We’re Going To NYC (And The Cat Made Us Do It)!
Now that Polly’s rehab is finally in a place we feel comfortable, it’s about time I give everyone a full update on the cat. As you might recall Taggart got diagnosed with hyperthyroidism back in early May, and at the time we were facing two difficult options -> Put her on the horrible meds which control the thyroid levels, but do not cure the progressive disease. Or give her an expensive radioactive I-131 treatment which requires a hospital stay and 15-days of special post-treatment handling, but does cure the disease.
This has been another long and somewhat complicated story, but I think we’re finally getting to an answer here, and it’s going to require yet another trip to another place that was never originally on our radar to visit. In a year that’s been pretty much entirely dictated by our paws, it’s probably no surprise that our next stop is entirely the cats fault (and we’re actually pretty excited about where this is going to take us) but wow…it’s been a helluva process to get here!
Once again, for non paw-readers you’re welcome to completely ignore this post (I’ll be getting back to more regular RV stuff next), but for those as paw crazy as us who might be curious, feel free to read on. Also, we’re looking for some tips for the next stage of our travels (see bottom of this post) so if you have any those we’d love to hear them too. Here’s the full feline tale:
We Started Taggart On The Meds In May
When Taggart was originally diagnosed we chose to put her on the thyroid meds (Felimazole -> a coated version of Methimazole) as a first step. Not only was this going to give us time to figure out what to do, but it would tell us how her kidneys were doing and whether she was going to be a good candidate for the curative radioactive I-131 treatment.
You see Hyperthyroidism kicks the body into a “hyper” state where everything goes into overdrive, including the kidneys and this can often mask underlying kidney disease (a common problem in older cats). The only way to know for sure is to use the meds to bring T4 levels back down to normal and see how the kidneys react. Some I-131 clinics even require you to do this before they’ll accept your cat as a patient for radioactive treatment.
But It’s Taken Us Months To Get The Meds Right
Thyroid medication is serious stuff (over-dosing can literally kill) so the recommended protocol is to start low and go slow.
For cats the starting dose should be no more than 1.25 mg, twice a day, for least a month, then you re-test to see where the thyroid levels are. If they’re too low you up the dose slightly and try again in another month. If they’re good you should still plan to test at the 2 month point to check that the levels are stable. If you get two consistent readings (over two months) you’re good to go and you don’t have to test again for at least 6 months. Easy Peasy right?
Of course some cats turn out to be more tricky to stabilize than others, and given that our paw babies never take the easy route it’s no surprise our girl was in that very category. In Taggart’s case it’s taken us almost 5 months to get it right!
Part Of The Problem Was Lab Discrepancies
The first test we did on Taggart after 3 weeks on the meds showed her thyroid levels were in the right range. However this was an in-house test done at Banfield Pet Hospital in Portland OR, and this turned out to be a problem later on. You see in-house testing is cheap, but can also be notoriously inaccurate. There’s a ton of variation in how the equipment is maintained and how well it is calibrated (or not). So, unless you use the same equipment at the same lab for every test you can get widely varying results. It’s fine for getting an “estimate”, but not really appropriate for detailed testing.
We found this out the hard way when we re-tested Taggart end of June while we were still at Long Beach, WA. There’s no Banfield here so we took her to a local vet and I decided to use an external lab that specializes in thyroid testing. The lab had been recommended on several of the Feline Thyroid forums I was following, and is well known for their reasonable prices and accurate results. The local vet took the blood draw and I mailed the vials to Hemopet/Hemolife in CA for analysis. Two days later I got the full results by e-mail.
Sadly, the results showed that her thyroid levels were still way too high. Clearly the first test from Banfield had not been accurate enough…ugh! So, we were back to square one. We upped the thyroid meds from 1.25 mg 2x per day to 2.5 mg 2x per day, waited 4 weeks and got ready to test again.
It Took 2 More Changes (& Supplements) To Get Her Stable
It took two more dosage changes to get her levels in-line (at 2.5 mg 2x/day her levels actually went too low, so we had to reduce again to get them just right), but we finally got her stabilized. We had to work around some nausea issues which we resolved with a daily dose of Slippery Elm, and we also had to work around some immune issues which we resolved when I added 4LifeTransfer Factor (great supplement for older cats!) to her food. It took some experimentation, but we got there in the end!
Taggart been stable for a while now and she shows it. Her “hyper” symptoms are completely gone, she’s gained back some weight and she looks really good. The best news of all? As her T4 levels have come down her kidney levels have stayed fairly stable. For those who like the nitty gritty, her creatine and BUN levels rose somewhat, but stayed well within norms (I used Hemopet to test these too, by the way). This is great news and means that she is healthy enough for the radioactive iodine treatment.
There Are Many I-131 Clinics, But Only A Few Top-Notch Ones
During this whole process I’d been furiously researching I-131 clinics across the country. In my typical OCD fashion I’d been reading research papers learning everything I possibly could about the treatment. On a basic level it’s a pretty straight-forward process. You just inject some radioactive iodine into the thyroid. That kills off all the tumor cells. Then, as long as the disease hasn’t progressed too far there’s still some “healthy” thyroid left which kicks into action and brings everything back to normal.
The problem is that there’s very little consensus in the vet industry about how much radioactive iodine to use. Many clinics just use a “standard” 4 mci (millicuries) dose and don’t dose the injection individually to the cat. This may be too much for many kitties which can lead to hypothyroidism (thyroid levels go too low and can’t recover) and even cancer-related issues later on. This is a well-known problem in humans that undergo radioactive therapy, but is less-researched in cats. However the short time I’d spent on the thyroid cat forums showed it was clearly a big problem in cats too.
The “gold standard” method to minimize this is to do a thyroid scan (thyroid scintigraphy) before the treatment and dose individually to the cat based on the size and development of the tumor. It doesn’t guarantee success, but it vastly improves outcomes.
With this knowledge in hand I started compiling lists of clinics and calling around. I think I called around 50 or so clinics and the list narrowed fast. It turns out there are only a handful of clinics that actually do thyroid scintigraphy in the US, and an even narrower list that dose individually to the cat. In fact, if you want to work with the best, leading-edge research vets in the field there are only TWO places to go -> AVMI in Los Angeles, CA or Hypurrcat in New York, NY.
Dr. Broome (the head vet at AVMI) and Dr. Peterson (the head vet at Hypurrcat) are the top researchers in the world of feline hyperthyroidism. Pretty much every paper out there has one of their names on it and their clinics are literally most advanced I-131 clinics in the world. If you want the best, those are your spots.
New York It Is!
So, that’s the long story of how we’ve ended up with our plan to go to New York City.
I sent all Taggaart’s blood results to Hypurrcat last week and she got accepted into the clinic for treatment Oct 3rd. Its going to be another hit to the pocket-book and she’ll have to stay for 3 days before we can take her home, but I know without a shadow of a doubt that she’ll be in the best hands possible.
Once she’s home we’re going to have to package and store her radioactive pee for a while (that should be fun), plus she’ll need to do 1, 3 and 6 month blood tests to see how her thyroid is recovering. On the risk side there is still a chance she goes hypo, and there’s a small (very small) chance the treatment won’t work (in a small % of cats you have to do it twice), but we’ve stacked the odds as much as we possibly can in our favor. That’s really all we can do.
So, What’s The New Travel Plan?
We’ll be heading out of Ann Arbor this weekend to take a quick trip to the West Coast of the MI “mitt” (we can’t leave without seeing Sleeping Bear Dunes and Traverse City). Then we’ll be high-tailing it over to New York to get ready for Taggart’s treatment.
While Taggart is at the clinic we plan to spend some days exploring the big city. Then we’ll embark on a new-to-us route down the Eastern Coast of the US to hit our winter bookings in Florida. This means (sadly) we’ll miss Kentucky and the Bourbon Trail, but we’re going to see tons of new stuff along the Eastern Coast, and maybe even catch some of the fall leaves turning too. We’re pretty excited.
If you have any tips on “must do” stuff along our new route PLEASE do comment below. Dog-friendly tips, as always, are most welcome, as are special out-of-the-way spots that you know we’ll love! This route is all new to us, so we’re all open ears, both furry and not.
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Sending purring prayers your way. Sounds like you found the best place to have her thyroid taken care of. It kind of reminded me of when I was dxed with hypothyroidism and the difficult balancing of meds. You might want to look at Colt’s Neck, NJ as a RV destination. We did stay there when we did NYC, taking the ferry and the train to the city. I cannot recommend a park because we stayed at a Navy Facility. But I think there must be some parks there. Beautiful countryside there. Lots of farms and farmer’s markets.
Balancing thyroid meds is tough, and there are lots of similarities between cats and humans in this sense. In fact pretty much everything that vets do for feline thyroid issues are based off human equivalents -> same meds, same treatment, similar risks and side-effects.
Cheers for the tips on Colt’s Neck. I’ll check into it.
Nina
Although it’s not directly on your chosen route, St. Augustine is still north of Cedar Key and on the way if you get off the highway for a little detour. It is an awesome place and even has a working (supposedly haunted) lighthouse & a museum – a very historical town with a fort, Castillo de San Marcos, Flagler College (stunning tour), and lots of little shops and things to see and do. I have friends (non-RVers) who rent a house there every winter, they have 2 dogs and always take the dogs to town with them. We were there in January, 2012? and the weather was in the mid 60’s – unusually cold weather year for Florida.
I have no first-hand knowledge but have also heard that I-131 is the best way to go. Best wishes for a successful and speedy recovery for Taggart.
Hey Nina! You and Paul must hang-glide at Kitty Hawk. We did it on our way to Vermont this summer and was a complete blast. We even got a video of our exploits to watch later. I have a blog post about it if you are interested. Also, looks like your travels take you right past our neck of the woods in Central Florida. We’re in DeLand, FL right off I-4 if you need any tips when you get this far. DeLand has its own little brewery, too, if you need a flight by then.
16 years ago we adopted a kitten born to a barn cat; rural New Brunswick. At 3 months old she fell off the bannister and broke her leg at the growth plate. Local vets tried surgery unsuccessfully. The only hope was to have her case accepted at a veterinary training hospital; she was. Many trips and $3,000. later she was released with a plate and screws. She recovered fully. My colleagues thought I was nuts. I couldn’t put a price on family. Not everyone understands. She is the sweetest girl. All the best!
What an awesome story! I’ve never heard of that surgery in cats, but it makes total sense. And yeah…we’d totally do the same. We get you 🙂
Nina
If your trip south gets you near Charleston, Edisto Beach State Park beach is off-leash dog friendly in the off season and the shelling can be pretty good at times too. Also, near Charleston in Awendaw there is a Birds of Prey Center that is a really interesting way to spend a half a day or more. http://www.thecenterforbirdsofprey.org Additionally, the Charleston historic district is great too.
Excellent! We’ve never been to Charleston so we’re definitely planning to stop there this time around.
Nina
Sounds like we may have to meet up with you in Charleston!!!! <3
Oh YES PLEASE!!!!!!
Nina
Best wishes for Taggart to come through this with flying colors! You and Paul too!
Thank you. I am going to be SO nervous (I become a basket case whenever our paw family has to get treatment), but I know she’ll be in good hands. We’re crossing all paws and fingers that she does well.
Nina
if YOU GET A CHANCE Stop in Ocean City , NJ , We spend our summer there , but is the best time of year.
Hi Nina & Paul, if you have time check out Asseateague State Park Maryland and the wild mustangs
https://www.nps.gov/asis/planyourvisit/marylandcamping.htm
, also try and take the free ferry to Ocracoke island light house on the Outerbanks.
https://www.ncdot.gov/ferry/
Safe Travels..
Bob&De
Assateague is definitely on our list!! Being an old horse-girl I will go CRAZY for wild mustangs. Cheers also for the lighthouse tip. Looks lovely!
Nina
Its one of the smaller light houses but nice, there are a few other lighthouses in that area one in particular was really cool, the Cape Hatteras Light house, they actually moved this thing to its current location back in the late 90s, oh a few more places, Grave Yard of the Atlantic Museum, and if you get a chance take the Hummer tour through Corolla NC. http://www.wildhorsetour.com/
Regards,
Bob & DE
When going along the Jersey coast there are two places you must stop. First is Asbury Park for all the craft beer spots and second is Long Beach Island for the lighthouse. The weather should be beautiful at that time and Asbury is only 50 miles from NYC. I don’t have a RV or camp for that matter so I’m no help with that.
Glad the kitty is doing well. Love your blog.
OK Nina, you asked! I’m not sure how much time you’ll have to travel while with Taggart in NYC BUT if you can spare a day (or even half of one) a trip to Kingston NY to see both the Rondout and Esopus Meadows lighthouses (Hudson’s is probably too far north) in the Hudson are well worth it. If you have time a stop in Highland to walk across Walkway Over the Hudson is really fun. Doggie’s are welcome and you can stop and turn around at any point. We prefer to park on the Highland side. There is a rail trail that extends through Highland that can be bicycled or walked though I doubt Polly is ready for a long trot with the bike.) You can get there from the City by taking the beautiful Taconic Parkway and crossing at Poughkeepsie on the Mid-Hudson Bridge where you will be right next to the entrance to the Walkway,or take the GW Bridge across to NJ, drive up the Palisades Interstate and Rte 9W north to Highland. Either way, then continue from Highland north on 9W. A stop at Scenic Hudson’s Black Creek Preserve or the Shaupeneak Ridge (the former goes down to the river the latter to the ridge with great views) are great and DOGGIE FRIENDLY. If you turn right on River Rd (just after the Apple Bin which has apple cider donuts and other goodies to die for) that’ll take you to Esopus Meadows where you can see (but not visit) the Maid of the Meadows. Continue north on 9W (we’re talking minutes here) to the Hudson River Maritime Museum which is fascinating and then go out to the Rondout Light. (The Museum would know about tours). Kingston is a wonderful town with lots of history and a farmer’s market on Sat on Wall St (9-2) Kingston is a very dog friendly town and they have a good brew pub (Keegan Ales) and I have heard good things about the Gilded Otter in New Paltz-a few miles south. Feel free to email me if you have any questions. Highland is about 1.25-1.5 hrs drive.
If you have time to drive out to Long Island you can visit the Fire Island Light at the Robert Moses Beach. (It’ll be about an hour-hour+ drive then walk to the light) which is beautiful!
Then there are the lights on the Outer Banks. Corolla Light and Hatteras Light were the 2 we visited but there are a number of others (incl. Bodie Light) and the OBX are superb! Nags Head for us was WAY too commercial and we really loved the Sands of Time CG in Avon (AKA Kinnakeet) on Hatteras Island but if you are spending any time there a day trip to Okracoke is worth the trip, a walk in Buxton Woods (near Hatteras Light and doggie friendly). Also, IF you have any time to read before then, David McCullough’s The Wright Brothers is a thoroughly enjoyable and short read and really enhances a visit to Kitty Hawk. The Mad Crabber in Avon had a really nice beer selection and great seafood.
A few other things: don’t know how you are heading to NYC but we found I-80 in OH to be one of the worst interstates we’ve been on. Also, the Harvest Host winery/brewery in Hartville, OH was great as was the farm in Catawissa, PA (near 80) Coming in to Jersey City on 78 is much better than on 80 (and the drive across NJ on 78 is FAR prettier) but AVOID the entire area of Jersey City at rush hours. The Liberty Science Center is great fun as is a trip out to Ellis Island which should not be missed. Oh other lower Manhattan things-walks around The Village; walk over the Brooklyn Bridge and take the ferry to Williamsburg to walk around; visit the National Museum of the American Indian right next to Battery Park (where the boats to Ellis Island/Statue of Liberty are); there is just SO much to do there!
Oh yeah, and maybe you’ll be in Morehead City in time for the Baldies convention-as they say-I don’t have less hair I have more head. 🙂
Stop in Savannah if you have time. It’s a beautiful city to walk around and down by the river is nice for eating and beer. My aunt lived in Charleston for years and I loved it but prefer Savannah, though both are worth visiting if you can.
We’ll be in Jupiter as of mid-Dec until mid-late Mar so if you’ll be down that way please let us know.
Outstanding list of tips! I’ll have to spend some time working through them all, but thanks very much for writing them.
Nina
I’ll agree about Long Beach too and if you get there be sure to visit Ship Bottom Brewery. Our friend Derek Correia just bought it. They’re in Beach Haven and their off season hours are listed below:
W, Th, – 4 PM to 10 PM
Fri, Sat 12 PM to 10 PM
Sun – 12 PM to 8 PM
Closed Monday & Tuesday
Best wishes with Taggart and her treatments! We are down to two fuzzy full timing felines (from 4) so can relate to what you are going thru.
Based originally in RI we have made that journey south and variations of it many times, but not always in the coach. You are for sure taking the most scenic water route.
As for the Liberty Harbor RV park we stayed there back in 2010, but before we started blogging so we don’t have a post about it. Let’s just say don’t set your expectations too high. The park itself isn’t too terrible, basically a parking lot with hookups. It’s the getting there and leaving that suck. Bad, pothole filled congested roads populated with obnoxious drivers and a smattering of low bridges thrown in for excitement. I remember we took a wrong turn on the way in, and when we left I asked for directions from the desk clerk at the RV park. Luckily there was another RV’er standing there because the clerk routed us under an 11′ bridge! On the plus side you are only about a 2 mile walk to the subway into NYC and during the week you are right next to the ferry port. We had a great time in the city.
We love the ride down the DELMARVA, very peaceful compared to the inland alternatives. Norfolk is a bit congested but not too bad. When we head south these days we take I-84/I-81 to avoid all the crap along I-95.
Cape Hatteras is nice but I remember that last ferry from Ocracoke to Cedar Island just being a big yawn.
If you stay in Myrtle Beach I’m pretty sure MB State Park will be more to your liking than any of the nearby commercial “resorts”. Our 43′ tag fits on a few sites in there, check our blog site for posts about it or get in touch for some site suggestions.
Hilton Head is worth a visit but note that much of the island is private.
We really enjoyed Jekyll Island in coastal GA, very history rich and pleasant. There is a fee to get on the island. Bring your bikes or walking shoes as the best is seen via that method. We did not care for the RV park on the island, and prefer to stay instead at nearby Blyth Regional which is wooded and has very long pull thru’s available. Also while in the area check out St. Simon’s island and Fort Fredericka.
I’m sure you have already researched dates, but while in the northeast keep in mind most of the campgrounds and state parks shut down in October, usually right after Columbus day.
Safe travels and enjoy the east coast!
We’ve had friends stay at Liberty Harbor so I’m prepared for the fact that we’ll be spending $$$ for something that’s not much more than a parking lot. It’ll be a sacrifice to see the big city. We’ll have to research the route in because we’re definitely a little worried about bridges and tunnels. I know they can get tricky over there.
Outside of Jekyll Island (which we visited our 1st year 2010…and absolutely loved) the other spots are completely new to us, so cheers for all those tips.
Nina
We are staying at Givhans Ferry State Park for the end of Sept. Inland and 40 minutes to Charleston. We found that the SC beachfront state parks are outrageously priced. Staying at Oregon Inlet NPS campground on the way down. If you don’t do the Eastern Shore route, take a look at US 301 thru MD and VA.
Petoskey and Harbor Springs Michigan are worthwhile.
I like that area better than Traverse City.
I am guessing you already know there are lots of microbreweries in the Traverse City Area.
Petoskey has a couple also.
You might want to put the West coast of Michigan on a future trip list, its wonderful there in the summer.
– We live in SouthWest Michigan.
PS – we did the radioactive treatment for one of our cats several years ago in the Detroit area, she lived happily on for years (probably not the same version).
We definitely need to come back and spend more time in MI. Before we got the dates for Taggart at the NY clinic we were actually thinking about spending the next 2-3 weeks along the western part of the mitt. The NY trip has changed all that and accelerated our plans out of here, but hopefully it’ll all be worth it (for kitty) in the long run. Always good to have a reason to come back….
Nina
My daughter and #2 son are very much like you concerning their animals. I was never able to afford expensive treatments for mine/theirs when they were growing up. Of course, we also had a lot of farm critters. Now that they are grown and I have downsized to ft rving with my youngest, a dog and a cat, it is a bit better. Luckily, they have been pretty healthy.
Vet costs ramp up FAST, especially as animals age, and there’s no doubt $$ are a part of the decision equation whenever something crops up. We’re lucky enough that we’re in a place we can pay for these treatments, but I know it can be cost prohibitive for many.
For hyperthyroidism the meds are cheap (you can get them down to ~$10/month), so it’s a viable option for almost any pet parent, although the blood testing that you need to do to get kitty stable does add some costs. The radioactive treatment is definitely more $$ ($1,000 and up) and there’s many who chose not to do it based on that, but it can also save some $$ in vet costs down the line. Either way, sometimes you just gotta do what you can and choosing a cheaper option is never anything to be ashamed of.
Here’s hoping for many more perfectly healthy years for your kitty & dog!
Nina
Sorry to hear of all your stressful and expensive troubles with your paw children:((
We are going to eventually be heading to NYC and are wondering where you found to camp? You’ve got a big rig and so do we. Would love some info on where to park it!!
Thanks for the info
If you want to be close to downtown pretty much the only spot is Liberty Harbor RV Park. It’s expensive and not much more than a big parking lot, but it’s just across the way from Manhattan.
Nina
There are 2 campgrounds on Long Island that would not be as close BUT you can get into the City via the LIRR. Wildwood would be closest but Hither Hills out in Montauk is spectacular. Wildwood is on the Sound side, HH is on the tip of the south fork. They are both NY state parks.
Liberty Harbor is the only place close to NYC—but there is Spruce Run State Park off of I-78 about an hour west of the city—near Clinton,NJ which has a bus that goes into NYC . Spruce Run has a dump station but no hook ups and is wooded, with a lake.
The NYC area is very difficult for RVers—we were there last summer and vowed never to take a rig EAST again.
Flying in and staying in a hotel is so much less costly and more relaxing.
I would never drive out on Long Island looking for a place to stay! YIKES—-Even though Montauk is wonderful
Be careful on the low railroad bridges in NJ—-we had a near miss.
We lived on LI for 12 years after 12 in the Hudson Valley and I was pleasantly surprised by how much easier driving on LI was compared to what I’d been warned about. As long as you aren’t driving at rush hour it is not any worse than most roads in NJ in fact it is not bad at all. But the LIRR is the way to go to the City if you are out there. It IS a long drive out and back but if you don’t want to stay in a crowded park AND want to visit the city it works.
As for low bridges, for us the Rand McNally TRUCKERS Atlas is indispensable. There is also lowclearance.com but we find the atlas with the lists per state and in numerical and alpha order, excellent. Also has restricted routes.
Excellent. Just ordered the Atlas. We have an older one from Good Sam’s, but it’s literally falling apart from use. This will be a good update.
Nina
we find that atlas indispensable as well…If you will be coming via the NJ Turnpike I don’t think you will have any problems…I78 I am not sure of …it has been a long time since we took it…but the Atlas should tell you…also I think there is some info on Allstars App about low clearance..
glad to hear Taggart was accepted…you know you are going to our most favorite city in the world…
there use to be a bar in Chinatown that was “underground” but I can’t remember the name of it..sounds like the “speakeasy” that was mentioned on FB. wish we were there to show you around..next time 🙂
Hoping all goes well for Taggert. I’ll be sending positive vibes for her treatment and recovery. As far as places to stay go, here are some we like down the East Coast: First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach, Huntington Beach SP (just south of Myrtle Beach) in SC, also Hunting Island SP near Beaufort, SC. We also like Skidaway Island SP near Savannah and Crooked River SP just before the GA/FL border. Georgia State parks are very nice and have some full hookups.
Hope the treatment works for you cat. Come to Kentucky the first weekend in May. The weather is usually great. No humidity yet. The Bourbon Trail gets better every year. Enjoy your travels.
Nina,
We’ve done that whole stretch of coast more times than most, in both the bus and the boat. I probably don’t need to give you “to do” advice, but feel free to drop me a line if you have any questions at all. Liberty Harbor is what it is, but probably the best choice under the circumstances. I grew up in NJ and went to school not far from there, in Hoboken (as Bugs Bunny would say, “I’m dyin'”). And we’ve spent several months in NY in the last couple of years. Give me a shout if you need hints or tips.
Holding positive thoughts for a good outcome…
Truly grateful for your details about both Polly and Taggart re their medical issues.
Sounds like Taggart is getting the superstar doc treatment! I guess if there’s any upside is that you had the time to research and decide what course of action you want to take and what vet you want to do her surgery. With Nikki and her gall bladder it was an emergency and we had no time to do any of that. Luckily she ended up in very good hands and I’m so grateful, but yeah we had the big hit-to-the-pocketbook too! I’m sure she’ll do great with the surgery and I know you’ll keep us posted. With regards to your route, are the white circles your planned stops? If your staying in Jacksonville, we really liked Hanna Park (which, coincidentally, is where we ended up unexpectedly due to Nikki’s surgery!) It’s a city-run park – the park itself is right on the ocean but the campsites are in a heavily treed area – like a jungle. Beach is bike ride away. For Charleston I’ve heard that James Island County Park is the place to go. Are you heading to the Keys after Cedar Key?
Sometimes having the time to research is great, and sometimes it drives you crazy. I’m so happy Nikki’s emergency surgery went well. Nothing quite as stressful as a sudden pet illness and emergency.
Yes, the white circles are tentative stops so cheers for those tips, especially the County Park. Sounds perfect for us. After Cedar Key we’re headed on down to Miami for Christmas. We’ve tried for months to get reservations in the FL Keys, but no go yet.
Nina
Hey.. your path south looks like ours! We should hook up 😉
Your level of detail, care and research into this stuff astounds me. Your paws are so ever blessed to have you looking out them.
Sending lots of positive kitty wishes your way for the weeks ahead. I know you’re going to be nervous as all get out, and hopefully NYC helps distract you a bit while the medical team performs what they’re best at.
Thank you my dear. Here’s hoping we maybe get to see each other down the way 🙂
Nina
For an excellent view of the Manitou Islands while at Sleeping Bear, either hike the Pyramid Point or Alligator Hill trails. We may see you out there! We have friends coming in for the weekend, so I’m sure we will be out and about. Breweries abound in Traverse City, but the town is fairly busy. Life slows down on the Leelanau Peninsula. There is also brewery in Suttons Bay named Hop Lot and another in Northport. Have fun!
Best wishes for a successful treatment for T. I’ll be hot on your heels so will follow your posts with interest. I plan on leaving Maine around the end of Sept, visiting my daughter in NYC for a few days, then letting the colder weather push me south until I land in No Florida or thereabouts. Thanks for blazing the trail and safe travels!
Hopefully I can find some sweet spots and good tips to share as we drive down. We’ve got about a month to do the Eastern Shoreline so we’ll have to pick and choose a bit, but I’m hoping to hit some of the best stuff.
Nina
I’m glad you found a good place for Taggart and I hope it all goes smoothly.
If you want another option to stay in the area, there is a nice county park in Westchester county with the train just outside. It’s 45-60 min train ride into the city (dogs can ride). If you stay in Jersey City, you must go to Taqueria Downtown for some of my favorite tacos. We are there way too much when we lived there and I miss it. You can walk Polly around Liberty Harbor park. Or if you want a nearby excursion, we used to walk/hike Palisades park along the Hudson all the time. There is a part near an old bathhouse that opens up into a wide area and I swear the dogs thought it was their yard.
There was a lot of good advice in the other comments long the coast. If you do stop in Savannah, we’ll be there for most of December. We both went to school there and now Brandon’s brother and family lives there.
Awesome tips, especially all the doggie-specific stuff! Plus we do love good tacos. Thank you!
Nina
Glad Polly is doing well – get reporting on her journey. Very best wishes to Taggart!
Wishing you a great time in NYC (my old stomping grounds) and I look forward to following your journey down the eastern coast!
XO
This all sounds so purrfect..hope is works out for you!! I am wondering where you’re staying while ‘in the city’? I am in the Finger Lakes region of NYS..which is gorgeous and has many camping areas so if you have time plan to check it out. Wineries, breweries, lakes, waterfalls ( if it rains- you know the drought) and much much more!!! It is about 4-5 hours from that area to NYC so not something you can plan on day tripping to. If you can’ take it this time try try again. Best wishes to you all!!!
While in NYC we’ll be right across the way from Manhattan at Liberty Harbor RV Park. It’s not much to look at and it’s definitely $$$, but it should be in a good location to explore everything in NYC.
I’ve heard SO many good things about the Finger Lakes region. Had lots of friends go there and rave about it. We won’t make it there this time around (sadly), but it’s definitely on our “must do one day” list.
Nina
Nina, one other thought that could be very important. I assume All Paws have Lyme tick disease protection. It is huge in the East especially around the New York area. If you and Paul go hiking anywhere make sure you check yourselves and the Paws as well as possible each time.
Find some good eastern NC BBQ when you make it to NC. Eastern style is vinegar with red pepper and salt and it’s damn tasty. Also see if you can work a side trip in the car over to Chef and the Farmer (google it) in Kinston. While you are there you can also hit up Mother Earth Brewing.
After Eastern Caoline BBQ (with coleslaw and SWEET iced tea) you’ll never want to go back to the red stuff!!
I found myself only slightly green with envy when I read about your visit with my friends and Pipa in Eastern Michigan. During today’s read I caught the word “Hemopet” and smiled. I just returned from Hemopet for a regular visit with my cocker spaniel. He receives wonderful care there for a chronic condition. Were you on a west coast sojourn I would recommend them wholeheartedly. As it is, I am glad they were able to provide you with accurate information so you can make informed decisions about your fur family member. Uh-oh! I just looked at the ending point of your travel plans….Cedar Key! Turning slightly green again.
Hemopet have been great to deal with. I’m so happy I discovered them through the cat forums. Great that you can get care there locally.
Nina
Poor little Taggert. Well, if I had to be radiated, no place I’d rather be than in a New York State of Mind!
I spent a month at the Liberty Harbor RV Park, sailing the Hudson, taking the Waterway ferry over to Manhattan, riding my bike through Liberty State Park, and most important to note, stumbling home from Zeppelin Hall Biergarten where they have over 100 beers on tap, right in your back yard! Yes, it’s an absolute “pit” of an RV Park, but then who stays in their RV while in the shadow of Manhattan? There’s even a “Little Red Lighthouse” at the base of the George Washington Bridge! 😉
My first year full timing was spent along your same route. If you stop at the Outer Banks (which I highly recommend,) you are going to be in Lighthouse Love! I did a whole blog post on the five OBX lighthouses. My favorite of the islands was Okracoke.
Also loved Assateague and Chincoteague…stayed in both. Driving across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge was a trip! Ohhhhhh, I can’t wait for the blog posts to come!
I’m going to have to go back and read all your old blog posts. I’m pretty sure your Liberty Harbor stint was before I started following you. I know you’ll have the best low-down on the lighthouses too.
Nina
If you have the time, go north to New England before heading south. You will love it!!!! Cape May or any other place along the Jersey Shore (south of Atlantic City) is really nice this time of year. Almost deserted after Labor day and still mild weather into later October. The Outer Banks off North Carolina are beautiful and always under visited (a good thing!). Ocracoke is a personal favorite, but you may not be able to get the beast there. The islands off South Carolina are a popular destination (nuf said about them). Charleston SC and Savannah GA are must sees.
Hi, so glad you found a great place for kitty to get treatment! Wanted to let you know we recently stayed at Liberty Harbor and your assessment is correct. It is just a parking lot with water and power. It is ugly and pretty poorly managed. Trash all around, no place to walk the dog, the skyline views they boast are non-existent (due to high rises going up in the area), very tight spaces, and the security they mention we never saw!
On the good side; however, it is extremely convenient to Manhattan, as advertised. We took both the ferry and the PATH train over to the World Trade Center, both were very convenient. The PATH was about $5 round trip and the ferry a little more expensive. If you take your car into town via the Holland Tunnel, it is $15. Even though security was lacking, we never felt unsafe or had any issues. And, there were a lot of “beastly-sized” RVs so you should be fine getting in and out.
I know you are super busy with kitty, but if you have a chance, the 9/11 Museum and Memorial are completely amazing. We also walked the High Line which was cool. We also visited Lady Liberty and the Ellis Island Museum, both fantastic. There are a lot of cool beaches in the area, but most NY beaches are not dog friendly: major bummer! It might be different after October 1, so definitely check it out.
Hope you have a great trip. Always enjoy following your posts and have learned a ton about full timing from you. We are now 90 days in and having a blast!
We definitely hope to see some of the big NYC sights including the 9/11 memorial, Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, amongst others. We won’t have a ton of time so we’ll have to pick and choose, but we’re hoping to hit as many as possible.
As for the beaches, I did lookup doggie rules and things open up dramatically in fall. From what I can tell beaches that are part of the Gateway National Recreation Area allow dogs after Sept. 15, while beaches run by the Department of Parks and Recreation allow dogs from Oct. 1. We’re coming in Oct 3rd so we should have lots of choice. Paws crossed!
Nina
I don’t think any of the beaches you mentioned are going to be easy to get to… you might want to check out beaches in Staten Island, they may be easier
I was going to suggest Cape Henlopen State Park in Lewes ( right next to the ferry!) But they just closed for (much needed) UPGRADES. There is Delaware Seashore Park at Indian River. Plus side… WWII artillery spotting towers.. beach..doggie friendly..down side… big open mass parking. Asparagus in Maryland is nice.
Back in Delaware, Killens Pond SP is nice. Plus you could bum free meal off of us..
Oh… and tax-free shopping!
That’s Assateague…. Damn auto correct!
Haha…a name like Asparagus State Park would certainly intrigue me. Assateague is most definitely on our stop-list, and auto-correct is most definitely a pain sometimes 🙂
Nina
There’s also Croton Point Park (Westchester county park) about 35 miles north of the city. Train station is close by or a 1 hour drive into mid-town.
We sure hope the worst of all the pet health issues will be behind y’all soon. Maybe bourbon trail time in the early spring Will keep up the prayers for good health and speedy recovery! I’m sorry I don’t have any sights to suggest along the eastern shore… We haven’t made it out there much yet.
I’m ready for these pet issues to be behind us too. Hoping next year is much less “dramatic” in that sense 🙂
Nina
I must say you certainly have done your homework:) Sounds like a necessary move with the condition. Wishing Taggart lots of luck for much success with the treatment:)
We are heading to Florida until Jan 1, as well. Make sure Paul checks out Ashburn, GA and Wanee Lake Golf and RV Resort. It isn’t exactly a resort but they do have a nice pool and tennis court. The sites are grass and right off the first tee. The course is a very tough nine holes with two water holes. Both go over the lake and one is very difficult. If you walk the course and stay at the park, you can play for free!! Also, the park is PPA so it is really cheap!! I always feel badly staying and playing golf for $10 a night. The course is really relaxed and Polly could probably go along most days. We are headed there around the end of Oct, beginning of Nov so I’ll let you know if there are any changes.
Enjoy Sleeping Bear Dunes. This is a favorite area of mine. We LOVE Indigo Bluff Resort. They also have a campground, but we stay in the resort part which is an owner park and Class A MHs only. Very nice!!!
Safe travels to NYC!
Paul remembers that Golf RV Park and put it on his “list” years ago when you first mentioned it. I know he’d LOVE to go. It may not quite line up with our route this time around, though. For Sleeping Bear Dunes we managed to snag at spot at the National Park campground (North Platte) so we’re looking forward to that.
Nina
Of course you have to stop in the low country in Charleston & see the battery & rainbow row houses, the plantations are great too. Then Savannah GA is a must. Been told you can dry camp downtown @ the visitor center for a couple of days very cheap.
I am SO looking forward to Charleston. We completely missed it when we first went East in 2010 and I’ve regretted it ever since.
Nina
Its wonderful to hear about Polly’s progress and I know Taggart will respond to her carefully planned treatment also.
Pretty much everything has been said in earlier comments, but I want to reiterate the warning about TICKS in the east…..and low bridges, just not in the New York City area. Check a trucker’s atlas or whatever you like to use, but don’t assume.
We’ve always avoided Myrtle Beach area but recently stayed in North Myrtle Beach and were pleasantly surprised…..drove into Myrtle Beach itself and will continue to avoid it in the future, not our cup of tea at all.
Skidway Island SP in Georgia has been a go to for us as well as Crooked River SP.
Good luck, we look forward to following Taggart’s progress as well as yours!
Yeah I’m not looking forward to the ticks, especially after we contracted Lyme disease back in 2010. I have NO desire to repeat that horrible experience! We have topical preventative for the dog and Permethrin for our clothes. I’m hoping that will help keep things somewhat at bay.
Cheers for the other tips. Both Skidway Island and Crooked River are on our list so it’s great to know you liked them. Since we have similar tastes that gives me confidence we’ll like them too.
Nina
I had another idea for you—probably unacceptable, but less stress. Maybe find a great dog kennel for Polly and a place to leave the RV in short term storage on I-78 near Clinton, NJ —–then drive your car into the city and stay in a hotel……easier and probably less costly? That way you only have the kitty to worry about and can enjoy the city while you are there…..:) Then put everyone back in the RV and head down the coast!
It’s a nifty idea, but we’re too attached to our paws and don’t like to kennel Polly. Much prefer being close to town and having our home and family with us, even if the park is not that nice.
Nina
We’ve stayed in Liberty Harbor, and I agree with everyone else…it is what it is, but you can’t beat the location. Walk to the water taxi to lower Manhattan, and a 5-minute drive to the Ellis Island ferry. We loved our stay there – especially the times we weren’t actually “there.”
Savannah is another of our favorite stops. We usually stay at Skidaway Island, but I understand you can park overnight at the Visitor Centor, too. But Skidaway Island is quiet, inexpensive, and maybe 15 minutes from downtown.
If you’re staying at Cedar Key – one of my very favorite places – check availability. Apparently they suffered a lot of storm damage this fall and not every place is up and running yet. I know Sunset Isle had a lot of damage, but they’re working hard and if they’re open again, it’s a great place!
Yes we’ve checked in with Sunset Isles (Cedar Key) and have a reservation there. They had a tough time with the hurricane that just passed through, but they’re hoping to be ready for the winter season.
Cheers for the other tips too.
Nina
Can’t believe I forgot two great spots. When you get to Jersey start at Sandy Hook Gateway National park to see the lighthouse then only a few miles from there is the Highlands Twin Lights. Both are a must see.
Safe travels.
Sandy Hook is most definitely on our list! As the oldest working light in the US we’ve got to see it! We’ll catch the other light while we’re there too.
Nina
NYC! Wow! My son graduated from Columbia University! We spent quite a bit of time there, needless to say. If you like Thai food, one of my favorite restaurants is Thai Market on Amsterdam-Upper West Side not far from Columbia. We now compare all Thai Restaurants to this one everywhere we travel (we always eat at least one Thai meal everywhere we travel). The lunch menu is very reasonable for New York because they really like the students.
We’re really looking forward to some good food in NYC, especially some ethnic stuff. We’re particularly fond of Asian food (all types), as well as Middle Eastern. Plus, going to NYC we’ve obviously gotta try some Italian and traditional Jewish options. It’s going to be a foodie extravaganza!
Nina
Hello guys,
We read every post and enjoy each and every one of them. My wife and I are preparing to retire one year from now. We have been working on our rig that we purchased in May to get her ready and when that glorious time comes, we are off on a full time basis. Your posts always intrigue us and help us get a little more prepared.
THANK YOU so very much!!!! We hope to cross paths with you somewhere in the future. Seems like we have quite a bit in common.
Lastly, on you way to NY, I assume you will be taking I90. If so, you will be driving withing about 2 miles from our current residence in Ohio. I’ve lived here (east side of Cleveland) for most of my life so if you need some guidance in the area, please don’t hesitate to ask. I can tell you that there is a pretty nice state park to the east of us called Geneva State park right on Lake Erie. Very nice place, pet friendly and your typical state park amenities. Don’t hesitate to ask if you need some direction
Keep up the good work.
Ray and Leslie (and the cattle dogs, Auzzie and Marley)
While you are in Virginia, you should visit Colonial Williamsburg, as well as Colonial National Historical Park, which includes Jamestown and Yorktown. They are all about an hour or so up I-64 from Norfolk.
Oh man, I just can’t imagine how stressful all this paw health drama has been over the past year. My heart sinks and my head spins thinking about it all. Great job Nina on keeping it together, doing extensive searching, testing and sharing the info with all of us. I feel like I have learned so much through all of your posts. I hope I never need the info but I sure am glad to know about it all.
We absolutely loved Traverse City and the peninsula! We noted our fave stops here (of course they are mostly wineries and breweries): http://www.gonewiththewynns.com/best-of-traverse-city-mi
Also, Jason wanted me to tell you if you see B Nektar at any of the stores buy it. We’re not huge mead fans but that stuff was excellent and we haven’t found much of it outside of Michigan.
WONDERFUL!! Knew I could count on you for some solid beer/wine/etc. recommendations. I’m going to re-read and re-study everything you’ve written about (and video’d) in the area. This requires some serious planning…..
Nina
Hi, there. So glad that Polly is well. And that you found such an outstanding clinic for Taggart. She is fierce and with you two as parents, she will get through this. I glanced at your itinerary briefly, here is what stood out:
Cape May is supposed to be outstanding for birders, but we have not been there.
LOVE, love, love the Outer Banks, if you get a chance read our posts on it. It is a LOOONG WAY from one end to the other, if you have time staying at two separate parks would be best.
Myrtle Beach is VERY touristy, years ago we stayed in a bed and breakfast at Pawley’s Island and loved it.
We stayed in a campground named Tuck in the Wood in St. Helena Island about an hour and a half from Charleston. Very quiet and it felt like a state park but it is a bit far from the town.
Enjoy the fall on the East Coast, it is beautiful!
I will definitely go back and re-read all your posts. The Outer Banks are one place I’m really excited about and we’ve already planned on TWO stops there, so it’s good to know that lines up with your experience. SOoooo many lighthouses there {{wheeeeee}}
Cheers for the other tips too.
Nina
Because I managed a cat hotel for many years, I saw lots of cats on the thyroid hormone treatment as well as those who had gotten the radiation treatment. The cats who would receive the radiation did well, plus didn’t have the aggravating daily treatments which tended to irritate them. I’m sure Taggert will do well, especially since you’ve done your homework to find the best possible treatment for her. I love the furry kids myself. With my best friend Oliver, I spent over $4000 on a very unusual treatment for him when he was just a baby which gave him a long, long life. Money well spent.
I’m so happy to hear that. I did a lot of research on the iodine treatment and came to the same conclusion as what you mentioned. Over the long run, as long as kitty is healthy enough for the treatment, it’s a MUCH better option than the meds. The disease is progressive if not treated (the thyroid tumor will continue to grow), and the meds are a pain to administer and can have nasty side-effects. At least w/ the radioactive treatment we have the option for a cure and the possibility that Taggart won’t need meds anymore (unless she goes hypo, of course). We’re hoping for the best.
Nina
FWIW… I had Thyroid Cancer and had to have a total Thyroidectomy in 1995. After the surgery, I too had Radioactive Iodine Treatment to kill any tumor that might remain. Of course, not having any remaining Thyroid, I have to take synthroid everyday and getting the right dose was a process. However, the I-131 treatment was a success and 21 years later… life is great!! What you describe with Taggart sounds so similar. I feel certain things will work out well.
Well I’m certainly happy to hear your treatment was a total success all those many years ago!! And yes, it’s pretty much exactly the same in cats. Thyroid cancer is rare in kitties (usually the tumor is benign), but it does happen and there are kitties who have to have their thyroids completely removed. They end up going on synthroid too. So, very much the same procedure.
Continued good health to you!
Nina
You guys are the best pet parents! Hope all goes well with Taggart, and hey, it’s a great excuse to visit NYC.
We loved Savannah (stayed at Skidaway Island SP), and Charleston. James Island County Park is very nice, with paved bike/walking trails, off-leash dog park, and convenient to town. Not inexpensive, though.
Looks like a very busy end of the year for you!
I’m pretty sure the entire rest of our year is going to be $$$. Lots of cool stuff on the East Coast, but not much in the way of boondocking or cheap camping. We may have to high-tail it West early next year to recover the budget a bit.
Nina
Nina, I don’t know if you are booked on the Outer Banks yet and I mentioned Sands of Time in Avon. I think you said you are Passport America members but we stayed there for $25/night with PA. They take big rigs (40ft max I think) and when we were there took a deposit for electricity that you got back if you didn’t plug in. They had laundry, good internet connectivity (I don’t know if they have WiFi but the good connectivity I think you’ll find that is true of the entire east coast) and nice showers. You’re a good hike from the built up areas of Kitty Hawk and Nags Head (think lots of lanes in the highway and malls) but close to great hiking, kite sailing, Okracoke, and a wonderful beach. They do only take cash though. The sites are closer than some places but we had good space for the cat to roam on his tether (20′)
Also, friends recommended Carolina State Park in Wilmington and I think they said non-E sites are $15, maybe 17? We haven’t stayed there (plan to on our way north from FL next year) I don’t know much about it but the price is right and Wilmington has some good places to visit and good restaurants and even a brew pub, about which I have heard good things.
We stayed at Ft McAllister SP in Richmond Hill GA (just south of Savannah) but I think they were $35/night. From what I read when in Savannah I thought Skidaway might have been a better choice. Also, the person who said there is overnight parking at the visitor center was correct-at least as of when we were there in Apr 15. I believe there was a 48 hour limit and the cost was $12 a night. It’s a parking lot but you’re right in town and in walking distance of some great eateries.
I hope Taggart recovers well and look forward to the radioactive pee storage methods (assuming you will share your methods, which I certainly hope).
I will definitely share the whole process as we go through it 🙂
Nina
If you stay at Assateague, make sure it’s at the national seashore campground, not the Maryland state park. If you want to enjoy libations at your campsite, that is…
Interesting. Did not know about that little restriction. Thanks!
Nina
Hi
If you need a place to stop over on your way from Michigan to NJ, I recommend Letchworth State Park in WNY. Beautiful place and all trails are dog friendly. I lived in NJ..do not get on the Garden State Parkway with the RV..many low clearance over passes. Ohio Rt 80 has the best service plazas. Spacious RV sites with electric hookup if needed for a fee.
I will second that about Letchworth, “the Grand Canyon of the East.” We stayed there in 2008 when still tent camping and it is one of our all time favorite parks. However, I don’t think they allow motorhomes. We were considering it last year (and we are only 33′) and I think did not go because of that. OTOH, if you stopped near there (Castile/Genessee NY) it is WELL worth a visit. It is a beautiful park and voted best in NY last year.
Letchworth State Park has RV sites up to 50 feet. I have camped there with a 30 ft RV
Cheers for that. Looking at the map I’m not clear we’ll make it that far north on our trip to NYC. It’s going to be more like a straight line across from MI with 3 days of hard driving to get there. I’ll keep this place on our list however. It looks fascinating.
Nina
Oh good, thanks! Then we’ll definitely try to work it in next year. I don’t know why I got the idea they didn’t. Sorry for miseading you Nina, it really is lovely.
We spent a lot of time at Sleeping Bear in the camping days. Especially like the trails that end up on top of the dunes, Pyramid Point and Empire Bluffs if I remember correctly. Spectacular views for a small time investment. Paws were welcome years ago, not sure about now. Also do the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive. NPS Platte River Camppground was upgraded a few years ago and was nice. We preferred the no hookup DH Day campground near Glen Arbor but it’s probably too small for a beast.
Our paths keep crossing, we’ll run into you one of these days. We’re now 50 miles NE of Ann Arbor at our “Home” campground. Fall plan is to follow the color change to North East Florida then west. We’ll be watching for your new campground reviews and revisit the old ones.
My wife and I grew up in Virginia and we would suggest a visit to Chincoteague Island and Assateague Lighthouse. When you go through Delaware, it is worth using the By-Pass (RT 1) as traffic can be terrible in the northern part of the state.
If you’re thinking about visiting Atlantic City NJ, it’s one of those places you may want to visit once just to day you did. However, Ocean City, MD is a much nicer place if you want to experience a typical east coast touristy type beach (without the casinos).
We grew up in Virginia Beach and recommend going to First Landing State park to walk the trails. I don’t remember seeing any RV spots that would fit the Girthy-Girl but you can try “nearby” Indian Cover Resort. While you’re in the area, stop by the Cape Henry Lighthouse. It’s a two-for one! Be prepared, you have to go through security since it is on Fort Story military base. Also, there is a big cross on the beach to indicate where the English landed (First Landing) before going up river to establish the first “permanent English settlement”. *By the way, my wife and I were married by that cross.
Why “permanent” English Settlement? Once you get to the Outer Banks in North Carolina (before reaching the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse), stop by Roanoke Island and visit the first “non-permanent” English colony. Also known as “The Lost Colony”. Nearby is Manteo where the commercial fishermen live. There is a restaurant that serves meals provided by those very fishermen. Around lunch you may even see the boats coming in with that evening’s meal!
Wherever you end up going, we can’t wait to hear about it. I hope you find some places we haven’t been to so we can look forward to trying them.
My advice is to skip Myrtle Beach and hit Savannah which we prefer to Charleston even though Charleston is great.
It looks like you are going through Ocracoke and the ferry.Good choice.
Nina, I know it’s the weekend but I just realized that you said you’d be heading to Sleeping Bear Dunes and I wanted to say that if you have the chance there is a beach south of there (just south of Empire) called Peterson’s Beach which allows doggies. One side is for them, one side for those crazy people who don’t have them. Anyway, it’s down a dirt road-I think it was about 4 miles long, called Peterson Rd and it leads to Peterson Beach. There is another beach north of there called Esch Beach but I don’t remember the dog policy. When we went in August last year the water was deliciously refreshing. Not freezing as I’d though so didn’t bring a suit, but wonderful enough that hubby stayed in for about half an hour and Phoenix enjoyed wading with me since it was fresh water with no waves. (Her blindness was established enough that she did not like being in waves.) I have no idea if you’ll have time but it was a great treat.
Fabulous tip. We’re definitely going to try to fit that in.
Nina
So glad to hear Polly is doing so well. Best of luck to Taggart. Enjoy NYC!
Hi Nina,
Good luck on the medical front in NYC. One person already mentioned Hunting Island SP, near Beaufort SC. We love this SP–the campground is in a live oak and palmetto forest so it is green all winter, it’s adjacent to a four mile fine sand beach plus miles of trails, and it has a lighthouse that is on the National Historic Registry. One problem is that they are strict on the leash law.
Safe travels,
Bob L
I know kitty will get the best of medical help. I hope you will be able to stop by the Buffalo / Niagara Falls area on the way down to NYC! Buffalo is really booming now and has quite a number of beer breweries and growing. Also, Letchworth State Park is a great stop on the way (if these are along your route) and the finger lakes with all their wineries. New York State is beautiful in the fall and I’m sure you’ll enjoy your ride.
It has been such joy to see how well Polly has recovered from her surgery. She definitely enjoyed all the swim therapy in those Great Lakes. Thanks for all the detailed information you’ve given about her symptoms, surgery, treatments and recovery. Our Sydney has recently started to have a shake in her hind leg and I am paying close attention.
Now it is Taggart’s turn. We will be sending healing thoughts to you guys as you go through the treatments in NY. Look forward to the updates. One thing is certain, anytime travel plans are changed because of the fur babies we are never led astray!
I didn’t read through the comments to see if anyone had recommended this place but we really enjoyed the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island. Very cool place. http://gstc.jekyllisland.com. Have fun!