Apopka's Club Lake Plantation full of dog-friendly fall fun

Looking for some fall fun with your pet. This feature I wrote for Barkpost has some great fall/Halloween activities you can do with your dog. 25 of them, in fact.

• 25 Fantastic Fall Events Around the Country for You and Your Dog

And for us Central Floridians, this great month-long festival is going on right now!

Global Pet Expo: 8 pet-friendly Orlando spots to experience

Global Pet Expo is next week!

Lulu at Global Pet Expo last year.

For those who don't know, Global Pet Expo is like Fashion Week or Consumer Electronics Show for the pet world. People from all over the world will be in Orlando, looking at products both new and classic, everything from dog bowls to fish tanks to cat condos.

Last year, the expo was three football fields long. By the end of the day, this was Lulu.

The expo is, sadly, not open to the public. So all next week I will be showing some of the neat things I find at the expo. Make sure you are watching the blog, or that you follow me on Twitter @lifewithbeagle, or on my Facebook page. I may also try to do some Vine or Instagram stuff, so stay tuned!

If you're in town for Global, or if you plan on visiting Orlando with your pet soon, please check out some of these great pet-friendly spots. We are a great community for pets.

1) Woof Gang Bakery -- Though the first store opened in South Florida, the company is actually based in Orlando. Woof Gang is a boutique offering high-quality pet food, pet gear, fresh baked cookies and sometimes more -- grooming, day care, even a medical clinic. The stores are each individually owned. There are two not far from the tourist zone, but we have them all over Orlando.

And they are not the only pet bakeries in Orlando. Also check out Bark Avenue Bakery on Sand Lake Road or Pookie's on Fairbanks Avenue in Winter Park, to name a few.

2) Orlando's dog parks -- Like a place where dogs can run and play? Orange County, Florida is home to eight dog parks run by the county, plus Fleet Peeples Park in Winter Park. My personal favorites are Dr. Phillips Park, near Disney, and Barber Park, which is near Orlando International Airport.

Dr. Phillips Park is small, but the other dog owners are friendly. I rarely see problems at the park. It;s also well kept.

Barber Park is slightly bigger, and it has agility equipment for dogs to tryout. 

Both have separate areas for small and large dogs, doggy water fountains, and places for humans.

3) Park Avenue, Winter Park -- The city of Winter Park is not too far from Orlando, and Park Avenue is the downtown area.  While dogs are not allowed in Central Park, they are welcome to walk around the street on a leash, drink from outdoor water bowls, sit with their owners in outdoor cafes and even enter the stores. As long as your dog is well-behaved, they are welcome. There is also The Doggie Door, a shop for pets and their dog lovers, with treats, toys, clothes and pet lover items like clothes, games and household items.

Dogs are welcome at some of the festivals, farmers markets and parades throughout the year. There are two big dog events on Park Avenue as well -- the Doggy Art Show, and the Halloween Costume Parade.

4) Dog-friendly dining -- While we are talking outside cafes, Orlando was actually the pilot city for dog-friendly dining in Florida. We have lots of restaurants who welcome dogs on their patios. It's good to ask ahead of time though, because not every patio allows dogs (which to me is silly, but what can you do?).

5) Quantum Leap Winery -- You won't find a vineyard growing Pinot Noir or Chardonnay in Florida. The grapes just can't survive here. However, we do have wineries that bring the grapes to Florida and make their own wine. Quantum Leap does this with an eye towards being as environmentally friendly as possible. Dogs are also welcome in the main wintery show room. You dog may meet owner Jill Ramsier's dog Kaley. And you can try some of her own wine -- Kaley's Rescue Red. Proceeds from the wine's go to benefit SPCA of Central Florida.

Quantum Leap Winery is in Orlando in the Mills 50 area.

6) Mall at Millenia -- This high-end mall may not like me broadcasting this, but you can bring your dog there. Dogs are permitted at the mall in Orlando, provided they remain in a carrier or a stroller. Of course, service dogs are welcome everywhere.

So Lulu will not be going to Mall at Millenia any time soon. However, it makes sense to me that frou-frou dogs are welcome at the frou-frouiest mall in Orlando.

7) Rocky's Retreat -- Get your dog a massage. Rocky's Retreat is a fitness center for dogs, featuring hydrotherapy, massage, Reiki and even aromatherapy. Don't have time to get out to Winter Park? They'd do your dog's massage at your hotel. Call for pricing.

8) Pet-friendly events -- Plan your trip around a pet event! There is always a pet-friendly event going on somewhere in Central Florida each month, from big events like Barktoberfest and Paws in the Park in Orlando, to smaller events like Barks and Brews, Pookie's Rescuefest and the Doggy Derby. That's why I have an Orlando-area pet events calendar.

Have an event you'd like to add to the calendar? Let me know!
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So, what would you like me to focus on at Global Pet Expo? Here's your chance to weigh-in and help me shape my coverage!

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Celebrate a Florida Christmas with your dog

Sometimes it's really tough to get into Christmas in Florida.

Remember in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York when Kevin's Mom tells him he can decorate a palm tree. THEY ACTUALLY DO THAT HERE!

Christmas isn't really about the cold, but if you grew up in New York (like I did) and are used to that kind of Christmas, Florida is not the same. Lulu doesn't get to play in snow. There's no need for doggy jackets, really. The flora and fauna are different.

You can do things in Florida that you can't do up north. Which is weird, but if you embrace it, it's also kind of neat.

Here's how you celebrate Christmas in Florida with your dog!

FIRST, a little fashion --

GET YOUR DOG A GUAYABERA

The guayabera is a very traditional four-pocketed shirt worn among Hispanic and Caribbean communities for hundreds of years.

Some independent designers have created ones for dogs. You can buy one off IndieShop, for instance. Then pair it with a Santa hat (because Santa hats are non-negotiable no matter how hot it is).

Of course you could also always go with a little Tommy Bahama. That works too.

GO SEE THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

Residential Christmas Display in Miami.

Yeah, I know, you've got Christmas lights in up north. But I PROMISE you, it's not like we have them down here. According to the Florida Retail Federation, Floridians spent $800 million on Christmas decorations in 2012. Americans in general spend around $6 billion on decorations. Do the math.

Maybe we don't spend the most, but we spend a lot. Especially on outdoors stuff. We don't have to worry about snow. We build CRAZY Christmas displays, with large moving things, and garage displays. We decorate cars and planes and boats. Neighbors get together and coordinate their displays so You have street after street of Christmas lights.

Take a look at these neighborhood displays in the Tampa Bay area alone.

Looking for Christmas lights by you? Check out this website for locations.

BOAT PARADES

A boat at the Jingle Eve Boat Parade in Orlando.

Lots of Floridians have boats, and there's no ice to worry about. It's not uncommon to see boats all dressed up for the holidays. And in Florida you can always find a boat parade nearby during the holidays. Find a boat for you and your dog to ride in, or watch from the shores.

PLAY IN THE "SNOW"

That is "snow" on the ground in Celebration, Florida. Every year "snow" falls in the town center at Christmas. Your dog can visit, if they stay on the sidewalk.

It's not real snow. It's a foamy substance that mimics snow. Lots of places in Florida try to recreate that classic Christmas feel with fake snow. Some places do let the dogs play in it. Some of the fake snow substances are safe for dogs to be in, though they probably shouldn't eat it.

If I were you though, I would make sure the dog uses the bathroom beforehand. Snow being a rare commodity in Florida, the yellow variety is definitely frowned upon.

GO TO KEY WEST

Key West is very pet-friendly, and every year they have a big holiday fest. There's lights, historic house tours, parades, concerts and more. Bring your pet for the tours, and even get their picture taken with Santa on select nights.

GO TO THE BEACH

It's awful. It's warm enough to go to the beach. And people do it. There are surfing Santas and eveything.

Lots of beaches allow dogs (mostly leashed). One is Smyrna Dunes Beach in New Smyrna Beach. Head to the beach for the day, then check out Christmas on Canal Street in NSB. The city is very pet-friendly.

Here's just a few ideas. You can find more at The New Barker magazine, which I write for from time to time.

Before I go, here's a warning --

FIREWORKS

Yes, those big flashy, noisy things that are meant for July Fourth come out at Christmas time in Florida (New Year's too). So remember all the tips about helping your dog through the fireworks.

PLEASE SHARE: Do you have any great "Florida Christmas" ideas? Comment below.

Countdown to Global Pet Expo -- Why Orlando is Perfect for Pets

We are just one day from the Global Pet Expo in Orlando!

And the last thing we will tell you about is our favorite: the city of Orlando.

I was particularly upset when Travel & Leisure magazine released its annual list, and tourists gave Orlando a 20 for pet-friendly, but Orlando residents gave the city a 26 -- down from last year!

Orlando often gets the short-end of the stick when it comes to these polls, but I think this one is pretty unfair. Orlando is very pet-friendly. Sure some of our biggest luxury hotels don't allow pets, and Disney is very pet-unfriendly, but there's lots of pet friendly places.

So -- here is why Orlando is perfect for pets:

Parks:
Orlando has lots of leashed and off-leash parks. Orange County alone has eight dog parks, the closest to the convention center being Dr. Phillips Dog Park. Then there is Fleet Peeples Park in Winter Park, and parks in Casselberry, Winter Springs, Lake Mary and Sanford. In fact, Sanford's Paw Park is considered a top park in the country.

Pet-friendly restaurants:

Florida allowed doggy dining on patios starting in 2006 (good thing this is the Sunshine state, huh?), and local governments and restaurants have been getting on board ever since. Orlando was one of the first cities to allow dogs to join their owners.

Near the convention center, Houlihan's, Brickhouse Tavern, and Cafe Tu tu Tango all have pet-friendly dining. Just up the road on Sand Lake Road is Cariera by Castelli, where Lulu enjoys the meatballs. A friend says she often brings her dog to Cantina Laredo as well.

Most places with a patio allow dogs, I find. That includes most of the restaurants along Park Avenue in Winter Park, and in downtown Sanford too, where Lulu and I enjoyed German fare at Willow Tree Cafe.

Pet-friendly shops:
Looking to get your pet a Florida souvenir? Orlando has lots of pet-friendly shops and boutiques. Woof Gang Bakery is an Orlando-based company with several locations all over the area, including three in Orlando itself, and one on Sand Lake Road. There's also Bark Avenue Bakery on Sand Lake Road. There's also Pookie's Bakery on Fairbanks Avenue in Winter Park, just 15 minutes up the road on I-4.

In fact, many Winter Park shops allow dogs inside, especially on Park Avenue, where you can get lots of kitschy pet items at stores like The Doggie Door.

Pet-friendly festivals:

We have lots of pet events, with names like Mardi Paws, Pet-a-Palooza and RescueFest! You can find a pet-friendly event almost every month in Central Florida. We even have a Doggy Art Show in April.

Pet-friendly manufacturers:

While you are at the Global Pet Expo, say hello to some of our local vendors, like Wash 'N Zip pet beds, and Pet Party Printz, a wrapping paper that's safe for dogs to tear apart.

So no, you can't bring a dog on Disney property, and many of our top luxury hotels don't allow dogs (but many treat dogs like kings and queens). But I've given you the names of just a few places that love pets. Consider checking them out, and consider Orlando for your next pet-friendly vacation.