Dog-Friendly Destinations

What destination would you suggest for a single, 60-year-old woman, traveling with two well-behaved, well-trained dogs? I love dog camps (such as Camp Gone to the Dogs in Vermont and Camp Dogwood in Illinois), hiking, boating, camping, animal rescue, and just plain relaxing.

-Sue, Aurora, Ill.

Hi Sue,

There are many resources that list pet-friendly hotels and vacations by location. Check out BringFido.com, which has a list of top destinations for dog owners and a listing by state of pet-friendly places. There’s even a list of airlines and airline policies, so you can prepare your dog for travel. DogFriendly.com has a comprehensive list of hotels and activities for your dog and you, and they have published several books on the matter.

It may be a long trip for your dogs, but Boston is a very dog-friendly city. With numerous parks, including six where you can let Spot off his leash, Beantown’s main public transportation, the T, allows small dogs to be transported in carriers and permits large dogs during off-peak hours, as long as they are leashed. Some tours of the city, such as the Secret Tour of Boston’s North End and the Freedom Trail, allow quiet dogs to come along with their owners. You can even take your dogs on the ferry to Cape Cod or the beaches of Block Island.

On the opposite coast, San Diego has many options for you and your pets. Dog Beach offers off-leash opportunities on the beach. There’s even a Dog Beach Dog Wash two blocks from the beach so they can shake the sand off their paws. Balboa Park offers some off-leash opportunities, and your dogs are welcome in the San Diego Zoo, one of the most renowned in the world.

If you don’t want to travel far, consider taking Mercury Skyline Cruiseline’s Canine Cruise. The Sunday-only 90-minute tour takes you and your dogs around as you hear commentary about Chicago places that are dog friendly, and there are water bowls and a newspaper-lined restroom. However, for a little more, you can take the Architecture Cruise offered by Shorelines Sightseeing. This tour also allows dogs.