A road trip is more fun with a dog

Sparkles poses next to a sculpture on Haywood Street in Asheville, North Carolina, one of many stops on our five-week road trip. COURTESY PHOTO

With summer fast approaching, you may be planning a road trip vacation with your family — including your dogs. Having your dog as a travel companion means you have a little bit of home with you, and it can also open your eyes to some activities and places you might otherwise not have explored if you hadn’t had a dog along. My husband, our dog, Sparkles, and I took our own road trip in March and April. Here are some of our favorite pet-friendly places and activities.

The trip started with a drive across Death Valley to see the wealth of wildflowers bursting forth after heavy winter rains, as well as the shallow lake that formed at Badwater Basin from said rains. While we could all enjoy the blooms, Sparkles and other dogs weren’t allowed on the trail to the lake — for good reason. Walking on salt flats — especially damp areas — is painful for paws because saline crystals dig into the skin. Even my Keen-wearing feet weren’t fully protected from the ouch factor. We spent the night at Old West-themed Longstreet Inn Casino & RV Resort in Amargosa Valley, Nevada. Grassy grounds around the pool are great for dog-walking, and casino cat Jackpot adds to the pet-friendly ambience.

The next stop of note was a longtime favorite: Riverbend Hot Springs in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. We’ve stayed there with multiple dogs over the years. While the rooms inside the main part of the resort are cozy, the new Sunrise Suites across the street are a luxe upgrade. Dogs can’t hang out at the springs with you, but a nearby sitting area with lounges and hammocks for resting after soaking has pet beds, too.

In Eureka Springs, Arkansas, many shops posted “dogs welcome” signs, and even if they didn’t, Sparkles wasn’t turned away anywhere. We stayed at the historic Crescent Hotel and Spa, founded in 1886, and notorious for being “America’s most haunted hotel.” We didn’t encounter any ghosts, but we did enjoy sitting with Sparkles in front of the massive fireplace in the lobby, making the acquaintance of the hotel cat and walking the wooded trail to town. Choose it if you don’t mind slanted floors, slow elevators and grandmacore decor. Sparkles joined us for dinner on the hotel’s deck while we caught up with friends in the area. We also enjoyed lunch at dog-friendly Brews on Pine Street.

A stay in Jackson, Tennessee, had us visiting family, so I can’t comment on dog-friendly activities there, but I must give a shout-out to the Courtyard Marriott, whose staff enjoyed fussing over Sparkles. They made sure we were aware of the enclosed courtyard behind the lobby where she could explore leash-free while we sat around the fire pit. At Parnassus Books in Nashville, an employee approached me to ask Sparkles’ name and welcome her to the store. We also enjoyed meeting shop dog and manager of canine staff Opie Brennan.

Eventually, we made our way to Augusta, Georgia, home of the Masters and the Morris Museum. Sadly, neither welcomed dogs, but our hotel, the Partridge Inn, built around a house that dates to 1836, did. Sparkles was warmly welcomed at the wrap-around deck for breakfast and at the penthouse Six South Restaurant and Bar outdoor deck for lunch and a sunset happy hour. While I visited the Morris Museum to view the Joseph Sulkowski exhibit ( uexpress.com/pets/pet-connection/2024/05/13 ), my husband and Sparkles walked Augusta’s Riverwalk, a brick trail that runs along the Savannah River and features a fountain, pedestrian bridge and sculptures, as well as easy access to restaurants, a playground and gardens and activities such as kayaking.

We’re back home now, and the news is that this is the final Pet Connection feature. Dr. Becker, Mikkel and I have enjoyed writing it for many years and are sorry to see it go. We’ll still be writing about pets, though, so keep an eye out for us. ¦

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