I confess: I’m a pet lover; and like a lot of other pet owners; in particular dog owners, I just can’t bear to shut the door with my pets’ soulful eyes staring at me, and even though the tail wagging is out of control when I return, I still feel a twinge of guilt when I depart sans Fido. I’m talking about going to work and doing errands, so I shudder to think about a little vaca . . . pet sitters and kennels alike can cost an arm and a leg, and leaving one’s (as some perceive them to be) mutt with relatives just might not be in the best interest for both species; hence my list of places to get a little R&R for both you and your faithful four-legged, tailing wagging BDF . . best dog friend

After a great deal of research it appears California seems to offer more puppy love than many other states; however, to be fair I am focusing on lots of places to travel to with your beloved dog:

In 2010, Dog Fancy Magazine revealed Provincetown, Massachusetts was selected as their #1 canine city, with businesses providing ‘doggy’ biscuits and bowls of water for those furry shoppers who bring along their human companions, but, if you’re heading west then Carmel By the Sea, Benito, Fort Bragg and Sand Diego, California, or Salem and Lincoln City, Oregon, as well as Sioux Falls, South Dakota and Madison, Wisconsin are all listed as places you’ll want to take Fido.

Other traveling with your dog special places include Chicago with its 18 miles of paved trails that trace Lake Michigan’s edge or in New York with its NYC Dog Walking Tour visiting Greenwich Village, SOHO and Little Italy. And, if you want to memorialize your trip to NYC, check out the William Secord Gallery where (at a price and advance reservation) your pooch can have its portrait painted.

Not to be outdone by its Eastern pet-friendly venues are the cities of Orlando (where in Florida there is a ‘doggy dining law’ that allows dogs to dine with their owners in outside eating venues) and for healthy alternatives such as hiking and breathtaking scenery you’ll want to travel to Colorado Springs, Colorado where you can meander with pooch around Bear Creek Nature Center, the Manitou Cliff Dwellings or Garden of the Gods National Park; and finally there is Austin, Texas with 12-off leash parks for doggy fun and games.

I could go on and on . . . but, I won’t. I would like to say however, your problem won’t be leaving your BDF behind, but in deciding which dog-friendly venue to travel to. By the way, if you and your furry friend are in need of a good night’s sleep after a full day’s activities there are many lodging places that accept pets.