This weekend, my husband and I managed to have a San Francisco weekend that combined fun, cheap, and dog-friendly. How did we do this? We woke up to sunny skies (when the forecast called for rain) and headed to Golden Gate park for the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival.

The festival has four different stages, each with back to back line-ups, bands like Iron and Wine, Elvis Costello, and Robert Earl King Jr. The whole thing is very well-organized. I actually saw trash cans labeled “compost” alongside the usual, “glass recycle” “plastic bottles” “landfill”, etc. The people are relaxed. It is the kind of festival where you bring a blanket, a picnic lunch, maybe even a frisbee. When you need a break from the music, you just wonder through a Eucalyptus grove into an adjacent clearing and find a pond or a garden to explore.

They don’t sell alcohol at the festival, so people bring their own wine and beer. I think this might be why everyone is so friendly and relaxed…they aren’t feeling swindled because they just spent $5 on a single beer!

The best part was how dog-friendly the festival was. We took our little mutt and he had a blast! There were lots of other dogs for him to meet and lots of friendly strangers to pet him. He laid on our blanket, chewing a bone, while we listened to the music. At one point, we even took at break and walked him over to the off-leash dog zone in the park. It was only a 10 minute walk from the festival area. It is rare that we can enjoy a day in the city without leaving our dog at home, so this was a treat.

The most amazing thing about this festival…it is absolutely FREE!!!

Thanks to Jordan Klein for the festival photo.

I am really partial to my dog. In fact, I like him more than a lot of people. He can be an ice breaker, a conversation starter, a friend, a lifter of spirits, and a perspective-giver. He gets me outside and makes me a happier person.

So, when I go on vacation, it is only natural that I would want to bring the little guy along for the ride!

Especially when he gives me that doleful look that means he knows I am leaving and that he is being left behind…

Now, I know that the ‘pet-friendly hotel scene’ has greatly expanded over the last several years….but, I still find options frustratingly limited. I usually only find really upscale bed and breakfasts that welcome your pooch as well as the $1000 it costs to stay there, or I find the seedy run-down motels that probably already have wild animals living in them, so they don’t mind if your pet does too. Isn’t there a happy median here!

Thit is why I was really excited when I had to plan a last-minute trip to wine country that included my dog and came upon a terrific option! The Boon hotel and spa in Guerneville is a new establishment. It is located on the Russian river and is a wonderful eco-friendly hotel with friendly owners. For around $175/night….you can get a queen room with a private backyard, ipod docking station, linen robes, flat screen t.v., and wireless internet. You can also use their saline swimming pool and jacuzzi. The best part, your dog is very welcome there, too! I realize that $175 is not a “steal” but for wine country and the amenities offered…it is pretty darn good.

I am glad to see more pet friendly establishments like this popping up. They allow you to have a quality vacation and bring along your “best friend”…the best of both worlds!

A pet friendly vacation should be about what’s best for your pet. There is nothing a dog in the city loves more than to lose the leash and go nuts. Like, in a park or on the beach. This is where San Diego wins by a mile and a leash. And then some.

Dog Beach at Ocean Beach – Located at the north end of Ocean Boulevard, at the west end of the San Diego River Floodway, where the river meets the Pacific Ocean, the 38 acres of sandy Dog Beach has been a happy no-leash zone for dogs for the last 30 years. Much as kid-friendly hotels free parents to do their thing, Dog Beach frees pet owners to just sit back and watch their dogs go crazy running up and down in the sand and water.

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Here are few of my favorite sites for traveling with a pet or for finding things to do with them in spite of inclement weather.

One of my favorite trip planning pet sites is PetsWelcome.com. It offers 25,000 hotels, B&Bs and ski resorts that welcome pets, a great travel tips section, info exchange between pet owners and an amusing management section. I especially liked their links to the pet policies of 18 major airlines.

Looking to take a long weekend away with your dog? DogFriendly.com offers a list of the top 10 cities to visit with your pet in the U.S. and Canada. The criteria they used included overall appeal of each city, suitable pet friendly hotels, dog friendly side trips, places to eat, off leash parks and if the city is generally supportive of dogs and their owners. They recommend:

1. Boston
2. Vancouver, British Columbia
3. New York City
4. San Francisco, CA
5. Austin, Texas
6. Portland, Oregon
7. Northern Virginian (Washington, D. C.
8. Orlando, Florida
9. San Diego, California
10. Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas

If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, as I do, and you are looking for something new to do with your pet, I recommend Stacy’s Wagntrain.com for her comprehensive and fascinating list of events for dogs and their owners. She lists classes for learning to dance with your dog, including how to pick the right music, dog sports obedience training, canine aggression seminars, community dog walks, dog carting, and even a dog stuff swap meet. I am sure other cities offer the same type of activities if any appeal to you and your dog.

Looking for something to do with your dog in February no matter where you live? It is National Canine Weight Check month. To participate, take your dog to a participating vet’s office to see if it is overweight. You can find a list of participating vets at stopcanineobesity.com.

National Spay Day is February 27. You can have an animal spayed or neutered, you can volunteer or you can donate to the cause. Do it for love of your pet and for all the abandoned animals in our country. It is the kind thing to do.

Just looking for general dog news while your dog snoozes near you? Doggienews offers short snippets including a scathing article about PETA, funny takes on exploding dogs, sharing a shower with your dog (eww) and much more. Definitely worth a read.

If all else fails, grab a treat, a leash and take a walk with your dog. That seems to be all my dog needs from me to earn her unconditional love.

What is your favorite pet recommendation? Does your dog (cat, bird) like to see the world with you? Or is channel surfing considered a form of exercise in your house? Share your stories for keeping your pet fit and healthy this winter!