Traveling with dogs: Portland tops the list for pet-friendly travel

Your four-legged friends are part of the family, so it’s no surprise that they want to come on summer vacation too. Many hotel chains (such as Ritz-Carlton and Kimpton, whose hotel, The Alexis, is featured at right) ensure that some or all of their properties are able to accommodate pets, but they cannot guarantee that Fido or Fifi can come with you once you choose to leave the hotel.

As all pet owners know, a bored dog is a destructive dog, and so we often choose to take our pooch to destinations where they can join us on sightseeing excursions. According to DogFriendly.com, the these top ten cities were chosen for their high quantity of pet-friendly accommodations, transportation, beaches, park, attractions, stores, dining and more.

The winner this year? Portland, Oregon, where dogs can explore Rose Gardens and the Lucky Lab. Other winners?

[Flickr via Jeffrey Beall]

Chicago
Home to the Navy Pier, pet-friendly boat tours and many parks.

San Diego
The country’s best dog beaches and trails and world class pet-friendly shopping centers.

Seattle
Here, you can take public transportation with your leashed dog.

Philadelphia
Get a famous cheese steak. See historic early American sites and stay in a downtown luxurious hotel.

Minneapolis
Great hiking trails and parks, pet-friendly dining. A pet-friendly atmosphere throughout.

Austin
Dog-Friendly parks. Outdoor cafes. Take tours and see the sites. See the Zilker Gardens and the Congress Street bats.

Alexandria/ Washington D.C.
See the capital’s sites, walk in charming Old Town, take a dog cruise on the Potomac.

New York
Luxury hotels welcome dogs, Central park beckons, off-leash parks everywhere. Shop the famous stores with your dog.

Indianapolis
Many historical sites, Nature preserves, trails and parks. Many of the cities tourist sites can be viewed with a dog.

Honorable mention cities include Charlotte, Dallas, Nashville, Orlando and Raleigh.