Do you have a passion for travel and you’d like to take your pup, but you’re not sure where to go? If you’re looking to find the #1 dog friendly travel attraction in each of the lower 48 states, Go Pet Friendly is launching a 10-month, 15,000 mile RV tour of the U.S. to celebrate the bond we have with our pets and to draw attention to animals searching for their forever homes.
Called The Ultimate Pet Friendly Road Trip, GoPetFriendly.com founder, Amy Burkert, her husband, Rod, and their two pups, Ty and Buster will hit the road on February 11, launching from their decked out RV in stylish Carmel, California.
Did you know?
37% of pet owners traveled with their dogs and cats in 2016, nearly doubling over the past ten years, according to the American Pet Products Association. We want our pets to experience exciting new places, too, and Burkert will give us a glimpse into fun things to do with them and tips for traveling safely with pets. Having logged more than 100,000 miles of their own, the Burkerts believe this trend of traveling with our pets will continue and grow, and hope that their 2017 nationwide tour will inspire more people to make memories with their pets by traveling together. You can add to the conversation and follow along on social media via the hashtag #pawsomememories.
Getting into the spirits of things in Carmel.
Supporting shelters & rescues along the way
Because we love to support shelters, rescues and adoption here on Bark & Swagger, we love that Go Pet Friendly will partner with a shelter or rescue in each designated stop. Promoting adoption is near and dear to them, too; their own Buster was rescued as a stray, and was the inspiration for their business!
The Ultimate Pet Friendly Road Trip tour will include 17 free, live and open to the public events. For the first stop in Carmel, Go Pet Friendly will partner with the SPCA of Monterey County. The subsequent 16 events throughout the tour will be co-hosted with The Humane Society of the United States, The Shelter Pet Project and local animal shelters and rescues.
“From the dog friendly beach in Carmel, California to hiking the rocky shoreline of Maine’s Acadia National Park, there are so many incredible, pet friendly places to explore across the country,” enthused Burkert. “We want people to see what’s possible, and help pet lovers across the U.S. learn how traveling with their pets safely and easily makes the trip more fun! This Ultimate Pet Friendly Road Trip tour will encourage more people to include their pets in their travel plans – whether they are headed around the block or across the country.”
So, what can we tell you about Carmel?
It was voted 2013’s Best City for Pet Travelers by GoPetFriendly.com’s readers, pet travelers, fans of Carmel, and pet lovers in general from around the country. GoPetFriendly.com describes Carmel as, “A cross between well-to-do beach town and European village.” I spent a couple of days there, without my dogs, and remember a very classy town with great shops, great food and lots of dogs.
I remember the homes being beautiful, from beachy cottages to sprawling mansions; no glitz, just understated charm.
GoPetFriendly created a great list of hotels, restaurants, activities and services you might want to check out.
Stay tuned for some special pics on my social media from the Carmel event!
GoPetFriendly.com has partnered with Winnebago, PetGuide.com, The Bark, Sleepypod, 2 Hounds Design, Alcott, The Honest Kitchen, Red Roof Inns, PetHub, RVPetSafety.com and goDog® to make this trip, and the pet friendly travel education it will provide, possible.
For more information on Go Pet Friendly.
For more information on The Ultimate Pet Friendly Road Trip.
What was the last vacation you took with your dog?
