Editor's Note

There are times in life in which we prefer the company of dogs. I think a road trip is just such an occasion. Imagine taking a trip cross country (or wherever) with a companion who was in complete agreement with every sight you wanted to see, every roadside stop you wanted to make, and every picture you wanted to snap. I have to admit, there’s beauty in this.
I have taken only one road trip with a dog and I have to say she was the perfect companion. She didn’t mind when I plugged my iPod in during our hikes nor did she seem to care that I stopped every 15 minutes to use the bathroom (hey, you have to stay hydrated!). It was great. She was in her world and I was in mine. It’s like in life when you finally meet that one person who you are so comfortable with that you can just enjoy silence together.
I’m a travel junkie. My humble beginnings as a writer started as a travel correspondent and I can’t believe how many of the places I treaded in years past are now catering to pets. As DogFriendly.com founder Len Kain revealed to us in an interview in this issue, there are a plethora of dog-friendly destinations available to people and their pets, and they’re not necessarily where you’d expect. He ranked Rapid City, South Dakota; Alexandria, Virginia; and Jekyll Island, Georgia, among the more pet-friendly places in the U.S. Who knew? Of course, some familiar faces popped up on his list as well, and I’m glad to see that New York, Chicago, and Toronto (also profiled in this issue) continue to be top choices for people and their animals.
But let us not forget armchair traveling. At times, I have taken better trips in my mind than I have in reality. I get goose bumps just taking out the atlas to America and running my finger along a route I dream of taking one day. I’ll surf around on the Web hungrily Googling roadside Americana, mid-century motels, and “places of interest,” as they’re called on map keys. And as I take this journey in my mind, there is always a cat curled up in my lap. My cats never travel far, unless you count the journey from my bed to the food bowl to the litter box.
This issue is dedicated to all things travel-related. More and more people are taking trips with pets. According to a 2005 survey from BringYourPet.com, 78 percent of people stay at a pet-friendly hotel at least once a year. Eighty-six percent of those surveyed travel with dogs and 47 percent of those people are traveling with dogs over 30 pounds. What is the preferred time of year to travel with pets? You guessed it, summertime.
We say, spend a little less time at the office and a little more time at the beach. Spend less time in the city and suburbs and more time in the country. And do it with your animals in tow. We’ve rounded up a handful of places within a stone’s throw where you can spend the weekend with a pet at your side. All the hotels we’ve profiled are dog-friendly, some welcome cats, and a few welcome all kinds of pets. Don’t forget to pack the necessary supplies (we’ve recommended some hip travel products to set you on your way), and don’t forget to find good daycare or sitter for any pet you decide to leave at home. But to those you’re taking with you, we know you’ll be in good company.

Happy travels.