I have been thinking about our pre-kids days lately and remembering when it was just me, my husband and our four-legged pup, Jersey. Jersey James was prayed for, petitioned for and begged for (by me!). I had wanted a dog since I could remember and I was elated the day that we brought Jersey to her forever home.

Many years ago, my husband and I wanted to take an overnight trip to Charleston, SC, about a four-hour drive from our then home in Jacksonville, FL. There was only one thing holding us back: we had just bought a puppy.

We began to realize that up and leaving wasn’t going to be as easy as it used to be (and man, times one million now with having kids!) And without wanting to put Jersey in kennel and not knowing any dogsitters in town yet, we set out to find a dog-friendly hotel in Charleston.

While there were many hotel options (Charleston is knowing as being a very dog-friendly community!), I immediately fell in love with Vendue Inn (now referred to as The Vendue). In 2017, The Vendue was named the #1 Hotel in Charleston by Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards. And man, we don’t disagree for a moment!

The Vendue, which is still dog-friendly for small pets but only in King Suite rooms, was beyond welcoming to our pup. When we arrived in our beautiful, exposed brick room, she was given a bark-worthy welcome.

The hotel itself, with or without dogs, was beyond stunning. We would stay here again and again if we had the opportunity. While at breakfast one morning with Jersey patiently waiting for us in our room, a Vendue Inn staff member let us know that Jersey needed us. (She must have been barking loudly!) They were super sweet about it and it gave us a good laugh.

This was our very first visit to Charleston and we absolutely fell in love with the city! The colors, the coastal decor and the beautiful infrastructures had us begging to see more.

But this specific trip was {mostly} all about Jersey, so we set out to explore and walk the city with her. The shops on King St. all had fresh water bowls outside for the visiting pups and some even offered Jersey treats as she strolled the streets like a boss.

Jersey had two extra “pawsitive” experiences while in Charleston: dinner with her parents and gaining magazine fame!

Jersey joined us for an evening dinner at Poogan’s Porch, a delicious and adorable restaurant in the heart of Charleston. Poogan’s Porch is actually named after a down-home Southern dog named Poogan, who stayed behind when his owners moved away. He hung around that building’s porch until he passed away of natural causes and so the restaurant continues to honor him (and all dogs!) by inviting furry friends to dine with their parents on their porch. Cute!

It was a delicious dinner, with or without a dog and we highly recommend this sweet restaurant.

Jersey also became the talk of the town while we were dining outside in the streets of Charleston for lunch. While relaxing for a bit from our walking and enjoying each other’s company, we were approached by some individuals with camera equipment. They turned out to be shooting for Marie Claire Magazine and wanted to know if Jersey and I would like to be featured walking the streets of Charleston in an upcoming issue. What an experience!

We couldn’t let Jersey have all of the fun (plus she sleeps twelve+ hours per day), so Logan and I snuck away to attend some events for the Charleston Wine + Food festival.

Thank you, Charleston for the memories! And please be in prayer for our Jersey James who was recently diagnosed with a cancerous tumor on her gum/jawline. Jersey will be undergoing a partial mandibularectomy soon, but she will always be a Marie Claire model in our eyes.

3 Trip Tips: 

• If you’ve got your dog in tow, you’ve got to stop by Woof Gang Bakery for a sweet treat right on King St.
• Grab a drink at the Rooftop Bar at The Vendue; it’s a fabulous environment and it offers wonderful views of Charleston!
• Make reservations months in advance at Poogan’s Porch; this is a popular tourist destination and the restaurant fills up fast.