With increasing prices for gas, food and many areas affected by fires or floods, many of us are having to cut back on travel and stay closer to home this summer.
As we discover or revisit recreational areas close to home, a lot of us want to enjoy them with our pet. Whether out of loyalty or convenience, this seems to be a quickly growing trend. The expense of boarding a pet is not getting any cheaper either. There is also a growing mass of baby boomers that will refuse to travel if their pet cannot come with them.
Many of the recreational areas are also feeling the bind and are making themselves more accessible to pets. Luxury resorts to state parks are becoming more dog friendly but you need to check with them in advance to be clear on the privileges, restrictions and any extra fees. Although pet friendly options make your trip more practical, most pet accommodations are limited so be sure to plan ahead and make reservations to avoid problems.
You are also able to research pet friendly places on the web and find comments from past visitors that rate their experience there. This can be a major benefit if you have never been there before.
Whether you are visiting a resort, hotel, state park or campground find out what areas may be off limits for pets (pools, food areas, etc.) so you can make the most of your visit and avoid any aggravation.
Also be sure to provide for the welfare and comfort of your pet. Their favorite blanket or pillow, a leash, favorite toy, water bowl and enough pet food are items that can make your trip easier on your pet and you. Its also smart to have an address or phone number on the pet’s collar. A first aid kit is also a good idea.
If you are staying closer to home this summer or not but want your pet to travel with you, do some research and you should be able to plan a fun trip for your family and pet. I’ve been pleasantly surprised at some of the places that have recently started making provisions for pets.
