Magnolia Plantation gets a 5-Dog-Bone Rating!

It only makes sense that a dog-friendly bed & breakfast gets a review by one its most discerning guests, and a 5-dog-bone rating to go with it!

The humans took Madison along on a recent visit to Gainesville, Florida, where Man-dad was doing some business. It was a long 5 hour ride from Fort Lauderdale, but worth the trip. Gainesville is an interesting city, with a combination of big university town vibe and historic Southern city ambiance. H-mom loved the Historic Duckpond neighborhood. In the middle of Duckpond, there really is a duck pond, and Madison was intensely intrigued. Those big geese can be mean though, and the black swans equally unfriendly!

We stayed at the Magnolia Plantation. What an awesome place! The cottages are fido-compatible, and dogs with good manners, like Madison, of course, can sleep on the beds if they are courteous enough to bring along their own blankets. Jessica's Courtyard, where Madison was a guest, has a private courtyard, with tons of brick landscaping and wonderful plantings to sniff around in. It was all walled in and secure enough to let Madison stretch her legs after a long car ride. The cottage had two bedrooms, a kitchen, sunporch and a living room, and a great big old tub in the bathroom. Man-dad actually said he could live there and be very happy!

We brought Madison's blanket to cover the beautiful black and white toile spread; 

isn't the antique canopy wonderful?

Magnolia Plantation is tops on Madison's list of where to stay when traveling in Florida with a pooch. If you decide to make a visit, be sure to tell Cindy and Joe that Madison sent you!

Gainesville is a proudly dog-friendly city, too. There is a brand new dog park, Haisley Lynch Park, right downtown, and four other dog parks in the city if you feel like an adventure with your humans. The restaurants usually allow dogs at their outdoor seating, and there are lots of beautiful streets to walk down and enjoy both the old homes and the tastefully rehabbed downtown.

On the trip up to Gainesville, we stopped at one of the service plazas getting close to Ocala. Madison was out of the car on leash, posing around as usual. Here is proof-positive that Northern Florida is more "the South" than it is Florida:

A lady walked past H-Mom, nodded at Madison and said, "That's one fine lookin' hound."

Yep. Sure is.