Prolong Your Summer Tan

You may already be feeling the summer hangover blues. I know I am! It was only a few weeks ago that you were laying at your beach house soaking up the sun’s rays.

Prolong your tan by making September weekend trips to the nearest beaches out of NYC, with your dog. A good option is Asbury Park at the Jersey Shore. A mere one hour and 15 minutes in a Zipcar or 2 hours on the NJ train. And if you want to maximize your sun time, stay overnight at one of the lovely apartments at Mikell’s Hideaway (www.mikellshideaway.com). No need to commit to a huge summerhouse, these are one or two bedroom apartments. Forget about sharing bathrooms, you get your own here.

There are several of these quirky apartments in an old Victorian house, decorated in an eclectic style with wood floors and modern fixtures. The best thing about these apartments is that they are all dog friendly. You don’t have to pay extra fees either for bringing your best furry friend on the trip with you. Stay in the creatively named apartments – James Bond, Andy Warhol, Judy Garland, Carmen Miranda! All the apartments also have full kitchens, so convenient for staying in after a long day at the beach.

Mikell’s Hideaway opened last year, enjoy it while it’s nice and new. I made a two-day jaunt recently with my dog Darby and we had a great time. I had requested an early check-in and the manager was super flexible in making it happen. Sheets, towels and beach chairs are provided. Just tote your bikini and your pooch!

Asbury Park is one of the dog friendliest towns on the Jersey Shore. There is dog beach about 7 blocks from the apartments, which allows dogs to run free after 6pm and before 8am. Check out the pooches having fun in this Youtube clip.

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There is also a Yappy Hour every Thursday and Saturday evenings at the Wonder Bar (www.thewonderbarasbury.com), which is one street over on the oceanfront. Four- legged friends hang out in a fenced-in doggie deck, where their human friends can enjoy a cold cocktail. There are even three doggie pools. It’s the perfect combination for a relaxing evening on the beach.