Dog o' Day
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Dog-friendly travel destinations

By Wesley Coburn

SAN FRANCISCO - AUGUST 25: A golden retriever named Hercules cools off during break from playing fetch August 25, 2003 at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, California. San Francisco broke a 72-year record Sunday when the temperature hit 89 degrees. Hercules enjoyed the 86-degree high today, but clouds from the south were expected to cool things off late in the day. By Wednesday, normal conditions were forecast to return, with highs in the low to mid-70s. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO - AUGUST 25: A golden retriever named Hercules cools off during break from playing fetch August 25, 2003 at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, California. San Francisco broke a 72-year record Sunday when the temperature hit 89 degrees. Hercules enjoyed the 86-degree high today, but clouds from the south were expected to cool things off late in the day. By Wednesday, normal conditions were forecast to return, with highs in the low to mid-70s. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) /
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Ever see something on a trip and think, “My dog would love this!” We get that. Next time, bring them along.

Vacations are amazing, but wouldn’t they be even better with your best canine pal around, too? Thankfully, the folks at the American Kennel Club came up with some dog-friendly travel destinations.

If you’re planning a trip to Washington, D.C., then by all means see the National Mall, which includes the Lincoln Memorial, Korean, Vietnam and WWII Memorials, the Reflecting Pool and the Washington Monument, with the Smithsonian Institution museum complex close by. And while you’re there, be sure to check out George Washington’s estate of Mount Vernon, which allows leashed dogs on the grounds, though not in the house itself.

Ohio dogs might like to walk through the streams and trails of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

Wanting to prowl through the South? The Natchez Trace National Parkway is a 444-mile pathway through Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee, and features beautiful scenery, archaeological sites, exhibits and more. Pets aren’t allowed inside buildings, though.  And Savannah, Georgia, is an extremely dog-friendly city.

There are 26 miles of trails to explore in Arkansas’ Hot Springs National Park, which includes a dog-friendly campground.

The Fantastic Caverns in Springfield, Mo., were co-discovered by a farmer’s dog, and today pets are welcome on the cave tour Jeeps. It’s an amazing sight to explore, and only about a three-hour drive from Kansas City, St. Louis or Tulsa.

Much of the 486-mile Colorado Trail, running from Denver to Durango, is dog-accessible, though the terrain is not for the casual hiker. But with some planning beforehand, you and your pup can experience the glory of the Rocky Mountains together.

If mountains aren’t really your thing, the Great Sand Dunes National Park in southern Colorado might be up your alley. The sand dunes are the highest in all of North America, but there are a variety of other landscapes to see as well. Just remember that sand conducts both heat and cold extremely well, so don’t burn (or freeze) your paws off.

If you’re visiting the Grand Canyon, remember that pets are not allowed below the rim. But there is a boarding kennel on the South Rim where your dog can stay if the humans adventure down there.

For a splash through the Pacific Ocean, San Diego, Calif., has the Ocean Beach Dog Beach available 24/7 – and even more exciting for your dog, he doesn’t have to be on a leash!

It’s a good idea to call ahead first and make sure that a destination is pet-friendly.

What are dog days, and why are they called that?. dark. Next

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