You CAN have a pet friendly vacation!
You love going on vacation, but the sight of your faithful dog staring out the door when you leave is too much to bear. This time you’re taking your pets with you, and you’re planning on giving them the time of their lives. With the American Veterinary Medical Association reporting that more than 75 million Americans own pets, there are many places dedicated to catering to your furry friends. Pack up the car and leave room for the pets this time around, as you indulge in the best pet vacation ever.
 Baker’s Sunset Bay Resort
Baker’s Sunset Bay Resort on the shoreline of Lake Delton gives you a stellar resort atmosphere while still allowing you to bring your pets along. Many pet-friendly hotels tend to be on the lower end of quality, so finding a resort that’s happy to host your dog or cat is always a fantastic find. More importantly, Baker’s Sunset Bay Resort is located in the Wisconsin Dells, which has many outdoor pet-friendly activities such as swimming in the lake or hiking along the trails.
Photo by normanack via Flickr
Fort Collins, Colorado
If you are thinking about a road trip, a stop in Fort Collins is a wonderful respite for the two and four-legged members of your family. As Cesar’s Way describes, the town is brimming with dog-friendly activities. Many of the local brew pubs welcome pooches on the outside patio, and both New Belgium Brewery and Funkwerks let your pups accompany you into the tasting room. When it’s time to get into Mother Nature, head to nearby Horsetooth Reservoir for a hike and fun in the water; if your dog loves to swim he or she will have a great time splashing around. For lodging, check out The Best Western University Inn; half of the rooms are dog-friendly.
San Diego Dog Parks
San Diego loves dogs, and is home to more than 10 off-leash dog parks. These parks are all over the city, including one sand and surf play area in Ocean Beach, giving you and your dog a chance to meet a variety of dogs for fun activities. San Diego also has many areas where dogs are allowed on a leash, such as hiking trails and scenic valleys. Your dog does need to be current on vaccines and licensed before using these dog parks. If you can’t find a pet-friendly hotel in the San Diego area use AirBNB to find independently offered rooms, apartments and even full houses. In many cases, you pay less than a comparable hotel room would cost you.
Photo by donjd2 via Flickr
British Columbia, Canada
For families who are looking to get away from their local extreme summer temps, British Columbia is a cool and relaxing place to visit. As Pet Friendly Canada notes, the Canadian province also boasts plenty of dog beaches. The site is also a great resource for lodging that allows pets; choices include rustic cabins, family-friendly motels and even swankier hotels. If you and your dog like getting out on a boat, there are ample places to do that in British Columbia; imagine afternoons relaxing on a motorboat and fishing while your dog happily keeps you and your family company. One word of advice: to avoid having to get your Canadian boating license once you arrive at your destination, visit a website like SafeBoater.com prior to your departure. There, you can get all of your necessary permits and licenses that you’ll need for your trip up North.
Acadia National Park
On the whole, national parks are great places to take your dog, although they aren’t all created equal when it comes to accessibility. Acadia National Park in Maine gives you the opportunity to take your dog bird-watching, hiking and picnicking with you. This vast national forest is particularly spectacular in the fall, when all of the trees change their vibrant colors with a show you have to stick around the northeast to see.
Photo by Plh1234us via Wikimedia Commons
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
If you live on or near the East Coast, a road trip to Cape Cod is a great way to spend a summer vacation with your dog. While not all of the beaches will allow pets Orleans, Wellfleet and Truro do. Cape Beach Dog is a terrific resource that features not only a complete list of dog-friendly beaches, as well as which campgrounds, motels, restaurants and cabins allow pets. If you are ready to stretch your legs after a long car ride, be sure to visit the Cape Cod Rail Trail; the walk covers 22 miles of old railroad and meanders through pet-friendly beach towns. To stay hydrated and ward off hunger, there are plenty of places to stop along the way to eat and drink, and you can walk as little or much of the trail as you wish. For lodging, the Quality Inn Cape Cod is one of many dog-friendly and comfortable places to sleep.
Mutt Lynch Winery
Think dogs and vineyard visits never go hand in hand? Mutt Lynch Winery has something to say about that. The owner of this vineyard is a staunch animal activist who supports local animal rescues and organizations, along with allowing dogs to wander with you whenever you take a vineyard tour. In addition, many of the wines are dog themed, adding to the claim that your dog is welcomed here instead of merely tolerated.
Photo by jonclegg via Flickr
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