The Best Winter Vacations With Your Dog
Pets are family — and thanks to the world becoming a more pet-friendly place, it’s easier than ever to travel with our dogs. If you’re planning a trip, check out our list of the best winter vacations with your dog.
Austin, TX
For your winter vacation, you and your dog can get weird in Austin. Not only is it a haven for the arts, but plenty of outdoor activities and dog-friendly businesses. Head to Zilker Park, a 350-acre preserve where dogs are allowed off-leash to run as they please, the Butler Hike & Bike Trail, Zilker Botanical Garden, or the Barton Creek Greenbelt. Dogs will also have a blast on city streets, including at The Domain, an outdoor shopping center chock full of stores and restaurants. Rainy Street is another destination your dog will enjoy, with pet-friendly restaurants like Banger’s, which includes a fenced-in park in the beer garden and a Woofwurst dish just for dogs. austintexas.org
Stowe, VT
A haven for ski bunnies, Stowe is the ultimate winter vacation to take with your dog. While your dog can’t join you on the slopes, they’re welcome to take a ride the Gondola Skyride to take in the amazing sights of Mount Mansfield, the state’s tallest mountain, and explore the 5.3-mile Stowe Recreation Path. While on the path, pet owners can bring their dogs to restaurants like the Idletyme Brewing Co., which boasts a large patio, as well as the von Trapp Brewing Bierhall with its picturesque mountain views. If you and your pup like to shop, there are plenty of stores in Stowe that not only allow pets to browse, but also have items catered to pooches. gostowe.com
Memphis, TN
If your pup enjoys music as much as you do, head to the Country Music Capital for a winter vacation that’ll get your toes tapping. Not only are there outdoor spaces such as Overton Park and Shelby Farms Park to let your dog run off leash, but many local businesses can’t wait to welcome your pup through the front doors. Scan the bookshelves of Burke’s Books with your canine friend, grab a coffee at Cafe Eclectic in the Midtown area, or catch an outdoor concert together at Levitt Shell. At the High Cotton Brewing Co., dogs are also welcome in the taproom. There are also murals around town that make for a perfect Instagram background for you and your pup’s travel photos. wearememphis.com
Great Sand Dunes National Park, CO
Located in southern Colorado, this dog-friendly national park is truly a sight to behold. Spread over more than 230 square miles, visitors to Great Sand Dunes National Park will happen upon multiple ecosystems, with breathtaking views of the alpine lakes, forests and meadows, wetlands, and — of course — 30 square miles of dunes. Dogs are welcome to join their humans on the adventure, and the park even has its own B.A.R.K. ranger, a pitbull mix named Moo! nps.gov/grsa/
Fort Myers, FL
If your idea of a winter vacation with your dog includes sunscreen, then head to Fort Myers on the west coast of Florida. Bonita Springs’ famed dog beach allows your pooch to run wild on the sand, paddle in the water, and make new friends. Humans can also get a saltwater fishing license to catch dinner for the night. Other dog-friendly activities in the Fort Myers area include a guided paddleboard or kayak tour with Paddle Naples, a meal at The Salty Crab Bar & Grill or Gator Bites, a day trip to the Shell Factory (fit with a dog dock!), and hiking through the 5-mile Black Island Trail at Lovers Key State Park. fortmyers-sanibel.com
So, which of these winter vacations with your dog will you choose?
