"Vancouver" by Cliff Hellis via Flickr Creative Commons

North America makes pet travel so easy with cities, parks and beaches across the nations open to owners and pets. You can stay in luxury hotels with pooch or cat, visit dog bakeries or cafes, take part in horse parades, trek in national parks and visit gardens. From California to New York and Canada there’s options in every part of the two nations.

  1. New York Luxury hotels in New York welcome dogs so you can stay in style in the Big Apple and even go shopping with them in Manhattan department stores. Pets can travel in Pet Taxis and on the Metro-North trains from Connecticut or the northern suburbs and the Seastreak Ferry from New Jersey. Take a walking tour of lower Manhattan, a carriage ride in Central Park, walk the Brooklyn Bridge, visit one of the 30 off-leash parks or go to the man-made swimming pond for dogs in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park.
  2. San Francisco San Francisco is a great vacation site for a traveler with a dog. There are so many parks, off-leash areas and beaches. Plus dogs are allowed on public transportation including the famous Cable Cars, Muni buses and trains. Small dogs are even allowed on the regional BART trains that run to the East Bay. Every August the San Francisco Giants host their annual Dog Days of Summer baseball game where your dog is welcome to attend.
  3. San Diego, California The warm climate of California is perfect for the many pet-friendly parks, off-leash beaches and restaurants that welcome dogs. Go to the 1200-acre Balboa Park for trails through the canyons, although dogs must be leashed at all times. There is an unfenced dog run on the west side of the park by El Prado and Balboa Drive.
  4. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Your dog will have ample opportunity to run here - Vancouver boasts seven off-leash beaches and over 20 off-leash parks so you don’t have to leave pup at home when you’re touring. You can go to the many outdoor restaurants and cafes or even shop inside some stores. Sights that are on-bounds for dogs include historic Gastown, Granville Island and the Capilano Bridge and Park. Many ferries allow leashed dogs of all sizes and the city’s public transportation allows small dogs in carriers.
  5. Calgary Stampede Participate in the annual Calgary Stampede parade with your horse. Entry is free in what is often called the greatest show on earth. The parade can draw 40,000 spectators so make sure your horse is not easily spooked.
  6. Denali National Park, Alaska This gorgeous natural wilderness area can be enjoyed by all the family provided Fido is on a leash and cleaned up after. You will have to stick to the paved roads and dirt roads.
  7. Colorado Springs, Colorado This area is full of outdoor activities including many hiking and walking trails. One of the most popular parks for dogs is the Garden of the Gods National Natural Landmark. It has towering sandstone formations and paved and unpaved hiking paths. Dogs can walk on a 6-foot leash and there’s a designated area where they can run unleashed.
  8. Yosemite National Park Pets are allowed on a few trails inside the park so you can all enjoy the breathtaking scenery together. These trails include the Meadow Loop and Four Mile fire roads in Wawona, the Carlon Road and the Old Big Oak Flat Road between Hodgdon Meadow and Hazel Green Creek.
  9. Chicago, Illinois The Windy City has numerous pet-friendly places to visit, including beaches, parks, stores and even bars where your pet is welcome to join you. Or you could take your dog on more than 18 miles of paved trails along Lake Michigan where even the boat operators usually allow dogs. Baseball fans might want to check out the White Sox’s Dog Day baseball game each spring.
  10. Camp Gone to the Dogs, Malboro, Vermont This summer camp is for people and their dogs on a lovely college campus. There are many activities including sheep herding, swimming, field coursing, agility training and some less serious things like a bathing suit contest. There’s also a fall camp. Up to 200 people attend.

Click here for Top 10 Pet-Friendly Vacations in Latin America