Top 10 Pet-Friendly U.S. Cities

Family travel with pets are the latest vacation trend sweeping the nation.  Hotels and resorts are starting to take notice – even offering pet-walking services and room-service menus for dogs. Over 49% of adult travelers consider their pet to be part of the family and 18% of adult travelers can’t imagine a vacation without Fido.

Leading Slipcover and Home Solution company Sure Fit has released a list of the Top 10 Pet-Friendly Cities around the U.S.  Our kids are always asking to take our dog along on our travels. Summer is the best time of year to try.  Check out these ideas for entertaining your pooch in the following dog-friendly cities from coast-to-coast:

1. New York City - Between winding trails, off-leash hours and fenced-in dog parks, New York City's Central Park is the perfect pet hang-out. Plus, pet daycare can be found in nearly every Big Apple neighborhood.

2. Chicago - Dogs are welcome on canine cruises at Chicago's Navy Pier, and the Windy City is home to a number of pet resorts and patio restaurants that welcome furry friends.

3. Boston - Pooches are welcome to tour Boston Harbor by boat, and dogs are welcome to take the subway.

4. Houston - Local pet lovers praise Barnaby's Cafe, where pets aren't just welcome, they're given their own cardboard bowl to dine from while their owners grab a bite.

5. San Francisco - The city by the bay offers plenty of pet-friendly dining, off-leash beaches, and outdoor areas. Take your dog for a stroll across the Golden Gate Bridge -- or even bring him along on a cable-car ride!

6. Austin - Besides outdoor cafes and off-leash parks, Austin residents tout the Zilker Botanical Gardens and Congress Street Bats as great places for local dogs (and dog-owners).

7. Washington (and its suburb Alexandria, Va.) - Both areas feature plenty of pet-friendly restaurants and parks.

8. Portland, Ore. - The Lucky Labrador restaurant chain is famously pet-friendly. Pets are also invited to visit the Rose Gardens and Saturday outdoor market.

9. Charleston - Bring your pet along on a walking tour of historic Charleston, whether it's a daytime stroll through Magnolia Plantation or a nighttime ghost tour of the city's haunted haunts.

10. Ann Arbor - Pets are welcome to frolic in many of the city's outdoor spaces, including the Nichols Arboretum, a large botanical garden at the University of Michigan.

Flickr:  Bob Jagendorf