Best Dog-Friendly Vacations in the United States
From skipping on the brilliant beaches of San Diego and Florida to climbing the mountains of the Oregon, Maine, and North Carolina, your dogs will have a good time on the road with you. Cities embrace canines, the offer doggie spas and the off-leash parks, and welcome them into stores and the alfresco restaurants.
To see the vibe of happiness as they traverse hills with their tails swaying, run off-leash on a pristine beach with their ears floundering, or savor the last bits of frozen yogurt at a roadside shop is worth each second spent arranging your dog-friendly vacation.
Bend, Oregon
Outdoor lovers will be in paradise in the Bend, Oregon, the city on Deschutes River surrounded by the National Forests, high lakes, and wiped-out volcanoes. Rumors have spread far and the wide, suggesting that Bend has the world’s highest per capita dog population, with an estimated 49 percent of residents possessing dogs. The scenic Focal Oregon city boasts 51 miles of trails inside its limits, 13 off-leash areas for your best companion to meander, and climbing trails in the lush forests.
Take your pup on a refreshing stroll on the Deschutes River Trail or the Goodbye Bend Parkway. If Fido needs to chill, there are a lot of opportunities to jump in the water for a swim. Or you can lease a canoe from Tumalo Spring Kayak and Canoe. For serious hikers, the Deschutes National Forest has many trails along the Douglas firs, including the fan favorite of the North Fork Trail. What’s more, in the winter, you can make snow angels with the dog on cross-country ski and snowshoe trails at the Wanoga, Edison, and Kapka Sno-Parks.
Sedona, Arizona
Have some fantastic chances of your four-legged companion against the setting of the red stone country in Sedona, Arizona. Dynamic dogs will cherish venturing into Slide Rock State Park, a 43-section land park in Oak Brook Canyon located just outside the city or the Coconino National Forest, known for notorious red rocks, Ponderosa Pine Forests, and high tundra. In addition, a significant number of Sedona’s best climbing trails are suitable for the dogs.
You can also sign up for the pet-friendly tours, which proposition exploring, camping trips, and visits to the Indian ruin sites. Dog-friendly Red Stone Sorcery Streetcar Tours offers Boynton Canyon Tour and Ringer Rock Tour excursions. Reward your dog after all that adventuring with the delicious treat at the Whiskers Barkery at Sinagua Court. Those hoping to stay inside the city limits can make a midday out of a visit to the Sedona Dog Park, the city’s first and just dog park, featuring beautiful views and separate areas for small, huge, and senior dogs. It even has a vast natural region for traipsing off-leash.
Bar Harbor, Maine
Maine’s Bar Harbor is within a short distance of Acadia National Park, a 47,000-section land wilderness region on Mount Desert Island with 120 miles of dog-friendly climbing trails along the scenic glacial mass sculpted coast. Acadia is the most pet-friendly national park in the country, with most of its climbing trails (except those that include ladders) and carriage roads open to the four-legged explorers. Drive the Scenic Park Loop Road to the Cadillac Mountain summit road, stopping en route at lookout points for the pictures and potty breaks for your pups.
The pets are also welcome on shuttles that take you to the scenic vistas throughout the park. In addition, the seaside New Britain city allows dogs on its buses, making it very easier to get around on the off chance you don’t have transportation. Shockingly better, Bar Harbor has the outfitters like the Downeast Windjammer that allow you to welcome your pets on the boat cruise around Frenchman Cove. There’s also no shortage of the dog-friendly eateries in midtown Bar Harbor.
Lake Placid, New York
Located the five-hour drive from New York City in the core of the Adirondack Mountains, Lake Placid is the quintessential heartfelt escape. Bring your four-legged companion and gain experiences along the lake’s beaches and at the luxury lodges like the Lake Placid Cabin. Lake Placid is an all-around outdoor destination where you can go skiing, climbing, trekking, and fishing on just one excursion. A must-do is the stroll along Mirror Lake on a 2.7-mile cleared trail for exquisite views and the fresh air. It is located on west side of the lake, the way has some shops that invite dogs. If Wanderer likes riding in the car, drive up to the Whiteface Mountain on the Whiteface Veterans Memorial Highway (open just in the summer), stopping en route for some Instagram-worthy pictures with stunning backdrops.
Sanibel Island, Florida
If you have a beach bum on your hands, make a beeline for Florida’s Gulf Coast on Sanibel Island. Sun-kissed beaches and all-year pleasant weather conditions make this Southwest Florida locale a wonderful escape. Take in incredible sunsets, search for seashells, or run on the beach with your four-legged sidekick on this barrier island, where virtually all the beaches are pet-friendly. One of the most popular beaches is Gulfside Beach (also by Algiers Beach), which offers excursion areas, barbecue grills, outdoor showers, and restrooms.
Kanab, Utah
The Kanab is a small town located in the Southwestern Utah, bordering Arizona. Still, the Best Friends Creature Society’s sanctuary is the primary fascination here, the largest no-kill buddy creature shelter in the country. Spread across the 3,700 acres, the sanctuary houses the adoptable dogs, cats, bunnies, livestock, horses, and orphaned and injured wild animals.
Best Friends has shelters across the country, but the primary location is a must-see, where creature lovers can spend time with the adoptable animals and volunteer to clean the kennels and socialize with and train the pets. If you’ve left the dog at the home, you can borrow one to have the sleepover in your hotel room or one of the on-location cottages (as long as you dedicate a couple of hours to volunteer during your stay).
