Guest blogger Amanda takes us on a tour of the Lake District, where you’ll find some of the best outdoor fun in the UK. Find out where to hike, bike, cave, climb, canyoneer, swim and sleep.
Hotels/Accomodations
Dog in Hot Tub Soils Reliable Hotel
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve stayed at the Travelodge on Butler Avenue in Flagstaff, Ariz. It’s been a haven for its reasonable price, hot tub, sauna and proximity to good food.
But it’s time to pull up stakes and find a new place. I think the low prices have pulled in a new sort of clientele that doesn’t seem to have any clue how to behave in a hotel. I didn’t think “don’t put your dog in the hot tub” would need to be among the written pool rules. The band of hillbillies during my last visit, however, proved me wrong.
Even worse, the staff didn’t seem interested in doing anything about it. I didn’t even see any sign that they cleaned the hot tub after learning that some people mistook it for a dog bath.
A bummer, that is. I was really looking forward to a good soak after a day on the slopes. But I got deprived of an amenity I always enjoyed. But now, I kind of regret my frequent trips to the Travelodge hot tub. I can’t help what else has floated in there unchecked over the years.
See ya, Travelodge on Butler. It’s been a good run. But no more. If you’re headed to Flagstaff, don’t be tempted by the price. Unless you’re comfortable with the possibility of splashing around with someone else’s hound.
Hotel Review – InnSuites Tucson Foothills
Living in Phoenix in the fall and winter is pretty sweet. I’m just now starting to forget four months of scorching, unrelenting summer heat. I can go outside without fear of dehydration!
But still, I needed a change of scenery. That lead Sarah and me to Tucson to hike a bit and check out the Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum (a post on that is coming up soon). We wanted to spend the night, and I got online to find a decent place the morning we left – the day after Thanksgiving, no less!
I quickly found the InnSuites Tucson Foothills, which is owned by Best Western. The often-handy (but sometimes maddening) GoogleEarth helped me find it. I wanted a place a little farther from the University of Arizona, and a little closer to hiking trails. Here are some bits you need to know about this hotel:
1. Hiking trails are about 10 minutes away. Not bad! And it’s actually a really good system. The Pima Canyon trail can keep you occupied all day. The scenery is striking and varied.
2. The rooms all seem to have comfortable beds and decent lighting. They all appeared to be clean and well-maintained. Each room had its own region-inspired name, which was kind of funny. Ours was the Show Low Suite, or something like that.
3. Try to get a room on the second floor. The tiled floors downstairs make a racket in the morning once all the housekeeping carts depart for their rounds.
Now, this last one is the big [...]
