Boulder Falls Pet Resort at the Holiday Pet Fest AZ

This past weekend Boulder Falls Pet Resort had a booth set up at a Holiday Pet Fest in Scottsdale, AZ. Boulder Falls is a pet boarding and day care facility in northern Phoenix, AZ. They are great! If you live in AZ and will be traveling check out their website, also be sure to stop by for a tour.

Sage, a Great Dane, stopped by Boulder Falls booth to take a look.

This was a holiday PET fest, and this little guy took it to heart! A miniature pony on a lead walked around and was not bothered by any of the dogs. He was even in the holiday spirit with his Santa jacket. Boulder Falls has been known to take pets other than cats and dogs. They have had rabbits, birds, ferrets, chinchillas, and even a pot-bellied pig! They love all animals great and small!

 Pets could even have their picture taken with Santa at the Pet Fest.

This little guy was also dressed for the occasion, and was patiently waiting his turn to take a picture with Santa.

It was a great day with lots of fun and friendly animals. Boulder Falls hopes that some of you will give them a call and come for a visit!!

*The opinions are strictly that of the author. There has been no reimbursement for this post.

Wine Tasting, with your furry friend!

So once again I went wine tasting, I know big shocker. I went well Mike was out of town, I went with some friends. One of the guys has family that lives near San Luis Obispo and about 20 minutes from Paso Robles. Friday night we spent with his family at his childhood home (more on that later) and then went wine tasting on Saturday before heading back to Lemoore. I took Sunset with me so wine tasting had to be at all dog friendly places. Turns out there are a lot of them over there.

Stop #1: Donati Family Vineyard

Tasting Fee: $5

We had a good time here. It was our first stop so everyone was in a pretty good mood. For the $5 tasting fee you get to choose five wines. They have whites, red, and some dessert wines. They also had crackers with 3 different kind of toppings to put on. So we had a little wine, got a little snack and enjoyed ourselves. I enjoyed there chardonnay, and I don't usually like white wines. I ended up buying a bottle of that as well as a bottle of their red blend. They have a 15% military discount, and the tasting fee is waived with the purchase of a bottle of wine.

Stop #2: Croad Vineyards

Tasting Fee: $5

Set high atop a hill this place offered gorgeous views, in fact the picture of Donati Family was taken from up here. Croad only had red wines. I wouldn't say any of them were amazing, they were ok. If the prices hadn't been so much, $28-32 per bottle, I may have bought one of them. Also, in order for them to waive the tasting fee you would have to buy two bottles of wine. Not really worth it for me.

They did however have an adorable winery dog named Zin, who would peek her head over the counter to greet new customers.

Stop #3: Red Soles

Tasting Fee: $10

Very neat little place, and VERY dog friendly. They gave Sunset a bandana and took a picture for their cork board of furry visitors. Although the tasting fee is $10 they have an extensive list of wines to choose from, I want to say close 20, and you can taste as many as you like. They also had a military discount of 15% I believe, and he waived the tasting fee for all of us because of the military. It is always fun when you are able to meet the owners of the winery. This one is a husband and wife, and he had served in the military. We heard many great stories and had an all around good time. Their wines were good, and I did end up buying one bottle whose entire proceeds went to Boys and Girls Clubs around the area. Good wine for a good cause.

Stop #4: Lone Madone

Tasting Fee: $ 10, keep the glass

Our final stop of the day was Lone Madrone. I had heard they were dog friendly and their wines had been recommended. I wasn't too impressed with most of them. One of the other main reasons we stopped here is because they advertised hard apple cider, yum! Christina tasted it and said it wasn't great so I didn't even bother. They did have a red blend that was decent and not too expensive. I ended up buying it, although no military discount here, and they didn't waive the tasting fee with purchase. Not sure I would recommend this place. There were a lot of people in there though so maybe they have something I just wasn't getting.

One thing I have noticed is wine tasting with a dog slows you down a bit. It could also be the heat maybe. Regardless, I can't wait to go back and keep adding to my total. I'm at just over 30, only about 150 to go before I hit 'em all!!

Paso Robles with Pups

So I have been watching an 11 week old golden retriever puppy for some friends while they are out of town. And since I can't get said friends to go wine tasting in Paso Robles with me, I decided to take their dog, Hamilton, instead. Going wine tasting with dogs definitely slows you down a little bit. We were only able to do 4 wineries, where usually we can do about 6. Some of that might have had to do with the heat of the day though, it gets freaking hot out here in the desert.

My mom, aunt and I loaded up the two pups and headed towards Paso. We had a list of about 12 wineries that we were pretty sure would allow leashed dogs inside the tasting room.

Here is Hamilton anxiously awaiting his day of adventure, and Sunset slinking down saying "Do I really have to put up with this?"

Stop #1: Chumeia Vineyards
Tasting Fee: $5, waived with purchase

Our first stop was winery, that through some research, I knew was dog friendly inside the tasting room. The other neat thing about this winery is that they work closely with an animal shelter nearby, donating part of their proceeds and also acting as a drop off point for various pet related items needed at the shelter. We had a great time here. Sunset and Hamilton were pretty excited as this was they first stop after an hour and a half of laying in the car, so they didn't calm down too well. We were still able to taste, and each of us left having bought at least one bottle of wine.

(Doesn't she make a great spokesdog?)

Stop #2: Bianchi

Tasting Fee: $5, includes the glass

This place was great. The grounds were gorgeous and the wines were amazing. This is definitely a do-over stop. I will be coming back here for sure. Everything we tasted was really good. The staff was great, and the dogs were a little bit more mellow this time having now understood the drill. 

Stop #3: Eberle

Tasting Fee: Free

This was my second stop at Eberle. Their wines were decent enough last time, and I also knew from last time that their tasting room was pet friendly. Eberle also has an incredible discount for military at 40%, which is better than what they offer members of their wine club, good deal!

Here is Sunset outside enjoying the fresh air and great views at Eberle.

Stop #4: Firestone

Tasting Fee: $5, not waived with purchase

Their wines are decent enough, and their tasting room is dog friendly (including treats for the pups) but if you purchase a bottle of wine, or even a case of wine like my mom did, they do not waive the tasting fee or give you one of their labeled glasses.

The pups were getting done at this point and so we decided to get some lunch and then head home from here. We ate at a place called Farmstand 46 where all their veggies on the sandwiches are pulled straight from the garden on premises. We had a meat and veggie sandwich that was really yummy.

Sunset says it's time to go:

And Hamilton had a little too much to drink:

Wine Tasting, again

Didn't I say I love Paso!! We went two weekends in a row we have so much fun there. Last weekend it was just Mike and I, this weekend we were able to finally drag some of our friends along...and they all loved it too!!

This is Mike saying this is weekend 2, in a row!

Here's the rundown of our day...


Stop 1: J. Lohr
Tasting Fee: n/a

First off, they are dog friendly! This is actually a pic of our friends dogs that came with us, they let them in the tasting room. Awesome!! The wines were decent as well. They had about 4 or 5 cabernet sauvignon, which is what Mike and I like best at most places. They also had a good selection of whites and sweeter wines, which pleased most of our group. Speaking of group, we had a big one this weekend...

There was ten of us, plus the two dogs. We had a blast! It is so much better to do this with a group. Not that I don't love spending time with husband one on one, because I do!

Stop 2: Sylvester

Tasting Fee: n/a, can chocolate or cheese pairing for $10

The group was mixed about this winery. Mike and I thought it ok, although the cheese pairing was good (and we got to keep the cheese board, bonus!). They also were pet friendly allowing Mykayla and Matilda in the tasting room on their leashes. Sylvester had a good selection of wines, both reds and whites. I don't remember much about their sweet wine choice because I'm not a sweet wine person. I think Mike and I would both come back here again, but not for a bit. We want to try all the wineries in Paso at one point (I think we are well on our way, don't you?)

Mykayla thoroughly enjoyed Sylvester, they had a "pool" our front for her to splash in! Pretty sure we shouldn't have let her do it, but Jesse was goading her on!

Stop 3: Eberle

Tasting fee: n/a

We had a great time here, and again another pet friendly tasting room! Love it. This place was by far I think everyone's favorite. Their wine was great, and they had a wide selection to choose from. You got to choose 5 wines to taste for free. I'm pretty sure everyone in our group walked away buying a bottle from here. The bonus to Eberle...they had barbeque for us to snack on. They had tri-tip, pork ribs, and duck sausage...and it was all AMAZING!! This will definitely be a return to winery. It was great, the food was great, the wine was great. Oh, and they have an amazing military discount as well. We got the wine cheaper then their club members do! For real, it was awesome. A definite must stop in Paso.

Plus look as the crazy pics you can take with the boars:

Stop 4: Lunch at Downtown Brewing Co.

Of course we had to stop somewhere to get some food, and more drinks! Although from what I tasted their beers were nothing to shout about, and the food wasn't to great either. We had fun though, and we definitely needed to food to absorb the wine so we could go have more!

And more we did have, after a fairly rushed lunch (because we wanted to go to more wineries) we hit the road again!

Stop 5: Jan Kris

Although a very cute place on the outside, their wines were not so great. Mike and I were not fans. Although they did have a decent selection of whites, and three sparkling fruity wines, so if that's your thing you might enjoy this one. Just another check mark on the list.

Stop 6: Castoro Cellars

Tasting Fee: 3 wines free (5 wines free for military)

Isn't that walkway just gorgeous. This was probably one of the prettiest ones we went to. This one was a last minute decision, it was right across from JanKris, where we had just left, and we decided what the heck, might as well try it while we are here. This was another A from everyone in our group. The wines were great, the lady helping us was great (even though she was super busy she still explained each wine to us). 

Everyone was getting a little silly by this point. This would be a definite return to at some point for Mike and I. They had really good reds, and a decent selection of whites if that's more your thing. 

Stop 7: Doce Robles

Tasting Fee: $5

This was our last stop of the day. We were the only ones in there, and the owners were both in pouring our wines for us. I'm not sure who it was but someone in the owner's family was in the Navy, so having a bunch of Navy pilot's in their was awesome for them. Not sure if it was the norm for military or not, but none of us were charged tasting fees. This winery only had red wines, no whites at all. Which for Mike and I was okay, but for others they were bummed about it. Their wines were pretty good. There cab sauv and syrah blend was my favorite.

One thing that was fun about this winery was the two german shepherds and the kitty they had roaming in the tasting room. Unfortunately one of the german shepherds was attacked by a customer's dog a few years back and so now they no longer allow outside pets. But they were sweet.

This trip was great fun! Half of our group stayed the night in Paso, and had wine at the jacuzzi of the hotel. And the rest of us had to drive the hour and a half back to Lemoore. Someday Mike and I will stay in Paso for the night. There are a few pet friendly hotels so we can bring Sunset!

Like I've said, I love Paso. I love that it is so close and that now snowboarding season is over so our friends will come with us! It's great!

Doggie Beach

I was in AZ for two weeks while Mike was at survival and p.o.w. training in San Diego. When he was finished Sunset and I met him in San Diego and we stayed for a night there before going to S.B. for a night. While in San Diego, we took Sunset to the Ocean Beach doggie beach.

She played for awhile, and then she was all done and layed on the beach refusing to come back in the water!