Web resource for pet owners GoPetFriendly.com has released their list of the top pet-friendly attraction in each of the lower 48 U.S. states and D.C., along with their “Ultimate Pet Friendly Road Trip.”
Founders of GoPetFriendly.com, Amy and Rod Burkert, have been traveling full-time for more than seven years with their two dogs, Ty and Buster. In addition to sharing their adventures and pet travel tips on the Take Paws blog, they gather information for the website’s database of pet-friendly hotels, campgrounds, restaurants, beaches, dog parks, and more. But this year, the couple is on a mission to share the wide variety of pet-friendly attractions that are available to people traveling with their pets.
“It’s been exciting to build our list of the Top Pet Friendly Attractions in the U.S., and visiting all of them with Ty and Buster on this 10-month tour is a dream come true,” states Amy Burkert. GoPetFriendly.com’s selection for the Top Pet Friendly Attractions in each state was based on how well it represents the spirit of that state and contributed to the overall diversity of pet-friendly adventures to be had all across the country.
“Many people think that traveling with their pets means they’ll be limited to dog parks and takeout food. Sharing our experiences helps people see that the options are endless – from beaches to mountain tops, canoe trips to train rides, bustling cities to quiet retreats – pet lovers worldwide are fastening their seatbelts and traveling vicariously with us through the blog, on social media, and at our meet-up events along the way.”GoPetFriendly.com’ List of Top
Here’s the list of GoPetFriendly.com’ List of Top Pet Friendly Destinations in order of the stops on The Ultimate Pet Friendly Road Trip. In parentheses are dates you can meet up with the Burkert’s on the tour:
- California – Carmel’s Dog Beach
- Nevada – Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
- Arizona – Grand Canyon National Park
- New Mexico – White Sands National Monument
- Texas – San Antonio River Walk
- Oklahoma – Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge
- Arkansas – Canoe the Buffalo National River
- Tennessee – Shelby Farms Park Off-Leash Area
- Alabama – Little River Canyon National Preserve
- Georgia – Rock City Gardens
- Mississippi – The Natchez Trace Parkway
- Louisiana – State Capitol Gardens in Baton Rouge
- Florida – Fort De Soto Dog Beach
- South Carolina – Magnolia Plantation & Gardens
- North Carolina – Biltmore Estate Gardens and Grounds
- Virginia – Colonial Williamsburg
- Washington, DC – The National Mall
- Maryland – Cruise on Chesapeake Bay (Annapolis Meet-up: May 13th)
- Delaware – Walking Tour of Historic New Castle
- New Jersey – The Jersey Shore at Wildwood Dog Beach (Philadelphia Meet-up: May 27th)
- New York – Central Park
- Connecticut – Mystic Seaport (Mystic Meet-up: June 10th)
- Rhode Island – Newport Cliff Walk
- Massachusetts – The Freedom Trail (Boston Meet-up: June 17th)
- Maine – Acadia National Park (Bar Harbor Meet-up: June 24th)
- New Hampshire – Appalachian Trail at Mt. Washington State Park
- Vermont – Dog Mountain
- Pennsylvania – Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway
- West Virginia – Monongahela National Forest
- Ohio – The Holden Arboretum
- Kentucky – Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park (Louisville Meet-up: July 22nd)
- Missouri – Gateway Arch Park & Riverfront Trail (St. Louis Meet-up: July 29th)
- Indiana – Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
- Illinois – Chicago Lakefront Trail & Montrose Dog Beach
- Michigan – Arch Rock on Mackinac Island
- Minnesota – Split Rock Lighthouse State Park (Duluth Meet-up: August 19th)
- Wisconsin – Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge (La Crosse Meet-up: August 26th)
- Iowa – Effigy Mounds National Monument
- North Dakota – Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site
- South Dakota – Custer State Park
- Nebraska – Oglala National Grasslands & Toadstool Geologic Park
- Kansas – Monument Rocks
- Colorado – Telluride Gondola to Mountain Village
- Utah – Dixie National Forest’s Red Canyon
- Wyoming – Bighorn National Forest & Medicine Wheel
- Montana – Beartooth Highway
- Idaho – Dog Bark Park Inn
- Washington – San Juan Islands
- Oregon – Portland’s Parks and Gardens (Portland Meet-up: November 4th)
“Something magical happens when you experience something for the first time with your pet. The bonds that are forged in those moments will last forever,” says Burkert. “By taking our dogs on this epic 10-month, 15,000-mile RV tour, we are celebrating those #PawsomeMemories and showing pet lovers the incredible experiences and places they can enjoy with their furry family members.”
For more information on The Ultimate Pet Friendly Road Trip, including links to the individual stops, visit GoPetFriendly.com, which lists information on more than 65,000 pet-friendly hotels, campgrounds, restaurants, beaches, off-leash dog parks, and more across North America.
