Where and how to travel with your furry companions in style.
Once the weather warms, it’s time to travel. But why leave your pet behind? Here are some of Dog Fancy’s recent picks for the most pet-friendly U.S. cities, as well as some pet-friendly hotels and a new pets-only airline—that promise to make hitting the road with your furry friends a vacation for everyone involved.
Portland, Ore.
This city is so pet friendly, they even name restaurants after dogs. Try one of the brews with dog-inspired names at the Lucky Labrador Brewing Company or caffeinate at the Iron Mutt Coffee Company, which supports animal-focused nonprofits. Other attractions include shopping the Portland Saturday Market or strolling the 185 acre Portland Hoyt Arboretum.
Long Beach, Calif.
This seaside city offers the Dog Zone, an off-leash 3 acre dog beach, and Second Street, a posh and pet-friendly shopping district. Check out the Easter and the Howl o’ween parades where hundreds of decked-out dogs march the city’s streets or the Most Beautiful Bulldog competition, a fundraiser for animal-centric charities.
Chicago
With several pet-friendly bars, outdoor cafes and shops, as well as the 18 miles of paved trails around Lake Michigan, you’ll have no shortage of things to do once it warms up in Chi-Town. Another perk: Treat your pup to a game of baseball at the White Sox annual Dog Day.
New York
With more than 120,000 licensed dogs in New York City, this concrete jungle has plenty to offer pets, including posh dog-friendly hotels like the Soho Grand, dog walking tours (ztravelandleisure.com, zerve.com) and Central Park, plus many upscale shops allowed well-behaved dogs.
Getting there: If you’re worried about your pets traveling via plane (and the dangers of being stored in the cargo areas). The recently launched Pet Airways (petairways.com) is the first airline exclusively dedicated to pets—no humans allowed. Pets can fly to major cities—including New York, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Denver and Los Angeles—on a pet-only private plane lined with kennels for comfort.
Staying there: Several major hotel chains—including the Best Western, Marriot, Holiday Inn, Westin and the W Hotels (which even has a pet program designed for dogs and cats)—allow animals, sometimes for a fee. A new hotel on the scene, The Ace (acehotel.com) has properties in several pet-friendly cities: Seattle, Portland, NYC and Palm Springs, Calif. This minimalist, chic chain is straight out of Dwell Magazine. Plus, they’re pet friendly (well-behaved dogs often stay at no additional fee and can be found lounging in the lobby) and lesbian friendly—they recently hosted Dinah Shore events.