Awards season is here, and we are excited to announce the return of the Golden Tail Wags Awards! Our sincere apologies for not presenting any awards last year. There was a bit of controversy over who should host it. But enough about us, it is time to announce the winners of the most weird and wonderful things Asa and I have seen while visiting Dog Friendly Places! Rest assured these awards are not your average superlatives and definitely nothing to shake a stick at!

Literal Translation Award: We do a lot of beachcombing on our adventures, but it wasn’t until a visit to the Eliot Boat Basin in Eliot, Maine that we found someone had taken that phrase literal. “Beachcombing: an activity that consists of an individual ‘combing,’ or searching, the beach looking for things of value, interest or utility.” And in our case sometimes finding an actual comb!

Looks Can Be Deceiving Award: We see a lot of trees on our hikes, and quite frankly Asa and I pay little attention to them. However, that is until we came across this tree at the Gonic Trails in Rochester, New Hampshire. To the untrained eye that may appear like a harmless vine, but we know for certain it transforms into a vicious snake and attacks unsuspecting hikers.

Sleight of Hand Award: Speaking of deceiving, the Sleight of Hand Award goes to the Clipper City Rail Trail in Newburyport, Massachusetts, in which dogs are greeted by an outstretched hand…that isn’t holding any treats! This treat sleight of hand is the meanest trick for dogs. Who ever heard of an outstretched hand without a treat in it?!

Hansel and Gretel Award: For centuries parents have been warning children about the wicked witch who lives in the forest that lures children to their doom with her house made of gingerbread and treats. Well pups consider yourselves warned! Along the Belfast Rail Trail in Belfast, Maine, is a similar lure for dogs. However, instead of being a house made of cake, it is a fence made of sticks! Surely nothing good can come from stealing one of these tempting sticks!

Goldenlocks and the Five Bears Awards: Continuing with our fairy tale category, we can guarantee you’ll find not three bears but five at home at the Langlais Sculpture Preserve in Cushing, Maine. In fact, you can also explore Greek literature here too. Look for the Trojan Horse along River Road.

The Heart of Maine: If you’re searching for what makes Maine special, well search no further! We found the heart of Maine, literally, while on a hike at Witherle Woods in Castine, Maine. This perfect heart shape rock was discovered when Mom tripped on a stump.

Best Street in Maine: Forget Sesame Street, can you tell me how to get to Asa’s Lane? While exploring Lamoine Beach in Lamoine, Maine, we came across what just may be the happiest street in Maine. Ok, we can’t say this for certain because we don’t know anyone who lives on Asa’s Lane, nor did we take the time to drive down it ourselves. But with a name like that it has to be good!

Thus concludes our 2020 Golden Tail Wags Awards! If you would like to congratulate any of our winners in person, you can find the locations by clicking on the highlighted names. Stay tuned as we continue our quest to explore new places, because one never knows what weird and wonderful things we will find along the way!