Cinnamon Gets Ready for Her Dog Friendly Vacation to Anacortes and San Juan Island

Hi Everybody. It’s Cinnamon the vacay dog here! I’ve been getting ready for my exciting trip to Anacortes and San Juan Island. I started researching where I wanted to go and all of a sudden I found myself headed for the bathtub…. and a dratted bath! I make like I hate them but once in the tub the rubbing and scrubbing feels kinda nice. 

So once I was finished with that chore, I went outside to air dry and sit in the sun. Of course Francesca was very interested in what had happened to me. She got all excited and wanted to help me run and dry off. Then she smelled me and said, "Phew! You smell like flowery perfume!" At that point she started teasing me... "Nah, nah, na, nah, na... stinky Cinnamon!"

Well I put a stop to that when I reminded her that I was leaving HER at the Doggie Country Club while I, Cinnamon, took a luxury vacation. You know, walk along the marina in Anacortes, a ferry ride and a luxury suite in Friday Harbor as home base. Well, that shut her up. The rest of the afternoon was quiet and I got to sit in the sun and dry off. Francesca went to her hidey-hole in the corner of the yard and sulked.

Here I am basking in the sun after my bath when Francesca comes up to smell me.

When I get to Friday Harbor I'll be checking into my Penthouse at Island Inn 123 West. Yes, Penthouse! That's why I call this a luxury vacation. I'll be checking out yachts in Anacortes, cruising on a ferry and staying at a very special place. I might even do a little wine tasting and shopping for lavender products. I'll be posting photos on Instagram and telling you all about it here.

I'd better go pack. Should I take my lifejacket? (I have one, you know!)

More Information on Where Cinnamon is Going

Experience Anacortes

Visit San Juan Islands

Ferry Dog Once More! Riding the Washington State Ferries

I just got the good news. I'm riding a Washington State Ferry in just about a week! I am so excited!

When I traveled in Haida Gwaii, I learned how to be a FerryDog. In order to get from the mainland to these remote islands, we had to take an overnight ferry. That meant I had to stay in the car and sleep during the crossing. Now I didn’t like it when the hull creaked, the horn sounded and the loudspeaker announcements were made, but I managed to just deal with it. 

Here's the huge overnight ferry I rode on

Here I am sleeping in the car. I got annoyed because of the sounds all night.

After the big ferry we had to take a little ferry too.

Why did I just deal with it? Well I loved Haida Gwaii. The beaches were full of seaweed, shells, crabs and leftover fish (the parts the eagles missed) and I could go wading. I loved my time there!

Here I am tidepooling in Haida Gwaii

So now, as we plan our luxury vacation in Anacortes and SanJuan Island, I’m involved in the planning. I asked to take a ferry where I could ride on the deck with my ears flying in the wind And Washington State Ferries allows that! Here’s their pet policy.

So we made a ferry reservation online to travel from Anacortes to Friday Harbor and back again.

We will stay in Anacortes, where they have some great places to walk, and take the ferry over the next morning. I’m looking forward to every bit of my luxury getaway. It’s been too long since I had a vacation without Francesca!

Love, Cinnamon

About Feast Portland and a Starving Coon Hound

Here I am after opening a box of food.
I get two meals a day at home but add in lunch
at day care because I play so hard.

Hi, it's me, Francesca, the Coonhound. I'm writing today to tell you about yesterday. I didn't write last night because, frankly, I was too wiped out.

Yesterday started out great. I had breakfast and went to A Dog's Best Friend, my favorite Day Care. I go there once in awhile while my owner is away for the day. I run, play and have a nice lunch to sustain me through the day. So I was looking forward to playing.

Yesterday, lunchtime came and they didn't call my name. Whoa!!!! No lunch for Francesca? What was that all about. I hadn't a clue because I always get lunch at day care.

As the afternoon dragged on, I went up to the people that work there and let them know I WAS HUNGRY. I laid on their laps, made goo-goo eyes and even licked them on the face. And I still didn't get lunch. You see, not all the dogs want lunch there. So they didn't know.

By 4:30 I was about starved to death when my owner FINALLY SHOWED UP! I got a treat in the office and then jumped in the car. It was at that point that my owner and I spied MY LUNCH BAG in the back of the car. SHE HAD FORGOTTEN TO TAKE IT IN! I was so hungry I decided to let my owner know about it all the way home. I barked my loudest bark as soon as we left the parking lot. All the way down the street I barked and barked.

Am I dead? Starved to death?
You be the judge!

As soon as we got home, I ran to the dining room (I always eat just outside the dining room door. I didn't say hi to Cinnamon, I didn't run around the yard, I didn't pass go... I just got in position for DINNER!

I barked obnoxiously to urge my owner to hurry up and feed me. After all I was starving. Rather quickly I got my meal and enjoyed every morsel.

After dinner, I had a chat with my owner about her day. It was then that I found out what she had been doing AND IT MADE IT ALL WORSE!

She had been to Feast Portland events.... eating! Eating lots! First she went to the media breakfast at Gracie's at the Hotel de Luxe where they had pastries, French toast and sausage from Olympia Provisions.... she wasn't adventuresome enough to try the Octopus Benedict!

Here's what Octopus Benedict looks like. I would have been happy to have some.
The chefs at Gracie's know how to cook!

And after that she went to a luncheon sponsored by Washington Wines at Super Bite. Get this, it was a 15 course tasting lunch. Yes, 15 (that wasn't a typo). She enjoyed such delights as Salmon and Albacore Cerviche and Whole Fried Trout topped with crab and BBQ Beef Shortrib.... all things I would love to share.

A dog would love just a bite of this Fried Whole Trout
From Super Bite.

I love seafood. Super Bite knows how to make it pretty!

And after all that, she didn't bring us a thing! She did this while I was STARVING!

So today, Saturday, Feast Portland continues. This afternoon she is going to Smoked! where they have all sorts of grilled meats and dishes cooked over an open fire. I'm making sure I have dinner before she leaves.

And, I have a plan. I am sending her there with two sandwich bags... one for me and one for Cinnamon. I am telling her to fill them with morsels of meat from the famous chefs that will be there. Those little doggie bags from Smoked! should at least partially make up for my day of hunger yesterday.

Love, Francesca

#12Bravecto How to Choose the Right Tick Prevention for your Dog

Hi. It's me, Cinnamon. I'm back writing about BRAVECTO® (fluralaner) that Francesca and I take. I can't even remember what its like to have fleas or one of those blood-sucking ticks. Can you?

This post is sponsored by BRAVECTO® and the BlogPaws® Pet Influencer Network™. I am being compensated to help share information about BRAVECTO. But we only share information we feel is relevant to our readers. Neither Intervet Inc., nor Merck & Co Inc., are responsible for the content of this article and have not written, reviewed, or edited it in any fashion. For more information about BRAVECTO please click here.)

Well, if you can, it's time to make that appointment with your veterinarian to ask about a flea and tick control that will wipe those horrible pests out! Ticks are what you get when you are having fun running through the grass. Or, sometimes, you can get one just walking out in your backyard to go potty! I heard they literally suck your blood! And they sorta blow up like balloons. Ugh!

They caught this blood sucker just in the nick of time!

Dogs need tick protection, even those dogs that only go for a walk in the park! Protect your dog and yourself. Ticks can carry diseases that can be harmful to you and your pet. See what kind of ticks are in your area and what diseases your dog might be exposed to by going to this website and selecting your state.

Now the fact is, ticks are really small. You can't see them easily until they "balloon up." So you owners out there need to check your dog for ticks carefully. If you find one, here's how to remove it.

Talk to your veterinarian to discuss which product is best for your pet. One convenient option that provides extended duration is Bravecto® (fluralaner) a tasty oral chew, that lasts for up to 12 weeks*. Bravecto takes the worry out of tick protection so you and your pet can enjoy the outdoors.

If your dog is like me, running like the wind through the grasses is part of enjoying life. I don't want anyone to spoil my quality of life just because of a stupid little insect. When I was in Bend, Oregon, we went to this dog park with a huge grassy area. They let the grass grow until it was taller than me. I could think of nothing better than running and hopping through this grass. It was pure joy!

Here I am running like the wind!

If you and your veterinarian decide to switch to BRAVECTO® and you are a new user, signing up for MyPet.com My Pet Rewards can help you save money while protecting your dog from fleas and ticks. Register for savings here.

Remember, the sooner the better!

Here I am exploring the dog park in Bend... the one with the tall grassy area. It was so fun!

* Disclaimer: BRAVECTO kills fleas, prevents flea infestations, and kills ticks (black legged tick, American dog tick, and brown dog tick) for 12 weeks. BRAVECTO also kills lone star ticks for 8 weeks.

Important Safety Information: The most common adverse reactions recorded in clinical trials were vomiting, decreased appetite, diarrhea, lethargy, polydipsia, and flatulence. BRAVECTO has not been shown to be effective for 12 weeks duration in puppies less than 6 months of age. BRAVECTO is not effective against lone star ticks beyond 8 weeks after dosing.

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information published. However, it remains the responsibility of the readers to familiarize themselves with the product information contained on the USA product label or package. More product information is available here: