The Glade 4.0

I'm thinking about flying out to the west coast, renting an RV and tooling around the northwest for a couple of weeks this summer with the wife and toddler.

Anyone done this? Any tips? I'd like to get my husky out there with us - any thoughts on this?

If you're bringing the dog, I'd recommend against flying. Transporting animals via planes (unless you can bring it onboard with you) is pretty cruel IMHO.

Can you elaborate? What's cruel about it?

It'll take me ~4 days to drive to the west coast, and 4 days back. That's driving hard. I'm not interested in putting in those kinds of road hours with the wife and toddler.

When pets are transported on an airline, they are put in the luggage compartment.

There is no sound proofing and no climate control. Typically this can be fairly traumatic for the animal. Also, they are basically treated as luggage, so are subject to the same issues that can happen to your underwear.

http://doglaw.hugpug.com/doglaw_042.html



I didn't quote the entire article.

Actually, at least on the 3 airlines I've looked at, it is a pressurized, climate controlled compartment. If it is pressurized, it will be sound proofed to some degree.

It will be a direct, 5-6 hour flight.

I personally think that people who leave their dogs in kennels while they are at work all day are being cruel to their pets. I do not like the idea of leaving her in a crate for that period of time. However, I'm trying to balance her inconvenience in this regard against her loneliness and inconvenience of being left in a pet day care for 2 weeks.

I've never had any direct experience with it, and hopefully the airlines are as they claim and you have a positive experience. I've just heard a lot of horror stories.

Totally understand the desire to bring her along.

I keep picturing Randy Quaid standing at the curb in a shorty bathrobe and cigar in his mouth as he unloads the RV sewage in Clark's storm drain..

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If you are RV-ing it...definitely hit the Olympic Peninsula. La Push (hit the tidepools at low tide: A-freakin'-mazing), Hoh Rain Forest, Crescent Lake, Hurricane Ridge, Port Townsend. Ignore the Twilight fangirls and it's still a great place to recreate.

One additional thing that you maybe hadn't considered. Why not rent an RV where you are and drive it to the West Coast? There's a lot of pretty country along the way.

Because I've driven across Country numerous times, and it will take 4 days each way, pushing hard.

Definitely seconded. I didn't realize that's where Twilight takes place, though, I'll just ignore that. Portland is a pretty cool place, too, might try to take a drive from Seattle, out to the Olympic Peninsula, then down the coast to Portland.

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The Peninsula is indeed a beautiful place. The entire northwest coast is. Just be prepared for horrendous traffic jams, especially if you are driving mid-summer, and plan to take the ferry in either direction.

Lots of other neat places to see in Washington state. Leavenworth is neat, and there is Paradise (Mt Rainier) depending on time of year. I think the observatory at Mt. St Helens is still open (you might want to verify). There are lots of wineries on both sides of the cascades if you like to visit those.

You could also ferry over to Victoria BC, or drive up to Vancouver BC.

I'll try to re-visit this thread as I think of more places to visit around here.

Edit:
Just did a google image search for "Olympic National Park". Take a looksee...

http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&suge ... 0&bih=1117

Go up to Port Angeles, take the ferry over to Victoria. If you take the RV you can go visit the Bouchard Gardens after spending a little time in Victoria itself, lovely town. Drive out to Nanaimo take the ferry over to Vancouver BC and drive down from there. alternatively, drive up to Vancouver and reverse the route, then you're set to drive down the coast.

If you plan to go into Canada, bring your passports. Bring the dogs papers. Check to see if there is a problem taking dogs across the border.

The RV will not make good time down the coast. It will however, grant you the opportunity to take your time driving down a magnificent coastline, some inland, but still beautiful.

Drive down to Tillamook in Oregon, visit the cheesemaker, then East on 6, not a great drive for a large vehicle, but you get to pass through Idiotville. Really.

Bring layers of clothing. Summer on the west side of the peninsula is lonely and chilly occasionally.

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Oh, i just remembered. I took the scenic route driving down to the Healdsburg guitar festival a few years back, and was pleasantly surprised at how amazing Crater Lake park is. I'm usually not much for touristy things, but I really enjoyed this. You might consider it if you happen to be in the south-central Oregon area. =)

Thanks all. Keep them coming.

Anyone ever fly a dog before? Rent an RV? I'd be interested to hear how it went.

We fly dogs all the time. They have all been fine. I'm fairly certain that most airlines that fly dogs now have pressurized luggage areas. If you aren't sure, ask the airline.

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