was spread out on the couch with my feet up. It was nice to chill in this environment. Teddy was happy he wasn't needed and ran around and explored the entire place. He finally settled in comfortably on my bed, between all the pillows with pineapple pictures.

 The hotel amenities are definitely more than you see in most Chicago hotels. In addition to what I’ve mentioned, all guests get complimentary internet, unlimited bottled water and coffee/tea in the room, and bikes for borrowing. The cookies and pineapple water are also always available free of charge in the lobby.

After the rest, we went downstairs to have dinner at the hotel’s Atwood Restaurant. We took full advantage of the pineapple filled menu, starting with a Naked Experience cocktail (brown sugar bourbon, pineapple, lemonade & Luxardo cherry) for Kim, served in a pineapple shaped container, and a tequila and pineapple juice for me.

We had shared the  Pineapple Teriyaki Wings, which had chunks of pineapple, and cheese-filled Nachos with a pineapple salsa for our appetizers. The kitchen also sent us the spicy wings to try. Kim had the steak and polenta special for a main course, and I did the BBQ Pork Sliders, which had a sweet and tangy pineapple Cole slaw.

 

Dessert was a dark chocolate skillet brownie with raspberry sauce and a Pineapple Whip, a soft serve that would definitely make Walt Disney jealous. Everything we had was delicious and obviously made with fresh ingredients.

 Teddy had plenty of bones – and a few morsels that might have fallen on the floor, where he sat during our dinner. After he went for a walk, he was content to go back to the room to rest, though he didn’t prefer my bed over his.

 

After a good night’s sleep, we were back at Atwood for brunch. Kim had the Loaded Breakfast Potatoes, with bacon, sausage, and sunny side eggs over crispy potatoes. I had a tomato and cheese omelet, with the potatoes. We were as pleased with breakfast as we have dinner.

As for accessibility, inside it was incredibly good, and the staff was very accommodating. The doors were too heavy for me to manage on my own, though. I am looking forward to seeing more Chicago establishments installing automatic doors.

 

StayPineapple is just a few blocks between Millennium Park and Grant Park. It is also a short walk to the Chicago Theater District so the location is a good one.

It’s rarely I get to relax, eat, and drink all in one place. It was a short getaway, but I really good one I would definitely do again

Carmel, Indiana: Teddy’s First Trip

This trip was very different from any other, even though I had been to Carmel, Indiana, before. This was my very first trip with Teddy.

Although Teddy was born and came to me during the pandemic, he was definitely not a puppy I got because of COVID isolation. I had planned for two years to get a yorkie.  

I had grown up with a dog and realized soon after we got him I was allergic. I had to avoid dogs for years. Then, a friend came to stay with me for a few weeks and I realized that I didn’t have a problem with the hair (and no dander) of the breed. I prepared financially to get and support a full bred Yorkie. He came home with me in August, 2020.

Teddy is more than a companion. I’ve also trained him as a service dog. He can bring me things, such as pills, glasses, and my inhaler. He also senses drops in my blood sugar and blood pressure. Last, but certainly not least, he comes to comfort me when I’m upset or having breathing issues.

The pandemic definitely slowed down one of the most important parts of his training – taking him to public places. He had been to Rural King and a few local restaurants, and I was ready to take him on my trip to Carmel.

I picked up my friend, Jaimee, along the way. She lives in nearby Indianapolis. There was a travel showcase there for journalists to check out all the places to go in Indiana. I was on my scooter with Teddy on my lap.

 

Teddy wasn’t used to all the crowds at first, but Jaimee took him outside a few times so he wouldn’t disturb anyone. We made it through, and I collected information on places I’m still working on getting to. Indiana is filled with towns, large and small, that are hidden treasures.

From there we headed to Carmel, about a half hour away. One of the reasons we chose to stay there is because it’s very pet friendly. Service dogs are allowed everywhere, but since this was Teddy’s first getaway, I felt that he wasn’t trained enough to go into places that aren’t pet friendly.

 

We stayed at Home2 Suites near downtown. It was my first experience in one of these properties even though I have stayed at Hilton’s other brands a lot. It was a good choice. The room was extremely large and had a very well-equipped kitchen. There was also a couch for Teddy to get comfortable on.

After we got our things settled in and I had a chance to put my feet up for a while, we went to Carmel’s Peace Water Winery. This is an unusual place for a few reasons. First, they consider themselves “Indiana’s Napa Valley Winery.” All the grapes come from California for the Peace Water wines.

The second thing that makes this place so special really impressed me. They donate 50% of their net profits to charities, some local, and some worldwide. You can see exactly where on their charity wall, located at the winery. They have three different locations. All are in the Indianapolis area.

We sampled some wine, and I settled on Wishful White, a blend, as my favorite. Teddy was comfortable in this dog-friendly atmosphere, and we decided to do as we saw others and order some food from Muldoon’s down the street to go with the wine.  

The selection on the menu was pretty big and I settled on the New York Reuben with sweet potato fries, while Jaimee had a burger. There was a fudge covered cheesecake for dessert. Teddy had a few fries to go with his dog food. Like me, he prefers the sweet potato ones.

We headed back to Home2 Suites down the road. It was time to rest up for day two of Teddy’s first trip, which included a dog park and the Christkindlmarkt. We were hoping he was tired enough to sleep through the night in a strange place.

 

I was hosted on this trip, but opinions are my own. 

 

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