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<\/div>\nVacations are fun \u2026 but they\u2019re better with your best friend. And choosing a pet friendly destination that isn\u2019t over-run with tourists will really allow you to get away from it all!<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Start making your plans, but don\u2019t call the kennel or schedule a sitter for your dog or cat. We\u2019re giving you the inside scoop on nine great pet friendly trips to avoid crowds, so you and your furry travel buddy can really relax.<\/p>\n Big Bend isn\u2019t on the way to anywhere else, so you have to make an effort to get there. And that means fewer people do. Plus, with amazing scenery, friendly locals, and a pet friendly ghost town, you\u2019ve got the makings for a fantastic pet friendly trip!<\/p>\n The diversity of Big Bend is its biggest draw. Massive canyons, vast expanses of desert, forested mountains, and an ever-changing river provide a stunning variety of landscapes to admire. One of the best places to experience all the area has to offer is Big Bend National Park.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Unfortunately, the National Park doesn\u2019t allow pets on any trails, on the river, or in the backcountry. However, leashed pets can walk the 200+ miles of dirt roads running through the park \u2013 and most of them get little very little traffic! Jeep trips, a scenic drive along the Rio Grande to Presidio, and exploring the little communities are other popular activities.<\/p>\n Pet friendly campsites are available year round at Big Bend National Park and at many private campgrounds in the area. You\u2019ll also find many, many pet friendly vacation rentals and Airbnbs in Big Bend. And there are four pet friendly hotels<\/a> within easy driving distance of the National Park.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n If you\u2019re looking for pet friendly trips where you can really stretch out, it\u2019s hard to beat Dixie National Forest. Covering almost 2 million acres, it would take a lifetime to explore the 1,600 miles of trails, hundreds of miles of scenic drives, 500 miles of fishing streams, and 90 lakes within the park\u2019s boundaries. And the best part is \u2026 every square inch is pet friendly!<\/p>\n The stunning scenery of southern Utah is something to behold. But if you\u2019re traveling with pets, the area\u2019s most popular attractions \u2013 Bryce<\/a> and Zion National Park<\/a>s \u2013 will leave you disappointed. Both of these national parks have strict pet regulations.<\/p>\n Fortunately, Dixie National Forest provides plenty of options! We highly recommend the Red Canyon Trail, a five-miler with plenty of ups and downs that winds through the incredible hoodoos.<\/p>\n Dixie has 18 seasonal campgrounds, which are generally open from May through September. If you\u2019re planning to travel outside camping season, the town of Panguitch has several pet friendly hotels<\/a> which provide good access to the park.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Florence has all the amenities that make a shore town fun, but without the inflated price tag and touristy atmosphere. The locals are friendly and the pace is relaxed, though you and your pet will find plenty to do!\u00a0 <\/p>\n You can take a drive down to explore the Oregon Dunes, hike the Sweet Creek Trail past eleven waterfalls in the Siuslaw National Forest, or rent a kayak and watch for otters as you paddle the Siuslaw River.<\/p>\n Be sure to visit Cape Perpetua, where you and your pet can walk over ancient lava flows that formed the coast in this part of Oregon. All 26 miles of trails here are pet friendly, so you\u2019re sure to find something that suits you. If you\u2019re looking for the best view, climb nearly 800 feet to the overlook, where on a clear day you can see 70 miles of coastline!<\/p>\n Florence boasts a surprising number of pet friendly restaurants<\/a> for a town this size. There are also several pet friendly vacation properties. And the Best Western<\/a> welcomes two pets per room, including cats and dogs up to 80 pounds.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Located on Washington\u2019s Olympic Peninsula, Fort Worden was an active military base until 1953. Now it\u2019s a truly unique 433-acre state park overlooking the Puget Sound. <\/p>\n While exploring twelve miles of pet friendly trails<\/a>, you\u2019ll find bunkers and gun batteries atop strategic hilltops. Of course, your pet won\u2019t want to miss the two miles of sandy beaches. And bring the canoe or kayak, because the park has two convenient boat ramps.<\/p>\n You can choose to stay in one of the park\u2019s two pet friendly campgrounds<\/a>, or opt for a truly unique pet friendly vacation rental<\/a> experience. Three dozen Victorian houses which comprised the original barracks have been renovated into vacation accommodations, and five of the units welcome pets!<\/p>\n All of this is just a few miles from the quaint fishing village of Port Townsend. With historic buildings, a lovely marina, and great eateries, it\u2019s a great choice for pet friendly trips.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n For those looking to be dazzled by spectacular vistas, prepare yourself for the Hudson Valley. Just 90 minutes north of Manhattan, where the Hudson River cuts along the backbone of the Catskill Mountains, you\u2019ll find rolling hills, quaint villages, and plenty of wide-open spaces to explore.<\/p>\n During your visit, plan to spend a day at Bear Mountain State Park. You\u2019ll want to pack a picnic and pull up a bench while you admire the view. When the weather cooperates, you can spot Manhattan\u2019s skyscrapers on the horizon! <\/p>\n After lunch, hit the Appalachian Trail on the east side of the mountain. It includes 800 stone stairs and is considered one of the most beautiful trails built in the last fifty years. And be sure to take a stroll around Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, where many famous (and some infamous) people have been laid to rest.<\/p>\n There is no shortage of lodging options for pet friendly trips to the Hudson Valley! From Kingston<\/a> to Newburgh<\/a> to Tarrytown<\/a>, you\u2019ll find campgrounds, hotels, and vacation rentals ready to welcome your furry family members.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Take the ferry to Mackinac Island, and you\u2019re in for a special treat! At just 3.8 square miles, this jewel sits in Lake Huron between Michigan\u2019s upper and lower peninsulas, about a 15-minute ferry ride from shore. <\/p>\n Eighty percent of the island is preserved within Mackinac Island State Park, and personal automobiles have been prohibited here since 1898. Pets, however, are very welcome! You\u2019ll find ferries, lodging, restaurants, horse-drawn taxis, guided carriage tours, and bike and kayak rentals for cats and dogs eager to explore.<\/p>\n Though camping isn\u2019t allowed on Mackinac Island, there are three pet friendly lodging options to choose from. Mission Point Resort<\/a> has beautiful grounds and a restaurant with pet friendly patio, and welcomes pets for an additional per-stay fee of $100, plus tax. Park Place Suites<\/a> offers three condo units in the heart of downtown, which come complete with a yard. They charge an additional pet fee of $30 per night. Sunset Condos<\/a>\u00a0offers more seclusion and fantastic views of Lake Huron and the Mackinac Bridge. Their pet fee is based on the size of your pet \u2013 less than 40 pounds is $75 per stay, more than 40 pounds is $100 per stay, and two pets over 40 pounds are $150 per stay.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n For off-the-beaten-path pet friendly road trips, there\u2019s nothing like the Natchez Trace! Stretching 444 miles from Nashville, Tennessee to Natchez, Mississippi, it\u2019s a blissfully quiet, billboard-free retreat from other American highways.<\/p>\n Along the way, more than 100 exhibits, interpretive signs, and marked trails provide archeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational, and scenic insights.<\/p>\n The Trace is best enjoyed at a relaxed pace, because there\u2019s something to sniff around every bend! And when it\u2019s time to really stretch your legs, 28 pet friendly hiking and self-guided trails are just steps away.<\/p>\n Appreciating the changing landscapes is another enchanting part of the Trace. From thick forests, to boggy cypress swamps, over 2,000 types of plants live and bloom along the route. The drive is especially lovely during the spring bloom and the colorful fall foliage.<\/p>\n The only overnight accommodations you\u2019ll find on the Natchez Trace are primitive national park and forest campgrounds. However, there are plenty of pet friendly lodging options in the towns and cities just off the Trace. If you\u2019re traveling at one of the more popular times of the year, reservations are recommended.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Many of our national parks see millions of tourists every year, but few visitors spend much time outside the park borders. This is definitely true of Yellowstone National Park<\/a>, and it makes Paradise Valley the perfect place for a pet friendly trip that avoids crowds!<\/p>\n As the Yellowstone River flows north out the border of the park, the landscape opens up and mountain peaks frame the view. The beauty of the valley beckons you outdoors, as the river tumbles over perfectly worn stones. And there are plenty of activities to choose from! <\/p>\n The Yellowstone is a world-class fly fishing river with many access points along it\u2019s shores. Wildlife viewing is always exciting in this part of the country, with antelope, big horn sheep, bison, elk, mule deer, and white-tailed deer often seen from the roads. And the hiking is spectacular, with the Gallatin National Forest offering spectacular pet friendly trails for both serious hikers and those just out for a stroll in nature.<\/p>\n Between privately-owned and national forest campgrounds, finding a place to pitch your tent isn\u2019t too difficult here. And Gardiner<\/a> and Livingston<\/a> both have several pet friendly hotel options. If you\u2019re willing to drive a bit further, Bozeman<\/a> offers even more pet friendly lodging.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n If there is a Mecca for dogs, it\u2019s Dog Mountain in St. Johnsbury. This 150-acre off-leash playground for pups was the vision of artists Stephen and Gwen Huneck. The property has a pond, hiking trails, and a pet friendly art gallery. But the heart of Dog Mountain is the chapel, with its pews carved with dogs on the ends and stained glass windows celebrating the gifts dogs bring to our lives. <\/p>\n Over the years pet lovers have contributed tributes, pictures, letters, and notes to their departed pets, covering the walls several layers deep. The result is a masterpiece beyond description.<\/p>\n Nestled along the banks of the Passumpsic and Moose Rivers, the picturesque town of St. Johnsbury has more bridges than traffic lights. And it makes a perfect base camp for exploring Vermont\u2019s Green Mountains and New Hampshire\u2019s White Mountains.<\/p>\n If you get a clear day, be sure to take the drive up Mount Washington<\/a>. At 6,288 feet, it\u2019s the highest peak in the Northeastern United States.<\/p>\n The Fairbanks Inn in St. Johnsbury<\/a> offers pet friendly rooms with a $25 per night pet fee, and there are many camping options in the area.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n We hope this gives you some ideas for places you can take your pets to avoid the crowds and enjoy a relaxing getaway. If you have some favorite destinations for off-the-beaten-path pet friendly trips that you don\u2019t mind sharing, please leave a comment below!<\/p>\n (Visited 4,312 times, 7 visits today)<\/p>\n \t\t<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Vacations are fun \u2026 but they\u2019re better with your best friend. And choosing a pet friendly destination that isn\u2019t over-run with tourists will really allow you to get away from it all! \u00a0 Start making your plans, but don\u2019t call the kennel or schedule a sitter for your dog or cat. We\u2019re giving you the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":274586,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12320,101478,101231,11920,98908,101479,97041,99078,101480,101481,100856],"tags":[11395,28821,2535,2338,2933,23873,39921,23667,13269,3366,12976,12700,17852,32060,8676,14139],"dealstore":[],"offerexpiration":[],"class_list":["post-274585","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-michigan","category-mississippi","category-montana","category-new-york","category-oregon","category-tennessee","category-texas","category-travel-destinations","category-utah","category-vermont","category-washington","tag-avoid","tag-crowds","tag-friendly","tag-great","tag-michigan","tag-mississippi","tag-montana","tag-new-york","tag-oregon","tag-pet","tag-tennessee","tag-texas","tag-trips","tag-utah","tag-vermont","tag-washington"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"Black](\"https:\/\/www.gopetfriendly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Off-The-Beaten-Path.webp)
<\/source><\/picture><\/noscript><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nPet Friendly Trips To Avoid Crowds<\/h2>\n
Big Bend, Texas<\/span><\/h3>\n
![\"Man](\"https:\/\/www.gopetfriendly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/DSC07618.jpg\"\/)
![\"Man](\"https:\/\/www.gopetfriendly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/DSC07618.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nREAD MORE \u21d2\u00a0<\/em><\/span> Visiting Big Bend With Dogs<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n
![\"German](\"https:\/\/www.gopetfriendly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/BBNP2.jpg\"\/)
![\"German](\"https:\/\/www.gopetfriendly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/BBNP2.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nDixie National Forest \u2013 Southern Utah<\/span><\/h3>\n
![\"Utah's](\"https:\/\/www.gopetfriendly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/DSC00439.webp)
<\/source><\/picture><\/noscript><\/figure>\nREAD MORE \u21d2 <\/em><\/span>Pet Friendly Things To Do In Dixie National Forest<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n
![\"Dixie](\"https:\/\/www.gopetfriendly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/06\/DSC01441.webp)
<\/source><\/picture><\/noscript><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nFlorence, Oregon<\/span><\/h3>\n
![\"Man](\"https:\/\/www.gopetfriendly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/DSC02655.jpg\"\/)
![\"Man](\"https:\/\/www.gopetfriendly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/DSC02655.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nREAD MORE \u21d2<\/em><\/span> Pet Friendly Day Trips from Florence, Oregon<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n
![\"Street](\"https:\/\/www.gopetfriendly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/DSC02582.jpg\"\/)
![\"Street](\"https:\/\/www.gopetfriendly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/DSC02582.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nFort Worden State Park \u2013 Port Townsend, Washington<\/span><\/h3>\n
![\"Fort](\"https:\/\/www.gopetfriendly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/DSC00398.webp)
<\/source><\/picture><\/noscript><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nREAD MORE \u21d2\u00a0<\/span> <\/strong>Seeing Washington\u2019s Olympic Peninsula With Dogs<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n
![\"Fort](\"https:\/\/www.gopetfriendly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/DSC00395.webp)
<\/source><\/picture><\/noscript><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nHudson Valley, New York<\/span><\/h3>\n
![\"West](\"https:\/\/www.gopetfriendly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/DSC03069.jpg\"\/)
![\"West](\"https:\/\/www.gopetfriendly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/DSC03069.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nREAD MORE \u21d2<\/em><\/span> More Pet Friendly Things To Do In The Hudson Valley<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n
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![\"Buster](\"https:\/\/www.gopetfriendly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/DSC02812.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nMackinac Island, Michigan<\/span><\/h3>\n
![\"Michigan's](\"https:\/\/www.gopetfriendly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/DSC08412.webp)
<\/source><\/picture><\/noscript><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nREAD MORE \u21d2<\/em><\/span> Mackinac Island Is Michigan\u2019s #1 Pet Friendly Destination<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n
![\"Michigan's](\"https:\/\/www.gopetfriendly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/DSC08531.webp)
<\/source><\/picture><\/noscript><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nNatchez Trace, Tennessee to Mississippi<\/span><\/h3>\n
![\"Mississippi's](\"https:\/\/www.gopetfriendly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/DSC02146.jpg\"\/)
![\"Mississippi's](\"https:\/\/www.gopetfriendly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/DSC02146.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nREAD MORE \u21d2\u00a0<\/em><\/span> Traveling The Natchez Trace With Dogs<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n
![\"Birdsong](\"https:\/\/www.gopetfriendly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/DSC05000.webp)
<\/source><\/picture><\/noscript><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nParadise Valley, Montana<\/span><\/h3>\n
![\"Paradise](\"https:\/\/www.gopetfriendly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/DSC00435.webp)
<\/source><\/picture><\/noscript><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nREAD MORE \u21d2<\/em><\/span> Pet Friendly Activities Near Yellowstone National Park<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n
![\"Gallatin](\"https:\/\/www.gopetfriendly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/DSC00806.jpg\"\/)
![\"Gallatin](\"https:\/\/www.gopetfriendly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/DSC00806.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\nSt. Johnsbury, Vermont<\/span><\/h3>\n
![\"Vermont's](\"https:\/\/www.gopetfriendly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/DSC06388.webp)
<\/source><\/picture><\/noscript><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nREAD MORE \u21d2<\/em><\/span>\u00a0 Dog Mountain Is Vermont\u2019s Best Pet Friendly Attraction<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n
![\"Vermont's](\"https:\/\/www.gopetfriendly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/DSC06515.webp)
<\/source><\/picture><\/noscript><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n