Howllo Fellow Basset Hound and Best Line of the Day Lovers…..LOL!

Well, today we took advantage of one of the picture perfect weather days of the year.  I would say today would have had to been in the top 5 of the year.  70 degrees, sunny with a touch of fall still in the air.  Just bassetabulous.  So, Grandma, the kids and I set out to our favorite park a few neighborhoods over.  It is called Devou Park and we have been there before.  This park is huge so there is always something different to do.

First we found a new picnic spot!  Just gorgeous.

This park is expansive and there are some really cool walking paths filled with good smells.

Before we headed out Grandma gave the kids a treat.

Then we set out on the walking path to one of the most breath taking views of Cincinnati, no not this view!  LOL

Look howl we are all walking in the same rhythm.  I just love this picture.  All of our left legs are kicked back.

There is a Pavilion at the top of the park that over looks the city. This is a huge place to get married and have parties.

The last time we were there it was crowded with kids, dogs and lots of people in general so we decided to come back and try for our money shots on the right day.

Well today was the right day.  Do you think this is the money shot?

Or is this the money shot?

This was just such a stellar photo op that I can’t decide and I guess I really don’t have to.

I took a zillion pictures and so did Grandma.

Someone actually walked buy us today and said, “Wow, those must be show hounds”!  Too funny.  Well, we all know the Mayor took a few turns in the ring.  Himz a Champion!  Shimlette’s a Champion eater!

Here is Grandma’s money shot.

All in all it was a Champion day!

Wow, this might be my favorite ever picture of the kids and I.  I might need to change all of my profile pictures on the internet.  hehehe

More showing off the hounds later…Love, Cat, Chaps and Emma

Comments(9)

Howllo Fellow Basset Hound and TripAdvisor Lovers….I don’t know about you but I don’t book a thing when I am traveling without checking my TripAdvisor.  What a wonderful resource.  I love rating and reviewing where we have been and I always review with my main objective…DOG FRIENDLY OR NOT?  I depend on these reviews and I read every one of the reviews about the Dupont Lodge in Cumberland Falls Resort State Park in Kentucky.

My review is very, very long winded but I wanted to cover it all!

I would have provided a link but TripAdvisor reviews all reviews before they post them. I will add a link when it is up on their site.

REVIEW

The Dupont Lodge is a dog lovers dream!  It is not often you can find a hotel with no restrictions on the number or weight of your dogs.  The Dupont Lodge welcomes all dogs regardless of size or weight.  I cannot stress howl rare that is.

The Dupont Lodge is a KY state run lodge nestled within 3 minutes of the magnificent Cumberland Falls which is also VERY DOG FRIENDLY.  This is a very old lodge and the rooms, hallways, and decor reflect it’s age.  Howl ever….The place is extremely clean and the beds are soft and the sheets are bright white.  It seemed to me that this place is really taken care of.  The Lodge has 2 dog friendly rooms out of 52.  My room 216, overlooked the patio and the stunning sunrises you are sure to see if you get up early.

In my opinion it was one of the best rooms in the place.  I was also told if both dog rooms are taken the staff will work to find you another one with the extra dog charges that come with traveling with hounds.  Speaking of the staff they are warm and very friendly.  So friendly that I think they found it hard to correct the guests with small children.  At one point a group with small kids over took the lobby right by my room and it sounded like I was in the middle of a prank gone wrong.  I cannot believe howl some parents let their kids run rough shot over them. Anyway, it is a noisy place and the doors slam hard but for the most part it all settled down after about 9:00ish.

While we are on the topic of noise….my AC sounded like I was back at GE aircraft engines in the test facility.  No kidding.  This thing will turn your room into a blast freezer in about 5 minutes.  So the good news is you don’t need it on very long.  It came in handy for my storm phobic hound because I just turned that sucker on and we couldn’t hear a bomb go off.  It also came in handy when the kids were torturing each other in the lobby.  So, all in all, it worked for us.

If you want your room cleaned by the maid staff you must inform them that the dogs are not in the room.  I am of the ilk that I just don’t want maid service at all.  I have them put on their sheet that my room requires and demands no one enter the room at all.  I hang my do not disturb sign up the entire time.  The only time my hounds were in the room alone was for meals which we ate at the Lodge.  The Riverview restaurant.  OK, here is where I disagree with almost every reviewer of this dining experience.  WE ABSOLUTELY LOVED THE FOOD!  All I can say is that maybe the Dupont read these reviews and did something about it.  The food was magnificent!  My only complaint is one that I have in every restaurant I go to.  TOO MUCH SALT.  But that is just me.  The food here was delicious.  The buffet looked wonderful but we always ordered off the menu.  I am a KY girl and I like me some hot browns!  Let me tell you what, the Riverview’s hot brown rivaled the Brown’s hot brown and gave it a run for it’s money.  (The Brown in Louisville invented the hot brown).  One big difference was the size!  The Riverview’s hot brown was twice the size and had that wonderful country ham included.  Oh, it was so good.

I saw a very popular dish at most tables and it was the black eyed peas with sweet corn bread.  Everyone was raving over it. I heard that the banana pudding is the favorite dessert. I saw that coming out of the kitchen by the tray fulls.  I am kicking myself for not trying it.   The breakfast was worth waking up for.  Again, we ordered from the menu but the buffet looked sooo good.  Just too much food and I know I would have over done it.  The wait staff was excellent and the view!  Howl did I leave the view for last?  The view is smack dab of the Cumberland River.

The only thing blocking the view are the families of racoons that come up to the windows and beg for that last bite.  Their eyes so pleading.  It is very cute.  The Dupont Lodge of Cumberland Falls made our mini leaf viewing trip a pleasure.  I would suggest, that if you have a choice, go during the week and not on the weekend.  I could tell from the parking lots that this is a big time attraction.  We checked in on a Monday and left on a Wednesday.  Cumberland Falls is most certainly a 2 day experience at the least.  A huge attraction is the Moon Bow.  A Moon rainbow that you can see during a clear night and a full moon.  If you want to see another one you must go to Zimbabwe Africa.  This rare phenomena did not really make a difference to us.  We usually don’t venture out after dark.  If you do want to see the Moon Bow check out the schedule on the Cumberland Falls website.

Check the sunrise weather before you go to bed to see if you will have a jaw dropping experience on the patio.  This is not to be missed.  The lodge was obviously designed around this experience back when these parks were being forged.  This lodge was built in 1933.  I have learned from researching other parks that the architects, designers and visionaries would camp for years or more in the area to find the exact spot to build a lodge such as the Dupont.  This proves true to form with the Dupont.  The lodge patio faces the east and is nestled between the Cumberland River and the two mountains that frame the sunrise.  The patio is a viewing area for the most magnificent show on earth.  Just breath taking.

The entire time we spent in this area we thought about the Native Americans that called this area home.  We could just picture their dwellings and their horses drinking from the cool pools at the base of the falls.  I pictured the families gathered around telling stories.  It was really very real.  I suggest you take your family and make your own stories.  There will be plenty.

Cat Rudert
TripAdvisor reviewer with you dog friendly destinations.

END OF REVIEW

More Dog friendly destinations later…..Love, Cat, Chaps and Emma

Comments(4)

Howllo Fellow Basset Hound and Dog Friendly State Park Lovers…OMDawg!  We are home now and I just cannot gush enough over Cumberland Falls State Resort Park in Kentucky.  I am just freaked out that we have never been to this phenomenal Kentucky State Park. It is only 4 hours from our home and that includes a stop for lunch and a long potty walk.  So, really if you drove straight through only about 3 hours from near Cincinnati, OH.

Internationally famous for its MOONBOW, a rainbow that shows up during a full moon in the correct weather conditions, you can only find another one of this kind in Zimbabwe, Africa.

You can park, walk and see the falls in a matter of minutes.

We did not visit during a MOONBOW but we did see a rainbow!

See it?  YES!

OK, check this picture out….

It was so loud we could hardly hear each other!

It was really crazy howl you got to this area.  You had to walk over a huge rock slab with all kinds of bumps and lumps.  We keep the kids in this area….

You can see the lay out from this picture….

Get this, there is a huge walking path all around the falls for flat walkers like us or you can do serious top level hikes up and down the cliffs.  It is so cool. We saw them in full gear.

We stayed on the flat paths!

Does The Mayor looked freaked out?  Click the picture and read the sign!  WTHeck?  Are you even kidding us?

Dog Slaughter Falls?

Wonder what the lore is behind that name? Hopefully it is just a lore!

The path was wide and the smells were out of this world!

This path lead us to this view!

We had so much fun.  The weather was perfect…..

Until we got home and the Mayor heard one rumble.  Thank Dawg it was only one rumble.  Himz still talked his Mom unto sleeping in the bed.

I hate putting the kids in a real bed because they might jump off.  The Mayor wasn’t going anywhere but the problem becomes getting him off.  I just stacked up the dog beds and basically let him crawl off.  We all slept like the huge bolders that had fallen off of the cliffs eons ago that lay in the river bed.

Emma got up early at 5:00am scratching on the door.  I was so proud of her!   I jumped out of bed, threw my hoodie on with the hood in the front.  It looked like I had a pink goiter on my neck.  My hair looking like I had a side 80s pony tail and rushed that little girl out.  Chaps was SO not moving so I made a run for it.  Our girl just made it out the door!  What a a smart girl.

As we came back in the Mayor opened one eye half way.  I tucked Shimlette back in to her nest.

I could not go back to sleep thinking about that KY breakfast that awaited us.  I could smell the coffee wafting though the air.  I just knew they were cooking up the county ham and the fluffy biscuits.  We always had a floor to ceiling window table overlooking the river.

The Riverview Restaurant was fantastic.

Gosh I miss the falls…..

More Loving road trips later….Cat, Chaps and Emma

Comments(7)

Howllo Fellow Basset Hound and you must see Cumberland Falls, KY Lovers….OMDawg.  Words were very hard to come by this morning but the smell wasn’t!

Early this morning I was shockingly awakened to the worst smell of tinkle I have ever smelled.  It was about 5:15ish.  It hit me like a ton of stank.   This is about the time that darling Emma goes out the dog door at home.  Poor girl was looking for her dog door and just could not hold it:(

I cannot thank her enough.  As I was mopping up the room and doing a bit of make shift laundry in the bath tub I glanced out my window.

My mop and jaw dropped.

I called my Mom and told her to come right out with her camera.

It was time to be awe inspired!

The patio that we are on is right outside of our windows.  If you turn around there is my room with the light on and the little sunrise stink sprinkler is waiting for me.

LOOK!  The Cumberland River turns orange for autumn.  Howl delicious….

This river runs down and goes over the falls.  I cannot wait to show you those pictures…

Now the sun says hello and mist rolls over the mountains and starts one of the best days the 4 of us have ever had.

I cannot wait to share it with the bassethoundtown residents.

Mornin’ Glory!

More sharing this must seen wonder of the world later….Love, Cat, Chaps and little sunrise sprinkler!

PS – Not one single bit of photo correction was done to any of these photos.

All of these pictures were taken with the new IPhone4S.

Comments(5)

Howllo Fellow Basset Hound and exploring another Kentucky Park Lovers…..

Today we visited a park that is literally right in our backyard.  Devou Park is only about 15 minutes from our home and Dog knows why we have waited this long to enjoy it.  Back when my Mom was a little girl she would enjoy Devou Park all summer long.  Thousands of folks would head for the cool hills of Devou and actually spend the night under the stars.  I can certainly see why.  The hills are high above the city of Cincinnati and the breezes blow cool.  It is very cool!

This is the area where families, including Grandmas would gather and enjoy the night air.

There is a huge lawn that over looks the city. Grandma said it was like a twinkling jewel.

This shell was built in 1939 when Grandma was a young girl.  Today, a bluegrass festival was setting up.  It was so much fun.  I love Bluegrass Music!

One summer night the shell had a concert in 1939 that hosted 40,000 folks!  Can you believe that? Howl totally cool is that?

I loved hearing all about Grandma’s memories.  It was so much fun.

Then we went and had our picnic.  We found the perfect spot! We were over looking the golf course and that cute little lake.

This is the side view…

And the rear view;)

More loving Devou Park later…..Cat, Grandma, Chaps and Emma

Comments(29)

Howllo Fellow Basset Hound and “really old one” lovers?  Well, today we took a mini car trip to an Ohio State park called Hueston Woods.  It is about an 1.5 hours from our home.  It was a really hard drive.  Two lanes and lots of dump trucks.  We will not go back.  Why would we risk our lives?

After we spent an hour looking for a picnic area we did find one.  We even had entertainment.  A couple showed up with their twin white German Shepherds that loved to jump into the water and chase a stick.  They were really magnificent and so well behaved.

If they jumped in the lake once, they jumped in 200 times!

We all looked on (Emma smelled) with joy!

If you look down by the lake there is a group of ROTC practicing.  They walked back and forth by our picnic table taking small sail boats to the lake.

One of the guys said, “You got a really old one there”… as he looked at Chaps.

He added…Very nice looking hounds.

Our Mayor would never jump in the lake to chase a stick but he sure enjoyed his day.  Emma loved all of the smells.

As we were loading the hounds up the ramp into the basset hauling vehicle an elderly couple pulled up.  Turns out the wife’s family raised and sold basset hounds 40 years ago.  She was attacked by Emma with licks.  I saw a little tear in her eye.

That made our day…..

More knowing that Chaps is getting old but it is hard to hear it later…..Cat, Chaps and Emma

Comments(5)

Howllo Fellow Basset Hound and getting a slight break lovers….Today we had about a 10 degree break in the weather and the humidity.  I jumped on this day to take the kids to the vet for their nail clippings.  My Mom and I always love to incorporate a nice outing after the vet so the kids don’t get too depressed.  So, we planned a picnic at Mount Airy Forest in Ohio.  We have been before and liked it.

So we took off early…..See the kids up on the porch?

It has been way too long since we have been out.  We are all like shut ins.

In our neck of the woods we have had good rain.  Our flowers and the one tomato plant are doing great.

Of course Emma leads the way as usual.  She is such a good little blind girl!  I always pull the basset hauling vehicle out to the same spot and she goes right up the ramp.

We went to the vet and then headed off to Mount Airy Forest in Ohio to have our picnic.  This park has a tree house that is built for everyone including the disabled.  The ramps are wide enough for many wheel chairs as well as a blind basset hound;)

Chaps and I ventured out to the balcony area and he did not like it one bit.  He likes the pack to stay together.

It was now time to leave.

Not because we wanted to but because the parade of police cars made us uneasy.  Something was going on. It made me sad.  I know parks are not all safe.

But a park with a tree house for disabled kids and disabled dogs?

It was just sad.  I googled it when I got home. Turns out a magic tree house does not a safe park make.  I am not sure why all the police were there today but the internet searches turned up many a reason not to go back.

We will being doing google searches before visiting parks instead of after in the future.

More being sad later….Cat, Chaps and Emma

Comments(11)

Howllo Fellow Basset Hound and taking a day trip lovers! We were so excited that today was going to be in the 70s! We packed a lunch and packed the kids and took off.

We wound up at the Boone County, KY Arboretum.

Folks, if you are near this park you must go! We cannot wait to go back when all of the plants and trees are in bloom. The walking trails are massive!

We walked, walked and walked some more!

The Mayor was with Grandma. Emma and I tried to keep up!

Then we found a place to rest….

Then we got lost! We roamed for about an hour! We were kind of freaked out! It was clouding up and misting. We were all really tired.

We were all on our last legs. It was kind of scary! We flagged down a park employee asking for help. He was so funny. He said, “are you the car with the huge pictures of basset hounds?” “Keep walking north and you will see your car”. Finally we found the basset hauling vehicle! The kids had a huge drink and seats in the BHV never felt so good!

OMD we all were dragging!

Howl ever, we can’t wait to come back. We want to take the Dogwood trail! Howl cool will that be?

More making sure we keep track of where we are parked later…Love, Cat, Chaps and Emma

Comments(6)

Howllo Fellow Basset Hound and vacationing with your hounds lovers!

Howl do you stack up? Chaps and Emma’s Grandma sent us this clipping from USA Today!

I would have to say that we fall into the 12% category.

I shutter to think who falls into the not sure category????

Probably best that category not have dogs!

More loving Grandma’s clippings later….Cat, Chaps and Emma

Comments(13)

Howllo Fellow Basset Hound and Cabin Fever Haters! Well, most of my dear readers know howl Grandma and I love to get out and explore! We have been house bound due to this winter season. It is just so boring!

So, I just found out that this weekend is a HUGE RV show near Dayton, OH! We really want to go!

It has been my dream goal to buy a mini RV! This is my dream fantasy. When I get stressed sometimes I google mini RVs and just look at them. I think they are called Class C.

This is me back in 2008 dreaming! My Mom, Dad and I took Wendel Flopbottom, a stuffed basset hound that was doing a fundraiser back then. I took him to an RV show with me! hehehe

This is the outside picture of a class C RV!

My dream is to have one similar to this but totally black so I can put my magnets on it. I hate that swirl/line paint job. YUCK

More excited about the dream later…..Cat, Chaps and Emma

Comments(14)