Wordless Wednesday: Breaking in the new car with a trip to the park

We got a new car!

This is Frankie.

Someone hit my car a few weeks ago, and we needed a new one. We got a beautiful Hyundai Elantra from Orlando Hyundai!

After about a week of getting used to her, I finally let Lulu and Jasmine check her out. So we took a drive out to Lake Baldwin Park!

Almost Wordless Wednesday: Dogs in trees in Winter Park

Does your dog climb trees?

Lulu doesn't, but Jasmine is like a goat or something. She always has been, but in her old home the tree was lower. This gorgeous tree at Lake Baldwin Park in Winter Park has a higher trunk, yet there she is!

Also, pretty neat -- take a look at the faces carved into this tree!

Is your dog a tree climber? What kind of dog do you have?

REPOST: Pet friendly communities: Winter Park

I wrote this piece for Weichert, Realtors Hallmark Properties. It appeared on their website Monday. Weichert is sponsoring the post, but all the ideas in it are my own.

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If you were to spend a typical Saturday in Downtown Winter Park, chances are you’re going to encounter a plethora of dog owners with their fellow companions. At the city’s famous farmer’s market, you’ll probably see at least a dozen dogs there alone.

The Winter Park Farmers Market is every Saturday.

In addition to seeing several dogs in Winter Park, I’ve seen people walk with birds on their shoulders (or in strollers), cats on harnesses, and I even saw one man with a rabbit at the recent Doggie Art Festival (how this rabbit survived is truly a testament to both the dogs and their owners).

Why is Winter Park so pet-friendly?

Judy Charuhas is a co-founder of Winter Park Lost Pets.com and has lived in the city since 1983.
“Many residents, business owners and city employees have pets,” Charuhas said. “There can be a certain unspoken camaraderie among pet owners. For example, I’ve noticed that residents walking their dogs generally have a smile for other dog walkers. It’s often said that owners and their pets have a strong bond. I’ve also seen pets build bonds among neighbors as well.”

Brian Wettstein is part owner of The Doggie Door on Park Avenue, a pet-friendly boutique.
“Savvy new businesses like the Alfond Inn did its homework about Park Avenue and they welcome pets there,” Wettstein said, mentioning the newest hotel in Winter Park. “Even new publications like the Passport on Park Avenue acknowledge the importance of pets to our community.”

Lulu takes in the Doggie Art Festival.

The next time you’re in the Winter Park area, check out these pet-friendly favorites:

Fleet Peeples Park: This 13-acre park sits on Lake Baldwin. Pets can run and swim to their hearts’ content, and if you are worried about your little guy playing with the big dogs there’s now a small dog area. There’s also a dog washing station, bathroom, and on-leash nature trail.

Fleet Peeples Park.

Pookie’s Bow Wow Bakery: Since 2002, Pookie’s has served the Central Florida community by offering all-natural and organic foods, treats, and supplements for pets. If you can’t get to the store on Fairbanks Avenue, Pookie’s has a home delivery service. The owners of Pookie’s also host rescues to help find homes for pets. Each year, Pookie’s hosts an annual fundraiser and pet adoption event called RescueFest at nearby Lake Lily Park in Maitland.

Woof Gang Bakery: Woof Gang Bakery may be a chain, but unlike other locations, the Winter Park store is a big, beautiful boutique for chic dogs. They sell homemade treats, the centerpiece of the Woof Gang brand. They also have grooming and doggy daycare in the store. The store is located on Orange Avenue, not too far from Fairbanks.

Hip Dog Canine Hydrotherapy: Could your dog use some time in the pool? Maybe it needs to lose weight, arthritis, or another condition that means they can’t walk as much. Or maybe your dog just wants to go for a swim. Hip Dog gives owners a place to take their dogs so they can get their swim on. The hydrotherapy center has been around since 2001, off Palmetto Avenue near the Orange-Seminole county line. Hip Dog is by appointment only.

Park Avenue in Winter Park.

 Downtown Winter Park Business District: Park Avenue and Hannibal Square are very pet friendly areas. Water bowls can be found in front of most stores as you and your dog stroll down Park Avenue. Dogs are welcome on patios and in front of most sidewalk cafes. Pets are also allowed in many stores, and some even have store pets. There are few places on Park Avenue where pets aren’t allowed though, and Central Park is one of them. But even that is changing. Last year the city council voted to allow two pet events in the park a year. Wettstein’s Doggie Door sponsors those two events – the Doggie Art Festival and the Pet Costume Contest that finishes with a pet trick or treat on Park Avenue.
Other pet-friendly events around Park Avenue include the Running of the Chihuahuas, which just happened on May 4.

If you haven’t taken your pet to Winter Park, you’re missing out on all the fun!

A good, stinky time: Fleet Peeples Park in Winter Park

If you're a dog owner in Central Florida, you've probably heard of Fleet Peeples Park. This Winter Park dog park is considered one of the best around. Most people love it, dogs love it.

But would Lulu and I love it?

Fleet Peeples is nestled along Lake Baldwin. And part of the lake is fenced in and available for the dogs to romp in the water. The park is huge! On top of the large off-leash area, there's also a big trail with a sidewalk that's great for a dog who wants to sniff around.

But not everyone likes Fleet Peeples. For one thing, there's no separate area for small dogs, like most area parks. That means yorkies are mixing with pits and aussies, and there are LOTS of them. For another, the park is not completely grassed. There's lots of dirt, which mixes with water from the lake and can make things quite muddy.

Then it appears not everyone is picking up after their dogs. I didn't see anything, but boy, could you smell it!

I don't think people are deliberately not picking up after their dog. I think it's tough to keep track of the pets because the area is so big.

Lulu had no problems making friends when we went. She ran a bit and played mostly with the small dogs. You could hear a few fights here and there, but generally the dogs all seemed to play well together.

Lulu didn't want to play in the lake, since she's not a big water fan. But it was really hot that day. She drank water from one of the drinking areas, but eventually she just laid down in the dirt.

Lulu didn't get dirty, but there is a dog wash area that's quite nice, right by the human restroom. There was a long line to use it. Everyone had towels with them.

Overall, I think it's a nice park. We will try to visit again when it's not so hot.

Fleet Peeples Park is located on Lakemont Avenue, on the shores of Lake Baldwin in Winter Park. It's not easy to get to, but if you go to the Friends of Fleet Peeples Park website, they have easy directions to get to the park.

Doggie Art Festival, Woof Gang Bakery -- great events this weekend!

April is a big month for events in the Orlando-area!

All weekend: Fiesta in the Park returns to Orlando for another year. This family friendly and pet-friendly event at Downtown Orlando's Lake Eola is a huge craft show with hundreds of vendors and lots of food.

Fiesta in the Park runs Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.

Find parking information and more on the Fiesta in the Park's website.

Saturday: Woof Gang Bakery in Orlando on Conroy Rd. and Dr. Phillips Boulevard is hosting a big remodeling celebration!

From Noon until 5 p.m., Woof Gang will have all kinds of promotions, and complimentary nail trimmings.

Woof Gang Bakery is an Orlando-based company with pet boutique franchises in several states. I did an interview with the founder of Woof Gang Bakery, and I'll be bringing that to you this month!

On Sunday, The Doggie Door is hosting The Doggie Art Festival! Stroll down Park Avenue in Winter Park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and check out artists, pet vendors and adoption groups. I'll be there with Lulu, and with Beth and Gizmo from Terrier Torrent. If you see us, stop by and say hi!

Looking for more happenings this month? Check out my area events calendar. Know of an event I've missed? Drop me an email! czizo@cfl.rr.com !

What are you up to this weekend? I want to hear!

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.

Lulu the beagle makes her mark in Winter Park, FL

UPDATE: Winter Park is still very dog friendly. However, The Doggie Door closed down in 2017. 

I want Lulu to be one of those trendy dogs I can walk around those trendy little downtown areas.

I know, I probably should have gotten another kind of dog then, right? That's not really what a beagle is for. Still, I think Lulu can be stacked up against any of the other dogs that prance around those places. So Tuesday I bathed Lulu, put on her most fetching bandanna, and took her to Winter Park.

Winter Park is one of the most dog-friendly areas in Central Florida. It's a small city just north of Orlando that was built in the 1800s as a haven for the wealthy. It's now a trendy home for people looking for that old Main Street USA feel -- except Main Street here is called Park Avenue.

People walk dogs of all kinds along Park Avenue, where fresh water bowls are outside many of the shops for the dogs to get a quick lap as they follow their human friends. There's The Doggie Door, a shop dedicated to chic pet stuff, and this year there will be a doggy festival.

The first thing I did when we got there was make sure she knew she had to listen to me (well, at least try to get her to understand that). I stepped on the leash, and told her to sit. I didn't go anywhere until she did so.

Once she finally got the message, we met my friend at Shoooz. I called ahead of time to ask if it was okay to bring Lulu inside.

I knew the store's owners had a dog who hung out at the store, so I had hoped she wouldn't be too much of a bother. But the minute she smelled the other dog, look what she did:

I was incredibly embarassed. The managers were very nice about it, but I was so ready to go home, right there and then.

Fortunately, the dog's young golden retriever came out from the back to meet Lulu, and told her what's what in the nicest way possible -- assertive sniffing. Lulu kinda calmed down after that.

After we got the shoes, we decided to get some lunch. We chose Paris Bistro, which has outdoor seating along the avenue. We got a table, and they brought a bowl of ice water for Lulu.

We sat and ate, and I fed her little bits of bread with some of the sauce from my beef burgundy. She sniffed about and watched, but was generally pretty good, eventually just sitting down. We only had one scuffle with a dog she didn't like where I thought she would pull the whole table down. She seemed to like the other dogs she met.

She even got to look at some fish while I got to give myself a treat at Le Macaron.

And since she did reasonably well, I stopped at The Doggie Door on the way back to the car and bought her a treat.

Strawberry Frozen Yogurt for doggies. They just lick it, so it lasts a while.

And with that, we got on the elevator at the parking garage and drove away.

Winter Park is just north of Orlando, and is easily accessible from I-4 off the Fairbanks Avenue and Lee Road exits. They have a great farmers market on Saturdays, and festivals throughout the year. Dogs are welcome on Park Avenue and at the farmers market, just keep them off Central Park.