On my way to Chicago for the meditation retreatin July, the husband called me. He must have been looking at a map of where I was. He noticed that there was an Indiana Dunes National Park. I knew that because we had just done a puzzle of lots of park logos and it was on there. I had some time to kill so I stopped by the visitor center and got a magnet for him as a promise that we would go sometime.
We decided to do a quick weekend trip. Nemo got to come too for a beach trip. He was very stressed by our packing the day before. Every time I looked back at him on the way over there, he was just smiling like he was happy to be included.
The website said it was hard to get parking. I didn’t understand how true that was. There is almost no parking. We got a space only because the husband has handicapped tags on his car and one opened up just as we were driving past. That was at the second beach we tried to go to.
It was very nice there. We’d never been to Lake Michigan before. We spend a lot of time at Lake Erie.
Nemo got naked on the beach. I wanted him to walk in the wet sand to cool his feet but he is scared of waves. Don’t tell him I told you that. He slipped his collar to try to get away from them. I grabbed him back and told him he didn’t need to get wet. He stayed in his fitted sheet playpen with towels and chairs for shade – except when he was acting like a tough guy at the German Shepherd nearby. The Shepherd didn’t notice Nemo but he acted like he personally ran that dog off the beach when that dog decided to leave.
After that we went to get dinner at a pizza place with a patio. We tried another restaurant with pet-friendly reviews. When we got there though, there were 2 signs about how they weren’t pet friendly on the front of the building. Guess they hate those reviews coming up on Google.
Nemo did well in the hotel overnight. He got a little barky but he got snatched up and hugged every time so he quit. He was also very tired so he fell asleep. He learned to do elevators. He didn’t approve of the doors not opening immediately though. If he was taller he’d be one of those people constantly hitting the call button until the elevator came.
One time we were in the elevator and a man got in wearing a shirt with an airbrushed scene and the word GANGSTER in very large purple glitter letters. We were both fascinated but I had the manners not to stare openly. Nemo did not.
Nemo met some other dogs. One was just learning manners and wanted meet Nemo. He finally agreed to give her the time of day and show her how to respect her elders. Her dad was so happy with a good interaction. Nemo just walked off indifferently.
I look for pet-friendly places on BringFido.com. I’ve had good luck with hotels, restaurants, and activities.
He slept hard the whole drive home. We stopped for gas and lunch in Elkhart Indiana. I’m sure it is just a coincidence (sarcasm) but now I’m getting facts about Elkhart in my Youtube feed. Flintstone vitamins and Alka-Seltzer are from there. There is also a very luscious vegetable garden alongside a motel near the gas station. Nemo and I checked out the produce. Someone really planted a lot of peas.
The beaches are pretty in the park – if you can get to them. There are trails that you can hike on. We didn’t have time for that. We may go back when we have more time.
