A Pet Friendly Summer Getaway in the PNW
Stay
Union Skyhouse
Possibly the most unique stay in the area, the iconic 1970's home offers skyroom views of the Hood Canal and Olympic Mountains.
The house is 3 bed/3.5 bath with an outdoor lounge area and a garage stocked with recreational gear.
See & Do
Mount Ellinor
This is my absolute favorite hike in the area. The hike is 3.2 miles RT from the upper trailhead, but don’t let the short distance fool you. It is strenuous and will basically be nothing but a steep uphill hike. A Northwest Forest Pass or National Parks Pass is required at the upper trailhead and you may want to consider a dog or cat backpack in case your fury friend can’t make it the entire distance.
The sunset views are the main attraction in my opinion, but really the entire hike is beautiful. It’ll start out in the forest before opening up to lake and wildflower views. If you’re lucky you may even see some mountain goats, although that chance may be getting slimmer since the NPS has been working on relocating them to the Cascade Mountains.
Pets are welcome, but must be on a leash. I recommend tons of bug spray if you intend on doing this hike later in the day.
For a less strenuous hike, look up Murhut Falls. It’s a multi-tiered waterfall and also pet friendly.
Paddleboarding on the Hood Canal
Union is a great place to launch from for a day on the water. You’ll have some of the best views of the Olympic Mountains. Plus, we’ve never been out and not seen seals. There was one day the canal was full of jellyfish. That was also a pretty cool experience!
Keith Luke via Unsplash
There are a few places to park along the Hood Canal in Union or you could also launch from Twanoh State Park (farther east). I personally prefer finding a spot along the 106 since you’ll have the epic views immediately where you’ll have to paddle west for a little bit before you see them if you start at the state park.
Eat
After a hike up Mount Ellinor my favorite spot to grab a burger and shake is the Burger Stand. If you decide on Murhut Falls you’ll be near Hama Hama Oysters. Honestly, this place is worth the drive even without going on a hike. Both places have outdoor seating and are pet friendly. For a nice dinner, leave the pets back at Skyhouse and go to The Restaurant at Alderbrook, just a 2 minute drive down the road.
