Best Vacation with Dogs Ever! Quail Lodge and Golf Club - Carmel, CA

Carmel, California was never on my radar as a family vacation destination.  We only had a three day weekend but because we had the whole family, including our dogs, we drove up.  The drive took up a lot of the time and I would fly next time if we only have a three day weekend again.

We have never been to anyplace that was so welcoming of dogs.  The city of Carmel and the Quail Lodge and Golf Club were incredibly dog friendly.  The hotel was our first stop.  We checked in and were given a bag for each dog.  The bag contained a blanket, a collapsible dog bowl, a stuffed quail, and doggie bags with a flashlight on the holder.  We were also given a card for the hotel's dog liaison.  Amazing.  The dogs were welcome every where around the hotel and at all the outside eating areas.

The next day we went into Carmel.  I picked up a free map of the city and the map showed all the places where dogs were welcome. We started at the beautiful beach.  There was a huge sand dune that my kids and dogs loved running up and down.

After a fun morning at the beach I took the kids to the Monterey Aquarium. It is a great aquarium. I was surprised how much my kids enjoyed all the interactive parts of the exhibits.  I was there to see the actual sea creatures but my kids loved the computers, and other hands-on parts of the exhibits. I would give yourself at least two hours to explore the Aquarium.  I don't think you could see it all in less time.

While we were enjoying the Aquarium my husband was enjoying a round of golf at the Quail Lodge. The restaurant at the club even has a dog night every Wednesday.  On Wednesday evenings they have drink specials on Greyhound and other drinks with dog names and on appetizers; and of course dogs are welcome.

We returned to our spacious hotel room after a full day of activities.  One of which was spending almost an hour walking around an amazing candy store near the aquarium.  While my kids attacked their candy, which I had lugged around in my purse for hours, and watched TV my husband and I sat out on our private patio overlooking the golf course and relaxed with a glass of wine.

The hotel room had a large footprint with a vaulted ceiling, mini fridge, skylight, large bathroom and closet, with an inviting window seat.  We never felt cramped and thanks to two comfy chairs and a table we did not have to sit on the bed for everything- as is the case in may hotel rooms.

The hotel staff were always friendly and helpful.  The hotel had a lot of amenities and lovely grounds to walk around.  We took advantage of the pool and bocce ball.  Since I had forgotten my sneakers I didn't get to use the gym, which looked first class as I passed it on the way to the pool.

I would whole heartedly recommend a stay at the Quail Lodge, especially if you are looking to spend quality time with your loved ones, including those of the four legged variety.

Disposable Society

I love The Awkward Yeti.  I have been frustrated with the state of our consumption for a while and his PSA below inspired me to write about it.

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We, as a society, are pushing recycling.  We all separate our garbage and tell our kids to protect the Earth and recycle.  But a midst this push to be green we have actually gone the opposite route.  Here are a few examples.

ALL Swifer products.  These are disposable replacements for cloths, brooms and mops that would last years.

Bottled water.  We do need portable water but use a reusable container.  If you don't have one keep refilling the water bottle. Only allow yourself 1 a day.  I have people in my office who use 5 a day and that is just at work!  Unconscionable.

Consumer goods- especially electronics.  We used to have the same TV, phone, stereo for years. Now they are designed with short lives and not meant to last.  My father in law just had to buy a new DVD player because the one he bought two years ago didn't have a new software update available and it wouldn't play the DVD's we bought him. Planned obsolescence.

Those are the first three that popped into my head as my fingers flew over the keyboard.  I am sure you can add numerous items.  Please do in the comments. I would love to hear them and get a dialogue going about this issue.

Please take a moment to honestly think about the products you are using and if there is a way you can cut back on your disposable out put.  We'll deal with Carbon footprints another day.

Here are a few things I do...

Reusable water bottle.

Broom, Rake (not a leaf blower), Mop. Small floor vacuum. Old t-shirts and orphaned socks for rags to clean and polish.  We also use a lot of baking soda and vinegar to clean with and keep reusing the same spray bottle.

Lights off when I leave the room.

Turn off my computer, monitor, printer, and shredder when I leave the office every day!

We use a power strip at home so I can turn off all the unnecessary items that will keep sucking power if we don't (DVD, video games, TV).  Unplug all chargers when you are done using them.

Large laundry loads in cold water.

Native, drought resistant plants in our yard.  Ground cover that doesn't need to be mowed or a lot of water. We've been happy with our red fescue and mondo grass.  Both have held up to the dogs and kids.

I print my manuscript on the back of used paper from work.  We also use that as scratch paper for the kids homework.

Happy Recycling! You'll feel better. You're kids will look up to you. I will thank you and so will the planet.

Kate

Characters

My characters really become such a part of me that I dream about them and think about them during the day.

I was driving to work after spending a few days living with a character that just presented himself. I needed a break from him, he had become all consuming, so I turned on the radio and heard the Arctic Monkeys song 'Do I wanna know?'.  There is a line in the song about dreaming about you every night and that there is a line about a tune that makes me think of you.  Well my character has a song and I had dreamed about him every night and here he was again.  This song was about him.

This character has become so pervasive that is is invasive.  I don't have a story for him.  I tried to listen to him and find his story but I don't really like it and yet I cannot shake him.

I generally have a story idea and discover the characters through the story or a situation and then the characters grow from there.  Then as they flow with the story I dream or think about them in context and it is not just one character who invades my mind.

How do you create your characters?  Are they story driven or do characters appear first and they drive the story?

Happy writing!