While we are proud partners of Best Western Hotels & Resorts, all opinions in this article are our own.
We’ve heard it said that pets are our children. Some have advised us that dogs are more challenging to raise than kids. Others say it’s good practice before we start our family. However you look at it, care and attention are involved, and our Giant Schnauzer Mitzi is doing quite well these first few months she’s been with us. And yes, we consider her our baby and part of our family. It’s finally time that we introduce her to our adventure-seeking travels!
Best Western has over 1,200 pet-friendly hotels in North America, and we were so excited to find one in a place we’ve had on our list for a few years since moving to Ohio. The Finger Lakes region in Upstate New York is just over 4 hours from Cleveland, and nature is abundant with 11 freshwater lakes and countless trees changing color in the fall season! From the moment we walked through the doors of the Best Western Plus Vineyard Inn & Suites in Penn Yan, New York, the staff welcomed us and Mitzi gracefully and even gave her a ball and biscuit upon check-in!
We found Penn Yan, NY to be a centrally located small town located on the eastern shore of Keuka Lake in Yates County, also known as Finger Lakes Countrysides. The Best Western Plus Vineyard Inn & Suites is located on the edge of downtown, walkable to many shops, restaurants, and even a brewery! The hotel is nicely updated with comfortable and clean bedding. We had plenty of room to spread out, plus all the dog stuff and, of course, Mitzi, too!
The Vineyard Inn & Suites serves a hot breakfast buffet each morning, with coffee, tea, and espresso beverages available. There is a nice indoor pool and fitness room that we did not have a chance to use. We appreciated the grassed area with bags and waste cans emptied daily so that Mitzi could relieve herself upon going outside. Be sure to sign up for Best Western Rewards to earn points for a free night.
When in the Finger Lakes region, check the weather forecast the morning you wake up! Flexibility is key when traveling with pets, and the weather can help plan your itinerary accordingly. Luckily, we were greeted with pleasant weather on our first day so that we could make the most of the outdoor activities on our list, such as:
Keuka Lake State Park
Keuka Lake Outlet Trail
Watkins Glen State Park
Geneva, NY
Keuka Restaurant
Seneca Farms
Laurentide Beer Company & True Roots Kitchen
Fox Run Vineyards
We are an interracial, same-sex married couple, on our journey of building a family, turning our house into a home and capturing our daily adventures.