St. Augustine, the oldest city in the US for the history buffs out there, is renowned for its dog-friendly atmosphere. There are plenty of hotels and rentals that cater to pet owners, making it convenient to explore downtown and the beaches with your furry pal. Speaking from my personal experience, I am thrilled with my beachfront accommodation - it was definitely the perfect choice.
I specifically picked Vilano Beach because I wanted to stay in a beachfront location and there have a few options. My husband, pups, and visited this beach one time before in late 2022. During that trip, we stayed at The St. Augustine Beach House in room 309. The room was great, and the staff was very accommodating. I highly recommend staying here for everyone. This time, though, I wanted to try a short-term rental.
After scouring Airbnb for a rental that could accommodate two adults and three dogs, I found the Paradise Ocean House, which met all of what I was looking for. The house is beachfront, dog-friendly, and has many amenities, including a fully equipped kitchen and two balconies with stunning views of the ocean. The master faced the ocean to give us stunning sunrise views from bed.
This location, with the beach right out the door, was perfect for walks during the day and even longer walks in the evening. This also made it incredibly easy to take our beach gear and set up for the day right without getting exhausted from the haul.
(Side Note ... this is the first time with the Shibumi Shade .... completely worth it)
This trip was all about decompressing, so we didn't have a fixed itinerary. Our only plan was to spend a lot of time on the beach. Why have the stress of a lot of expectations when you just be there and enjoy? This showed in our food choices.
The first day, we ordered UberEats the first evening from the Odd Bird Lounge & Kitchen. The food was good and will remain an option for delivery when we go again. HOWEVER, my true recommendation for food comes from a visit to a food truck at The Village Garden Food Truck Park the next day. This was a little bit of a drive as it was on the island just south but so worth it. Why make the effort of a drive? Because .... lumpia. I can't even remember how long it has been since I had authentic lumpia, this made me so happy. Kusina Colorado tiny but mighty food truck was full of flavor and priced right. Along with the lumpia we had a few of the prime puffy steak tacos which were tasty and fresh. These were so good we actually went back the next day for more. Give this couple's food a try as their truck is unique and the quality is high.
Before I wrap up and dive into the list of gear I took and used during this trip, I want to mention one more must-do. We visited Adventure Pets shop in town to purchase a retractable leash and some toys for the crew. Rarely go wrong with new toys on an adventure to make it extra special for your dogs. They had a sizable selection so we left options for the pups. Oh before I forget! The shop also carries the K9 Sport Sack dog backpack brand, which I love and will talk about in the future. I did not get one this time but the owner did show me the latest model which allows you to pack your laptop along with your pup, which had me thinking for the future. Do make sure to stop by this shop if you need any gear for your trip while you're in town. Shop small, support local.
Okay, all in all, St. Augustine is quickly becoming one of my favorite places to relax and unwind. There's plenty to do, or you can do nothing at all and simply enjoy the beach and food like we did.
Now, onto my dog gear list for this trip! 🐕
✅ = Worked well for this trip
🟡 = Neutral for this trip
❌ = Was not ideal for this trip
Harnesses - Ruffwear Front Range collars ✅
Collars - Fi 3 on 4 Black Paws biothane collars✅
Leashes - Ruffwear Front Range leashes✅
Retractable Leash - Kong Retractable Explore Reflective, Large✅
Additional info - Bought on this trip at Adventure Pets local shop
Bowls - Yeti Boomer - Worked well but bulky and will look for an alternative ❌
Additional info - Bowls were bulky to transport one 8 and two 4 sizes; will be looking for an alternative for travel and enjoy loving these bowls at home
Soft Kennels - Frisco 3-Door Collapsible Soft-Sided Dog & Small Pet Crate 🟡
Additional info - Kennels worked well except GSD broke through hers; 2nd time using hers
Interactive Toys - West Paw Toppl✅ & Starmark Everlasting Treat Bento Ball✅
Additional info - West Paw Toppl's were filled with baby food and frozen
Dog Food Transport - Wilderdog Doggie Bag✅
So what's up next? Keep an eye out for our Miami reference page on our site and our next blog which will be out in the near showing off one of my favorite pieces of gear.
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