Dog friendly Excelsior was my destination recently. It was my Saturday to hang out with Mom and Gramma to do some shopping and looking around in a fun town. Excelsior was the choice of the day, and it was a gorgeous day out too! I had heard Excelsior was dog friendly, but I wanted to test it out for myself.
On the way to Excelsior, we stopped off at the Old Log Theater to check out a couple of cute old buildings. The Old Log is the oldest professional theater in Minnesota opening in 1940, and possibly the oldest in the entire country.
It sure looked old, but it was decorated up real nicely. It sounds like this building is only used for prop storage these days.
This old cabin building is where they have some type of workshop. It’s really rustic.
Next it was on to Excelsior. The main street was jam packed with people because the weather was so nice out. Almost every store had a water bowl outside for us dogs which is a nice touch. I don’t drink from them no matter how thirsty I am which Mom finds funny but also a good thing. This antique store had some cool old nautical things.
Food is always fun to find if you ask me! How about some mini donuts? There were many cute little restaurants along the main street with outdoor seating. It appeared for the most part they were dog friendly as well. There were so many people and so much traffic, we couldn’t get too many photographs.
If you are into biking, they offer some fun bike tours, and they have bicycle rentals. I haven’t been able to master riding a bike yet, so I passed on that activity.
My very favorite place the entire day was the Lake Effect store which was dog friendly! They not only loved having me shop in their store, they had the best merchandise around town! Everything was nautical themed, specific to Lake Minnetonka or Minnesota mainly which was so fun. They even had a dog section! The products we liked the most were the custom made mini wood boats crafted into children’s wagons, rockers, and even dog dishes! Mom couldn’t buy anything as she was overwhelmed, but I think we will be going back to that store! You can have a better look at their store and merchandise on their Lake Effect Facebook page.
Of course, a visit to dog friendly Excelsior wouldn’t be complete without going down to the lake. It was super busy with all the boaters, cruise boats, and paddle boarders, but I managed to dip a paw in and the water is real! If you are ever in the Twin Cities, Excelsior is definitely a fun place to check out!
On a side note, My GBGV Life was chosen as one of the Top 20 Pet Bloggers of 2016 by Holiday Lettings, which is a Trip Advisor company. We are super surprised and excited! Many of our blogging friends are also on the list! I’m always thrilled to be recognized, but being born in the UK, and having a UK company recommend me, makes it all the more special! I know my dog parents will be so very proud as they are still in England. Thank you, and big GBGV hugs to Trip Advisor and Holiday Lettings!
that is such a great place… the mamam would love such a wooden house as her mom-cave, just fur her … (I’m allowed there too of course of course… or not?)
I like to visit old log homes, but wouldn’t want to live in one. I like modern convenience.
Sounds like a really fun day and congratulations
Thank you. We had a really fun day!
How fun to find such a dog friendly town. Looks like a great day.
My mom has heard it was dog friendly for a long time now, but we never actually went out there.
How many people did you have to explain “what breed of dog is that?” I get it all the time.Looks like you had a fun day, and of course, congratulations! XOXO Sparkle
Mom has been dealing with those questions since the day she picked me up in the UK. Now she has her answers down and always hands out our business card so the people can find me on the blog or social media and find out more.
You and your mom are so smart. Emma! Sparkle
that looks like a lot of fun and congrats on your nomination
Thank you. Excelsior is a real fun little lake town.
Mom wants to move into that cabin. Very cool
Snorts,
Lily & Edward
I think it is vacant!
That does look like a pretty cool place. Congrats on the super mention!!!
I bet you kitties could find a spot in the old book store or the antique store.
Looks like a fun town!
It’s fun because it’s dog friendly, and it has that old town feel right on the lake.
What a fun town with so much cool stuff to see. I love historical buildings so would enjoy the log cabins too. It’s nice that you get a special day with your Mom and Gramma. Does Bailie do OK staying home with the cats?
She is just fine home alone these days. We do a lot of one on one things with Mom and it is working out well for us all.
Looks like the PAWfect place to spend a Saturday afternoon. Thanks for sharing Emma!
Anywhere on the water on a nice summer day is a good place in my opinion.
Wow! That looks like such a fun trip!
It’s a great little town!
That is such a cool place to visit! I love the log cabin. ♥ Congratulations on your honor too! ♥
Thank you. You would love the lake, Bentley. It’s a wonderful area.
What a cool town, Emma! I’m like you and will only drink out of my very own bowl!!
Congrats on your recognition, you totally deserve it!!
Smileys!
Dory
Thank you. At home the kitties and us doggies share bowls, but out and about, I only drink from our own bowl. No one taught me to do that, I just figured it out on my own.
First, congrats on being recognized as well, it is beyond well deserved!!! And… Excelsior looks like it was a blast! I love those cabins!!
DakotasDen
Excelsior is a great little town! Congratulations to you as well being one of the chosen blogs!
Wonderful trip, you saw so many fun places!!! That shop has a lot of fun stuff in it!!! 🙂
That one shop is amazing and the only reason we even went in is because I pulled my mom into it!
Who doesn’t love mini-donuts!!! Congrats on your most deserved recognition!
Thank you. I think I’ll have a mini donut to celebrate!
Congratulations for being chosen as one of the Top 20 Pet Bloggers of 2016 by Holiday Lettings!
Pawsome post! Excelsior On Lake Minnetonka sounds wooftastic!
Pawfect pics Emma.
Nose nudges,
CEO Olivia
Thank you. We had no idea we were being chosen, so it was a wonderful surprise! Excelsior is an awesome little old town. We want to go back again soon.
That looked like a really fun and interesting place to visit if we go back to twin cities.
It really is a great little town with a bunch of unique stores and lots of history.
Give me the mini donuts!! yum!!!
They smell so good too!
What a cool place. Sam is like you Emma…very selective about public water bowls. He sniffs and turns his nose up 99% of the time. Then we get home and he drinks like a sailor at home. Maybe it’s the filtered water? BOL
I drink the water from the jug in the car and the folding bowl, but I don’t like strange slobber in my water. I’m too much of a lady for that.
Congrats on the TripAdvisor top twenty. We were so excited to see you and so many of our other friends make the list.
Lake Minnetonka sounds like a lot of fun. Maybe one day I’ll make it out that way, and I’ll be able to see it for myself.
There are lots of fun things to do around the lake, but Excelsior is the most dog friendly place we know of.
What a fun trip I’d love to visit someday! Love Dolly
They are wonderful!
It’s a real fun little town!