I’m new to the Phoenix area. My family and I just drove a really long way and moved from Texas. We’ve been settling back into new routines, and I’ve been exploring my neighborhood. It is full of rabbits, and the dirt bites you. Whoa! Yes, it attacks your paws and sticks to it. My mom has to remove it because it hurts. I’m brave and don’t dry out. Remember, Shiba Inu dogs are tough. Woof!
Our first weekend here, we got in the car again. Oh no! Were we moving already? Thankfully, we drove 
just an hour north of us to a place called Prescott, with an elevation of about 5,300 feet. The day we went, the temps were in the low 60s to start. Awesome! If you are looking for a small, mountain town to explore over the summer, I encourage you to check Prescott out. The town has only 40,000 people, but they aren’t short on shops and restaurants. We ate at the Lone Spur café because they are dog friendly (good people). They have limited seating for my kind, so you may have to wait. We sat and watched an art fair going on across the street. Check Prescott’s website for weekend activities.
Prescott is full of parks, lakes, and trails. It’s a great place to beat the heat and get some fresh mountain air. I’m a mountain dog by breed. We chose the Lynx Lake Recreation Area just a few miles out of town (follow the brown signs to 344 S. Cortex Street). Lynx Lake is a 55-acre park with trout fishing, boating, hiking, mountain biking, camping, and picnicking. Be sure your humans have five dollars cash. They will need to place it in an envelope for parking. The upper lot is more for camping, and the South shore lot is for day use, which we did. The Lynx Lake Loop trail starts here.
Even if you just have a nice picnic, you will have fantastic views. If you are up for a nice, easy hike, then
the loop trail takes you around the entire lake, approximately three miles. Some folks were fishing and others were paddling around in canoes. Apparently, you can rent equipment right at the lake for a nominal fee.
We saw quite a few of my kind out on the hike. They must have known I was coming! Dogs are most welcome on leashes. I was thrilled to see clear, blue water. Oh it tasted so good! No gators around here, so I don’t have to worry about the shores. What a relief. We didn’t see any Bald Eagles, but they are around these parts along with Blue Herons, bats, and other birds. Be sure to drink a little more water with the higher altitude. The trail has some incline to it, but nothing too tough, especially for me, a Colorado dog. Woof. If your humans are looking for a scenic spot to cool off, Prescott is a perfect spot. Maybe I’ll see you! Until my next great adventure…
Hi! I am Kumaito (Kuma for short), a multi-tan Shiba Inu. My breed is one of the oldest and purest from Japan. I personally was born in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, moved to Friendswood, Texas, and now call Phoenix, Arizona home. I enjoy running almost every day with my mom, chasing rabbits out of my neighborhood, playing with toys, pestering my brother Edmond, eating, napping … well, I love just about everything and everyone!
My mom, Lorraine Bossé-Smith (Founder of the FIT Leader Formula) is kind enough to help me with my blog where I share my Great Adventures, big and small. My mom is a motivational speaker, corporate trainer, business consultant, executive coach, behavioral-wellness expert, and author of eight published books. More importantly, she’s the best doggy mom ever!
Be sure to visit me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kumathedog?ref=hl
Get outside! You never know what you’ll discover, and our paths just might cross. Happy tails!
