Visit the USA & Canada for Dog Friendly Cities

Believe it or not, this scene is from New York City. Just one of the Top 10 Dog Friendly Vacation Destination Cities in the USA & Canada.

Travelers in Europe know that in Paris the polite pooch is welcome in restaurants.

The UK, France, Spain, Portugal and many other European countries offer accomodations for pet owners to stay with their furry friends.

The USA and Canada may not have the same reputation yet, but man's best friend is making inroads when it comes to travel in North America. This part of the world is finally waking up to the stress and expense that leaving your dog behind in a kennel or with a pet sitter can cause pet owners and their families who travel on vacation.

To help you make plans for your next vacation that can include bringing your dog along, DogFriendly.com regularly releases its list of Top 10 dog-friendly vacation destinations in the US and Canada.

They compile this list every year for people who want to be able to travel with their pets and without stress.

These are the top 10 North American cities offering great pet-friendly lodging, attractions, parks, beaches, shopping, dining and other things to do with your dog.

1. Boston - Take a boat or whale watching cruise. Walk the Freedom Trail, visit Salem and explore history at Minute Man Park. In this pet friendly city, your leashed dog is even welcome on the subway.

2. Vancouver - Walk the Capilano Suspension Bridge and park. Take a walking tour of Historic Gastown. Take the ferry and visit nearby Victoria and beautiful Butchart Gardens.

3. New York - Stay in luxury at many fine hotels. Walk the Brooklyn Bridge. Stroll through Central Park or ride the horse drawn carriages. Take a walking tour of lower Manhattan. Watch a morning show. Shop in famous stores. There is one drawback. Your dog is not welcome on public transportation, including most cabs, so plan your sightseeing with that in mind.

4. San Francisco - Luxurious hotels, outdoor dining, the Golden Gate Bridge, Baker Beach and many off-leash areas. Ride the cable car to the Fisherman's Wharf area and stroll with your dog.

5. Austin - Visit Zilker Botanical Gardens, catch a horse and carriage ride, dine in outdoor cafes. See the bats leave the Congress St. Bridge at dusk. Use the city's many parks.

6. Portland - Enjoy over 20 off-leash areas, an amusement park and the famous Rose Gardens. Dine at the Lucky Lab. Visit the Saturday Outdoor Market and hike in the Colombia River Gorge.

7. Northern Virginia - Dine or enjoy happy hour in dog-friendly Alexandria. Take the Canine Cruise on the Potomac. Visit outdoor monuments in Washington and Virginia.

8. Orlando - Stay at resorts such as the Portofino Bay and Sheraton World. Take a boat cruise, shop Winter Park, and dine at Sam Snead's where Jeb Bush signed the doggy dining law.

9. San Diego - Off-leash dog beaches. Stay at Loews Coronado Resort. Shop at dog-friendly Otay Ranch Shopping Center complete with a dog park. Dine outdoors. Visit nearby Julian.

10. Dallas/Fort Worth - Ride a carriage, visit Pioneer Plaza, take a walking tour. Visit Fort Woof dog park and the Stockyard in Fort Worth. Dine on Texas BBQ at outdoor restaurants.

Honorable Mentions: Chicago, Indianapolis, Philadelphia, Salt Lake, Seattle

For more details on these places, including more information about the rankings, please visit http://www.dogfriendly.com/top10. DogFriendly.com, founded in 1998 to provide dog travel information, offers a free website and publishes paperback books. DogFriendly.com's United States and Canada Dog Travel Guide and other books are available at stores everywhere and at http://www.dogfriendly.com .

POLLOCK PINES, California -- /Xpress Press/ --

also see -> Traveling with Pets | Tips For Vacations With Pets

Planning Pet-Friendly Travel