It’s been nearly a year since I’ve traveled anywhere. I can’t remember the last time I went such a long stretch without even a short trip. And though I’ve had opportunities to travel, I’ve remained stationary because I’ve been prioritizing my beloved dog, Chewie.
At roughly 18.5 half years old, Chewie has an increasing number of health and mobility issues. Which is to say, she’s perfect, but I’m too nervous to leave her. Since she needs full-time supervision, it would be a huge task for friends or family to keep her, plus I don’t want to spend time away from her knowing that she has limited time left.
Despite feeling incredibly grateful that I’ve been able to work remotely and spend so much time with Chewie this past year, my restlessness started to feel oppressive. And then a couple months ago, I saw a social media post from the adorable Front Beach Cottages featuring the owners’ precious dog Louis, waiting to welcome guests. I decided I didn’t have to abstain from all travel—I could just bring Chewie with me.
More people than ever are traveling with their pets. Some statistics say that it’s due to the pet-adoption frenzy that happened during Covid—more people than ever have pets right now, and owners want to include them in family memories. Stats say that the cost of pet care may also be a factor. Paying a pet deposit in a hotel is significantly less expensive than the cost of boarding or paying a pet-sitter for a week. Accommodations are adjusting to the trend—pets are welcome in more places than ever.
Logistically, I thought it would be a challenge to travel with Chewie. She isn’t exactly low maintenance these days—she has a special wet-food diet, several medications, a wild sleep schedule that has me taking her out at weird hours during the night, and she rides in a stroller on her “walks.” She needed to be ablet to join me for everything I did during my 3-day stay. But Front Beach Cottages, and so many of the shops and restaurants downtown, made it so much easier than I assumed it could be.
I stayed in Front Beach Cottages for the first time last year and absolutely adored it. (I wrote about it on my blog here and for Travel + Leisure here.) My stay this time was just as perfect. Chewie and I stayed in the Key West Cabana—one of Front Beach Cottages two dog friendly cottages. It’s a laidback little studio that feels like a cabana with its rustic charm, cute island décor, and a glass-enclosed shower that makes you feel as though you’re showering in the rain (something I never knew I’d want and then wondered why I hadn’t). The queen bed ranks high on the list of most comfortable beds I’ve ever slept in. Chewie and I had our own private deck with comfortable seating and a picnic table, and there was plenty of outdoor space so I could take her out at night and not disturb guests in other cottages. We had a fridge where I could easily store her food, and the kitchen made it easy to clean up messes. The pet fee to bring your dog is about a third the price of most hotels in the area (just $30 per dog).
Staying in the cottages feels both personal and private in exactly the ways I want my accommodations to feel. The owners, Bridgette and Mark, are so warm and welcoming and went out of their way to make us feel comfortable. Even though I’d only stayed at the cottages once a year prior, talking with them felt like talking with old friends, and I suspect every person who stays in the cottages feels the same way. They invited me to see inside the Bellande Cottage—the other dog-friendly cottage and the largest of the four cottages on the property. It’s a gorgeous and inviting two-bedroom with a screened in front porch—the perfect place to bring your whole family.
Not only did Bridgette and Mark welcome us warmly, but the entire town of Ocean Springs did, as well. Chewie felt like a celebrity. People on the street stopped us to ask about her. Strangers at multiple restaurants came over to say hi and tell me about their own dogs. One man on the sidewalk nodded at me and said, “I see you brought the boss with you.” Does anything unite strangers faster than pets?
Every shop we tried to go in went beyond just welcoming us—they were delighted to have us. When I called Realizations (the art/gift shop run by the late Walter Anderson’s family) to ask if I could bring Chewie in, they were delighted. “We love babies!” the woman said. They greeted her with treats.
A Pop Brothers popsicle shop, Chewie had a “pooch pop”—undoubtedly one of her favorite things she’s ever consumed. Chewie’s normally a composed lady, but the popsicle flipped some switch in her, and she ate it with the ferocity of a dinosaur. Ocean Springs Mercantile was happy to have us, and she got some free treats at Two Dogs Dancing, the local pet boutique store. We had perfect weather for outdoor dining at Phoenicia, Maison de la Luz, Blue Dog Bistro, and The Shed (not in walking distance, but we stopped here on our way), and we even got to listen to some excellent live music when we ate at the outdoor bar at Lady May.
A thing I love about Ocean Springs is that despite its small size, there are so many restaurants. Every place I ate on this trip was new to me despite having been there multiple times before. (EXCEPT for Lady May because it’s unreasonable to think that I will NOT be getting their crab cakes every time I’m in town.)
The entirety of downtown is just a few minutes-walk from Front Beach Cottages, and I didn’t need a car at all once I arrived. In a state severely lacking in walkable towns, the walkability of Ocean Springs is so refreshing. It’s going to be the perfect destination for the Amtrak passengers coming for long weekends as soon as the new Amtrak service from New Orleans to Mobile opens this summer. Though there won’t be an Amtrak station in Ocean Springs, there will be in Biloxi just a 7 or 8-minute Uber ride away.
At night, Chewie and I walked from the cottages to the beach just a few blocks away to watch the sunset from the pier. As Chewie has gotten older and less active, I worry about her world getting smaller. Our trip to Ocean Springs allowed her to have new experiences, see some incredible sunsets, and bring a lot of people joy. These are memories I’ll always be grateful to have.
Huge thanks to Front Beach Cottages for our wonderful stay. We had the absolute best time.
