Curtis

We pretty much kept to the trails and loops near the main parking lot, but this is definitely an underrated state park. Our little (and old) dog did have some problems with the steps a couple times and had to be carried.

We only had time to do the overlooks between the main and south entrances. The trails are easy and the views of the Mississippi River and passing trains are nice, but you don't really see any of the rock formations that give the park its name. If you have a little dog, be careful so they don't slip between the spindles on some of the overlook platforms.

If you don't like very remote sites or driving on gravel roads, this is not for you. And the park and roads may be subject to washouts or high water levels, but it is really a unique experience and the park is very well done. Very safe and dog friendly though.

We bought a ticket on-line to the suggested parking ramp and had a nice and safe walk to the Gateway Arch. We took turns going into the lovely museum while the other took our Rosie around the beautiful walking paths around the arch and along the Mississippi. We each took about an hour in the museum, which is not really enough, but if you pick and choose what exhibits you want to read more about, it works.

The visitor center/museum was closed for extensive renovations when we were there in September 2025, but it is definitely still worth a stop. Well laid out walking paths with excellent signage and the walk to the top of Monk's Mound is easy.

The hotel is very clean and either new or recently renovated. Our room was clean, quiet and nicely appointed. The breakfast was better than some Hampton Inns we've stayed at. The staff was very friendly towards our little dog. You have quick access to the expressway, but are not walking distance from any restaurants or other sites.

We stopped on our way through town because of the bookstore next door, but then got coffee and cookies and relaxed on their side patio with our dog. Great selection of coffee and other drinks along with pastries, cookies, sandwiches and soup. There is a large parking lot across the street to exercise your dog before getting back on the road.

You order your food inside, and the outside seating is a covered and fenced area on the street/sidewalk that has a picnic table and a couple of tables and chairs, where dogs are welcome. I'm not a vegan person, but my wife is. She loved the food and I thought it was ok.

The hotel is nice and clean, the breakfast was about on par with most Best Westerns, and the room was spacious, quiet and clean. You are right next to a gas station and a industrial type building - storage maybe and pretty much the same across the street. It is only a few miles drive into central Springfield though. Not really close to shopping, dining and tourist sites.

A nice covered patio space with ample tables, as well as a nice tasting room with all sorts of decorations. The wine was great - we sampled and bought both dry and sweet wines. The owner explained the history of the winery and educated us on the various wines we sampled. A must do during a trip to Maquoketa, and right on the road to Maquoketa Caves State Park. The wine was very reasonably priced.

Great pizza, beer and wine in a setting that must be seen to be believed. An old Episcopalian church now a brewery and restaurant.

Note that they are in the midst of being purchased by a Dubuque brewery so some menu and drink selections will change, along with the name. It will still be in a church though.

Comfort Inn is normally not our first choice for multi-day stays with our dog, but after the Hampton Inn next door completely mishandled a "soft" renovation - it looked more like they were cleaning up after a tornado, we were forced to scramble. Ray at the night desk went way above and beyond to get us settled. The room was spacious and clean, as were all other areas. The breakfast selection was far better than we normally see at a Comfort Inn.

Clean and comfortable rooms, helpful staff, and a better than average breakfast for a Comfort Inn. We appreciated the freezer in our refrigerator too. Not really walking distance from any restaurants, etc, but Dyersville is a small town. They need to clean up the cigarette butts in the shrubs and on the big rock at the entrance.

We had a reservation to stay here 9/22-9/23 of 2025. At 5:00 upon our arrival we were greeted by piles of garbage and couches outside at the entrance, inside at reception, and in the hallways. We were told they were undergoing a "soft" renovation. It looked like they were cleaning up after a tornado. We were told we'd have to wait in the lobby for an undetermined amount of time to make sure the reno of our room was complete. We raised a ruckus and eventually moved to the Comfort Inn next door. We could see for the next two days that the garbage piles outside never got cleaned up. The front desk staff was unfriendly at best - I understand they were probably dealing with upset guests for many days during the reno, but some people aren't meant to work in hospitality, I guess. The night manager was only slightly better.

The back patio welcomes dogs and is very spacious. Food and drink are ordered inside. We had the spicy Italian flatbread, which lived up to its name, as well as one of their many pretzel bite varieties. The beer and the wine were great as well.

Spacious veranda and also tables with umbrellas on the ice cream shop side welcome dogs. The wine and service was great. You order your wine inside.

We were there on a Monday night in late September, with easy parking right out front. Our food was delicious, and you have to try the house made limoncello.

Dogs are welcome on the trails and on the viewing raft. The lake is extremely clear - looking at the downed trees on the shoreline it was hard to tell if the tips were submerged or floating just above the water surface. When we visited in mid-May, the raft was user operated, and is pulled across a cable to the other end of the small lake and then back to the dock. There are plenty of informative signs on the trail and on the raft itself. You can view the spring fed water either off the sides or through a glass bottom in the middle of the raft. Our little Rosie could barely see over into the glass bottom, but she seemed to understand this was something different.
The grounds are nice and there were plenty of bathrooms. The gift shop is well stocked.

Even if our dog had been allowed on the beach, I would still not recommend this place. The beach is narrow and right off the main drag. There are many fantastic beaches within a short to medium drive of Traverse City, so this one is a waste of time in my opinion.

Maybe our visit is different from everyone else's because ice storms a couple months prior to our visit in May 2025 had closed the two trails we intended to hike. The person at the entrance station suggested we park there and walk into the campground area and then take the boardwalk to the beach, from which we could hike towards, but not onto, the main beach. She assured us this area of the beach was pet friendly, and certainly was a lot more secluded than the main beach.

The beach is well worth a stop, although the parking lot right at the beach is fairly limited,

Dogs aren't allowed in any buildings, but we traded off going into the lighthouse museum while the other explored the grounds and lakeshore. A very nice spot.

It was raining as we pulled into Traverse City, so this seemed like a good option before we went to our hotel. Our dog was welcomed inside the two stores we went in.

We were here on a dreary and drizzly Wednesday morning right before Memorial Day, so the beach was kind of out. We climbed Old Baldy, which is an easy/moderate trail, but the foliage has grown so much there's not much of a picturesque view. We loved out stop in Pentwater to do some shopping and enjoy the marina views though.

It took us a bit to warm up to the village, but in the end we liked it a lot. Our dog was very welcome, and seemed to enjoy the Dutch dancing demonstration about as much as us.

Guidebooks and the DNR web page stated the view from the block house was panoramic. It was not. Maybe 30 years ago when the trees were shorter. So we made our way to the channel causeway and breakwater and enjoyed that very much, followed by lunch at a picnic table amongst the nearby dunes. Our little dog had no problem navigating the terrain.

We were there on an overcast Tuesday right before Memorial Day. The park wasn't really fully open yet. The visitor center was closed and the staff appeared to be mostly getting ready for the holiday weekend. Despite all the steps on the Dune Overlook Trail boardwalk leading to the overlook, we thought the trail was easy/moderate, and our little dog handled it fine by herself.

We knew beforehand that our dog would not be allowed on the beach or boardwalk, but we confirmed at the visitor center that she was allowed on the causeway along the channel and on the breakwater or jetty, which offered a great view of the lighthouse across the channel.

Very beautiful and going in the windmill is a must, We went the day after Tulip Time ended in May 2025 and 90% of the tulips were still in bloom, and we avoided the crowds and there was ample parking. Dogs are welcome everywhere except buildings and the windmill.

We both had sandwiches and drinks here for dinner. Fantastic and knowledgeable server. The kitchen, not the server, did forget my added bacon on my grilled cheese sandwich.

From the outside and back area of the parking lot, the patio looked a little funky, but it was spacious with plenty of tables on a crushed rock surface. We had the pulled pork nachos, a couple different beers, and a glass of wine. The food, drink and service were all very good.

We enjoyed some wine overlooking the water on their very nice patio, which is accessible from the outside via the parking lot. Their wine prices were very reasonable.

We enjoyed wine on their covered patio. Excellent experience.

Dogs aren't allowed inside of course, but the outside seating area was nice and the crepes were delicious.

We chose the attached covered patio over the beer garden because it was so hot. The beer and fries were great, and it was a great place to cool down for a bit.

The food was excellent, the service fantastic, and the patio space is well off of the edge of the sidewalk on the downtown street.

The patio was a perfect place for us and our dog on a Monday night in mid-May. The service was fantastic, great food, and both the sangria drinks were excellent.

Great inexpensive food and nice outdoor tables. The shaved ice is a delicious necessity on a hot day.

After a long drive to Holland we were looking for a quick dinner with our dog. We spotted the Havana Grill while making our way to our hotel and after checking the dog policy, we made the short drive there for dinner. Dogs are welcome on the patio, which is fairly small - 4ish tables and a couple picnic tables, but on a Sunday night in mid-May there was no issue. My wife had a burrito dish which she did not care for, but I thought was great as a leftover a couple days later. I had a fried rib dish, which was excellent that night as well as a few nights later. The ribs were crunchy on the outside and juicy on the inside, and they never lost that, even after refrigeration. I had the Havana especial drink, which was exceptional.

We stayed in Holland three nights, so the pet fee was in line with what we normally pay on a nightly basis. We got a spacious 1st floor room with quick access to the parking lot and dog areas. The staff was very friendly and the breakfast offered a lot of choices, although the scrambled eggs left a bit to be desired. Everything was very clean and the room well furnished, and even though we were just off the main drag, we slept well.

We stayed here in 2022 and the hotel is still very good 2.5 years later. There was some aging noted in our room and the door didn't latch behind us every time, but otherwise the room, while a little tight with two queen beds, was nicely furnished and quiet. The staff was excellent and they have a very good breakfast. This will be our go-to hotel in Traverse City for the long term.

Everything about this hotel was great - location, cleanliness, large rooms, breakfast, etc., except for the security. The hotel is situated on a slope, with the first floor rooms actually one floor lower than the main lobby. You then enter the first floor through keyed entries, and your lower level rooms have small patios outside of sliding glass doors. Door #2 to the lower level did not latch properly all the time - the magnet didn't catch. After returning from dinner we noticed that one of our two sliding glass doors was not latched, and the latch appeared to be broken. I looked and there was a metal security bar that could be dropped into place, so we did that to secure the door from being opened.

When we told the front desk about that at checkout, they noted the door #2 problem, but appeared to be unfazed about the sliding glass door. I swear they said the metal brace engaged "automatically", which it didn't, and when I restated that we had to set the bar itself, she then backtracked and agreed that we did indeed have to lower the security bar ourselves. How we were supposed to know that, or know that there was an issue in the first place is beyond me.

Normally we don't stay at Comfort Inns, but because of the location and dearth of reasonable dog-friendly lodging for one night, this was our choice. I was pleasantly surprised from the moment we pulled into the parking lot and it only got better when checking in and arriving at our room. All areas were very clean and updated. Our room was very spacious with a comfortable king size bed and a couch and desk for spreading out. There was no freezer in the fridge, but otherwise all the appliances were great. The breakfast offered only one main option during our stay - scrambled eggs and sausage patties, but also had most of the usual other options - waffles, cereal, yogurt, etc. No oatmeal though. Our one complaint was that the toilet would rarely flush and refill completely and I had to repeatedly open the tank and jiggle the float and assembly to get it to properly refill. We informed the front desk when we checked out.

The rangers at the visitor center directed us to this hike since it is dog friendly. The terrain is relatively easy, some very minor rock scrambling and one muddy patch from the recent rain, but otherwise normal hiking. There are several great photo ops both along the trail path and at the dock near the lodge, where you can capture the reflections of the rock in the water. A great hike.

We've always meant to stop here when passing through South Dakota, and finally did this time. Admission is $10 apiece, and they are dog friendly. The art is unique and ingenious. Some of the poetry and story signs were a bit much, but if they don't pull you in in the first couple sentences, just move on. It takes about 30 minutes to walk through, and they do have a small set of souvenirs.

The summary of my description is that this is a great place to stay when travelling with pets, or for a one night stay while passing through. Since we were travelling with our dog, it looked to me we really only had two options and chose the Thunderbird Lodge. We have stayed in Mitchell twice previously at the chain hotels just south of I-90. We knew we wouldn't have the same experience at Thunderbird, but the extra $ you pay at those chain places isn't reflected by the slightly decreased quality at Thunderbird.

We stayed here going to and coming back from western SD and NE, staying in room 25 the first time and 27 the second. Everything in #25 met our expectations except the bathroom, which looked a little beat up or unfinished - the door was pretty beat up on the inside, trim was missing and the caulk job on the tub and surround left something to be desired. The fixtures and flooring and wall tile all looked new though. Everything else about the room was top notch - clean, comfy beds, the furniture was in good shape, a large fridge and new looking coffee maker and microwave. The carpet looked good and the vanity area was very nice. The temperature control unit was also very robust, which we appreciated as it was plenty hot. Also a nice TV with plenty of channels. Four stars for #25.

#27 wasn't quite as nice. Large stains on the carpet and the curtain had a large rip right at the top. The bathroom looked about the same as #25, but otherwise everything else in #27 matched #25 in quality.
There is a large grassy area right next to the hotel which was great for the dog. The breakfast was very good - maybe slightly below the offerings at the more expensive chain hotels. You are not supposed to eat in your rooms, but there are several picnic tables just outside the breakfast area where you can sit with your dog. The staff was very helpful and friendly. We didn't have a chance to use the amenities, but they looked nice. Three and a half stars for #27.

We thought it would be a great place to eat after checking out the menu on-line from our hotel. My wife called about bringing dogs, and she was told there was no outside seating and dogs weren't allowed inside. We went ahead and ordered for pick-up, and the food was fantastic, but there is definitely no dog friendly outdoor patio.

We ate here twelve years ago and upon returning the food was still great. We also returned here because this time we were traveling with our dog and their patio is dog friendly. The patio is not a real attraction though, as it overlooks the rail yard. It was nice and sunny though. I had the chicken fried steak with a cup of soup and a couple of beers and my wife had the club sandwich with a salad and a glass of wine. Our serving sizes were ample, but not over the top, and reasonably priced. They were also delicious. My soup was spiced up chicken, with just the right amount of bite. They also had a good beer selection. Our server was very helpful and attentive to us and our dog.

We chose to eat here because I always like a good brewery, and we had our dog with us. We assumed we'd have to eat on the patio, but they seated us inside, just off the patio entrance. I had the rattlesnake brat with fries and my wife the wedge salad, and we also had the house made chips. Our server was super helpful and attentive. I can't really say my brat tasted any different than a regular one, but it was delicious, as were my fries and the house chips. My wife wasn't completely thrilled with her salad, but I don't understand ordering a salad when in Custer. It just seems wrong. The beer selection was large, but as a hazy or imperial IPA guy, it wasn't quite my cup of tea. Both of the lagers I had were good though.

This is the breakfast spot if you are staying at the Bavarian Inn, or even if you aren't. We ate there both days during our stay, with my wife having a breakfast vegetarian burrito one day (which I finished off) and a vegetarian quiche the second day (which I also finish off). I had two of the several croissants offered on the menu. The food was delicious, and I thought very reasonably priced, and the staff very quick and friendly. We brought the food back to our room the first day, but when we saw that we could bring our dog with us and eat on the patio, we ate there the second day. The patio is very large and comfortable.

The only thing that seemed to be problematic is that the primary method of ordering is via a touch screen. They did start doing direct person to person ordering the second day when the line got very long. I know that this is the way the world is going, but it did represent a log jam as each person figured out how to navigate the menu.

We chose to eat here because they are dog friendly. We assumed we'd have to eat on their street patio, but we were welcomed inside, as were some other people with their dog. Our server was very helpful and we had a nice discussion about our dogs. The food was excellent, and we had enough leftovers for lunch the next day. The margaritas were fantastic, and my wife had an additional shot of tequila from their large selection.

The patio has two separate sections with 5-6 tables and there were only a few other customers early in the evening on a Saturday in September. My wife had a glass of wine while I had a couple Nebraska beers. We ordered the garlic parmesan wings along with the hummus, roasted brussels, and shishintos peppers. Everything was delicious and we had plenty left over for lunch the next day at Scotts Bluff National Monument. Our server was very helpful with suggestions and was genuinely interested in our plans while visiting the area. The prices were very reasonable and the patio was great for people watching.

We chose this place because we were travelling with our dog and they are dog friendly. The buildings and grounds are very cute and clean, and offer a lot of extras - pool, pickleball, a basketball hoop, a nice trail in the rear where we encountered deer and turkeys while walking our dog, and the patio area. The person at the desk on check-in was very helpful and friendly, and we also enjoyed the ice cold mild and delicious cookies both afternoons we were there. Our room was spacious and clean, the beds comfy, and we appreciated the large refrigerator. The TV had a good amount of channels available. Even though we were right off the road, we didn't hear a thing once we closed the French doors.

One weird issue was the temperature of the room. We were on the lower level with French doors and no windows. The unit above us had windows. It was warm during our visit, and we like things cool, so we set the temperature control unit to a temperature that should have made the room cool enough and to our liking. During the first night we had to lower the temp even more as we were too warm to sleep. Ultimately we ended up with the temp set as low as it would go, with the fan as high as it would go, with it still being too warm for us.

The temperature control unit was above the vanity, and the temperature there was comfortable, but that coolness just didn't permeate into the sleeping area. The morning we checked out I noticed that the unit above us had kept their windows about half way open all night, so maybe they were having the same problem. I'm not sure what the issue was - maybe the people in the room next to us were from Arizona and couldn't get their room warm enough to suit them. If we stay again when it is warm, we will request an upper level room.

Great location for vising Scotts Bluff National Monument, which is just a few minutes straight west of the hotel. The room was spacious, clean and quiet with very comfy beds and, a large refrigerator and plenty of TV channels, but no local or regional ones that we could find. The staff was friendly and helpful and the lobby featured a large TV and complimentary coffee and lemon water. The breakfast room serves as a small lounge as well, but the alcohol selection was limited. The breakfast offering was good, with the main course items changing during our two day stay. There are not many restaurants right nearby, but several in Scottsbluff, which is right across the river just a few miles away, with the hotel on the main drag which takes you straight to Scottsbluff main street.

We had no issues having our dog at the hotel. She was welcome in the main entry, elevator and the front outdoor patio - where we ate breakfast 2 of the 3 days we were there. The breakfasts were great, with a nice variety, and our room was clean, well kept, and quiet. The view from the front outdoor patio was spectacular. They have a nice little gift shop and the staff went above and beyond helping us with our questions.

The only issues were with getting our large amount of gear and supplies into and out of the hotel. Most of the hotel parking lot is located at the bottom of a slope outside the entrance, with steps leading up the slope to the hotel. There were a few non-handicap parking spots at the top of the slope, and temporary parking at the entrance was allowed while loading and unloading, but during peak arrival and departure times those spots could be filled up. At those same peak times there was a lack of luggage carts. Getting the luggage cart into the elevator on the main floor was not a straight shot either and required a little maneuvering. They could also use some automatic front doors as well.

If you have a small, or even average, amount of luggage and can get by without a luggage cart, or do your loading and unloading outside of peak times, you won't have any issues.