This was first published in The Bark in The Hacienda restaurant has closed and re-opened in the interim. And it was typical of the attention our entourage had been getting at the Fairmont Scottsdale. No hurried bustling of the dogs through the lobby here. Frankie and Archie are both rescued mystery mixes but, from the check-in desk to the concierge station, they were oohed and aahed over like Westminster winners.
As we drove north towards Sedona, Clare and I agreed that the resort had been an inspired choice. But Frankie almost immediately adopted Archie as his mentor, eagerly shadowing him around our spacious quarters.
Room service cheeseburgers, usually verboten for all, were followed by a stroll under a startlingly clear canopy of stars. Life was good. Picky eaters both, the dogs instantly wolfed down their healthful goodies, while Clare and I savored ours somewhat more slowly. The green belt with a man-made lagoon that abuts the restaurant was ideal for a post-prandial walk.
Famous last words. In the end I resisted: Not only does Frankie tend to prefer my covers β which he paws into submission β over anything I might provide for him, but thinking about the bed name would make me crave crullers even more often than I already do. The portions were generous, but the chiles en nogada and rack of lamb were so good that nothing remained to take back in a doggie bag.
Still, we wanted to be able to give them special treats for good hotel room behavior. Which brings us to our departure the following morning for Sedona , less than two hours away. Their reasonably priced chalets and motel rooms, offering kitchenettes and abutting National Forest land, are usually booked months in advance β primarily, as we soon discovered, by dog owners.
