Hello! I'm Jen. I'm a writer, photographer, dog mom, and outdoor enthusiast. When I'm not writing about awesome ways to get outside with your dog, I'm probably out for a long trail run. I also fancy myself a pretty decent vegan cook, and am always happy to whip up a batch of cookies for friends. I am based in the Pacific Northwest and I never leave home without my dogs.
It’s pretty remarkable how difficult it is for a human to get a foreign passport, compared to the ease of getting one for your pet! We liked to joke that Sora was Norwegian because she had the passport to prove it. If you plan on living in or traveling to the European Union with[...]
This post contains affiliate links. I never thought much about eye protection for dogs until we were in a teeny, tiny village on the Chile/Bolivia border preparing to pedal across the Salares de Coipasa and Uyuni. We kept reading read about the importance of sun protection for ourselves[...]
This post is sponsored by Dexas International. You can trust that I have used the products mentioned here and am providing an honest opinion and recommendation. All opinions remain my own and I think Dexas is awesome. When Dave and I first met Riia, we saw immediately that she was a ball[...]
During the holiday season, I try my best to shop small for gifts and Etsy is a great place to do just that! You can shop by location to find a maker in your region or discover work created by someone across the world. Either way, supporting small business owners is great for local[...]
The rain and gray skies during the winter months tend to keep most visitors away from the Pacific Northwest, which is exactly why it’s a great time to visit and plan a winter vacation with your dog. Where most who come this way in the winter head to ski resorts, it leaves plenty of other[...]
This post was done in partnership with Kurgo, a dog product company who has spent years perfecting the design for their gear, including the safety items mentioned today. I don’t just work with any brand and I think Kurgo rocks. All opinions remain my own. Also special thanks to Theo[...]
Please forgive me for publishing a Christmas post so early. I have already started to see advertisements for Black Friday stuff, which I think is crazy. While I personally choose to head outdoors and avoid all the shopping around this time of year, the fact is that most of us choose to[...]
The popularity of CBD Oil for dogs has surged in recent years since the passage of the Farm Bill in 2018. The bill legalized CBD derived from hemp containing no more than 0.3% THC. With production restrictions reduced, manufacturers have been quick to jump on the scene. Aside from[...]
In 2017, a fire ripped through the Columbia River Gorge, leaving 153 hikers stranded overnight six miles into the Eagle Creek Trail. After this happened, there was a lot of talk about the importance of bringing along the 10 essentials for hiking. You just never know what might happen when[...]
We’re just entering fall in the Pacific Northwest, which means the rainy weather isn’t all that far away. Hiking in the rain scares off a lot of people, however I don’t mind. If I waited until the rain stopped, I wouldn’t go outside for five months. So, it’s just something I accept so[...]
On October 10th, 2018, we said an incredibly painful goodbye to Sora. I knew that day would be the worst of my life, and I also felt so much relief freeing her from that insipid recurring cancer. #fuckcancer As the anniversary of her death approaches, I wanted to do something to honor her[...]
This post is sponsored by GlampingHub.com and we were guests of Finca Les Coves. Finca Les Coves offers eco-friendly and pet-friendly glamping in Spain. The luxury accommodation is located in Jijona near Alicante in the Valencia department. The property sits on a large piece of land[...]
This post contains affiliate links. See disclosure for more details. Lightweight, portable dog beds are an essential travel item for adventure dogs. It seems that just about every outdoor company is coming out with a dog travel bed, some more travel-friendly than others. We have used a[...]
After returning to the Pacific Northwest once we finished our bicycle trip, I wanted to take the opportunity to better explore the region where I grew up. One weekend, Dave was in Portland and I was itching to hike. I didn’t feel like asking around to find a hiking partner the night[...]
Finding hotels that allow pets while traveling can be hit or miss. It can be especially challenging when you’re traveling in a foreign country that may not be so pet-friendly or where you don’t have easy access to WiFi to look up pet-friendly accommodations. During our travels, we’ve come[...]
If you want to start a heated conversation among dog owners, just ask about their encounters with other dogs on the trail. Hiking with dogs comes with a set of responsibilities that some simply do not understand or just choose to ignore. I’ve been there. When I first became a new[...]