we live about an hour away from pittsburgh, and we were wondering what there is to do within a maximum of 8 hours driving time. we hav to drive because we dont want to put our dog on a plane. we're thinking in terms of an amusment park or somethign like that. alos, does ne one have some tips on hotel that alow pets?

What will you do with dog while you are out and about - amusement park or other. Something to consider.

Don't you have a family member that will watch the beast?

I usually dog sit my sisters dogs. Or friends come over. She pays $25.00 a day for whoever watches them.

I'm sure you have someone you can trust that will stay at your house and watch the dog. But you must pay them because it is an inconvenience...even if it is a parent! They have better things to do then sit and watch your dogs.

Hopefully you can find someone.

Also, look in the internet to find a resort where dogs can stay. They have luxurious resorts for animals where they are treated like royalty. So when you are on vacation, you pups on vacation too!

we bring her cage with us and put her in it while we go. We took her on vacation last year to williamsburg virginia and everythign worked out fine.

we dotn have any family members able to watch her. and we dont feel comfortable leaving her at a kennel or dog resort. she isnt a huge dog. she's just a small lap dog.

"cutiepie" as an e-mail address AND a lap dog to boot.

Leave the dog at a kennel!!! Now, you ADULTS can vacation wherever you like.

We live IN Pittsburgh and also (occasionally) travel with our boxer, esp. if it's just for a couple of days - even though he loves going to the puppy hotel. Two places we've found that welcome pets: The Carlyle Suites in DC (www.carlylesuites.com) and a place we stayed last summer outside Niagara Falls -- Sheraton Four Points at St Catherine; don't have web address for it, but you could find it through Sheraton website.

What I hate about having dependent pets is that we are unable to travel spontaneously if I can't find a pet-tolerant hotel, because kennels here - at least the better ones -- book up months in advance.

Emily, I HONESTLY understand that your dog is a member of the family. But traveling with a dog in the summertime can be difficult. What if he barks at the hotel while you're at the amusement park? What do you do with him while you're eating? Temperatures in a closed car can skyrocket to heat stroke or fatal levels in minutes during the heat of summer. Check around. We have a lady here who teaches obedience training and has a boarding facility at her home out in the country. She even mixed tablescraps with the food for our older dog to entice her to eat the first time she stayed there. She handles them and makes them mind. I have complete and utter confidence in her! It makes for definite peace of mind while we are on vacation. I would seriously suggest exploring this possibility!

Cedar Point has kennels and the Holiday Inn did allow pets...and you could go to Put N bay too

excuse me but i am only 14 years old! jeeze whats wrong with my email? i'm just trying to help my family out by finding something we can all do together! my mother refuses to leave the dog at a kennel so we are looking for a hotel that allows pets, i came on here to get some advice, not to be made fun of!

thank you to the people that actually gave me some advice!

Emily, some people just don't know how to behave. Hope you find a fun place for your family and your dog.

Most of the unwelcome porn mail I get in my AOL mailbox comes from names like "hotbabe", "sexybambi" or (gulp) 'cutiepie." SO, I can see why it sounded like a bimbo name to the previous poster. We don't get many 14 year old posters on Fodors.com, I wouldn't think!

Can't help with the dog situation in the Pittsburgh area but I'd try to keep him at home (kennel, neighbor, etc.) if at all possible. Having a dog really cramps your style while traveling!

just to let ya know..... my name on aol is emmielee0208 not cutiepie

We recently stayed at a wonderful Bed and Breakfast in Somerset PA. It was called the Georgian Inn. It is right next to a wonderful outlet mall. When I travel I also take my dog, I just can't leave her behind. Try going on petswelcome.com to find some hotels that allow pets and maybe you can make your decision from there on where to go. Another great choice would be going to the Outer Banks in NC and renting a beach house. There are some beautiful houses that allow dogs and its a wonderful vacation for you and the dog. A good website is Carolinadesigns.com. Have a great trip!

Emily, as one dog lover to another--I understand (some people don't). Check out traveldog.com. Hope it helps.

I second Cedar Point on Lake Erie or Six Flags Park near Cleveland.

Here is their urls:
www.cedarpoint.com
www.sixflags.com/parks/worldsofadventure

Two other doggy travel sites:
www.petswelcome.com
www.dogfriendly.com

I sure wish America was more dog friendly....when we lived in Europe for 3 years we use to be able to take our dog on all our travels or everywhere we went locally as well. We even took her to the Cinema with us. Is there a website that lists hotels that are "dog friendly"?? I'm sure they'd do well. Lani