Our pets are part of the family, and a family vacation is a whole lot more fun when Fido can come along.
USA TODAY 10Best enlisted the help of BringFido – a dog travel directory offering recommendations for hotels, parks, restaurants and attractions in more than 10,000 cities around the world – in selecting 20 worthy nominees. The categories include Best Pet Friendly Hotel, Best Dog Park, Best Dog Friendly Beach, Best Dog Friendly Bar or Restaurant and Best Dog Friendly Tour or Activity.
For the past four weeks, USA TODAY and 10Best readers have been voting daily for their favorites in each category. The results are in! Click on each link below to see the 10 winners in each category.
Best Dog Friendly Beach: Montrose Dog Beach in Chicago
Photo courtesy of sphinx / Flickr
Windy City canines have their own designated beach for splashing. The Montrose Beach Dog Friendly Area offers a fenced, off-leash area where dogs can splash in the waters of Lake Michigan.
Winners: 10 Best Dog Friendly Beaches
Best Pet Friendly Hotel: Aloft Asheville Downtown in Asheville, N.C.
Photo courtesy of Craig Curtin / Aloft Asheville Downtown
There's never a fee for furry friends at Aloft Asheville Downtown, where pets are treated to a bed, food and water bowls, a goody bag and a rooftop puppy path, perfect for a quick walk without leaving the hotel.
The hotel has partnered with Charlie's Angels Animal Rescue to find homes for foster dogs, so guests will find an adoptable dog in the lobby daily. Asheville's French Broad River Dog Park lies just 3 miles away.
Winners: 10 Best Pet Friendly Hotels
Best Dog Friendly Bar or Restaurant: Sail Pavilion in Tampa
Photo courtesy of Sail Pavilion
Situated on the Tampa Riverwalk, open air Sail Pavilion offers water bowls for pups, cleanup stations, complimentary doggie treats and a special menu for four-legged friends, with items like smoothies.
Winners: 10 Best Dog Friendly Bars or Restaurants
Best Dog Park: Fiesta Island in San Diego
Photo courtesy of freschwill / Flickr
Much of San Diego's large and sandy Fiesta Island is designated as a leash-free zone, so Fido is free to romp across sand dunes or go for a swim in the calm bay. Visitors will also find bonfire rings around the island's shore, perfect for an evening on the beach with the pooch.
Best Dog Friendly Tour or Activity: Dog Mountain in Saint Johnsbury, Vt.
Photo courtesy of BringFido.com
Situated on a private 150-acre farm in Vermont's stunning Northeast Kingdom, Dog Mountain offers a vast off-leash area complete with swimming ponds, hiking trails and a gallery with dog-centric works by folk artist Stephen Huneck.
Winners: 10 Best Dog Friendly Tours or Activities
Congratulations to all our Fido-friendly winners! Remember to rock the vote daily at 10Best.com.
