#MemorialDay Goes to the (Wet) Dogs! Five Family Trips to Take This Weekend With Fido

Paula Froelich
·Editor at Large
Updated
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(Photo: Kendrick Arnett)

Memorial Day—the most awesome three-day weekend of Spring, because it heralds SUMMER, the season of fun. It’s also a weekend that, due to rising temperatures, most people spend on the water—be it a beach, a river, a lake or a creek. The extended weekend is all about family and here at Yahoo Travel, that also includes our fur babies.

So, courtesy of the geniuses at the Ruff Guides and Yahoo Travel mascot Karl Froelich’s favorite book, Ruff Guide to the United States: 365 of the Best Places to Stay & Play with your Dog in All 50 States, we bring you five awesome trips to take this weekend where you and the entire family can get away, play frisbee and chill out on the water all day long.

Tahoe Sport Fishing - South Lake Tahoe, California

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(Photo: Larry Eiring)

Cast your line for some tasty kokanee salmon, mackinaw, and brown trout aboard a charter from Tahoe Sport Fishing. Don’t worry—doggie life jackets are provided! Rates start at $90 (doggies fish for free) and after returning to shore, you can bring your catch to the Blue Angel Cafe or MacDuff’s Public House, which will clean and cook the fish for you and Fido. Stay at the Fireside Lodge in South Lake Tahoe, where dogs of any size pay just $25 a night.

Keewaydin Island - Florida

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(Photo: Willie Volk)

If your pup is more of a beach baby, head to Keewaydin Island in southwest Florida, which boasts sugar sand beaches and some sweet shelling. The island, located between Naples and Marco Island, is only accessible by boat, which you can rent from Naples Bay Resort for $149 a day. Dogs must remain leashed on the island, so if your guy likes to run, go to the Lee County Dog Beach in Ft. Myers. The Naples Bay Resort will give you boat rides to Keewaydin—and dogs stay for free. Canine companions are also treated to a “U Naugti Dog” package that includes a signature pet bed, treats, and a pet amenity kit.

Green River Lake - Campbellsville, Kentucky

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Photo: U.S. Army Corps.

Who doesn’t like lazing around in a lake with their best friend? At Green River Lake, you can rent a boat and fish for bass, crappie, bluegill, and catfish, or tackle the 28 miles of hiking trails. Admission to the Green River Lake State Park is gratis. Stay at Green River Marina in one of its “floating cabins,” in a one- or two-story boathouse. Dogs are $25 a night.

Ayers Creek Adventures - Berlin, Maryland

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(Photo: Alyson Hurt)

Maryland’s coastal waterways are stunningly beautiful, so why not explore them with Ayers Creek Adventures? Rent a canoe, a kayak, or a stand-up paddleboard for you and your furry friend and play the day away. The Castaways Campground offers pet-friendly cottages and RV rentals. The campground also has a “bark beach” and a dog-wash station. Your dog is also welcome to join you at the Jackspot Waterfront Tiki Bar for a drink and live music. Pets are $8 a night and rates for cabins start at $39 a night.

Old Faithful - West Yellowstone, Montana

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(Photo: Gayan Gunawardana)

Your dog may be a little finicky, like Karl Froelich, and not want to get his paws wet. So why not take him on a trip to see America’s most famous geyser, where he can see the water but not have to get in? While dogs aren’t allowed on the hiking trails past Old Faithful, you can book a “photo safari” with Lava Creek Adventures where, for $299, you and your entire family (humans and canines) can see moose, elk, bears, and buffalo from the safety of a car. Afterward, rent some kayaks to cool down. At the Yellowstone Under Canvas tent lodge, budget-minded travelers sleep in tents and are treated to a nightly marshmallow roast. Rates start at $95 a night, and dogs stay for $25 a night.