TRAVELS WITH FRANKIE: Discovering Pet-friendly Perks at Dateland, Arizona
by Edie Jarolim
Many years ago, I went to Spain with a man who turned out to be an Ugly American. The beer was never cold enough for him and he often mangled the language, but got annoyed at even my mildest attempts at correction. So I kept my mouth shut when, in a bar in Barcelona, he loudly insisted on a “servicio frio, muy frio” rather than a chilled cerveza. The bartender, not comprehending why anyone would demand a very cold bathroom, nevertheless pointed him towards the men’s room.
These days, I mostly travel with my small terrier mix, Frankie. He rarely embarrasses me and never by being arrogant. But Frankie presents the opposite problem to my Spain experience: that of the very hot bathroom.
Let me backtrack a bit.
It’s almost an annual tradition, my summer drive from Tucson to San Diego, started when I moved from Manhattan to Arizona nearly 20 years ago. I go to escape the triple digit desert heat and to visit friends I made when I was doing dissertation research at the University of California, San Diego.
Once you get on to I-8 from the soul destroying I-10, the drive, through pristine swathes of Sonoran Desert, is spectacular. Few people slow down to enjoy the view, however. Keeping up with the traffic flow means going about 85mph. I’d zip along until I reached Yuma -- at the Arizona/California border and about the halfway point in the seven-hour drive -- and get gas at one of the many convenience store/stations clustered near the turnoff and use the bathroom.
At least that’s what I did until I got Frankie, my first dog, a few years ago.
I was aware that leaving a dog in a car in even moderate heat, even with the window cracked, is very dangerous. What I didn’t know was that you’re not permitted to take a dog into a convenience store because it’s considered a health violation.
Ha! The frozen burritos they sell in those stores...those are health violations. A small dog enclosed in a carrier? I think not.
It was about 105 degrees in Yuma the day I discovered this unjust ordinance. I managed to bully my way past the officious clerk into the ladies’ room with Frankie, telling her that if I had to leave my dog in the car, his death would be on her head. I may also have hinted something about letting Frankie relieve himself right outside the store’s front door.
It was an idle threat. Frankie is not a pee-on-demand pup. But desperately having to pee myself called for desperate measures.
The problem was only temporarily averted, however. Not only were convenience stores not convenient for solo travelers with a pet in tow but, because of budget cuts in both states, most of the rest areas along I-8 in Arizona and California were closed. Under the best of circumstance, it’s tough for a woman to pull over to the side of the road to relieve herself. In the desert -- no way. Even huge saguaro cacti don’t provide enough cover.
Luckily, I re-discovered Dateland.
As I’ve said, I usually zoomed along I-8 because...well, because I could and because I-8 advertises few roadside attractions. But one year I’d been lured off the interstate at Arizona’s Milepost 67, about ½ an hour east of Yuma, by a billboard announcing “Famous Date Shakes.”
I found a classic diner and gift shop near a towering grove of date palms, along with a dusty RV park and a gas station. A historic marker noted that this had been the site for two of General Patton's desert training camps in World War II, Camp Horn and Camp Hyder (see here for more history: www.dateland.com/aboutdateland.htm)
More to the point, the date shake, a straw-defying blend of vanilla ice cream and Medjools, deserved its claim to fame.
It was only when I started contemplating buying date cream pies -- “house gifts for my friends in San Diego,” I rationalized -- that I realized Dateland might be a detour best avoided in the future.
Not until the summer following my convenience store encounter did I succumb to Dateland’s siren call again.
A dog-loving friend, hearing about my Frankie-and-bathroom dilemma, suggested I advertise for a ride share on Craigslist. Reluctantly, because I didn’t relish spending seven hours in my car with a stranger and because I enjoy a long stretch of listening to talking books, I agreed it was a smart -- and economical, given the rising price of gas -- idea.
My driving companion turned out to be terrific -- a University of Arizona senior who shared three of my key interests: literature, dogs, and food. It was her enthusiasm for the last that inspired me to suggest we stop at Dateland so I could show off my roadside dining discovery.
I couldn’t find the place at first. I was looking for a shabby billboard and almost bypassed the slick highway turnoff sign for Dateland, one with nary a mention of shakes. But how many Datelands could there be?
It turns out the sign wasn’t the only thing that had been gussied up. The funky diner had morphed into a faceless Travel Center with a vast souvenir shop and a Quiznos full-service restaurant.
But the place still sold date shakes, and they were as good as ever.
And then I saw a sign that made me forgive all gentrification: Dateland had added shaded and misted kennels where your dog can safely stay outdoors while you browse inside. You can bring your own lock to secure your pup’s pen or get one from the front desk for a fully refundable deposit.
A brilliant marketing strategy -- and a godsend for me and Frankie.
I now travel to San Diego with a combination lock and a sweet anticipation of date delights. In theory, I could just use the facilities and forgo the shake, but that seems wrong. How many times do you get to blow a diet and blame it on the dog?
Edie Jarolim earned a Ph.D. in American literature from New York University; edited guidebooks at Frommer's, Rough Guides, and Fodor's; published myriad travel articles and three travel guides; and generally led a respectable but dogless life until 2004, when she began palling around with terriers--specifically, one small terrier mix named Frankie. Cluelessness about dogs in general and Frankie in particular inspired her to begin reading up on all things canine and, eventually, to write AM I BORING MY DOG: And 99 Other Things Every Dog Wishes You Knew (Alpha/Penguin). Read more about her and Frankie at her blog, http://WillMyDogHateMe.com.
Photos by Edie Jarolim and Litandmore via flickr.
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Reader Comments (19)
Oh Edie, you crack me up! First off, I'm not sure I would be as brave as you to try the stranger traveling with you experience! But I'm glad it worked out for you! I wonder if the threatened convenience store clerk prompted the new Dateland facilities. Your threat may have been one of many! I mean, come on, Frankie was in a carrier! It's not like he was off leash and running rampant in the gas station! And the comment about the frozen burritos literally made me laugh out loud at my desk at work! I think it's awesome that there are places like Dateland that provide such things for traveling companions. I would rather travel with my pups than with most of my humans. They are happy to go and don't complain...and they don't argue with your choose of radio station!
Shawna M
Man this is truly hilarious. Just the "servicio, frio, muy frio" barked by your companion of yore takes the cake, and it goes UP from there.
Makes me want to drive to San Diego by way of Barcelona, Spain, Tucson, AZ, and 1-8 right away with my menage-erie, 3 dogs, 2 cats, and guy, and get one of them date shakes! hahaha.I'm laughing just to think about this blog - how do I direct other people to this site?
You must have laughed like crazy just writing this, Edie.
I'm going to make sure and look to see what's funny about life today now.
What comprehensive information: where not to go with a date, where to get good dates, and how to cross the desert with a dog. Thanks for the laughs and for guiding me to a great blog I hadn't seen before!
Thanks, Shawna, Diane and Clare for visiting me here!
Shawna, I hope inappropriate laughter at work didn't get you in trouble ;-) I had similar reservations about traveling with a stranger but... the things I do for Frankie!
Diane, the Spain story is funny now but writing it reminded me of the miserable time I had with the guy, wishing I could get away, which was a bummer since I was in such a great country. As for directing others: http://www.yourlifeisatrip.com/home/travels-with-frankie-discovering-pet-friendly-perks-at-datel.html or just www.yourlifeisatrip.com.
Clare, glad I could help with these, uh, sticky topics...
I have to admit the idea of a "date shake" makes me ill-- I hate dates. But if I'm ever in the vicinity with my dog, I will stop by anyway, just because they deserve the business! Thanks for the tip, Edie!
Funny story Eddie, dogs are better to travel with than rude men! The dog lockers are a smart idea by the diner. In Scotland we have laws about not leaving dogs in cars in cold weather too. Date shake - yuk!
I'm pleased that you both like the story, Lori and Juliette, but amazed that there are people who don't like dates or date shakes! That said, Dateland also has excellent chocolate shakes and other date-free goodies available.
That makes sense that there are laws against leaving dogs in cars in cold weather -- I'm glad to hear it.
Such a fun story Edie (especially the Spanish bit), but I love that they added shaded and 'misted' kennels at Dateland - how wonderful!
nice!
Edie, you had me howling. Love the misted kennels. Can you believe I have never, even once, had a date shake?
Thank you Cate and Rachel. Kate, you must have a date shake next time you're en route to Yuma or find yourself in Indio (unless, like some of the other commenters, you have an irrational dislike of dates ;-).
What a fantastic idea! I'd love it if more roadside places provided such a service. It's not only incredibly helpful but smart. That way the encourage travellers to stay and spend some money. Genius!
And to think, my distaste of dates would have had me missing this place completely.
Having just made that same trek across the desert from Tucson to Yuma, I am now adding Dateland to my itinerary for my next sojourn. Great story, Edie. Can't wait for your next trip with Frankie.
Another date-hater heard from! Who knew? But of course your love of dogs is far more important, Kristine.
Jan, I'm amazed that, as a history oriented Arizonan, you never came across Dateland but am so proud of myself for being able to provide you with a new place to stop en route to Yuma.
The last time I was in Dateland was in the 1960s, so as far as I am concerned, it's a new destination on my next trip.
So cool that Dateland did that! I wish more places took those traveling with their pets into account.
Now I want a shake.
Hi Y'all,
Maybe I can get my Human to take me to Dateland just so I can enjoy the misted kennels. ;) Sigh. She and Papa don't like to travel when it's hot...they blame it on me but I think maybe they're just too old. Now with misted kennels...where's the excuse? Unless they really are just too old?
Y'all come by now,
Hawk aka BrownDog
I've always been curious about Dateland but never stopped when my husband and I take the southern route (I-8) from Tucson to Orange County and my inlaws. In the past few years, we've opted to fly rather than drive the miles to see his mom. Perhaps it's time we drove that route again, although I'm sad to learn of the gentrification - but happy for Frankie. Need to try those date shakes. Fun article, Edie.
AJ, belatedly, thanks for coming by. I'm glad you didn't express date disgust.
Hawk, I'll be honest, the misted kennels are not all that exciting; they're more convenience than spa. But those date shakes (which I don't imagine you'd be able to share...)
Donna, I probably would fly rather than drive if it weren't for Frankie, my little money pit -- and the extra expense of renting a car when in CA. But those date shakes *are* amazing!